Vol. 11 No. 1
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER COVERING NORTH DURHAM
THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 2015
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Port Perry bank robber busted
Scugog Island water project in the works BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
Durham Regional Police were busy combing the scene of a robbery at CIBC in Port Perry on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Police caught the suspect in the case, Port Perry’s Mike Koury, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, after a robbery at the CIBC branch in Claremont. BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard
DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
SCUGOG: The suspect in the recent robbery at the CIBC location in Port Perry was arrested on Tuesday, Dec. 23, following another heist, which took place at the CIBC branch in Claremont. Port Perry resident Mike Koury, age 31, was charged with two counts of Robbery, as well as two counts of Disguise With Intent in connection with the robberies. Police add that he was held for a bail hearing. According to police, on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at approximately 2:45 p.m., a lone male, believed to be Mr. Koury, entered the CIBC branch in Claremont with his face covered. He indicated he had a weapon, although no weapon was seen. He demanded cash then fled the bank and was spotted getting into a nearby vehicle. Officers responded to the scene and searched the area, but no arrests were made. Officers would later
arrest him without incident in Whitby. Mr. Koury has also been connected to the Dec. 17, robbery of the CIBC branch in Port Perry. In that incident, on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Mr. Koury is said to have entered the CIBC bank on Queen St. and passed a note to the female teller. The suspect indicated he was armed, but no weapon was seen, just as in the Claremont robbery. The teller handed over a quantity of cash and the suspect fled the bank. No one was physically injured during either robbery. Anyone with new information about this investigation is asked to contact Det. Houston of the Robbery Unit at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 5360. Anonymous tips can be made to Durham Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or on-line at www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca and tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
SCUGOG: The Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) have taken the first steps to ensure that the residents of Scugog Island will be able to have access to safe, clean drinking water - with the proposed construction of a new water system. After dealing with both an inadequate water supply system, and a Drinking Water Advisory from Health Canada since 2008, the MSIFN hopes to build a drinking water system on their territory on Scugog Island, to make sure that what comes out of the tap is clean for many years to come. The new system would provide potable water to as many as 60 homes within the Scugog Island First Nation boundaries, and is estimated to cost approximately $3.3 Million in total. Actual costs will be based on the outcome of a feasibility study and the type of facility that is recommended and approved by the community and MSIFN Council. As part of the study process, the MSIFN are hoping to secure a Small Communities Fund through the federal government that would cover two-thirds of the cost - leaving the Scugog Island First Nation with a bill of about $1.1 million. Representatives from the MSIFN made a presentation to Scugog councillors at their meeting on Monday, Dec. 8, requesting a letter of support from the Township - a necessary piece of the grant application process. Desmond Verasammy, operator of the current water system on the Scugog Island First Nation, told councillors that “We’re not looking for any funding, but a simple endorsement to help us attain grants. A new system is needed because the current one is substandard, and their are numerous issues with the safety of the water – since 2008 Health Canada has imposed a drinking water advisory in the reserve.” Mr. Verasammy explained that the new system would be supplied by a number of groundwater wells, which would be dug on the Mississaugas’ territory. The number of wells and their location would be determined during the pending study, and would also feature a water treatment facility and a network of pipes, feeding the clean water into residents’ homes. The treatment facility would then be staffed by trained and qualified contractors. T U R N TO PAG E 1 5
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