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Four Kings named to Midwestern Conference all-star squad.................... »23 THE OBSERVER | Saturday, December 06, 2008
Local retailers need extra push
»17 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 48
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 06, 2008
www.ObserverXtra.com
cyclist dies after being hit by truck Police trying to determine if road conditions played a role in death of Melvin Martin MARC MIQUEL HELSEN A Woolwich man riding his bicycle to work north of Elmira early Thursday morning died when he was struck by a pickup truck . Melvin Martin, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene of a collision on Arthur Street, near Florapine Road, at approximately 6:40 a.m. He had been cycling on his way to work when he was hit from behind by a pickup truck in the poorly lit stretch of icy road. Waterloo Regional Police are still piecing together what happened, but at this point it is believed that the cyclist and the pickup truck were travelling in the same direcSee FATALITY page »06
THE ToUGHEST PART oF THE Job Woolwich firefighters from the Floradale station gather near the bicycle that melvin martin, 34, had been riding when he was struck from behind by a pickup truck travelling north on Arthur PHOTO | jOe merliHAn street before sunrise on Thursday morning. The cyclist was pronounced dead at the scene north of elmira.
2009: the year of the stand-pat budget Municipalities look to tighten belts, but taxes still likely to make notable rise despite falling costs mitments and services when it comes to setting tax rates for 2009, the budget year now under discussion. In Woolwich Township, for instance, a The economic downturn will curb new spending, but don’t look for any three-year contract with workers calls tax cuts from local government. Hard for an annual pay increase of three per times and lower prices are unlikely cent, reflecting a fixed jump in one of to translate into anything more than the largest items in the budget: labour smaller increases in the rates paid by costs. The new Woolwich Memorial Centre opens next year, bringing with area residents. Admitting there’s pressure to do some it costs for staffing and equipment, IA banner ad - municipal observer_final(v2):Layout 1 11/28/08 10:01 AM Page 1 Dachief administrative officer belt-tightening, officials say added vid Brenneman. they’re handcuffed by existing com-
STEVE KANNON
Those and other demands make it unlikely the township could freeze or roll back taxes. In fact, millions of dollars in spending on new facilities, including the rec. complex, require a twoper-cent additional tax bump. Still, Woolwich will be looking for ways to recognize the current economic climate. “We’re looking for a balance between the tough economic times and previous budget commitments,” he said. “We’ve got some tough choices about
what stays and what goes.” Much the same scenario is playing out in Wellesley Township, where Mayor Ross Kelterborn wants council to take a close look at all expenditures. Other than for immediate health or safety concerns, he’s looking for a budget that contains no new spending. “I have instructed staff and department heads that, other than things that are a safety issue, I don’t want to see any new items,” he said, noting the See BUDGETS page »02
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