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11 | 23 | 2013 VOLUME 18 | ISSUE 47
LOOKING TO CUT THROUGH ANY RED TAPE VENTURE PAGE 14
COMMENT PAGE 8
FORD DEBACLE UNDERCUTS CALLS FOR RESTRAINT
Kitchener man charged in Howlett murder
TAKING A STANCE AGAINST BULLYING
ELENA MAYSTRUK A Kitchener man is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Elmira’s Erin Howlett. Michael John William Ball, 22, appeared in bail court on Thursday after being held in custody overnight after police made the arrest Wednesday. He was arraigned on some 30 charges. The arrest came a week after police confirmed the 28-year-old Elmira woman was a victim of homicide. Investigators say Howlett and Ball were acquaintances. Waterloo Regional Police are not anticipating any more arrests in the case, said spokesperson Olaf Heinzel. “We believe the person who was arrested is solely responsible for her death unless new information comes about, but at this point that appears to be the case. We just wanted to make the community aware of an important development in the case.” Other charges against Ball include committing an indignity to a human body and more than 20 weapons- and drug-related charges unconnected to the murder case. Family and friends of the victim were in court Thursday to hear the charges. Police confirmed Howlett died as a result of foul play on November 15. Due to evidence collected on scene where she was found in Kitchener and help from the public, detectives were able to confirm their suspicions that the 28-year-old met with foul play in July. HOWLETT | 2
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Woolwich targets 1.5% tax increase for 2014 Early in process, council aims for holiday from infrastructure levy using investment windfall STEVE KANNON
A region-wide school campaign, THINK, helped students speak, text, and generally treat fellow peers with respect this week. Conestogo PS students Brooke Richardson, Fiona Bevan, Brooke Schaefer and Heather McKaig show off their posters on Wednesday during their Grade 5-6 class’ themed activities. See story on page 5. [ELENA MAYSTRUK / THE OBSERVER]
With a windfall allowing for a pause in a special infrastructure levy, Woolwich is looking at a 1.5 per cent tax hike next year. If that target stands, the average homeowner would pay an additional $9.44 to the township portion of the average tax bill, using an assessed value of $269,000. Councillors meeting this week gave preliminary approval to a framework that includes inflationary-level spending increases and no cost-cutting measures. The 2014 budget process is still in the early stages. The numbers that remained after the dust settled were not supported unanimously, with two councillors maintaining the
infrastructure levy should still be applied to help cover a backlog of road repairs, bridge replacements and the like. The 1.5 per cent increase represents the low end of the inflation rate forecasted for next year, with treasurer Richard Petherick recommending a rate of 1.65 per cent, right in the middle of the 1.5 to 1.8 per cent predicted for 2014. The increase would bring another $123,000 into municipal coffers. Another $123,000 – equal to a 1.5 per cent special levy – would be applied to infrastructure projects using part of a $320,000 windfall expected from the township’s ownership stake in Waterloo North Hydro. BUDGET | 4
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