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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-04-01, Page 8EASTER CONTEST How many candies are in baby bunny's basket? Win a 16" fabric bunny, fabric basket and candy. Contest closes 6:00 p.m. Thursday, April 9 Entry ballots available only at Val's Custom Sewing & Family Crafts 19 High St., Walton Cty. Rd. 12 (no purchase necessary) FINANCIAL PLANNING CLASSES * Learn the basics of investing, reduce taxes, set up an estate plan * 7:30 p.m., Wednesday April 15, 22 & 29 Call to register Linda Henhoeffer 1-800-667-3887 335-3887 nt)estment Centre INTERNET ....the easy way MAz Now Local to Wingham & Brussels Full Internet Access Southwestern Ontario's Premier Internet Provider now offers connectivity to Wingham & Brussels • First Class Customer Support • Easy Installation • No Busy Signals • No Setup Fees • High Speed 100 + megabit Connection • Regional Access • Web Site Hosting / Web Page Design • Custom Corporate Services Dedicated 56 K, Cable & T1 Access Call us and let Odyssey connect you today Discover places you have only dreamed about ! (519) 660-8883 London (519) 482-1212 Clinton (519) 485-3115 Ingersoll 21 Kng St., London, Ontario E - Mail infoOodyssey.on.ca 8 Albert St. Clinton, Ontario PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 1998. Pair pays $100 each for marijuana posssession PROBATION A Howick Twp. woman was placed on 12 months probation fol- lowing an appearance in Wing- ham's provincial court, March 19. After pleading guilty in January's court of passing cheques from a closed account, Joan McNichol, who had claimed to have grabbed the wrong cheque book, promised to appear at a later date with receipts proving she had made restitution. The amounts were $31.20 and $29.92. Before ordering probation, Judge Garry Hunter suspended passing of sentence. UNSAFE FIREARM STORAGE A Wroxetcr man pled guilty to a charge of marijuana possession and to unsafe storage of firearms. Attorney for the Crown Jack O'Donnell said that police had exe- cuted a search warrant at the home of Theodore Thompson on Feb. 4. They discovered a number of rifles, two shotguns, a revolver and ammunition stored unlocked and without trigger locks. "The only compensation was that none were loaded," said O'Donnell. He added, however, that the accused had been "quite co-opera- tive" with the officers and had even "pointed out the cannabis". O'Donnell noted that police had visited Thompson's home since the charge was made and found that the whole issue of unsafe storage has been addressed. The five ounces of marijuana was for personal use, O'Donnell said. Judge Hunter fined Thompson $200 on the weapons charge and $100 on the narcotics charge. MARIJUANA POSSESSION A London and a Windsor man appeared in court to answer to a narcotics charge. According to O'Donnell, Shawn Bentley was driving a van in Wing- ham, Jan. 16, when he was stopped by police. The officer detected a strong odour of marijuana. A search uncovered 2.5 grams in Bentley's knapsack, as well as 9.5 grams in the pocket of his passen- ger, Lawrence Martin. The pair pled guilty. They were each fined $100. NO INSURANCE On Nov. 22 on County Road 12 in Howick Twp., police stopped a vehicle, which was owned by Jere- my Pasztor, Wroxeter. It was found to have no insurance, O'Donnell said. Duty Counsel Alan Mill said that Pasztor had been transporting the 1986 Mustang from its storage place to his home, less than two miles away. Judge Hunter fined him $600. ASSAULT A Vanastra man pled guilty to a Helen Johns, MPP for Huron announced that tough new rules and a highly structured regime for 16 and 17 year-old young offenders is being introduced for Bluewater Correctional Centre in Goderich, like all secure custody facilities in Ontario, beginning this spring. "The current system in Ontario, in which 64 per cent of secure custody young offenders re-offend, is unacceptable and must be changed," said Johns. ''The introduction of strict, standardized programming for all young offenders will ensure that youth are held accountable for their actions." Young offenders will be subject to strict behaviour code stressing zero tolerance for any form of violence, a highly structured daily schedule including mandatory work, education and physical exercise, and a well-defined incentive system to ensure all privileges are earned. "Huron County residents have repeatedly told me that we need tougher sanctions against young people who thumb their noses at the law. We are making these changes now so that today's young offenders don't become tomorrow's career criminals, at taxpayer's expense," said Johns. She said that the introduction of strict, standardized programming to young offenders in correctional facilities is consistent with the recommendations of the 1996 report of the Strict Discipline Task Force which defined strict discipline as "... a structured and consistent learning environment to the victim's queries as to why Todtz was attacking him, were met with no response. The accused released the man when others arrived. The victim was taken to hospital indicating he had a sore neck. That and a previous rib injury are still troubling him, O'Donnell said. He added that both men had been drinking. Defense Counsel Mike Donnelly teach high risk, repeat offenders the advantages of socially acceptable behaviour." Johns added, "The early successes at project Turnaround, the first 'boot camp' in Ontario, underscore the need to expand key elements of that program across the young offender system." She noted that all electronic video games have been removed from Ministry facilities and will be donated to community charities that can put them to good use. The Minister of Correctional Services is committed to undertaking an evaluation of the reforms announced to track the effectiveness of the new program in reducing young offender recidivism. said that the information was gen- erally correct, though there was "some dispute as to how it hap- pened." The 24-year-old was fined $400 and placed on 12 months probation. He is prohibited from owning any firearms, weapons or explosives and can have no contact with the victim. NewRESP Rules The Canada Education Savings Grant By Linda Henhoeffer Financial Advisor Just when we think we have it figured out, the government changes the rules. Paul Martin's recent federal budget in February introduced the new federal contribution of $400 each year to our children's Registered Education Savings Plans. What does this mean to parents who are saving for their children's post- secondary education? How will it work? Registered Education Savings Plans An RESP is a tax shelter for savings accounts similar to a Registered Retirement Savings Plan, or RRSP. The savings accounts are registered with Revenue Canada and are governed by federal government rules. The income produced by the investment is not taxable until the money is withdrawn from the registered plan. Unlike an RRSP though, the investor does not receive a tax refund on the contribution deposited into the RESP. In other words, an RESP has only one tax break: the deferral of taxes on the income earned on the registered investment. When the funds are withdrawn from the registered account to pay for the child's university or college costs, the income is taxable to the child. As students usually have a low income, the child will probably be taxed at the lowest tax rate. This income-splitting with our children is intended to reduce our family's overall taxation. Contribution Limits The current contribution limit is $4,000 per beneficiary per year for 21 years, to a lifetime maximum of $42,000 per beneficiary. RESP's mature in 25 years and all funds must be withdrawn by then. Canada Education Savings Grant The federal government is proposing a 'Canada Education Savings Grant' which will be a maximum 20 per cent on the first $2,000 of annual RESP contributions made after 1997, to a maximum of $400 per year for beneficiaries seventeen years old and younger. Maximum lifetime total to a child's RESP will be $7,200 (20 per cent x $2,000 x 18 years). Beneficiary Who can set up an RESP? If the RESP has only one beneficiary named, then anyone can set up and contribute to that RESP. If there are more than one beneficiary, then the contributor has to be related by blood or adoption. Caution There is ONLY one purpose of an RESP: to save money for a child's post-secondary education. If there is only one child named in the RESP and that child does not attend a qualifying university or college program full time immediately after finishing high school, then all the Canada Education Savings Grant must be repaid to the federal government. When there are multi-beneficiaries named in the RESP, then the Canada Education Savings Grant can be used by them to a maximum of $7,200 per beneficiary, with any excess to be repaid to the federal government. The other possibility is to transfer up to a maximum of $40,000 of the growth of the RESP, including growth attributed to the federal grants, to your RRSP. Of course, you need to have RRSP contribution room and there are other conditions required. Beginning in 1999, this amount increases to $50,000. Confused? Would your child or grandchild benefit from an RESP, especially when the federal government is offering to help by giving you a $400 contribution each year? Maybe ... but let's understand all the details before we sign up. lesser charge of common assault. Charged Aug. 30 following an altercation in Wingham, Michael Todtz pled not guilty to the original charge of assault causing bodily harm. According to O'Donnell, at 12 a.m. the accused had invited the victim outside to see his truck. Once outside, Todtz grabbed the 1 victim by the throat and threw him over the truck. O'Donnell said that YO rules gets tougher