Whitehorse Daily Star

May 1, 2012

• Girl sails through test to claim prestigious bird handling title Not many 12-year-old girls can say they are certified to handle raptors, but Rebecca Heath from Haines Junction can.
• Limited spaces available for excursion to Japan There are still a few more spaces available in the city's Sister City student excursion to Japan, says Linda Rapp, the city's Parks and Recreation manager.
• New Democrats pay tribute to local and national party figures Members of the Yukon NDP remembered the passion and hard work of Steve Cardiff and Jack Layton last weekend as they gathered at the Kwanlin Dun Culture Centre for their annual convention.
• ID is blitz aims to pare minors' drinking The Yukon Liquor Corp. will conduct an ID blitz this spring in an effort to reduce illegal underage drinking, Scott Kent, the minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corp., said Monday.
• Proposed power rate hikes understandable: chamber Energy cost increases are a price we pay for growth, says Rick Karp, the president of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.
• Losing His Locks Greg Dawson has his head shaved Monday for the Canadian Cancer Society's Shave for the Cure.
• Yukon joins national campaign to raise mental health awareness The Department of Health and Social Services is promoting mental health awareness with Not Myself Today, a campaign created by the national organization, Partners for Mental Health.
• Minister quizzed on youth shelter plans The New Democrats have asked the Minister of Health and Social Services for an update on the Yukon Party's 2011 election promise to build a new youth shelter.
• Inquest into RCMP officer's death put off The inquest into the 2010 death of a Mayo RCMP officer has been put on hold to give the federal government a chance to make an application before the court.
• ‘It's very a significant find': paleontologist The remains of what may be a prehistoric bison skeleton have been unearthed in a couple's basement in Porter Creek.

April 30, 2012

• Yukoners to help improve Ugandans' lives Two Whitehorse residents will head to Uganda this summer as part of an ongoing effort to fund and supply a rural high school and medical clinic.
• Yukoners honour those who died while working The four Yukon workers killed on the job last year were remembered Saturday afternoon at the annual Day of Mourning ceremony.
• Pertussis outbreak in Yukon prompts health warning Dr. Sharon Lazeo, the Yukon's acting chief medical officer of health, is advising Yukon parents to watch for signs and symptoms of pertussis (whooping cough) in their children.
• Yukon NDP is a source of inspiration, MP declares The Yukon NDP has inspired New Democrats across the country, says Megan Leslie, the federal party's deputy leader and environment critic.
• Help clean up the city, residents urged The City of Whitehorse is preparing to host its annual 20-minute makeover on Wednesday.
• New regulation bans lawn tenters As of May 1, the Yukon government's Facilities Use Regulation will be in effect, making the appearance of another tent city on government property illegal.
• NDP is on the upswing, delegates told The growth and success of the Yukon NDP in the last few years were foremost on the minds of party members as they gathered in Whitehorse over the weekend for the party's annual convention.
• Case required undercover operation, trial told The primary investigator into a 2008 murder says an undercover operation was necessary to conduct a complete and thorough investigation into the case.
• Rates hike bid called the ‘responsible thing to do' The Yukon Energy Corp. (YEC) is seeking its first retail rate increase since 1999.

April 27, 2012

• Homeowner's Protection Act needed, NDP says The NDP called for the government to create a Homeowner's Protection Act on Wednesday, calling a home purchase the most important of a person's life.
• Fire truck bolsters protection in Ibex Valley Two cabinet ministers visited members of the Ibex Valley Volunteer Fire Department last week and examined its new $250,000 state-of-the-art fire truck.
• Guide issued to outline land decision appeals Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Brad Cathers has unveiled a new guide to help applicants and other parties better understand the land application appeal process.
• Plant will tax Dawson's financial resources DAWSON CITY – The City of Dawson has determined it will not be able to sustain the operation and maintenance costs of its new waste water treatment plant over the long term.
• I'll Show You How Olivia Masters (left), a wildlife biologist with Environment Yukon, had a display showing how birds feed at Swan Haven last weekend.
• Job-related work injuries mounting, board says With job-related injuries up 23 per cent so far this year, the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board reminds workers that job safety can be a matter of life and death.
• Annual Jane's Walk planned in Whitehorse The sixth annual Jane's Walk, a series of free, urban neighbourhood tours that inspire citizens to get to know their city and each other by getting out and walking, is set for May 6.
• Talking Winged Wonders Carrie McClelland (left), a wildlife biologist with Environment Yukon,
• Exemptions from trade deal not needed: official The city should not request exemptions from the pending trade agreement with the European Union, city manager Denis Shewfelt told council recently.
• Bison ranchers, government still locked in dispute It remains unclear how or why the Yukon government issued permits for the export to Saskatchewan of more than 100 wood bison.
• Daffodil Day marks the battle against cancer To honour Daffodil Day, from Monday until today, the Canadian Cancer Society has had a banner outside the Northwestel Arena at the Canada Games Centre for people to show their support and put up a name on the "Who Are You Fighting For” banner.
• Car destroyed after being driven into bonfire A 1989 Chrysler Dynasty was deliberately destroyed by fire at the Cousins airstrip late Thursday night.
• Injured pedestrian taken south A pedestrian hit by a car last Sunday afternoon on Second Avenue was medevaced to Vancouver in critical condition the next day.
• Cultural Centre Receives Artwork Artist Arthur Joe is seen with his painting of the Beaver Man and the Wolverine.
• Federal mediator to meet with Many Rivers, union May 1 Negotiations between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)/Yukon Employees Union (YEU) and the Many Rivers Counselling and Support Services Society will resume May 1 with the assistance of two federal mediators.
• Respondents have their say on ATV-related issues The City of Whitehorse has released the findings of its recent ATV task force report, an initial step in the development of new ATV legislation, slated for council's review this summer.
• Woman placed on probation after stabbing her mother A 21-year-old Whitehorse woman has been sentenced to time served plus two years' probation for the 2009 stabbing of her mother.
• Letter called a criticism of Speaker's performance The Speaker of the legislature chastised several MLAs Thursday for what he called undermining his authority.