Whitehorse Daily Star

February 6, 2012

• Pair of veterans leading the Quest MILE 101, Alaska – As the day turned to night, mild temperatures and a beautiful aurora borealis ushered the mushers into the third checkpoint.
• Mushers began Quest in perfect conditions Hundreds of fans gathered around the starting chute as the 2012 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race began Saturday morning.
• Whitehorse man arrested after B&Es A 22-year-old Whitehorse man is facing several charges related to a string of break-and-enters dating back to 2010 and last March.
• ‘They were all vibrant members of this community' Hundreds of people gathered Saturday at Vanier Catholic Secondary School to say goodbye to five people who died in a house in Porter Creek late last month.
• Musher distraught after forced exit Mike Ellis, a veteran musher from Two Rivers, Alaska, has scratched from the Yukon Quest.
• Missing boy found safe and sound The 12-year-old Whitehorse boy who went missing last week from a local group home is back in the care of family and children's services branch officials.
• Oil and gas companies express interest in Whitehorse Basin The Yukon government is seeing significant oil and gas interest in the Whitehorse Basin.

February 3, 2012

• Typically Canadian: arrest the victim of the fire bombing A couple of months ago, I mentioned an incident from Welland, Ont., where a gentleman named Thompson had fire bombs thrown at his house on Aug. 22, 2010.
• A detailed account of truly troubled times under heaven ( Bookends ) At the height of the glory of the Empire of Kitai, under the reign of Taizu, the Son of Heaven, a gift of horses sundered the realm and did it more damage than any of its enemies had been able to do for generations.
• Building a high-functioning team is a crucial pursuit Too many managers underrate the value of a strong team.
• Forty-eight-hour film event drew a great crowd Chris Clarke's untitled film about the trials and tribulations of trying to make a short film in 48 hours won the "Flocons D'Or” (or Golden Popcorn) Award at the Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture's 48 Hour Film Competition last Sunday night.
• After 20 years in the bush, artist pursues an urban winter It's hard to tell if Halin de Repentigny misses his old lifestyle.
• Air North marks 35th anniversary WestJet or no WestJet, Air North proudly launched its 35th anniversary plans Wednesday.
• Killers had distorted values: college official The murders of several members of a Montreal family in June 2009 have brought attention to violence against women and its role in a multi-cultural Canadian society.
• Yukon River corridor comes under scrutiny Once upon a time, not much more than a generation ago, one of the most obvious things about the Klondike region was the number of rivers and streams that carved their way through it. It made sense, then, that the final item on the Boom and Beyond Symposium's program in January was a panel discussion about living with rivers.
• Marwell industrial subdivision to be rebuilt Associated Engineering has been awarded the $593,693 contract to provide engineering services for this year's reconstruction of the Marwell industrial subdivision.
• Weather plays havoc with highways, power The Haines Road and South Klondike Highway were closed this morning due to freezing rain and blowing snow.
• Let The Games Begin! More than 600 students
• ‘All saddened by this tragic loss' of family, boarder, premier says On behalf of his government, Premier Darrell Pasloski offered "sincere condolences” Thursday to everyone affected by last week's deaths of five members of a Porter Creek household.
• City adopts capital budget City council on Monday formally adopted this year's $25.5-million capital budget for major projects and equipment purchases.
• Council approves wage boosts for city managers City council has approved a 10 per cent wage increase over four years for its management staff.
• Government funds 10 new mats for Salvation Army The Salvation Army has purchased 10 new mats to serve the growing need for bed space in its downtown shelter.
• City's path to trail committee makeup irks local resident City hall was accused Monday night of trying to pull a fast one regarding the appointment of a central committee to settle trail disputes in the city.
• ‘Amazing turnout' greets racers Fans were lined out the door for the "Meet the Mushers” event Thursday night at the Alpine Lodge in Fairbanks.
• ‘This sad event reaches across territorial boundaries' Yukon MP Ryan Leef rose in the House of Commons this morning to brief MPs on last week's deaths of five Yukoners from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Government was aware of deadly gas dangers The Yukon government was warned about dangerous oil-fired appliances in the territory years before deadly carbon monoxide gas likely killed a family and their friend last week in Porter Creek.

February 2, 2012

• An evening of poetry honoured the two Bobs in Dawson City A dozen dedicated Dawsonites gathered at the Legion Hall last Saturday evening to honour poetry and the two bards who wrote it.
• Events planned for Black History Month Yukoners are invited to participate in Black History Month activities that honour the legacy of black Canadians, past and present.
• Continuing care centre concerns will be aired, health minister says Health and Social Services Minister Doug Graham is confident that a new group established at Copper Ridge Place will enable both residents and families to raise any issues or concerns about the facility.
• Boy's whereabouts sought Whitehorse RCMP are seeking the whereabouts of a local 12-year-old boy who went missing from a group home four days ago.
• Co-operation pact with state will be extended: premier An agreement ensuring co-operation between Alaska and the Yukon that's set to expire this year will be renewed, Darrell Pasloski told the Star Wednesday.
• The Quest lineup at a glance FAIRBANKS – Here is the complete starting order for the 2012 Yukon Quest:
• Yukoners well down Quest's starting lineup Allen Moore will be the first musher out of the starting chute Saturday at the 2012 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.
• Opinions divided over meetings' start time Starting city council meetings at supper time is not a good idea, says Riverdale resident Kristina Calhoun.
• Senior city administrator fined for hunting offence A senior administrator with the City of Whitehorse says he regrets shooting an undersized Dall sheep, but it happened and he's sorry.
• Ombudsman out; no explanation provided The territory's ombudsman says she wasn't given any explanation for why her position was not renewed.