Whitehorse Daily Star

March 7, 2011

• Schnuelle in fourth place in Iditarod Canada's Sebastian Schnuelle was in fourth place this morning after passing through a checkpoint at the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.
• Girls explored science and technology Last Friday's "Discover Your Future Conference” helped an estimated 60 young women from across Yukon discover firsthand how careers in science and math can be their ticket to an incredible future.
• International Women's Day festivities planned The Victoria Faulkner Women's Centre and Yukon Status of Women Council will open their 503 Hanson St. doors to all on Tuesday, the 100th annual International Women's Day.
• Music For A Cause Julian Richard, left, and Kevin Barr perform Friday
• Yukon Energy workers reject proposed contract Members of the Yukon Employees' Union (YEU)/Public Service Alliance of Canada employed by the Yukon Energy Corp. have rejected a proposed contract settlement reached between the union and the corporation.
• Valleyview greenhouse OKed A road closure has paved the way for the Valleyview Community Association to start a community greenhouse.
• All Jazz Eva Stehelin performs at the Jazz in the Hall Thursday evening
• Northwestel promises better service for Dawson Northwestel Inc.'s Internet customers in Dawson have experienced their share of problems over the last few months, but all that should be over, according to Curtis Shaw.
• New water station has safety issues Just a couple of months after the city's new $10.9-million Public Safety Building – with its new water fill station – officially opened, workers' compensation board safety officers are looking at safety concerns.
• Inquest review to get access to full RCMP file The family of Raymond Silverfox, the Carmacks man who died in police custody in 2009,
• For me, it's a matter of life and death' A Marsh Lake senior says she's very concerned her foreign doctor has to leave the Yukon because his five-year special licence to practise here is expiring.

March 4, 2011

• Annual spelling bee winners are celebrated More than 40 Yukon students spent part of their Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Friday giving their spelling skills a workout.
• Northern Songs and Stories take to the road DAWSON CITY – The Northern Songs and Stories trio of John K. Samson, Christine Fellows and Nicole Bauberger hit the road in Pelly Crossing on Feb. 22.
• Chronic wasting disease is on the move! A news release from the Maryland Wildlife Resources Commission has alerted its citizens that a whitetail deer there has been tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD).
• An ode to the famous Rendezvous can-can girls Ed. note: This poem was submitted this week in honour of the Sourdough Rendezvous can-can dancers.
• Pan-Canadian album migrates north Musical construction, like any construction project, takes time, budgets and a huge amount of effort.
• The fantasy worlds of Guy Gavriel Kay Guy Gavriel Kay is a fascinating writer of complex fantasy novels.
• City's rosy prospects luring businesses' scrutiny What can at the very least be a "perceived” gold rush has hit the territory. It's bringing more and more business interests knocking at the door of the city's tourism and economic development supervisor.
• Liberal nod sought for new riding Colleen Wirth will seek the Yukon Liberal Party nomination for the new Copperbelt South riding.
• Control structure used to expand water volumes Yukon Energy is experimenting with water flows at the Whitehorse Rapids Dam to try to offset high demand during the ongoing cold snap, says the utility's spokeswoman.
• Beware of treacherous walking trails The recent winds in the city may not have been welcomed by many residents, but for those using the city's major paved trails, the winter gales will mean a cleared path for walking.
• B.C. facility powers 15,000 homes The Metro Vancouver Waste-to-Energy Facility in Burnaby burns about 280,000 tonnes or 20 per cent of the garbage collected in greater Vancouver every year.
• Steady tax hikes don't lure businesses: chamber In a time of expansion and potential economic growth, the city needs to be business-friendly; a city that continues to hike taxes and user fees does not appear welcoming to the business community, says the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce president.
• Board levied $64,000 in fines over six months During the second half of 2010, the territorial workers' compensation Board (WCB) fined Yukon employers more than $64,000 for safety infractions.
• TREATS OF SWEETS Rendez-vous de la Francophone 2011
• Habitat house helps family stay in territory he Tuberfields' new home was built from wood, nails, tiles – things they helped install as part of their sweat equity agreement with Habitat for Humanity.
• Food supply's vulnerability a concern: NDP Yukoners are reliant on highways and airplanes for the majority of their food, but NDP Leader Liz Hanson wants to know what would happen in an emergency.
• City stuck on unsustainable fiscal path: Pillai Whitehorse city councillor Ranj Pillai believes the city needs to take a look at getting into the business of generating electricity.

March 3, 2011

• MLA concerned about cost, quality of Internet service Lingering cold temperatures have kept many Yukoners indoors, and turning to what MLA Don Inverarity calls "unreliable” Internet service for entertainment.
• Ex-minister doesn't share colleagues' poor reviews Independent MLA Brad Cathers thinks the opposition parties are too negative about Auditor General Sheila Fraser's report on the Department of Health and Social Services.
• GAZEBO GONE? The Front Street gazebo in Dawson City
• Territory hosted Commonwealth representatives The Yukon legislature hosted meetings to mark "A Century of Commonwealth Parliamentary Commitment” last week.
• CPF official is promoting French education in North A Vancouver advocate for integrating French as a second language in schools is helping introduce the French language to Whitehorse parents.
• Councillors headed to Carcross Two city councillors will be hitting the road later this month to attend the Association of Yukon Communities' board meeting in Carcross.
• Dawson's sewer, water rates will rise and fall DAWSON CITY – The rate that Dawsonites pay for utilities is either rising or falling, depending on how you look at it.
• Diversion could be environmental catastrophe: NDP Plans to redirect Gladstone Creek toward the Aishihik hydro facility are ringing environmental alarm bells.
• Latest caribou count delights board chair Joe Tetlichi is happy – extremely happy – with the final count of the Porcupine caribou herd issued Wednesday by Alaskan wildlife managers.
• Peel commission faces a judgment call: chair It will be impossible to please all governments who are party to the Peel land use planning exercise, says the newly-appointed chair of the planning commission.