Whitehorse Daily Star

May 15, 2009

• How to get the best out of your fresh fish I get phone calls along with e-mails on how to cook fish, so I will dedicate this week's column to the topic.
• Learning the story from behind the veil In The Myth Hunters (reviewed here in January 2008), we met Oliver Bascombe, an unhappy lawyer who had doubts about his impending marriage.
• Sonny Rhodes has seen it all - and then some Bluesman Sonny Rhodes has mowed some lawns, picked a lot of cotton and played a ton of blues in his life.
• School band was a hit in Dawson City DAWSON CITY - The Vanier Catholic Secondary School band wrapped up its week-long road trip in Dawson last week with concerts at the Robert Service School and at the Oddfellows' Hall.
• It's a week to celebrate nurses Yukon College is celebrating National Nursing Week, May 11-17, by inviting its graduates to a ceremony honouring nurses.
• Pipeline research won't be detoured: officials Competing senior executives say the dive in the price of natural gas won't slow substantial research into the cost of a proposed Alaska Highway natural gas pipeline.
• SCAN phone number made easily accessible Yukoners can now easily access the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) office with a new toll-free telephone number, Justice Minister Marian Horne said Wednesday.
• Strahl insists he didn't agree to speak at national meeting Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said Thursday he made no commitment to speak at a national land claims conference in Ottawa this week.
• Solid waste bylaw closer to fruition The city is one vote away from adopting a new solid waste bylaw after council passed first and second readings of the bylaw at its Monday night meeting.
• Recovering vet returns to Dawson DAWSON CITY - John Overell, Dawson's veterinarian, has been reveling in his return to the Klondike over the last two weeks.
• Territories sign a new memorandum The Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) are now signatories to a "Canada's North" Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
• City releases firehall tender The city has issued the tender for the new public safety building set to be built at the top of Two Mile Hill.
• Board absorbed $14-million loss last year The Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board (WCB) released its annual report Thursday afternoon, detailing a more than $14-million loss on its investments in 2008.
• A Lively Thursday Evening Fred Eaglesmith performs with his band in a sold-out Yukon Arts Centre show
• First nation can sue, judge rules The Ross River Dena Council can sue the federal government on behalf of the Kaska Nation in southeast Yukon and northern B.C., says Justice Leigh Gower of the Yukon Supreme Court.
• Queen's disappearance would be 'catastrophic' DAWSON CITY - Rod Taylor, chair of the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIA), says the industry needs to wake up and come to the support of the Yukon Queen II.
• Liquor licence applicant, residents hold meeting The Granger Neighbourhood Association and the owner of an application for a liquor licence in Granger held a meeting May 7 to discuss its effects on the neighbourhood.
• Ex-teacher's aide enters guilty plea The former Teslin teacher's aide who was charged with possessing child pornography in September 2007 pleaded guilty to the charge Thursday.
• What Closed The Highway Yukon government highway maintenance crews
• Bears prompt campground closure The Pine Lake Territorial Campground in Haines Junction has been closed after two grizzly bears were discovered in the area.
• Takhini contract awarded Skookum Asphalt Ltd. will be responsible for paving the streets of Takhini North after work is done to overhaul the neighbourhood's water and sewer system.
• Disability Management Centre announced The Yukon Federation of Labour has announced a Disability Management Centre that will offer 11 new courses to Yukon workers and employers.
• In-city moose may give birth soon Environment Yukon conservation officers (COs) believe a moose near Two Mile Hill may give birth in the next few days.
• Cultural centre to get more parking The Kwanlin Dun First Nation can continue plans for its cultural centre after city council approved the conditional use of the development at its meeting Monday evening.
• Aboriginal leadership program feted Participants in the partnership of Yukon College's and Parks Canada's Aboriginal Leadership Development Program celebrated its 10th anniversary with a drum ceremony early this afternoon.
• Inquisitive bear tranquilized, released north of Whitehorse Environment Yukon conservation officers (COs) and the RCMP were called out at noon Thursday to deal with a young adult male black bear treed near the City of Whitehorse water intake on the Yukon River.
• Outgoing YTA head has missed the classroom The Yukon Teachers' Association (YTA) will say goodbye to a president whose focus was co-operation and team-building for the benefit of students.
• Conference to help forge economic strategy The city's plan for a new economic strategy will go ahead.
• Demand is dazzling for Sundog Studio's wares Since it began in 2004, the Sundog Studio has rapidly grown from a traditional carving program designed to instruct a handful of young artists every few months into a first nations carving school - complete with multi-year programs, a gallery and workshop - and an incubator for nearly lost artistic traditions.
• A billion dollar budget and a ton of discord When Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell said the government used its majority to railroad the Child and Youth Advocate Act through the legislature during the spring sitting, he was rebuked by the House Speaker Ted Staffen.
• Man gave family 'an open wound' Dudley Taylor - the man found guilty this week of sexually assaulting four young children 20 years ago - was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday.

May 14, 2009

• Master Gardeners prepared to enrich the Yukon's agriculture This summer, the latest graduates of the Yukon government's Master Gardener course will be pulling out their trowels and spades to cultivate growth of the Yukon's agriculture sector.
• Mining, geology celebrated Gold mining is the focus of this year's Mining and Geology Week, May 11 to 17.
• Ingram agreement approved A vote by council Monday night means the proposed agreement between the city and Yukon government on the new Ingram subdivision will go ahead.
• World Vision Canada advocate to speak here A notable Christian commentator and public speaker will lecture on The Church and Global Justice on Friday evening in Whitehorse.
• Students, parents relieved by policy change Emily Fedoriak learned Wednesday that after completing Grade 12 at Porter Creek Secondary School, she will indeed receive a high school diploma.
• Territory to get $7 million for road, bridge work Communities across the Yukon will benefit from $7 million worth of infrastructure projects, it was announced today.
• 'I reject the testimony of Mr. Taylor': judge After reviewing the evidence put before him earlier this week, Yukon Supreme Court Justice Roland Haines found Dudley Taylor guilty this morning.
• Marvelous Manes Tashia Thompson, left, Zara Neukon, rear centre, Callie Andre, front, and Brittany Widrig, right,

May 13, 2009

• School's founding father to step aside DAWSON CITY - David Curtis is going fishing.
• Yukon first nations curriculum materials released Two new books for early readers featuring Yukon first nations' culture are being distributed to elementary schools throughout the territory.
• Northwestel seeks northern artwork for directory covers The search is on for northern artwork to be featured on Northwestel Inc.'s 2010 telephone directory covers.
• Artist highlights roadside attractions A red four-runner is perched on the side of the highway, pointed in the opposite direction to the traffic in the lane beside it. A figure is hunched over in the back, face hidden by a hat.
• First nations condemn Strahl for cancelled meetings Federal Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl is demonstrating contempt for the Yukon's Self-Governing First Nations, a first nations coalition said Tuesday.
• MLAs endorse food mail program It was a rare show of unity in the legislature last Thursday when MLAs unanimously supported lobbying the federal government to maintain federally-funded food mail services to the isolated community of Old Crow.
• Tourism linked to sustainable development: TIAY chair DAWSON CITY - Rod Taylor, chair of the Tourism Industry Association of the Yukon (TIAY), was pleased to note 105 registered delegates attended the spring conference here May 2-3.
• Spurned contractor wants federal intervention The granting of a $25-million contract to build a sewage treatment plant in Dawson City is proceeding despite protests from a spurned contractor and the Yukon Liberal Party.
• Klondike Highway open again after run-off severs transportation link The North Klondike Highway reopened Tuesday night after more than 30 hours once highway crews were able to tame a roaring Tatchun Creek north of Carmacks.
• Bibles for Missions plans to open Whitehorse thrift store A Bibles for Missions thrift store will start up in Whitehorse with help from Northern Lights Ministries.
• Motherly Nuzzling A baby muskox is seen with its mother last Saturday at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve north of Whitehorse.
• Campgrounds being readied for opening on long weekend Notwithstanding Monday night's snowfall, field crews from Environment Yukon's parks branch have been preparing Yukon campgrounds for their official season opening on the Victoria Day holiday weekend.
• Mushers welcome Quest's earlier start date Organizers of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race have moved their 2010 start time up a week,
• Minto Mine looking at third production expansion MINTO - Just like it's been doing for a couple of years now, the copper-gold Minto Mine released more stellar exploration results Tuesday morning.
• Court hears allegations of childhood sex assaults Ed. note: some details in this story may offend some readers.
• Yukon continues long pursuit of delinquent debts While Premier Dennis Fentie hinted Monday that more than $1.5 million in delinquent government loans could be written off,
• Washout termed 'very challenging situation' A major washout of the White Pass and Yukon Route railbed at MilePost 37,