Whitehorse Daily Star

March 4, 2009

• Waiting for the drop grows into Dawson spectator sport DAWSON CITY - "So, like, did the whole town come out to see this?" the lady on the Yukon River flood dike asked of no one in particular, because she didn't really know who was local and who wasn't.
• Yukon Energy, museum team up for pilot project The Dawson City Museum, in partnership with Yukon Energy, has announced a new educational program for Yukon elementary school students.
• UNDER THE MOONLIGHT Ice skating show, 'A Tropical Cruise'.
• NHL's Quinn to speak here Former hockey executive and coach Pat Quinn will make a keynote address to the Whitehorse business community on Thursday evening.
• Phones go out Telus is working to restore phone service to about 450 customers in the Atlin area who lost it late Tuesday morning.
• GOOD CLEAN FUN Musher Michelle Phillips gives a ride to a couple of students
• Mineral claims rules modernized New mineral claims rules to take effect April 1 will bring prospecting into the 21st century, says Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Brad Cathers.
• Road reconstruction planned Highways and Public Works Minister Archie Lang says $2.9 million will be allocated for reconstruction on the Atlin Road, subject to legislative approval.
• Curling official defends protest The choice by local curling club manager Jon Solberg to vie for a Brier berth throwing for a Northwest Territories' rink, which qualified for the national championship two weeks ago, is reverberating through the northern curling community.
• WINNING WORK Winning poster from the 2009 Relay for Life Poster Contest
• Labour group plans major convention, Layton visit The Yukon Federation of Labour will host federal NDP Leader Jack Layton as the keynote speaker at a political action conference next month.
• FRANCOPHONE RENDEZVOUS TOUTED A mural was unveiled at the Centre de la Francophone
• Staunch New Democrat remembered for his passion DAWSON CITY - As the Yukon's New Democratic Party pauses to consider its future, older party members may recall its past, reaching back to 1974, when Fred Berger was the NDP's first president.
• Kenyon optimistic about Yukon's economic future Chin up - or so says Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon.
• February buried snowfall record After the territory recorded a record-setting 42.8 centimetres of snow in February, the RCMP are reminding motorists to be careful while driving in winter conditions.
• Takhini North appeal to be heard April 16 Yukon Supreme Court Justice Leigh Gower has set aside April 16 to hear arguments in the city's appeal of a January small claims court judgment about the Takhini North subdivision.
• It's 'stimulus, stimulus, stimulus': Fentie Premier Dennis Fentie is promising the largest budget in the Yukon's history as the territory's legislative assembly will reconvene Mar. 19.

March 3, 2009

• New education initiative will help young students The Yukon government is pouring money into what it's calling an Early Years Transition Initiative aimed at helping children.
• SHARING THE WONDER OF WORDS Christ the King Elementary School's seniors' tea
• Creditors prevented from forcing firm into bankruptcy Four Zimbabwean creditors have lost their bid to force a Yukon-based company, Sphere Resources, into bankruptcy.
• Yukon Energy negotiating potential agreements Yukon Energy is in discussions to supply two more mining companies with power, the corporation's president said Monday.
• Councillor returns to Monday meeting After weeks of phoning in to city council meetings, Coun. Jan Stick was on-hand at Monday's meeting.
• Budget changes proposed to make room for compost At least one city councillor is hoping the city can keep its budget for asphalt paths around town at $100,000 rather than cutting $20,000 out of it for compost, as city staff have proposed.
• Second trekkers group due in Dawson DAWSON CITY - The first run of the 16th annual Trek Over the Top arrived in Dawson last Thursday evening, completing what some riders called a good day on their machines.
• ICE-SHREDDING Figure skater Kevin Caron
• Mayo hydro project would cost $110 million-plus Yukon Energy is moving forward with its plan to build a newer and larger hydro facility in Mayo over the next two years, at a cost of $110 million-plus.
• District heating system eyed for Whistle Bend subdivision With the final master plan for Whistle Bend now adopted, the city will continue looking at different home heating options for the next major neighbourhood.
• Knife is pulled on snowmachine owner Two men may have learned early this morning why it's best to get a snowmachine legitimately instead of simply taking someone else's.
• Loan is 'absolute necessity,' mayor says The economic downturn could work in the city's favour when it comes to building a new fire hall.

March 2, 2009

• THE WINNER! Shelby, the 2009 Relay for Life Poster Contest winner.
• Five hundred-plus people attend benefit More than 500 people came together for a fund-raiser for Richard Godson on Saturday evening at the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel.
• YTG solar panel project shows off technology The Yukon government is demonstrating the northern application of solar power with the installation of a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system atop its administration building in Whitehorse.
• Addictions resource line in service Health and Social Services Minister Glenn Hart's Feb. 19 launch of the Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service (ADIRS) means Yukon residents have another addictions service available to them, he says.
• TEA AND VISIT TIME Long-time Whitehorse resident John Wheelton.
• NDP hopes events will push it into electoral contention Yukon New Democratics are hopeful their spring convention and fall leadership race will reinvigorate the beleaguered party.
• City may enrich per tonne diversion credits After increasing the cap on its diversion credits from $30,000 to $100,000 annually in the 2009 budget, council members and city staff are pondering raising the credit itself from $30 per tonne to a possible $50 per tonne.
• Banquet caps 2009 Yukon Quest The 1,600-kilometre Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race came to an end Saturday, four days after champion Whitehorse musher Sebastian Schnuelle crossed the finish line in Fairbanks.
• Children's Receiving Home will be razed and replaced "Total demolition" is how NDP MLA Steve Cardiff wanted Whitehorse's transitional foster care home dealt with more than a year ago.
• 'We understand why people are concerned and upset' The Yukon's primary electrical grid will become much more reliable in the coming months, Yukon Energy president David Morrison has promised.