Whitehorse Daily Star

February 6, 2009

• Skagway partied into the night 50 years ago SKAGWAY - It is difficult to imagine a trip to the post office, library, police station, or school without the familiar view of America's flag waving in the substantial Skagway breeze.
• They're ready to tour and share Yukon culture The juries are in and the lineup has been finalized and released for the 2009 Yukon Buyers Showcase.
• Happy birthday to Ducks Unlimited! 72 years young! Ducks Unlimited in the U.S. is celebrating 72 years in the business of wetland conservation management.
• Film traces man's escape from the ghetto At 15, Lesra Martin's life was much like that of any other kid living on the mean streets of Bushwick, New York.
• 'Daddy Roy know he's the one, the upcoming one' With the Frostbite Music Festival just around the corner, the Star caught up to Daddy Roy.
• Local art fills Dawson gallery DAWSON CITY - For much of the year, the Odd Gallery is home to a variety of exhibits from all over the country, but twice a year, the visitors make way for the locals
• Sagas end and series continue on Crown of Horns brings to a close the nine volumes of the Bone saga.
• Regimes sign language evaluation deal The Yukon government has signed an agreement with the Public Service Commission of Canada to provide second language evaluations for its employees.
• Faro will still be a concern in 500 years A 40-year, half-billion-dollar option has been chosen to prepare the abandoned Faro mine for long-term monitoring over the next several hundred years.
• Air cadets' new commander relishes the challenges The"Whitehorse Lions" Royal Canadian Air Cadet Sqaudron (RCACS) received a new commanding officer (CO) during a Change of Command ceremony on Tuesday.
• The cups of Yukon imbibers runneth over Brad Cathers, the minister responsible for the Yuon Liquor Corp., thanks staff for their ongoing work serving Yukoners in the opening pages of the publicly-owned booze retailer's annual report.
• Man charged after bylaw officer finds injured dog Humane Society Yukon staff at the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter are helping Binger recuperate from wounds caused by a chain growing into his neck.
• NDP needs a credible dynamo: veteran loyalist In seeking a new leader, the Yukon New Democrats could look to November's U.S. presidential campaign for some tips on how to invigorate the electorate, says a long-time party insider.
• Rotary Peace Park passes the torch If council follows a recommendation from city staff Monday in adopting a policy on the use of city parks, it would also rescind a 1995 policy governing Rotary Peace Park.
• Complex court case will resume Monday Lawyers for the federal government and the Ross River Dena Council are closer. But a key point was still separating them when the most recent hearing was adjourned Thursday until Monday.
• Students gain a taste of working with the best For Yukon cooks who strive to buy and eat locally grown food, February is a particularly bleak time of year.
• RCMP have been of little help, gold theft victim says An estimated quarter of a million dollars' worth of gold that went missing from a B.C. gold miner's claim last year hasn't been recovered, and likely never will be.
• Biggest regret was lack of power: Hardy In an emotional press conference outside the Old Fire Hall Thursday afternoon, New Democratic Party Leader Todd Hardy announced he's stepping aside.

February 5, 2009

• Hart anticipates progress on FASD issues Health and Social Services Minister Glenn Hart said he is looking forward to an improved working relationship with Health Canada after meeting with federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq recently.
• Settling In Emily Jones, a health promotion worker with Blood Ties Four Directions,
• Potential landmark lawsuit parties in court The Ross River Dena Council and the federal government are in court again for more preliminary matters on what could potentially be a lawsuit of historic significance.
• Kippenberger fans catch 'The Last Train' DAWSON CITY - A couple dozen art lovers gathered at the Oddfellows' Hall ballroom last Friday to mark the passing of the Dawson METRO-Net station.
• City water wells take next step Signing off on a Licence of Occupation with the Yukon government would give the city the formal authority to operate its new waterline and wells in Riverdale.
• Government money handily polishes downtown diamond Downtown's Old Fire Hall has been such a smashing success that the government intends to extend its funding to the tune of $450,000.
• Business day begins with massive power outage An overheated unit at Yukon Energy's Aishihik facility was the cause of this morning's massive power failure on the Whitehorse/Aishihik/Faro grid.
• Women seek wages after day care's closure The territory's director of employment standards has gone to the Yukon Supreme Court to get the final wages due to the 14 women who abruptly lost their jobs with the closure of a Whitehorse day care.

February 4, 2009

• First nations take control of their cultural destiny The annual Skookum Jim Folklore Show, entitled A Night Of Blues, took to the stage last Saturday evening at the Yukon Arts Centre.
• ADSL means Any Delay Seems Long With any luck at all, my Internet connection will still be functioning when I am ready to send this column to the Star. Goodness knows, it ought to be.
• Yukon performers prepare for Cultural Olympiad Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor is extending congratulations to Kim Beggs and First People's Performances, selected to perform at the Cultural Olympiad 2009.
• Helping Oversees Colleagues Grade 7 students at the Selkirk Elementary School
• Children urged to eat right The Department of Health and Social Services is helping celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Polar Games
• Capital was on four choppers' itinerary Two pairs of U.S. army helicopters passed through Whitehorse recently - one returning from war, the other from a peacekeeping exercise.
• Cold will help still spruce beetle The recent cold snap will no doubt be another sword in the side of the spruce beetle, says an expert who has watched the Yukon infestation from the beginning.
• Government official explored sustainable tourism Denny Kobayashi of Whitehorse was one of 17 tourism professionals who recently boarded the Celebrity cruise ship Mercury for an interactive learning experience that combined a behind-the-scenes tour with a two-hour in-depth presentation on sustainability.
• Passing The Torch Capt. Beth Osborne, right, turned over the command of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets
• Fraser has advice to improve Yukon College management Yukon College needs to improve its ways in a couple of key areas, says federal Auditor General Sheila Fraser.
• City zoning bylaw changes proposed City council members are contemplating a long list of changes to the city's zoning bylaw.
• Polar bear hype is about communication: experts After two days of lectures, discussions, and workshops, a group of polar bear management experts who met in Whitehorse last weekend have come to a conclusion: It's not about the bears.
• Education officials to face questions on damning report Senior Education department officials will be in the hot seat Friday to answer for poor student success rates in the territory, outlined in a damning report from Auditor General Sheila Fraser, released last week.
• Local musician falls victim to fraudulent e-mail scam Whitehorse musician Gordie Tentrees is stranded in Europe and he desperately needs your help. Haven't you heard? Didn't you get the e-mail?
• Load Lightening For larger buildings, especially those with a more gentle slope to their roofs,
• EMO prepares for a volcanic eruption Officials with the territory's Emergency Measures Organization are joining their counterparts in Alaska and British Columbia to prepare for the possible eruption of the Mount Redoubt volcano near Anchorage.
• Air Canada adds Calgary flight Travellers flying directly to Calgary from Whitehorse will enjoy two choices next summer - Air Canada or Air North.