Whitehorse Daily Star

January 13, 2009

• Fentie to take priorities to prime minister Premier Dennis Fentie says he is looking forward to productive discussions in Ottawa with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, his provincial and territorial counterparts and national aboriginal leaders.
• Faro lost power for 90 minutes DAWSON CITY - Cold weather and an unspecified electrical fault are the root causes of a lengthy power outage in Faro last Friday, according to Yukon Energy's Janet Patterson.
• Speed, weather blamed for incidents Two road incidents involving tractor-trailers closed the Alaska Highway twice Monday, and police are blaming both on bad driving in bad conditions.
• Shelter hopes for contest victory Staff at the Mae Bachur Animal Shelter are hoping Yukoners will help them win a continent-wide contest, which would give the shelter a much needed financial boost.
• Parties endorse mandatory blood testing A law compelling people to share results of mandatory blood tests looks set to pass unanimously through the Yukon legislature this spring.
• Snowslides close highways The South Klondike Highway re-opened late this morning, though the assessment of avalanche danger was ongoing.
• Budget obliges residents to dig deeper It's expected to cost more than $55 million to operate the city in the coming year
• Parade of tax hikes 'ridiculous': councillor "We're living way beyond our means."

January 12, 2009

• First Yukoner will receive gold level Duke of Edinburgh Award Robert Leschert will become the first scout in the Yukon to receive the gold level Duke of Edinburgh Award.
• Yukoners win scholarship Two Yukoners studying tourism at separate ends of the country are set to get some financial help from the Klondike Visitors Association (KVA) and Tourism Industry Association (TIA) Yukon.
• Weather blamed for numerous power failures Snow and frost are taking their toll on staff at Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd.
• Local groups must leave offices Two of Whitehorse's social advocacy organizations have been asked to leave their downtown offices in the Yukon Inn Plaza at the end of the month, and one is still searching for a new home.
• Quest struggles with economic woes Fund-raising into January is nothing new for the Yukon Quest International Sled-Dog Race.
• Snow Patrol A City of Whitehorse grader clears snow
• Reconvene house to discuss federal windfall: Liberals With $175 million in federal cash available to improve the territory's infrastructure, the Yukon Liberals are demanding a special sitting of the legislature to debate where the money should be spent.
• Galloping glacier reaches critical time juncture If the Tweedsmuir Glacier is going to complete its surge across the Alsek River, it'll likely happen this winter, says a surface geologist with the Yukon Geological Survey.
• 'It was great to see the hill with skiers' After the city's only ski hill has virtually been closed for about a year, it appears the weather is finally favouring Mount Sima.

January 9, 2009

• Predator control: a factual necessity First of all, I am writing this column with my kayak life jacket on.
• Pierre Berton as we knew him There were at least two sides to Pierre Berton.
• Images of 'Mother' dominated open house DAWSON CITY - The project entitled Anthropomorphic Mother was the centerpiece of the second annual Klondike Institute of Arts and Culture's School of Visual Arts (SOVA) recent open house.
• Pursuit of geothermal power generation is heating up Yukon Energy has received another infusion of cash to advance its research into geothermal heat sources for power generation.
• On Stage Tonight Alberta singer-songwriter Tim Hus
• Public buildings may receive lifts It could cost the city $240,000 to make two of its buildings more accessible.
• Yukoners sought on various charges The public's assistance is requested in locating three Yukoners wanted as of noon Tuesday.
• Spirit has owner's hopes afloat for 2009 DAWSON CITY - It's January and the Klondike Spirit sits on the flat land beneath the Moosehide Slide, shrouded in ice fog and hoar frost, waiting for spring.
• Selecting projects will be long-term exercise: Lang While federal Transport Minister John Baird spoke of "weeks, not months and years" to roll out millions in infrastructure investments
• Yukoners mourn 'a wonderful principal' He was a larger-than-life character who was passionate about everything he did.
• Chamber to host president of federal Treasury Board The Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce will make its pitch for economic stimulus when federal Treasury Board president Vic Toews visits the territory next week.
• Yukon market limited, Air North reminds WestJet WestJet would have more difficulty penetrating Whitehorse's air travel market than it did Yellowknife's, according to the president of the Yukon's airline.