Whitehorse Daily Star

May 20, 2008

• Learning For Life Literacy Gathering began with a feast DAWSON CITY - The Learning for Life Literacy Gathering kicked off here May 9 with a full-scale banquet at the Oddfellows' Hall, catered by Nora's Kitchen.
• Human rights commission surveys youth he results of an on-line youth survey will be used to help guide the Yukon Human Rights Commission when it brings forward ideas to the territorial government in reviewing human rights legislation in the territory.
• YTG not a party in constitutional case A local lawyer is surprised the Yukon government hasn't asked to become a party in the lawsuit his Kaska clients have filed against the federal government.
• Man with 'unenviable criminal record' jailed A 26-year-old man received a 22-month jail sentence, minus time served, in territorial court earlier this month.
• Parents question loss of teaching position An increase of 16 students at Hidden Valley School through the current school year has parents questioning the Department of Education's decision to cut one of its teacher positions for 2008/2009.
• Social activist touched many people's lives Bob Couchman had kind eyes.
• Pension clawback 'degrading,' veteran says Wayne Wannamaker has a quiet, weary voice, but he is struggling to make it heard.
• Canoeist last seen Saturday morning A search for a 26-year-old male canoeist is continuing since he went missing over the long weekend while travelling on the Yukon River near Dawson City.

May 16, 2008

• For the people, by the people Two years ago, in March 2006, a small group of Members of Parliament sat down in a back room on Parliament Hill. They got into a discussion on how they could provide their support in Parliament for outdoor activities.
• The classic comics are back again, just as good as ever It will be no secret to any reader of this column that I am a fan of that graphic art form known as the comic book .
• APTN plans to boost aboriginal language use The Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) recently launched a new high-definition channel to ensure northerners get the best of APTN in the best format available, says the network"s CEO.
• Outside artists add flare, tutoring to show For its latest series of shows, Brave New Works is bringing in two accomplished artists from outside the territory to assist with the production.
• Runners share inspiration of peace, dignity Peace and dignity for indigenous peoples of the world.
• Association opens Dawson City office The Association franco-yukonnaise (AFY) has appointed Julie Leclerc as economic and community development officer for the Dawson City area.
• Francophones have had a long role in building Yukon history While a crowd of approximately 100 people gathered in the main foyer of the Yukon government building at noon Thursday, the voices of the Chorale de l'Ecole Emilie-Tremblay echoed through the corridors.
• Teacher sounds final note to classroom career After more than 30 years in one career, the word "retirement" might be like music to anyone's ear.
• FASD specialist happy to hop across border The new director of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon (FASSY) says she is excited to be filling the shoes of longtime director Judy Pakozdy.
• Legislature wraps up spring sitting The acrimonious back-and-forth that punctuated debate in the legislative chambers during the spring sitting spilled from the house Thursday as the premier and opposition leader continued to accuse each other of wasting time.
• Fentie not sorry to vote down act Premier Dennis Fentie made no apologies prior to announcing his government would vote down Liberal justice critic Don Inverarity's proposed Apology Act in the just-finished spring session of the legislature.
• Store hits The Bricks for new location The United Furniture Warehouse on the corner of Quartz and Industrial Roads is converting into The Brick.
• Minister eschews Taser in holster Justice Minister Marian Horne isn't about to go Cagney and Lacey to rid the Yukon of drug dens and bootleggers. However, she's confident the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Act is working.
• Rising gas prices on tourism industry's mind Rising gas prices may be discouraging American tourists from visiting the Yukon, worry local RV Park owners.
• Flood repairs delay visitor centre opening The busiest tourist centre in the Yukon, the Carcross Visitor Information Centre is late re-opening this year, due to damage inflicted by the 2007 flooding.
• Enlarged Arkell subdivision plan moves ahead The city is moving forward on its plans to expand the Arkell subdivision.
• Two men, woman wanted by authorities The public's assistance is requested in locating three Yukoners wanted as of noon Thursday.
• Charges stayed against Arntzen The prosecutor in a criminal case against a former Yukon Party MLA has stayed proceedings, due to a lack of a reasonable prospect of conviction.
• City ignored residents' wishes, court told Members of the McLean Lake Residents Association are awaiting Yukon Supreme Court Justice Leigh Gower's decision regarding the fate of a parcel of land near McLean Lake, following a day-long court hearing Thursday.
• Report traces parties' financial sources Five Vancouver-based mining companies were among the largest donators to the Yukon Party last year, according to the Chief Electoral Officer of Yukon's 2007 political contributions report.
• Society stalwart hails animal law changes Tougher penalties and broader enforcement measures proposed for the territory's Animal Protection Act are getting positive reviews from Andrea Lemphers, Yukon Human Society's (YHS) past president and current spokesperson.
• Height limit proposed for Porter Creek condo plans The owners of a property proposed for a new development say that though they are requesting permission for four-storey buildings, they may not build to that height.
• Scholarship administrators are accepting applications The Geoffrey Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship is now accepting applications for the 2008 award, administrators said Thursday.
• Rural Yukon visitors lose their free parking privileges The City of Whitehorse is no longer making its free, three-day tourist parking passes available to visitors from other communities in the territory.
• Correction Thursday's edition reported the Yukon Liberal Party voted against the Pelly-Carmacks hydro expansion project.
• Smoke-Free Places Act takes effect As of yesterday, the Smoke-Free Places Act banned smoking in all indoor public areas, workplaces and outdoor eating and drinking establishments in the Yukon.
• Teenagers arrested after paintball attack Three teenaged males are facing charges after paintballs were fired from a moving car at a woman's vehicle in Riverdale early Thursday afternoon.
• Be careful with weekend campfires, officials warn Three news wildfires were reported in the territory Thursday in the Watson Lake, Carmacks and Dawson City fire districts respectively, bringing the fire total for the season to nine.
• Ex-kidnap victim wasn't welcome in church James Loney's Thursday night appearance was originally supposed to be held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, a local Catholic church.
• Freedom is 'the oxygen of our lives': ex-hostage On the night before he was rescued from captivity by special forces in the American military, James Loney sat with one of his Iraqi captors and gave him a massage.
• Home invasion sends pair to penitentiary Two young men from Watson Lake each received three-year jail sentences in territorial court Thursday, following their convictions of break and enter.
• 'It's criminal, and no one's answering' An insurance adjuster for the contractor involved in the May 6 blast that sent rocks flying into Lobird Park mobile homes is in Whitehorse today to look at the damage.

May 15, 2008

• Environment Forum is set for later this month The Yukon government will host an Environment Forum later this month at Yukon College, Environment Minister Dennis Fentie said Wednesday.
• Opposition pours disdain over climate change plan Opposition members heaped criticism on the government's climate change action plan and energy strategy during question period Tuesday.
• Abandoned house burned A fire at an abandoned house in Ross River last weekend caused no injuries nor serious damages, RCMP said Monday.
• Twenty-second annual gold show starts Friday DAWSON CITY - The 22nd annual Dawson City International Gold Show will get under way Friday with 69 exhibitors displaying their wares in the
• Legislative notebook: Net metering launches Lang into filibuster Debate has been adjourned twice on Liberal MLA Gary McRobb's net metering bill -- first in November 2007 and then in April this year.
• Hospice Yukon plans bereavement workshop As much as grief and loss is something everyone will have to experience, how people deal with it is different for each person, says Cathy Routledge, Hospice Yukon's executive director.
• D.A.R.E. taught students to denounce drugs Over the past 10 weeks, Grades 5 and 6 students at Elijah Smith Elementary School have learned about making decisions, the resulting consequences and how to deal with peer pressure when faced with choices around using substances like drugs, alcohol and smoking.
• Fire could have been serious, official says Both volunteer and Wildland Fire Management crews were quick to respond to a spot-size fire in very windy conditions in the Ibex Valley last night.
• Rider dies after ATV goes over an embankment A 43-year-old man whose all-terrain vehicle (ATV) went over an embankment was found dead near Carmacks Tuesday afternoon.
• Students mixed fun with alternative energy lesson Grade 7 students at Christ the King Elementary School had an unusual addition to their schedule on Wednesday afternoon of last week.