Whitehorse Daily Star

May 14, 2008

• 'Exceptional educators'saluted for their dedication Five teaching Excellence Awards were presented by the Department of Education and the Yukon Teachers'Association during a special ceremony held at the Yukon Convention Centre in late April.
• Coach wins Sheardown award for excellence James Shaw was this year's winner of the Ben Sheardown Award, presented annually at the Yukon Teachers' Association and Department of Education sponsored retirement and awards night social in April.
• Revised Corrections Act could be ready this fall An updated Corrections Act that reflects changes in Canada's judicial system over the last 35 years could be tabled as soon as this fall, according to a committee chair who has been heavily involved in consultations.
• Fox Haven plan for five new lots approved City council has passed third reading of a bylaw that will permit more lots to open up at the Fox Haven country residential development.
• Most campgrounds to open this weekend Yukon Parks employees are out this week getting the campgrounds ready for the Victoria Day long weekend.
• Speaker raps Hardy over letter Ted Staffen, the Speaker of the Yukon legislature, offered no apologies to NDP Leader Todd Hardy on Tuesday, instead admonishing him for suggesting the Speaker is biased toward the ruling party.
• Time winding down for busy corner's four-way stop signs Commuters might have an easier time making it through the Quartz and Industrial Road intersection this fall.
• Yukon Gardens subdivision OKed with conditions New commercial properties are closer to being developed on the Alaska Highway where the Yukon Gardens site now sits.
• Government will lobby for GST break Following a unanimous vote in the legislature last Wednesday, the Yukon government will lobby the federal government to remove the GST on home heating fuel, power generation and on the transportation of essential goods North of 60.
• AYC wants fuel tax funds for transportation HAINES JUNCTION - The Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) would like to see some additional money coming from the territorial government in the form of a one cent per litre contribution from the territorial gasoline tax to the communities.
• Recruits sharpen their skills on burning house The iconic image of a firefighter with a rescued infant in his arms and a raging inferno as a backdrop has inspired many a young person to become a firefighter.
• Fentie declines to hail free buses Premier Dennis Fentie chided Opposition Leader Arthur Mitchell on Monday for pressing the government to explore making public transportation free in Whitehorse.
• Police, Road Safety Weeks to boast activities this month May includes two public awareness weeks designed to increase road safety and to strengthen ties between the police and the community.
• Trailer park idea is back on city's agenda Just a little more than two months after defeating a bylaw to move ahead with a new trailer park at Range Road and Mountainview Drive, city council is reconsidering it again.
• French language play takes the stage Thursday A children's play being performed Thursday at the Yukon Arts Centre carries the message that it's important to express one's emotions, says one of its key players.
• 'The driver? He killed two of his best friends' "Get that dead guy out of my way!" paramedic Jason Basnett yelled.
• City-wide garbage cart collection set for 2009 The city will take a one-size-fits-all approach to garbage collection as it moves to a cart system next year.
• Long purchasers list awaits airline's share offering Air North announced Tuesday it has received permission from the Yukon government to issue 600 Class D replacement and new shares, at an issue price of $7,500 each.

May 13, 2008

• Reading about the architecture of writing DAWSON CITY - Public readings are usually pretty well attended at the Dawson City Community Library, but the audience of 35 for Elizabeth Hay's May 6 reading probably broke the record.
• Local band members to host Ontario visitors The All-City Band Society will be hosting students from the North Grenville District High School Band from Kemptville, south of Ottawa, between Thursday and May 21.
• Wildfire season starts in Ross River, Dawson areas Two wildfires were reported last weekend in the Dawson City and Ross River fire districts. Both are believed to be human-caused and were quickly extinguished, Wildland Fire Management officials said Monday.
• Firefighters douse two Mayo blazes Two wildfires were reported in the Mayo fire district Monday afternoon, both of which were spot size and the result of fires not being properly extinguished.
• Special week sees Yukon nurses honoured Three Yukon registered nurses have been recognized by the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) for their outstanding contributions to the nursing profession.
• Ex-trucking yard land to go to highest bidder Prime real estate in the former Motorways trucking yard will go to the bidder with the most cash.
• Hardy calls Speaker's ruling 'unfair, illogical' Whitehorse Centre MLA Todd Hardy wants an apology after Ted Staffen, the Speaker of the legislature, ordered Hardy "to sit down" Monday while he tried to explain his motion requesting an extension of the spring session.
• Climate change, energy plan consultations set Despite a significant drop in the Yukon's greenhouse gas emissions, Premier Dennis Fentie paid little lip service to it when he unveiled the government's action plan on climate change Monday.
• Artists' society loses bid for avenue closure By defeating a request to close part of First Avenue, city council has left the Society of Yukon Artists of Native Ancestry (SYANA) looking for a new place to pitch the tent for their first nations arts festival.
• Testing pinpoints radon levels in workplaces A territory-wide pilot project testing radon levels in the workplace is wrapping up.
• Elderly man's attacker has 21 prior convictions A 32-year-old woman who was convicted of robbery and forcible entry last month received a five-year jail term in territorial court Monday, minus credit for time served in pre-trial custody.

May 12, 2008

• Art, science mingled in Dawson City DAWSON CITY - Science and art are not generally combined in the same sentence, let alone the same display area, but last Thursday's combination of a science fair and art show at the Robert Service School proved the two can co-exist.
• City may formally support troops The city could be supporting one of its municipal counterparts in offering support to Canadian soldiers.
• Cement blocks and barriers for sale Large cement blocks and barriers used in last summer's emergency flood response are being offered for sale to Marsh Lake waterfront property owners.
• 'Be The Change,' students urge classmates "It doesn't take much to make a big change," Naomi Slade, 16, said Friday during the barbecue she helped organize with her Be the Change team at F.H. Collins Secondary School.
• Yukoners flock to hear Harrison Ted Harrison likes to tell stories.
• Porter Creek condos project is proposed The city could see yet another condo developed in the coming months.
• Suzuki brings his persuasiveness north Agree with David Suzuki, or not, one thing is certain: he's a masterful speaker.
• Program weathers a funding cut The Yukon Food for Learning program in the territory goes beyond just giving students something to eat, says the program's chair and president of the Yukon Teachers' Association.
• Hospital cleaning up report's concerns A March workers' compensation inspection of the health records room at Whitehorse General Hospital revealed six contraventions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Two-year sentence meted out for sexual assault A 39-year-old Whitehorse man received a two-year jail sentence in Yukon Supreme Court on Friday for sexual assault, to be served in a federal penitentiary.
• Mitchell's vision of transit would cost $8.6 M: city Yukon Liberal Party Leader Arthur Mitchell wants public transportation in Whitehorse to expand and be free of charge for its riders.