Whitehorse Daily Star

April 28, 2008

• North captured author's imagination DAWSON CITY - Elizabeth Hay says she was tricked into writing at the age of 15.
• Polio is still a surprise to some Ed. note: this is an update on the cross-Canada hand-cycling trip Ramesh Ferris launched from Whitehorse on April 10, and from Victoria on April 12 to raise money in the fight against polio.
• Buckway assumes AYC presidency HAINES JUNCTION - The Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) elected its new executive for the coming year as its annual general meeting, held here over the weekend.
• DNA tests identify young man's relatives The Champagne and Aishihik First Nations have released DNA study results that identify 17 aboriginal relatives to Kwaday Dan Ts'inchi (Long Ago Person Found).
• Government will not pay for midwife bill The Yukon government won't fund midwife services without regulations in place first.
• Minister disagrees with mandatory helmet urging It only makes sense that if Yukoners on the job are required to wear helmets on ATVs, that recreational ATV drivers would be too, says NDP MLA Steve Cardiff.
• Two local residents hurt after truck rolls Two Whitehorse residents were medevaced to Fort Nelson, B.C. on Saturday after the tractor-trailer unit they were travelling in rolled off the Alaska Highway near Toad River.
• Investors vote in favour of restructuring offer A 96-per-cent vote by investors in favour of a restructuring plan for the troubled asset-backed commercial paper market is good news for the territory.
• Passersby help victim of attempted assault Whitehorse RCMP are on the lookout for a man in his late twenties or early thirties who is the suspect in an attempted sexual assault that took place near F.H.Collins Secondary School over the weekend.

April 25, 2008

• Fish: their sense of smell, seeing and hearing From the mouths of children ... I knew sooner or later that this e-mail would come.
• Filling the fire hall with music and merriment Last Friday night was the opening of a new venue in Whitehorse.
• A feast of W.O. Mitchell for the ears How I Spent my Summer Holidays feels a lot like Who has Seen the Wind, but it's an older book with a slightly different set of preoccupations.
• Coasters hosts Irish punk of The Mahones Canada's premier Irish punk band, The Mahones, will be jigging their way into Whitehorse this weekend, with two performances at Coasters.
• Brave poets share love of words At what is being called a "spoken word and freestyle poetry jam", poets, writers and other assorted wordsmiths will come together this evening at the Baked Cafe to share their love of words.
• Mount Lorne society is being treated like 'second class citizens' Members of the Mt. Lorne Garbage Management Society have sent a letter to Glenn Hart, the Minister of Community Services, asking for an official reply to their request for more funding.
• Wal-Mart evolving into green giant The big box store that critics love to target and bohemians lament is turning over a new leaf.
• New land reference guide released A land management guide has been developed in a partnership between Yukon municipalities and the territorial government.
• Authorities looking to find three Yukoners The public's assistance is requested in locating three Yukoners wanted as of noon Wednesday.
• Road and weather reporting system has gone live A new traveller information telephone and Internet service will provide live, accurate and up-to-the-minute information regarding the Yukon's road and weather conditions in English and French.
• Psychologist has misgivings about testimony A practising clinical psychologist testified Thursday he has concerns with the accuracy of the plaintiff's recollections of sexual abuse that allegedly took place 30 years ago.
• Help save Takhini's green space, boy urges council Grade 4 student Bela Westfall has joined the fight for the preservation of green space in the Takhini North subdivision expansion slated for next year.
• Accidents between dogs, snowmachines seem fewer ANCHORAGE (AP) - One dog died this year after being hit by a snowmachine on the Iditarod trail.
• Five days of travel got us to Kamloops! Ed. note: this is an update on the cross-Canada hand-cycling trip Ramesh Ferris launched from Whitehorse on April 10, and from Victoria on April 12 to raise money in the fight against polio.
• System grappling with challenges: YMA head While the Yukon is not alone in coping with a shortage of doctors and nurses, it's also faced with many challenges unique to the region, says the president of the Yukon Medical Association.
• Be a writer only if you love it: author DAWSON CITY - Jon Turk turned to the writing life after he'd made a strenuous effort not to
• Writing compared to a machine's mysteries DAWSON CITY - Robert Priest is a busy fellow who writes poetry, journalism, satirical songs and serious rock 'n'roll tunes.
• $3.8 million in trust fund money to flow to Yukon The territorial government, with funding from the federal government's new national Community Development Trust, will invest $3.8 million in job training and education programming in response to labour market needs in Yukon.
• Boat heads for another incarnation on land DAWSON CITY - The Yukon Lou hasn't quite reached its final resting place, but it did take its final road trip on April 16. Road trip?
• Trio facing drug charges Three people in Watson Lake have been arrested and charged with the production of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.
• TIA having meeting in Haines TIA (Tourism Industry Association) Yukon's 2008 tourism industry conference is ramping up the effort to create a sustainable tourism industry.
• Man challenges transcript's accuracy A 71-year-old man who is appealing his assault conviction says the transcripts of his trial are inaccurate, and he wants to listen to the recordings before proceeding.
• Wood smoke forced family to stay indoors all weekend There's no reason why city council shouldn't become more involved in setting stricter air quality standards, says a local high school teacher.
• Cemetery plan provokes concerns on council City councillor Doug Graham says he wants the city to provide more time for public review of the proposed long-term master plan for the Grey Mountain Cemetery.
• Area bison jaw is 7,100 years old, tests confirm A bison jaw unearthed last summer on the terrace overlooking the Takhini River has been dated at 7,100 years old.
• Ruling won't affect drug dog program A Supreme Court of Canada ruling on the use of random drug searches will not impact the Canines for Safer Schools program at Porter Creek Secondary School, says the school's drug awareness co-ordinator.
• Memories, money spell trouble for survivors In the months since residential school survivors began receiving their compensation package, John Edzerza has attended three funerals for friends who had received their money.

April 24, 2008

• March was warmer than usual in most areas of the territory The Yukon saw above-normal temperatures for most areas in March, with only the area north of the Ogilvie Mountains recording below-normal temperatures, reports the Yukon Weather Centre
• Dawson council OKs chamber's tourism vision DAWSON CITY - Dawson's town council has decided to endorse the tourism vision plan sponsored by the Dawson City Chamber of Commerce and will add its signature to that of other groups supporting the ideas.
• City of Whitehorse staff, local firm share honour City sustainability staff and EBA Engineering share an excellence award for work to assess and map the city's geothermal exchange potential.
• Cows stopped grazing, and horses galloped towards us Ed. note: this is an update on the cross-Canada hand-cycling trip Ramesh Ferris launched from Whitehorse on April 10, and from Victoria on April 12 to raise money in the fight against polio. He has arrived in Kamloops, B.C.
• Child care provider's approach attracting international interest The local owner and operator of a child dayhome will unveil a promotional video of her approach to early childhood education this evening as part of her efforts to franchise her school internationally.
• Youth centre holes will be plugged, Dawson decides DAWSON CITY - Dawson's council has had enough.
• Council to vote on grants for ski society, other local groups The volunteer task force which assessed annual grant applications on behalf of city hall is recommending the city handle the Mount Sima ski hill application directly.
• Former principal denies he sexually assaulted plaintiff The defence in a two-week-long civil trial against the territorial government called its first witness in Yukon Supreme Court on Wednesday after the plaintiff's council concluded its case.
• Women still encounter unfair treatment, harassment The Yukon Human Rights Commission has proposed four recommendations coming out of a report showing women in the territory are discriminated against in a number of aspects of life, ranging from employment to accommodation.