Whitehorse Daily Star

February 19, 2008

• Traffic lights to replace four-way stop signs A planned $2-million improvement to Industrial Road includes the replacement of the four-way stop signs with a set of $200,000 traffic lights.
• Rollover kills driver, injures woman A 54-year-old Pelly Crossing woman involved in a single-vehicle rollover Sunday that killed the driver has been medevaced to Vancouver.
• Gas tank is empty, inquisitive city told The City of Whitehorse is pondering whether to ask the Yukon government to raise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel by one cent per litre to generate $1 million annually for Yukon communities.
• Treasury board boss wouldn't see PSAC officials About a dozen members and supporters of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) participated in a rally outside the Westmark Whitehorse Hotel on Monday evening to protest against program cutbacks and Treasury Board president Vic Toews' refusal to meet them.
• Frontrunners racing to the finish line in Whitehorse BRAEBURN -The finale to the Yukon Quest is shaping up to be a tight race between two neighbours from Fox, Alaska: one a Quest rookie, the other a three-year champ.
• Quest trio mushing for third place CARMACKS - While two frontrunners in the Yukon Quest vie for first place, the battle for third is being fought by three mushers.
• Toews regales diners with Tories' achievements Treasury Board president Vic Toews emphasized the changes the Conservatives have made in strengthening government accountability during a luncheon address to the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce on Monday.
• Quest fever winds down in Dawson DAWSON CITY - The ravens are circling in the trees at the Yukon government campground Monday in West Dawson, where dog handlers and dogteams have been sequestered since last Thursday.
• Cathers asked to consider boards' merger A letter the president of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce has sent to hundreds of Yukon employers, asking them to support a merger between the Yukon workers' compensation board (WCB) and that of another province like B.C. or Alberta, has not won the approval of Valerie Royle, president of the WCB.

February 18, 2008

• Quest's leaders plan to rest together CARMACKS - In a moment of camaraderie among the tight competition, Yukon Quest front runners Lance Mackey and Ken Anderson agreed to rest together at Carmacks following a 160-kilometre run.
• Anchorage-area hill to accept Sima passes The ski hill outside Anchorage will honour Mount Sima season passes, it was announced late last week.
• Condos will be green and affordable: backers A new condominium subdivision is planned for Whitehorse, this one aimed at being affordable and green - two ingredients city hall has been asking for.
• Night trail misadventure disheartening for Mackey PELLY CROSSING - Lit by a hovering moon in a dark, cloudy sky, Ken Anderson was the first to arrive at the Pelly Crossing checkpoint of the Yukon Quest very early this morning, passing Lance Mackey, who had become lost.
• Rangers provide crucial support to racers PELLY CROSSING - Mushers may complain the trail markers aren't visible or frequent enough, but veteran trail breaker John Mitchell says the ones who complain are usually the ones who don't perform very well.
• College recruits Albertan as senior manager After an extensive search, Yukon College has hired a vice-president, education and training.
• Treasury Board's president showers territory with money Vic Toews, president of the federal Treasury Board, presented a cheque to the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous Society this morning as part of his two-day visit in the territory.
• 'I'm gunning hard for third,' Sass says PELLY CROSSING - As the Yukon Quest's Dawson City checkpoint slowed down and the Pelly Crossing checkpoint revved up Sunday morning, people were abuzz with talk of Brent Sass' overnight run.
• Territory helps cyclone victims The Yukon government has donated $20,000 to help provide disaster relief in Bangladesh to victims of last November's devastating Cyclone Sidr, according to a press release from the Canadian Red Cross.

February 15, 2008

• Most complaints against RCMP easily resolved The vice-chair of the Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP (CPC) was in Whitehorse Thursday as part of a cross-country tour designed to improve communications and build relationships with first nations communities.
• Sima's backers plan the rebuilding process A meeting to explain the woes of Mount Sima will be held after the Yukon Sourdough Rendezvous but before the spring break, says Lisa-Marie Vowk of the Great Northern Ski Society.
• SCAN is doing its job, supporters say In the year that's passed since the Yukon adopted the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods (SCAN) Act, the public has made 139 complaints about 108 properties whose tenants are engaging in harmful activity.
• Games cost double the city's estimate The office of the auditor general of Canada has given the Yukon government a passing grade for its involvement in hosting last year's Canada Winter Games.
• Ottawa's doors swung wide open for Yukoners On Valentine's Day, 1973, a team of Yukon aboriginal leaders walked through the halls of Parliament to deliver an historic document to the late prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
• Man arrested after police pursuit A 33-year-old Whitehorse man was arrested Thursday morning on an outstanding warrant for allegedly uttering threats.
• DAWSON CITY- Yukon Quest frontrunner Lance Mackey said he's feeling good after completing the first Of course, he also said this over a glass of Crown Royal in the Sluice Box Lounge at the El Dorado Hotel, more than eight hours after arriving at the Dawson City checkpoint.
• Arriving mushers spring everyone to action DAWSON CITY - Calls of "musher!" erupt across the Yukon Quest checkpoint on the riverfront, and feet quickly stomp across the wood floor of the visitors' centre, heavy boots becoming a steady beat.
• Mackey leads the pack into Dawson - again DAWSON CITY - "There's a team coming!"
• Candidates eye Dawson council DAWSON CITY - There are two candidates vying for a seat on Dawson's council in the March 6 byelection called to fill the seat left vacant by Adam Morrison's resignation.
• Director shakes off injury to track Quest DAWSON CITY - Stephen Reynolds, the Yukon Quest's executive director, winced as he swiveled around in his chair, holding onto his taut left knee.
• First nations members to have shorter commute As a solution to Carcross commuters' woes, the community's first nation government is developing a subdivision closer to Whitehorse.
• Spring sun transit disruptions expected Telecommunications services across the North may be affected by brief sun transit disruptions over the coming weeks.
• Women, trades are embracing each other Trades offer a fun and exciting career path that pays well and allows for independence.