Whitehorse Daily Star

January 31, 2008

• Mayor worried about possible referendum results DAWSON CITY - Even as the City of Dawson prepares to offer its citizens the opportunity to block the proposed aerated sewage lagoon at the foot of the Dome Road, Mayor John Steins is worrying publicly about the implications of a yes vote in the coming referendum.
• Fire guts log home in Pelly Crossing A fire destroyed a log home in Pelly Crossing Tuesday evening as a result of a chimney fire.
• Some youth reluctant to use new service The Yukon government's recently-announced partnership to reduce youth homelessness is a step in the right direction, but is not a long-term solution, say critics.
• Jury hears two versions of man's, woman's encounter The Yukon Supreme Court heard two very different versions of events Wednesday concerning the sexual assault charge against John White.
• Diesels helping meet power needs Yukon Energy fired up diesel generators for a few hours this morning and Wednesday morning to meet peak demands, and as a matter of routine checks.
• College fire victims may be put up in hotel Five families will have to be relocated from Yukon College's new family residence following a small blaze which started at around 8:30 this morning.
• Brutal cold disrupting airline services The Whitehorse weather forecast this week is enough to make many people want to escape, but travel conditions are hampering those desires.

January 30, 2008

• Quest's first winner cancels return to race The winner of the first Yukon Quest in 1984 will not be running in its 25th anniversary edition next month.
• Councillor switches smoking stance City councillor Doug Graham was singing a different tune Monday night after having previously spoken out against part of a proposed anti-smoking ban.
• Savage cold keeping some businesses booming Cold weather has taken over the Yukon, including its capital, and shows no signs of relenting soon.
• Council studies proposed fence bylaw Eyesore owners beware: a bylaw that would regulate the appearance of Whitehorse fences was given first and second readings Monday evening.
• Dawsonites to vote on lagoon location DAWSON CITY - It's taken some months and there were several hiccups along the way, but the City of Dawson is now prepared to ask its citizens whether they approve of the location the territorial government has selected as the site for a sewage lagoon.
• Court hands down written decision on land dispute A couple from the Watson Lake area will have their application in a land dispute case reviewed once again by the director of the territorial government's lands branch.
• Climate change scrutiny pleases Fentie Climate change and internal trade were among the top issues on the minds of premiers across the country as they met in Vancouver this week.
• Complainant 'very, very worked up,' court told Seven witnesses have testified thus far in the trial of an alleged sexual assault. The trial that is being heard in the Yukon Supreme Court by a seven-woman, five-man jury.
• 'It sounded like wind rushing up the chimney' Bonnie Cooper and her partner had just been woken up by a wrong-number phone call when shortly afterward, a strange whoosh! pierced the still air, seconds before the house shook.

January 29, 2008

• Race rookie 'taking one step at a time' To get to the Yukon Quest, Wisconsin musher Donald Smidt found himself on the trail of the Iditarod.
• Council shaves $2 M from spending blueprint The tax man cometh for Whitehorse residents, still asking for 7.5 per cent more than he did last year.
• Partnership gives homeless youth a new safety net The Yukon government has poured $227,000 into a partnership to help homeless young people.
• Frostbite Music Society opens new digs The Frostbite Music Society celebrated its 30th anniversary and the official opening of its new permanent home at a reception last Friday.
• Council votes down rezoning application The city is not ready to decide how high waterfront structures should soar.
• Relief nurse headed to Destruction Bay Cold weather and an injured nurse have meant Destruction Bay was without a medical clinician Monday and part of today.
• Cold wave drives up power demand Yukon Energy, the territory's publicly-owned utility, reached near-peak capacity for its hydro generators Monday morning and again this morning.
• Budget approved over Graham's reservations Mayor Bev Buckway said she'd be sleeping well after a long, tiring process of finalizing the budget, which city council passed Monday evening.