Whitehorse Daily Star

December 16, 2007

• There's a game of chicken going on here' Government officials and politicians must wait longer to find out how banks and investment companies will deal with asset-backed commercial paper (ABCP) investments crisis.
• Wolf kills fifth dog in Watson area Another dog was taken by wolves near Watson Lake, spokesman Dennis Senger of the Department of Environment said Friday.
• City advised on services for disabled residents One committee is trying to make it easier for wheelchair-bound Whitehorse residents, and others with disabilities, to navigate the city.
• Police checked out 1,200 vehicles RCMP statistics from the weekend's stop-check program show six motorists were charged with impaired driving.
• Elk hunt would feature eight to 12 permits Wildlife officials suspect an approved elk hunt would involve anywhere from eight to 12 permits, says government biologist Don Toews.
• Close to 30 mushers enter 2008 Yukon Quest Nearly 30 mushers are planning to head out of the starting gate of the 1,600-kilometre Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race in Fairbanks and make their way down the trail to Whitehorse on Feb. 9.
• Government reviewing five late penalties Mike Johnson, the Department of Highways and Public Works' deputy minister, is reviewing all five of the late penalties paid by companies to the fleet vehicle agency since 2003.
• PSAC has organized toy drive The Public Service Alliance of Canada's Yukon Regional Youth Committee is hosting a toy drive that will benefit many Yukon communities.
• McRobb, Liberals want Lang to quit Gary McRobb, the Liberals' Yukon Development Corp. critic, issued a call last week for the resignation of Archie Lang, who serves as both the Minister of Highways and Public Works and the minister of Energy, Mines and Resources.
• Anti-TILMA sentiment ended up in legislature The campaign against the territory signing on to a trade agreement with its two southern neighbours found its way to the legislature earlier this month.

December 13, 2007

• A couple of mysteries from south of the border Angels Flight is the name of the Los Angeles tram line where Howard Elias was gunned down.
• Pre-Christmas rush has Dawson in a twirl DAWSON CITY Open houses and Christmas themes marked the second weekend of December here. As always at this time of year, there were way too many events going on for anyone to visit them all.
• All about the question of evolution Over the past week, I have received two standout e-mails that I will attempt to answer in this column. One asked me if I was Christian.
• Habitual criminal jailed for assault with weapon, threats A 48-year-old Whitehorse man convicted of assault with a weapon and uttering threats was sentenced to nine months in jail and 18 months' probation Thursday morning.
• Nurse caps four-decade career in caring After 39 years as a nurse at Whitehorse General Hospital, Elaine Iceton says that although nursing is a great profession, those considering it as a career should first think about the kind of life they want.
• Survey of Whitehorse Copper lots rejected The rejection of a legal survey for the new Whitehorse Copper subdivision is something of an insult to injury for Roy Slade.
• Inmate was dragged into forced shower Two young men were each sentenced to one day in jail and 12 months' probation Thursday for an assault on a fellow inmate which occurred in the Whitehorse Correctional Centre in September 2006.
• Claude Tidd photography exhibit available to view Friends of the Yukon Archives Society and the territorial government have teamed up to present Portrait of the Yukon: Selections from the Photography of Claude Tidd.
• PSAC helps group Share the Spirit' Just in time, organizing elves of the Share the Spirit campaign have been given a workshop.
• NDP had sought to prolong war of words NDP Leader Todd Hardy just doesn't seem to get enough of the Yukon legislature.
• Man stole from his former employer A man who pleaded guilty to theft was sentenced to a five-month jail term and two years' probation last Friday afternoon.
• Older workers prepared for labour force Yukon College has graduated its first class of students enrolled in a program geared at getting older workers back into the workforce.
• Police on the hunt for trio of Yukoners The public's assistance is requested in locating three Yukoners wanted by the RCMP as of noon Wednesday.
• Dumpsite cleanup project continuing The Ta'an Kwach'an Council, with assistance from biologists at Environmental Dynamics Inc. (EDI), is continuing to clean up the old Range Road dumpsite, located at the confluence of McIntyre Creek and the Yukon River.
• Doctors' digs are no mundane matter A far cry from elevator music and the drab, grey decor of most medical offices, a state-of-the-art medical clinic will soon welcome Whitehorse residents.
• Lights of Life opens to large crowd The seats were full in the main atrium of the Elijah Smith Building early Thursday afternoon, as a crowd gathered to attend Hospice Yukon's annual Lights of Life opening ceremony.
• Property will evolve into mine, president vows The Wolverine zinc-silver property will become a mine one way or the other, says Harlan Meade, president and chief executive officer of Yukon Zinc Corp.
• Water overflowing parts of Schwatka Lake Road Parts of the Schwatka Lake Road have been flooding with run-off from nearby hills, causing city staff to send a crew out to monitor the road.

December 12, 2007

• Tendering process chaos' reigns, NDP says When the local branch of Inland Kenworth was assessed a $45,000 bill by the Yukon government for the late delivery of 10 trucks last year, the company didn't fight it.
• College, YTG at land loggerheads The Yukon government should honour its commitment to Yukon College and provide the endowment lands it originally said it would in the 1990s, says NDP education critic Steve Cardiff.
• Northerners trying to convey worries at climate change meet Aboriginal people from across the North have formed a united front with their tropical brethren attending the international climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia.
• Hundreds lost their power in Copper Ridge Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd. is still investigating the cause of a power outage that saw some Copper Ridge residents without power for several hours on Wednesday.
• Police Taser man at detachment Whitehorse RCMP have charged a man with two counts of assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace, and possession of a concealed weapon.
• Power rates will rise again: Liberal MLA Yukoners can expect their electricity bills to continue to jump in 2008, as the territory's Rate Stabilization Fund is completely eliminated and hearings on proposed new rates are delayed, said Gary McRobb, the Liberals' critic for the Yukon Development Corp.
• Yukon suspends vaccination program Dr. Bryce Larke, the Yukon's medical health officer, and the communicable disease officer, Colleen Hemsley, have suspended the Yukon's second dose MMR vaccinations.
• Water to be tested outside the territory Drinking water throughout the territory will be tested Outside, for the time being.