Whitehorse Daily Star

June 6, 2007

• Mining industry forecasts spectacular growth The Yukon Chamber of Mines is predicting another record year for mineral exploration in the territory.
• Hospital's operation crumbling': ex-chair The former chair of the Yukon Hospital Corp.'s board of trustees says the problems with the facility currently coming to light publicly are just the 'tip of the iceberg.'
• Teenager accosted in woods Whitehorse RCMP are seeking the public's help in finding three young men who followed a 14-year-old girl through a wooded area.
• It huffed, puffed and blew the barn down DAWSON CITY When Clayton and Chere Wilson were married about a year ago, they held their wedding reception on their property in Sunnydale, where they were building a house and barn.
• Border-area community is on flood alert The Kaska community of Lower Post, B.C., just south of the Yukon border, is on flood alert, says Jeff Munroe, executive director for Daylu Dena Council.
• Athletes gear up for big adventure The second annual Yukon Adventure Challenge will be held this weekend.
• Moosecapades campaign starts The Yukon Liquor Corp. is using humour to remind people to drink in moderation with its newly-released 'Moosecapades' campaign.
• Students pick anti-smoking commercial Yukon students in Grades 6 through 12 have chosen Gangrene as the most effective tobacco education commercial in this year's Smoke Screen initiative.
• Grant rule changes created a mess' DAWSON CITY Many businesses and non-profit groups across the country were jolted by a rude shock when they heard back from their applications for federal summer grants to employ students.

June 5, 2007

• Modular homes planned for Copper Ridge Putting factory-built modular homes and trailers in the same zoning basket as trailers is outdated thinking and leaves Whitehorse behind other areas in Canada's housing market.
• Convicted man pushes for independent appeal One of the two men convicted of second-degree murder in the December 2004 death of a former Carcross hotel owner wants his appeal of the conviction to be heard on its own.
• Court reporting contract raised in legislature In 2004, then Justice minister Elaine Taylor authorized a three-year contract to provide court transcribing services to a joint venture between Whitehorse's Mega Reporting Inc. and Ottawa's International Reporting Inc.
• Council hears more crematorium concerns A proposed crematorium in Porter Creek would lead to ice fog in an area where there are already traffic concerns.
• Work crews keeping busy The city's downtown facelift will continue this summer.
• Conservationist skeptical about pipeline rush More doubt about the possibility of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline begs the question of what's the rush to open up the North to oil and gas exploration, says a local environmental watchdog.
• Youth faces charge of aggravated assault A 17-year-old Whitehorse resident has been charged with aggravated assault, mischief and breaching conditions following a fight early Tuesday morning that sent two people to hospital.
• Court dismisses man's appeal of theft conviction Three B.C./Yukon Court of Appeal judges have dismissed Raymond Blake's appeal of his November 2006 conviction of break, enter and theft at Hillbilly Computers.
• Buy a push mower, get a rebate Yukoners can save money by purchasing a people-powered push reel lawn mower before Aug. 15 with a $50 cash rebate from the Yukon government.
• MLA seeks safeguards for caribou herd Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Darius Elias is calling on Environment Minister Dennis Fentie to lay out his plan for addressing the well-being of the Porcupine caribou herd.
• Addicts' needs going unheeded, MLA says The territorial government is barely scratching the surface when it comes to providing adequate addictions treatment options, says NDP Health critic John Edzerza.
• YTG sued over bills The territorial government is being sued for more than $13,000 in unpaid legal bills.
• Increased lightning activity sparks three new forest fires Close to 1,000 lightning strikes over a 24-hour period in the Ross River fire district have resulted in three new wildland fires in the territory, fire officials said today.
• Join in the fun and help a needy Mexican family A team from Riverdale Baptist Church will be going to Mexico in August to build a house for a needy family.

June 4, 2007

• Downtown graffiti called a rising problem Graffiti vandalism is on the rise in the city, says the president of the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.
• College suites rent hikes ridiculous' Liberal Education critic Eric Fairclough believes the territorial government should step in to help offset the rising rent costs for residence suites at Yukon College.
• Company plans vigorous' legal defence Aurora Geosciences plans to 'vigorously defend' itself against territorial occupational health and safety charges, say company officials.
• Autopsy to be performed on crash victim As an investigation continues into the deadly plane crash in Mayo last Saturday, the Yukon coroner's office has confirmed an autopsy will be done on the pilot's body
• Crews make quick work of Dawson fire DAWSON CITY It wasn't a lazy Sunday afternoon for Dawson firefighters as they fought down and extinguished a blaze near Crocus Bluff at the entrance to town.
• Mayor not keen on graffiti control bylaw Mayor Bev Buckway isn't convinced some sort of new bylaw would help counter the increasing amount of graffiti showing up in downtown Whitehorse.
• Wheeler Street residents feel safer after house gets warning Neighbours of 810 Wheeler St. seem to be feeling a little safer these days, says Lesley Carberry, the territory's director of crime prevention and policing.
• Labour force has shrunk: statistics Over the past year, the Yukon's labour force has decreased by 900 people.