Whitehorse Daily Star

May 15, 2007

• RCMP on lookout for explosives Ten boxes, or 248 kg (550 lbs.) of explosive material used for blasting have been stolen from Yukon Pump Sales and Services Ltd. just north of Whitehorse.
• Fundraiser planned for ailing local artist A fundraiser will be held Thursday for renowned local artist Patrick Royle, who suffered a major heart attack on May 2.
• Education project gets new co-chair but poor turnout The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) has named Peter Johnston of Teslin to fill its chair on the Education Reform Project.
• Parties joust over the vision of education Education Minister Patrick Rouble wanted the opposition parties to reflect on a vision for the education system during the debate in the legislature's committee of the whole Wednesday.
• Pioneering special constable honoured for Passage trip More than 60 years after setting out on a historic journey through the Northwest Passage and three years after his death, Special Const. William Cashin was honoured by the RCMP last weekend in a ceremony in Carmacks.
• Francophones receive their special day May 15th is now Yukon Francophone Day.
• Frostbite thrilled' to have restored house The Frostbite Music Society is hoping a change of scenery can breathe new life into an old house.
• Local man found not guilty Yukon territorial court Judge John Faulkner has cleared a Whitehorse man on charges of stealing a propane tank, flight from police, operation of a vehicle while disqualified and breaching his probation.
• YHMA honours heritage preservers The Yukon Historical and Museums Association (YHMA) and Tourism and Culture Minister Elaine Taylor presented the association's annual heritage awards last Friday evening at the Yukon Transportation Museum.
• Historic hall fired up for summer space The Old Fire Hall, owned by the Yukon government, will be leased to the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce for cultural presentations and other activities during the summer months in 2007.
• Sexual assault trial scheduled Two days have been set aside in territorial court for the sexual assault trial of John White, 27.
• Hearings for grid extension underway Yukon Energy doesn't know at what price the new section of transmission line from Carmacks to Pelly Crossing becomes uneconomical.
• Yet another credit card scam infiltrating Yukon phone lines Just because it sounds like your credit card company doesn't mean it is.
• Careless burning has caused several blazes Yukon Wildland Fire Management personnel are working to suppress a human-caused wildfire burning in the Kluane Fire Management Zone.
• Zoning changes may see more downtown daycares A change in the city's day care zoning policy could see more child care centres locating downtown.
• Society lauds Hardy DAWSON CITY NDP Leader Todd Hardy has shown courage and leadership in bringing forward anti-smoking legislation, delegates of the Association of Yukon Communities (AYC's) annual general meeting heard last Friday.
• Yukoner gears up for cross-country excursion Whitehorse resident Ramesh Ferris began to hand cycle from the Millennium Bridge in Whitehorse to Skagway, Alaska last Friday morning as a pre-launch of the 2008 Cycle to Walk cross-continent campaign.
• Road Safety Week, Police Week overlap RCMP across the country will be keeping an eye on Canada's roadways this week as Canada Road Safety Week continues.

May 14, 2007

• Fire hall cost estimate blazes to $9 M Cost estimates for the city's new fire hall have spiralled to $9 million almost double what was originally budgeted.
• Impounded YTG truck had bullets, empty cider bottle A territorial Department Energy, Mines and Resource employee has been arrested following an incident which ended with a government pickup truck with a box of bullets in the passenger seat being locked up at the city's impound yard.
• Power consumers hit with stiff increases The eight-year-old Rate Stabilization Fund used to help reduce monthly electrical bills is ending, Energy Minister Archie Lang announced Monday.
• Nursing shortage called the most critical issue If the Yukon is really committed to addressing its shortage of nurses, it must get beyond simply debating the availability of beds in the hospital and health centres, says Paula Bilton, president of the Yukon Registered Nurses Association.
• Man pleads guilty to robbery A local man has pleaded guilty to robbery and to disguise with intent from an April robbery.
• Yukon Energy, company reach new deal The Yukon government has thrown more weight behind the proposal to supply the new Minto mine with hydroelectric power.
• CPAWS' Yukon chapter up for major award The Canadian Parks and Wildlife Society's (CPAWS') Yukon chapter is one of three finalists in the conservation category of the annual Canadian Environment Awards.
• First nations want to be partners DAWSON CITY First nations are willing and able partners in the Yukon's economic future, delegates of the Association of Yukon Communities' (AYC's) annual general meeting heard.
• Railway proposal requires governor's study Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will conclude an evaluation of the Alaska-Canada rail link feasibility study before it is released publicly, Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon told the legislature last week.
• KDFN election to go to judicial council An Outside judge has ruled a petition filed in Yukon Supreme Court over the Kwanlin Dun First Nation's 2005 election will have to go to the first nation's judicial council before it can be brought before the court.
• Fraud e-mail going to YTG employees The RCMP are warning Yukoners, especially Yukon government employees, to beware of an e-mail that has made its way to government staff e-mail addresses.
• Law is a damn nuisance,' councillor says DAWSON CITY The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act (YESAA) is inefficient, redundant and costing taxpayers money, say municipal officials.
• Grounding could have been worse JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) A riverboat-style cruise ship that ran aground off the Alaska coast early Monday is said to be shaping up to be a good story.

May 13, 2007

• Three towns oppose anti-smoking bill DAWSON CITY Yukon community leaders support a proposed territorial anti-smoking law with three exceptions.
• Tatchun Creek spared An oil spill next to the salmon-bearing Tatchun Creek was cleaned up before it could get into the waterway, Carmacks RCMP Const. Don McPhee said this morning.
• Twelve beds to open at Copper Ridge Place The Yukon government has announced it will open the remaining wing of Copper Ridge Place for seniors.
• Towns seeking new formula for grants DAWSON CITY The Association of Yukon Communities (AYC) is calling on the territorial government to work with the territory's municipalities to develop a new formula for transfer payments to local councils.
• Minister ready to change towns' regulations DAWSON CITY Legislative reforms to the territory's Municipal Act will soon be on the table.
• Seniors' units going fast DAWSON CITY The former Canada Winter Games athletes' village in Whitehorse to be a seniors' complex is nearly full.
• Traffic Mounties get their man A quick police chase on Friday afternoon ended with a man in police custody.
• Quilters may not receive rent discount A non-profit society's request for a discount on rental fees at the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre could be denied.
• Calling on all missing' Yukoners The Yukon Bureau of Statistics is hoping to find 400 'missing' Yukoners who were not included in the 2006 census of Canada.
• Location found for art The Department of Education building on Lewes Boulevard could soon be more artistic.
• Cruise ship runs aground JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) A cruise ship ran aground off the Alaska coast early this morning, and more than 200 passengers have been transferred to lifeboats and a nearby barge, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.