Whitehorse Daily Star

December 15, 2006

• Has AIDS been behind the extinction of some species? The immune deficiency virus has been around for millions of years. Only in recent years have we pegged it with the name HIV or AIDS.
• Youth photo exhibit explores healthy relationships Nine Whitehorse youth recently spent 10 weeks developing a photojournalism exhibit on how youth can prevent sexualized violence and develop healthy relationships.
• Kim Beggs debuts second album Wanderer's Paean 'Over the last couple of years, I've been thinking a lot about the wanderer's gene,' said Kim Beggs, talking about her new album.
• Multi-instrumentalist Hawksley Workman comes north 'I've never been there before and I find it quite a shame,' said songwriter Hawksley Workman, speaking during an interview earlier this week about making his first appearance in the Yukon.
• Taking a serious look at the comics from the funny pages Today, we talk about comic books, which are the offspring of newspaper comic strips, or, as they used to say, the funny papers.
• New high-impact Canadian roots music from Tanglefoot Celtic music fans have something to cheer about.
• Be prudent with more tax hikes, chamber urges While throwing its support behind the city's 2007 budget, the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce is cautioning city council against returning to the taxpayer well in future years.
• Residents looking for answers Takhini North homeowners are calling for clarity as rocketing cost estimates for plumbing work in their aging neighbourhood have left them reeling.
• Whitehorse student heading to Iceland Yukon College student Andrea Merschilz is off to Iceland in the new year to study at the University of Akureyri for several months.
• Hunting closure designed to safeguard Hart River caribou An emergency hunting closure along the Dempster Highway to protect the Hart River caribou herd was signed last Friday by Premier Dennis Fentie, who is also the minister of Environment.
• Yukon senator caps political career Ione Christensen has spent more than 30 years in public life.
• Fentie in Vancouver for ministers' meeting Premier Dennis Fentie is in Vancouver today meeting with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to continue the discussions on the fiscal imbalance in Canada.
• Games officials cancel security tender The tender for private security for the 2007 Canada Winter Games has been cancelled.
• Couple irked by dealings with YHC A young Takhini subdivision couple with an infant son believes the Yukon Housing Corp. has put them through the ringer with bully tactics.
• Ridicule factor' fading, UFO buff says Among the 26 people who attended a local UFO conference last Saturday night was a Wolf Creek resident who also saw two large orange balls floating over the area in February 2005.
• Court grants teen discharge after he took parents' car Taking his parents' car has landed a local youth a three-month probation term.
• Civil suit filed after pedestrian struck A man who's facing criminal charges after a pedestrian was hit crossing Second Avenue is now facing a civil suit as well.
• Express buses take to the streets In a combined effort to make Whitehorse Transit more user-friendly and to get ready for the Canada Winter Games, the city will test out new bus routes next week.

December 14, 2006

• Christensen plans to end Senate career Yukon Senator Ione Christensen is expected to announce her retirement later this afternoon.
• Legislators complete 12-day sitting The first sitting of the 32nd Yukon Legislative Assembly has concluded and Commissioner Geraldine Van Bibber has granted assent to three bills.
• Doctor fined $3,000 for wildlife violation Watson Lake's long-time doctor was ordered to pay a $3,000-fine Wednesday afternoon after he was found guilty of wasting sheep meat.
• Trial date scheduled for false pretense charge A man accused of using false pretenses to buy everything from television sets to vehicle parts has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a trial has been for March 26, 2007.
• Education reforms to involve public: Fentie The government will not be backing down on the need for public jurisdiction in relation to the governance of the education system, says Premier Dennis Fentie.
• Government funds anti-crime projects The Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust Fund is awarding $184,733 to 12 projects aimed at crime prevention and victim services in four Yukon communities.
• Department's website now in French The Department of Justice public website is now fully translated into French.

December 13, 2006

• Waterworks retrofit may be costly In line with a massive reconstruction project, the city is proposing to charge 82 Takhini North households more than $22,000 each for new infrastructure in their neighbourhood, about $16,000 more than residents thought they would have to pay.
• Ailing NDP leader soldiers on in hospital The medical team treating Todd Hardy is saying the stem cell transplant given to the NDP leader is taking hold.
• Leave lake area alone, residents urge council Quality of life, air, water, scenic views and business opportunities ranked among the concerns before city council Monday evening at a McLean Lake quarry public hearing.
• Accused Watson Lake doctor takes the stand A resident of Watson Lake for 30 years, Said Secerbegovic has hunted in the territory for about a quarter of a century.
• Work is sent back to education reformers The Education Reform Project has been asked by the Yukon Party caucus to go back and 'tweak' some of the information it has developed regarding issues relating to the governance of education, says Joe Linklater, the Council of Yukon First Nations' (CYFN's) principal on the project.
• Tourism marketing plan eyes major TV events The Yukon might be sharing the spotlight with the glitz and glamour of the Academy Awards this winter.
• Yukon Energy assists special needs children Rural Yukon children with special needs will be better served because of a donation by Yukon Energy.
• Lights of Life tradition to start Friday Hospice Yukon's 16th annual Lights of Life activities will begin at 12:15 p.m. Friday with the opening ceremony in the foyer of the Elijah Smith Building.
• Drinking water lab gets national accreditation The Yukon Environmental Health Services Water Laboratory is now officially accredited for bacteriological analysis of drinking water.