Whitehorse Daily Star

July 7, 2006

• Prowling bruin shot in Yukon campground A food-conditioned black bear was shot and killed in the Frenchman Lake campground during the Canada Day weekend after a camper's attempts to scare it off had no effect.
• Theatre plans called a work in progress' The only sign of a proposed six-plex theatre is just that: a few signs and some ads stating it's 'Coming soon', nearly four years after it was announced.
• City endorses concept of smoke-free country City council has agreed to support a federal initiative to make Canada a smoke-free country.
• Quester greeted by detour to hospital After a gruelling journey in the recent Yukon River Quest, Katherine Patterson had to be medevaced from Dawson City to Whitehorse within two hours of finishing the annual race.
• Damp weather eases forest fire situation Rain showers and cooler temperatures moved into southern Yukon on Thursday, reducing the spread of the fires burning in wilderness zone areas of Watson Lake.
• Chamber breached spirit of review: labour The Yukon Chamber of Commerce, Yukon Federation of Labour, Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce and the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board 'worked extremely hard to present an informed and unified position on the many difficult issues under review' by the Workers' Compensation Act Review Panel.
• Carmacks loses its mayor to Panama Mick Larkin has left his post as mayor of Carmacks to begin a gradual journey down to Panama.
• Preserving riverfront's history called essential Sitting across from Jim Robb, one of the Yukon's premier historians, it was interesting to hear stories of some of the oldtimers. Guys like Wig Wam Harry, Buzz Saw Jimmy, Johnny Johns, Jerusalem Joe, Black Mike ... are the kinds of people who made up the heart of this territory.
• Candle not likely fire-starter Bob Atkinson, deputy chief of the Ibex Valley Fire Department, found a candle near the source of the suspicious blaze that almost started a forest fire two days ago, but says it's likely unrelated.
• Whitehorse fugitive recaptured in Fort Nelson David Wiebe has found himself in custody once again.
• A snapshot of the national situation Average housing costs in Canada in 2005:
• Our housing prices: how much higher can they soar? This is the first part of a four-part series on the red-hot Whitehorse/Yukon housing market, what's driving it, who's affected by it, where we're going and where we need to be. The series will be published Fridays.
• Policy cultivates enthusiasm among farmers The territorial agriculture branch is doing all the right things, according to area farmers and producers.
• UNESCO status is possible, N.S. mayor says DAWSON CITY If there's any curiosity about why the territorial government would lay out nearly $6,500 to have a retired Presbyterian minister come to Dawson from Lunenburg, N.S., it can be answered quite easily.
• Museum work is among four YTG-funded heritage projects The Yukon Historic Resources Fund has allocated $26,000 to four heritage projects that promote the study, interpretation, preservation and orderly development of the territory's historic resources.
• Facts and figures of the agricultural scene While Yukon agriculture figures from the 2006 census will not be released until 2007, figures from the 2001 census show solid growth from 1996. Tony Hill, the acting director of the territorial agriculture branch, has observed continued growth since then.
• Stop signs fall victim to midnight skulker DAWSON CITY Westmark Dawson Hotel guests will have to look both ways a little more carefully.
• Atlin arts festival hopes for music magic 'Dawson City was, hands down, the best festival I've ever played,' says Brad Keller, a musician with the Creaking Tree String Quartet.
• Arts society ponders accomplishments and tensions DAWSON CITY The Dawson Arts Society (DCAS) met for its annual general meeting last month to reflect on a productive year.
• Healey returns with new album of live recordings Blues & jazz guitar legend Jeff Healey has released an intense new album of live music.
• The secrets can be found in Blood Memory Remember when hardcover books cost $6 and paperbacks cost 50 cents?
• North's Jack London is between the covers at last DAWSON CITY It's been 20 years since Dick North began to hold forth on the Klondike adventures of his literary hero, Jack London, as part of Dawson City's annual offerings to tourists.

July 6, 2006

• Road called essential for new lots If city council does not allow an access road to travel through an environmentally-protected area, a new country residential subdivision near Fish Lake Road would not proceed.
• Customers without phone service asked to call NWTel A mere coincidence could be the perfect ad to get Watson Lakers to subscribe to Northwestel Inc.'s wireless service.
• Changes made after young girl's stroll The Nazarene Daycare has already implemented most changes ordered by the Yukon government last week.
• YTG powers Quest purse to $200,000 US The 2007 Yukon Quest's purse will now total $200,000 US thanks to some help from the territory's Department of Tourism and Culture.
• No filing extension granted to former election candidate Six months after January's federal election, the Yukon's Green Party candidate was not granted an extension to file his paper work from the vote, but it wasn't because a visiting judge didn't want to.
• Loose dog triggers collision A 21-year-old man was taken to Whitehorse General Hospital on Wednesday evening following a traffic collision.
• Two bush fires are deemed suspicous On Wednesday afternoon, the Ibex Valley fire department west of Whitehorse responded to a blaze that was likely set intentionally.
• Projects to battle sexual assaults Funding for five community-based projects focused on preventing sexual assault against aboriginal women have been announced by Elaine Taylor, minister responsible for the Women's Directorate.
• Potential projects studied for funds The Yukon Forum has started to identify projects for Northern Strategy Funding.
• City-employed volunteers will have WCB benefits Unlike their territorial counterparts, Whitehorse municipal employees will be eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they volunteer for the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

July 5, 2006

• Monthly passes to be sold on EFT basis only A move to require all monthly pass holders at the Canada Games Centre to pay by electronic fund transfer (EFT) will lead to fewer people using the city's new $45-million facility and an increased burden on the public purse.
• Wanted: creative young poster-makers The Yukon Human Rights Commission is holding a youth poster contest called 'Art in Action'.
• Rare swan seen at island Another rare bird has been seen at Herschel Island, says conservation biologist Cameron Eckert of the Department of the Environment.
• Watson Lakers still awaiting phone, Internet services Close to 50 Northwestel Inc. customers in Watson Lake are still waiting for phone and Internet services to be restored as technicians continue their efforts to get the system back up and running.
• Casual jobs highlighted The local youth employment centre is holding its annual casual job weeks until July 14. Staff are looking for youth interested in high-paying, quick, casual jobs.
• Permit enables the winner to hunt in game sanctuary The second of two rare permit hunts for Dall sheep inside the Kluane Game Sanctuary was handed out Tuesday in a draw won by Craig Hansen of Whitehorse.
• Faro fires spark arson charges Three youth have been charged with arson in connection with two blazes in Faro last week.
• Railway data set for analysis, DM says The Department of Economic Development doesn't know any more about the results of the Alaska-Canada rail link feasibility study than the public, says deputy minister Eugene Lysy.
• Habitat protection consultation set for Thursday A draft management plan for the Ddhaw Ghro Habitat Protection Area (HPA) in central Yukon will be the subject of a public consultation initiative from the Ddhaw Ghro Steering Committee.
• Vintage cars are fixtures in Dawson parades DAWSON CITY Bill Chase and his friend have been driving their vintage cars to Dawson City from Alaska since the first centennial year of 1996 to participate in the town's Canada Day parade.
• Fires closed artery in northern B.C. The Watson Lake district continues to be the hot spot in the Yukon for wildfire activity.
• Ex-hospital director takes Nunavut job Ron Browne, who has just finished nine years as Whitehorse General Hospital's chief executive officer, is now deputy minister of Heath and Social Services in Nunavut.
• Local inn repeats as one of top Best Westerns The Gold Rush Inn, for the second year in a row, has ranked as one of the best Best Western hotels in the world.
• City has varying definitions of senior citizen The city is set to decide how old a senior citizen is.
• Veteran panner off to Finnish contest DAWSON CITY David Millar will represent the Yukon and Canada at the 2006 World Goldpanning Championships in Finland later this summer. Millar won the right by taking first place in the Yukon Open panning contest held in Dawson on Canada Day.
• Strategy enriches nurses' bursaries Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers has announced that the Yukon's Nursing Education Bursary will be expanded.
• High Strung circus performers descend on Whitehorse There are fools walking the streets of Whitehorse these days. Green Fools, to be exact.
• Emerging artist Decosse shines at francophone contests 'I never planned to stay so long, but I found a lot of inspiration here,' said Kathleen Decosse, a rising star of the Yukon music scene.
• Dawson's City's Canada Day was packed with activity DAWSON CITY Canada Day events in Dawson began with a small gathering in Victory Gardens for a flag raising ceremony and the singing of O Canada.