Whitehorse Daily Star

April 18, 2006

• Numbered entities snapping up parcels, officials confirm The practice of certain contractors using a variety of numbered companies to buy government-developed lots to 'out-purchase' their competitors is of concern and will be reviewed, say Yukon contractors and government officials.
• NDP initiative is sour grapes bill,' says new Liberal NDP Leader Todd Hardy wants to see an end to MLAs jumping to different parties.
• Snowfall eclipsed old record Record snowfall measurements taken at the Whitehorse International Airport show the capital area received more snow in three days than it usually gets in all of April.
• Animal's death cause still not a certainty Officials at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve still aren't entirely sure what caused the death of Chance, a muskox brought to the preserve last year.
• Jobless rate was the highest in 13 months: stats Resting at 5.7 per cent in March, the Yukon's unemployment rate hit the highest point it's seen since February 2005.
• Dawson ice bridge officially closed DAWSON CITY The ice bridge across the Yukon River here was officially closed by last Thursday, marking the end of safe and easy winter travel to West Dawson and Sunnydale.
• MLAs will adjourn May 24 Despite the Opposition push to have the spring sitting of the legislative assembly reach 40 days, it will conclude on May 24.
• Local youth names police dog RCMP puppy Swat has a young Whitehorse resident to thank for his name.
• Law Day activities include a mock trial There will be a new twist on Yukon courts Thursday night as jurors decide the fate of Oliver Twist.
• Store acquires rare books collection Well-Read Books is presenting the Bonar Cooley Collection of northern and rare books.
• Condo developer on lookout for parking A private developer is looking for a parking lot near the downtown escarpment because of the need to accommodate the Whitehorse Fire Department.

April 17, 2006

• Passport law to have huge impact': minister A new survey shows the impact of American legislation aimed at creating standardized identification for crossing the border by Jan. 1, 2008 will be most felt by casual border crossers.
• Hardy golfers dodged snowflakes Some 40 of 50 golfers were not dissuaded on Good Friday when they awoke to a plump snowfall.
• Green-space bylaws may be changed In an effort to avoid legal proceedings in Yukon Supreme Court, city council may amend its current draft of the controversial green-space bylaws.
• Strike down the Dawson bill, Mitchell urges With legislation allowing for Dawson City to hold an election by June 15 now having passed through the assembly, Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell would like to see another bill concerning the municipality repealed.
• Research project gets city's moral support City council will offer moral, but not financial, support to a research project designed to help the North.
• Riverfront refurbishment raises parking concerns City council will look at parking concerns before deciding what the downtown's waterfront is going to look like.
• Group leery about Raven's Ridge plan The Porter Creek Community Association has concerns about a private development that is not in Porter Creek.

April 13, 2006

• Musician Laila Biali modest about string of awards DAWSON CITY It's a busy night in Dawson when the Laila Biali Trio arrives in town, but they pack the Oddfellow's Hall for their concert.
• Dawson City reels from international short film festival With more than 60 films hitting the screens, chosen from over 250 entries, this year's Dawson City International Short Film Festival is sure to be an eye-opener.
• DJ Freaky Flow floods into Whitehorse this weekend The Takhini Arena will be inundated with the sounds of fast-paced hip hop on Saturday night, as DJ Freaky Flow pours into town.
• You have to be nuts to be a writer,' according to Lawrence Hill DAWSON CITY For Lawrence Hill, it all began with a kitten.
• Bookends Learning the lessons of the Alaska oil boom As we continue to debate and anticipate the construction of mega-projects through the Yukon we, the public, and the politicians who salivate so copiously at the thought of being able to claim credit for bringing such wealth to the territory, would do well to examine the potential social, economic, political and environmental costs of such projects.
• The Colourful Five Per Centô Lloyd Ryder says it's at North Fork The photograph above was taken at the North Fork Hydro Power Station, says Lloyd Ryder of Whitehorse.
• Developers, ski club square off over development The Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club opposes the development of private land that would affect its Mount McIntyre ski trail next to Fish Lake Road.
• I am concerned,' official says of TB cases There are likely Yukon carriers of tuberculosis (TB) who are sick and contagious, the territory's communicable disease officer suggested Wednesday.
• Alert issued for convicted man Crime Stoppers Yukon and the Whitehorse RCMP are requesting the public's assistance in locating David Wiebe, who is wanted on an arrest warrant for failing to appear in court.
• Crown opposes man's release Yukon Supreme Court Justice Leigh Gower is reserving his decision on whether to permit a man convicted of drug and firearms charges last month to be free until his appeal.
• Man admits to sex offence after potential jurors gather Potential jurors packing Yukon Supreme Court quickly dispersed Tuesday morning after Justice Leigh Gower informed them Christian Papequash, set to stand trial for a sexual assault, had opted to change his election from judge and jury to judge alone.
• Board explains role in proposal The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) hosted a packed public meeting Wednesday evening on plans to build 18 country residential lots on private property between the Mount McIntyre ski trails and the Fish Lake Road.
• Former reindeer owners file suit against gov't The former owners of the Northern Splendor Reindeer Farm are suing the Yukon government over the 2005 slaughter of their herd.
• YTG payments overcome college pension woes The Yukon government (YTG) has stepped in and cleared up longtime pension woes at Yukon College.
• Grey Mountain Road area surveyed Trees are being cut just off the Grey Mountain Road because of an obligation the federal government has to the Kwanlin Dun First Nation (KDFN).
• French language services mark a milestone The territorial government has created a Directorate of French Language Services (Direction des services en franÁais).
• New school wasn't pledged for this mandate: minister Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell wants to know how two ministers can promise a new school, only to have it nowhere to be found in the budget.
• Ex-YTG employee gets his day in court Dominic Alford finally got his day in court Wednesday.
• City may join planning group City council is thinking of joining a regional planning organization.
• City awards $2-M contract Norcope Enterprises has been awarded a $2-million contract to put utilities deep into the ground at the city's former Motorways trucking yard on the waterfront.
• City would act on Crown land transfer: councillor If Crown land was passed from the Yukon government to municipal authorities, city council would 'immediately' come up with a fair and equitable tendering process.
• Leaders reached agreement on territories' fiscal future The provincial premiers may be continuing to quibble over the future equalization payments and the fiscal imbalance in Canada, but Premier Dennis Fentie says the Council of the Federation was able to reach a consensus on the territories' fiscal future immediately.
• Carmacks man facing several criminal charges A 19-year-old Carmacks man is facing charges of robbery, impaired driving and dangerous driving following an assault on an older man in the community.
• Abused dog returned to original owner A German shepherd who was forced to run behind a car on the Alaska Highway on March 31 is no longer in the driver's custody.