Whitehorse Daily Star

March 9, 2006

• YECL eyes greenbelt-area water licence With its McIntyre Creek water licence set to expire in January 2008, the Yukon Electrical Company Ltd. (YECL) will likely apply to the territory's water board for a new licence.
• Hart mute as Dawson's trustee gives notice DAWSON CITY March 21 will be Ray Hayes' last meeting with his trustee's advisory committee in Dawson City.
• End your arrogance, give us a date, premier told Premier Dennis Fentie's silence on a date for the next session of the legislature and a new budget is nothing short of arrogance, says Liberal Leader Arthur Mitchell.
• Partner named for B.C.-Yukon project VANCOUVER (CP) Strategic Metals Ltd. (TSXV:SMD) has signed an option agreement with Tsar Equity AB that would see the Logtung tungsten-molybdenum project transferred to a new publicly traded company if certain conditions are met.
• Cloth liquor bags available The Yukon Liquor Corp. is reminding customers that 'moderation is always in good taste' with its new, reusable cloth bags.
• Harpe ready for ultimate legal option Bonnie Harpe says she's prepared to challenge a Yukon Supreme Court decision with the top court in the country if need be.
• Election candidates emerge Three candidates have put their names forward to lead the Taku River Tlingit First Nation.
• 2005 proved a banner year for Yukon film production: stats Last year was the Yukon's record year for film production, due to incentives from the Department of Economic Development and favourable weather, the government says.
• Swingley leading at Iditarod's halfway point TAKOTNA, Alaska (AP) Four-time winner Doug Swingley kept his lead today halfway through the Iditarod, a trek of more than 1,770 kilometres from Anchorage to Nome.

March 8, 2006

• Available Light Film Festival draws rave reviews Moviegoers are recovering from an exciting weekend, as the Yukon Film Society successfully held its fourth annual Available Light Film Festival.
• China Rail interested in buying White Pass Asian companies are expressing a solid interest in the Yukon, and not only with known mineral resources, says Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon.
• Airborn counters take bison inventory An aerial count of the Aishihik wood bison herd was conducted Tuesday in an attempt to gain the best estimate of population size in eight years.
• It'll be a big, ugly case,' lodge owner predicts Since 1987, Warren Lafave says, he's been trying to settle with the Yukon government over the costs he incurred when members of the Ross River Dena Council blockaded the winter road to his Inconnu Lodge.
• WCB review structure raises concerns Some stakeholders are saying the structure of the public meetings for the Workers' Compensation Act review doesn't make much sense.
• Heavy equipment going into copper site Keith Byram of Pelly Construction expects the last of the big loads going into the Minto copper deposit will be across the Yukon River ice bridge by mid-month.
• City asked to make lake area ski trails into a park The city should designate the Chadburn Lake ski trail area as a city park, members of council heard Feb. 27.
• Railway executive not pleased' with minister The president of White Pass says he's incensed by Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon's suggestion that the railway is for sale.
• Musher reviews options after gruelling Quest Mount Lorne musher Kiara Adams says for the moment long-distance sled dog races aren't in her future.
• ATVs hurting trails, Graham says Whitehorse should cease calling the dirt paths that run through city forests 'trails' if city council wants to wrestle control of the pathways away from the Yukon government's highways department.

March 7, 2006

• Parties to challenge smoking bylaw The '98 Hotel and Brian Santa have found themselves back in court fighting the city's smoking bylaw.
• Minister mused defecting to NDP Yukon Party cabinet minister John Edzerza has spoken with the NDP about the possibility of moving to the party.
• Businessman pursued for loans A court order sought by the Yukon government would require that Inconnu Lodge owner Warren Lafave pay $407,756 if he wants to redeem the lease he has on the land.
• Officials support Arkell proposal The city should avoid zoning an Arkell greenbelt as green space so it can allow for the development of 100 residential lots.
• Mining will boom, minister believes Yukoners should be expecting big things over the next year in mining, says Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Archie Lang.
• Local story is becoming short film People who knew the late Kitty Smith know her story of How People Got Fire.
• Buildings' height limit may change The city could be seeing buildings in its downtown core which are higher than the current four-storey limit.
• Quarry decision may be delayed City council will likely delay a decision on permitting a concrete plant and quarry operation in the McLean Lake area until after it's held discussions with the Kwanlin Dun First Nation (KDFN).