Whitehorse Daily Star

February 5, 2020

• Film projects reel in funding infusions Two Yukon short film projects were awarded a cumulative $20,000 in cash and in-kind equipment last weekend at the Available Light Film Festival’s annual Pitch Event.
• Search warrant leads to three arrests Watson Lake RCMP arrested three people Tuesday after drugs were found in a residence in the southeast Yukon town.
• Square up to student absenteeism, advocate urges There needs to be more conversation about student absenteeism in the Yukon, says Tara Christie, president of the Every Student, Every Day initiative.
• Hallucinations strike on Birch Creek Mushers stumbled into the Circle City checkpoint dizzy from the previous 50 miles of Birch Creek trail, which is known for being winding, never-ending and cold.
• Volunteers play a crucial role in the Quest The top four mushers in the 2020 Quest, Brent Sass, Michelle Phillips, Cody Strathe and Allan Moore, have all departed from the Eagle, Alaska checkpoint after a mandatory four-hour layover.
• Musher pulls out come-from-behind YQ300 win Fairbanks musher Dave Turner passed Jeremy Traska in the YQ300’s final stretch from Circle City to Central on Monday night, pulling off a come-from-behind win.
• ‘It takes 1,000 people to go 1,000 miles’ At the starting line of the 2020 Yukon Quest here last Saturday morning, all eyes were on the mushers and their teams of dogs.
• First racers expected into Dawson late tonight The leaders of the 2020 Yukon Quest are expected in Dawson City at around midnight tonight, after travelling from Eagle, Alaska following a four-hour layover.

February 4, 2020

• Yukoner tied for Quest lead; two mushers scratch The first five Yukon Quest mushers were neck and neck as of noon today.
• Few know of seniors’ tax program, council told There’s an opportunity out there for seniors who live in their own homes but nobody knows about it, Whitehorse senior Gabriele Watts told city council Monday night.
• Government reviewing inquest recommendations The Yukon government is studying the jury recommendations stemming from the recent inquest into the death of Cynthia Blackjack.

February 3, 2020

• Quest got off to a chilly start Richie Beattie and his team of 14 dogs led the group of 15 mushers attempting the 37th running of the Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile International Sled Dog Race out of Fairbanks on Saturday morning, beginning the journey to Whitehorse.
• Sass’ early lead was purely unintentional Brent Sass was the last Yukon Quest musher to leave Fairbanks on Saturday, and prior to the start, he said he had no intention of grabbing an early lead.
• Deputy sergeant-at-arms appointed Terry Grabowski became the deputy sergeant-at-arms of the Yukon legislature on Saturday, succeeding Harris Cox.
• First YQ300 racers reach Central Jeremy Traska, of Two Rivers, Alaska, was the first of 15 remaining Yukon Quest 300 mushers to reach the Central checkpoint on Sunday.
• College laments passing of its former chancellor Yukon College says its community is saddened by last Wednesday’s passing of elder Pearl Keenan, its former chancellor.
• Air North reduces its service to Watson Lake Air North has scaled back its regular air service to Watson Lake due to security concerns with the community’s airport.
• Jury suggests improvements to rural health services Cynthia Blackjack’s 2013 death was unanimously ruled “an accident” Friday afternoon,