Whitehorse Daily Star

June 13, 2012

• Structural protection in place as Cassiar Creek fire grows Structural protection has been set up on two properties located near a wildfire in the Dawson City district that is now an estimated 641 hectares in size.
• Did you know? On the trail of local history! Ed. note: these historic items, submitted by the Whitehorse History Book Society, are published every second Wednesday.
• Music Making The Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival took place over the weekend.
• Sun surprised guests at Commissioner's Tea One could forgive visitors from Whitehorse for staring at the sky in amazement during last Saturday's Commissioner's Tea.
• Protesters carried message in moving boxes Approximately 100 federal public service workers and supporters marched through downtown Whitehorse on Tuesday afternoon to protest the omnibus budget bill now before Parliament.
• Housing crisis is worsening, New Democrat warns The Yukon government must address unreasonable rent increases and the conversions of affordable rental units into condominiums, NDP housing critic Kate White said today.
• Murder case headed to jury next week After nearly three months of testimony, the Yukon Supreme Court jury in the Christina Asp murder trial has heard the last piece of evidence.
• Town ‘a community that pulled together' Watson Lake Mayor Richard Durocher is impressed with how his community handled the massive influx of highway travellers over the last few days.

June 12, 2012

• Boil water advisory issued in Watson Lake Nadine Nicholson, an environmental health officer for the Department of Health and Social Services, has issued a boil water advisory to residents on private wells near the Liard River in Watson Lake.
• Lower Post ‘devastated' by flooding: deputy chief The First Nation community of Lower Post, B.C., located 25 kilometres south of Watson Lake is in a state of emergency, its leaders say.
• Crisis demonstrates a precarious situation: NDP The Yukon NDP Official Opposition is acknowledging the hard work of community volunteers and public servants in the government's emergency measures, health and social services and highways fields who have worked around-the-clock to care for visitors and neighbours "and get our vital road network back in order.
• Fire-stricken residents had just moved in There were no injuries in a Riverdale house fire this morning, but damages are estimated at $100,000, says platoon chief Barry Blisner of the Whitehorse Fire Department.
• Witnesses defend man at harassment hearing Ex-staffers and the manager and partial owner of Intersport came to the defence of their former/current boss Monday at an ongoing hearing.
• No Sale Here Gas was at a premium in recent days in Whitehorse
• Dawson district fire grows in size One new human-caused fire was reported Sunday morning in the Mayo district near the Mayo River Bridge.
• I lied to officers, accused woman testifies A woman accused of first-degree murder swears she repeatedly lied to undercover officers about her role in a man's death because she was afraid she would lose everything they had given her.
• MP steadfast in support for controversial bill The Yukon's MP says he will vote in support of the omnibus budget bill despite protests calling for him to stand up against it.
• Government doing its part, premier says The territorial government is "deploying all necessary resources” to help Yukoners affected by the road closures, washouts and flooding in several areas.
• Crucial highway link to the South restored The Alaska Highway reopened Monday evening near Rancheria following the completion of a road detour around the substantial washout at Canyon Creek.

June 11, 2012

• Fire reported in Dawson City district One new lightning-caused fire was reported in the Dawson City district Saturday afternoon, Yukon Wildland Fire Management officials said today.
• River Trouble The Liard River burst its banks at Upper Liard,
• Hearing into alleged sexual harassment continues The Yukon Board of Adjudication is continuing its hearing this week into a sexual harassment allegation by a former employee of Intersport.
• Nature's Power The gravity of the flooding in Upper Liard is seen in this photo
• Zoning changes called detriment to construction Gerald Parent says proposed zoning changes would make building in the Old Town portion of downtown Whitehorse mean builders wouldn't make any money on home construction in the neighbourhood.
• Stores swiftly stripped of perishable foods Closures of parts of the Alaska Highway made weekend grocery trips a bit difficult as local stores quickly ran out of fresh produce, meat and dairy products.
• Pent-up traffic will be released in stages The Alaska Highway is expected to open up near Rancheria later today, government officials told a news conference held this morning in Whitehorse.
• Extent of damage called unbelievable Several homes in Upper Liard and Lower Post, B.C. were evacuated over the weekend as floods waters continue to wreak havoc across the southern Yukon.