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News Briefs: Wednesday, August 31, 2011
More candidates announced
Patrick Scott has announced that he is running in the territorial election in the Great Slave riding. Scott moved North in 1975 and has worked as a producer and journalist.
In the Yellowknife Centre riding, incumbent MLA Robert Hawkins has announced he will be running again, and Frame Lake MLA Wendy Bisaro has announced she will also seek re-election.
Darwin Rudkevitch, the owner of Arctic Farmer Nursery, will be challenging incumbent MLA Dave Ramsay for the Kam Lake seat.
- Heather Lange
Not guilty pleas for perjury, misleading RCMP
A 32-year-old woman charged with perjury and misleading an RCMP investigation into a death threat pleaded not guilty to both charges through her lawyer on Tuesday, and has elected to be tried by a territorial court judge.
Both charges are being treated as indictable offences. The perjury charge stems from an allegation that she lied to justice of the peace Grace Blake during a hearing on July 9 to have an emergency protection order filed against a male Yellowknife resident. Justice Bernadette Schmaltz adjourned the case until Sept. 13 to set a trial date.
- Terrence McEachern
Public meeting for winter festival
Yellowknifer Adrian Bell will be hosting a public meeting to brainstorm new ideas for a winter festival in the city.
The meeting will be on Thursday, Sept. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Yellowknife Public Library meeting room. Bell is looking to either resurrect the defunct Caribou Carnival that usually takes place in March or to create a new winter festival.
- Heather Lange
School field damaged by vehicle
Sometime over the weekend an all-terrain vehicle was driven around William McDonald School's field, ripping up a small portion grass, and leaving doughnut-shaped tire marks.
Metro Huculak, superintendent of Yellowknife Education District No. 1, said the damage could have been worse. The police are not being involved.
"It's too bad but at least it wasn't a (regular) vehicle," said Huculak.
Huculak said the field's upkeep is the responsibility of the district and the City of Yellowknife, and they are looking at seeding the field again in the near future so there is new grass in the spring.
- Heather Lange
Cons for the win in softball
Rankin Inlet - With a score of 20-19, the Inukshuk Cons won the fifth and final game of the Rankin Inlet Co-ed Softball League finals Aug. 22.
The Cons were facing off against M&T Enterprises, who had won the first two games of the series, only to lose in game five.
In the regular season, the Cons had a record of 13-1. To get to the finals, they beat the Titans in the semi-finals.
M&T had a 7-7 record and beat Sam's Strike Force in the semi-finals to face off against the Cons in the final.
Team members include Carlo Issaluk, left, Chris Ussak, Chad Graham, Andrew Simms, Uujuq Pilakapsi and James Merritt. Gloria Kaludjak,, Kandace Kusugak, Seth Hamilton and Victoria Kakuktinniq. Lee Kreelak, Donovan Ayaruak, Michelle Jackson, Roger Tagoona, Troy Aksalnik and Wendel Kaludjak.
Prime minister visits Baker Lake
Baker Lake - Prime Minister Stephen Harper toured Meadowbank gold mine last week during his sixth annual Northern tour.
During his visit to Nunavut's only operating mine, he pledged to continue economic development in the territories.
"Our government remains focused on the economy, job growth and expanding new opportunities from coast-to-coast-to-coast," he said in a statement.
"Canada's North is full of economic potential and innovators continue to unlock development possibilities that bring with them real economic benefits and long-term jobs for local residents."
He also announced a $230,000 investment in the creation of an Iqaluit Chamber of Mines office.
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. president Cathy Towtongie said in a statement that she welcomed the investment, pointing out that an Iqaluit office will help to ensure Nunavummiut have a voice on mining issues in the North.
Emergency landing for second jet
Rankin Inlet - About two hours after the First Air Boeing 737 crashed just outside of Resolute, claiming the lives of 12 people, Aug. 20, a second jet made an emergency landing in Rankin Inlet.
The second aircraft - the same model as the first - was en route to Winnipeg, according to Transport Canada documents, and was turned back to Rankin with one engine.
The jet landed safely, with members of the fire department and police standing by.
First Air didn't return phone calls by press time.
Territory's firefighters most sportsmanlike
Nunavut - The team of six firefighters trained and chosen to represent Nunavut at the Aboriginal Firefighters Competition in Winnipeg on Aug. 20 were awarded the most sportsmanlike award.
On the team were George Aksadjuak of Rankin Inlet, Cody Evalaukjuk of Coral Harbour, Troy Innukshuk of Rankin Inlet, Jollie Enoogoo of Pond Inlet, Randy Idlout of Resolute Bay and Norman Qavvik of Kugaaruk.
Qavvik was the captain of the team.
"As the captain, I was pretty humbled to get that award for team Nunavut," he said while in Rankin Inlet last week.
Team Nunavut was comprised of the winners of a firefighter competition held in Rankin earlier this month. Overall, Nunavut came in eighth place out of 14 teams.
Caps and gowns abound
Kivalliq - It is graduation time in the region.
Chesterfield Inlet and Coral Harbour are the last two communities to hold their 2011 graduations. Both will be this Friday.
Rankin Inlet celebrated its graduation on Aug. 20.
Repulse Bay held its celebration on Aug. 26, while Arviat and Baker Lake had theirs the following day.
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News desk 
