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News Briefs: Friday, June 28, 2013
Possible cougar sighting
A cougar sighting was called into RCMP Tuesday afternoon near the Yellowknife Ski Club.
RCMP passed the information on to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, but no one checked out the area.
Judy McLinton, spokesperson for ENR, said the identity of the animal could not be confirmed, so officers weren't sent out.
McLinton said ENR gets one or two calls per year about cougar sightings in Yellowknife, but they've never been able to confirm any reports.
- Daniel Campbell
Dettah council byelection
Bobby Drygeese was elected to council in Dettah, after he won the only seat available during a by-election held on Tuesday. Drygeese defeated Blake Rasmussen, winning 81 votes to Rasmussen's 38.
Drygeese was elected to council before, in 2006 and 2011, but took time away from politics after the last election to build up his tour company, B. Dene Adventures.
He said he wants to focus on improving community programs and community infrastructure for the Yellowknives Dene.
- Cody Punter
Santa Claus parade misconduct investigation
The Crown's office in Yellowknife said it is still investigating allegations of misconduct by a bylaw officer during last year's Santa Claus parade.
A woman claimed an officer attempted to forcibly remove her 55-year-old mother from her vehicle after trying to turn her car around when she was blocked by a parade route barricades and took her licence.
RCMP reopened the investigation earlier this year after initially clearing the bylaw officer of any wrong doing. However, concerns with the investigation caused it to be turned over to the Crown's office.
- Graeme McNaughton
Goods more expensive
The price of goods is going up faster in Yellowknife than the rest of the country, according to a report from Statistics Canada.
The Consumer Price Index found goods in Yellowknife increased in cost by an average of one per cent over the past year, higher than the national average of 0.7 per cent. The products with the largest increases were tobacco and alcohol at an average of 3.6 per cent.
- Graeme McNaughton
News Briefs: Thursday, June 27, 2013
Mining company receives permits
The Canadian Zinc Corporation has received two permits it needs to operate Prairie Creek Mine.
The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board issued a land-use permit that will allow the company to extract ore and waste rock from the mine, operate a flotation mill concentrator to create lead and zinc concentrates and refurbish and develop site facilities, among other things. A second permit allows for the construction and operation of a transfer facility at the south end of the winter road that will be used to temporarily store outbound concentrates and inbound supplies.
Both permits are valid for five-year terms with optional two year extensions. The company still needs to receive a Class A type water licence from the board, that will be subject to approval by the federal minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Celebrating Canada
Canada Day will be celebrated with a series of events in Fort Simpson. Floats will assemble in the Nahanni Inn parking lot at 11:30 a.m. to prepare for the parade that will begin at noon. Following the parade, there will be a community barbecue at the arbour at 12:30 p.m. along with a cake cutting and singing of the national anthem.
In the afternoon, there will be games for all ages. The Family Fun Circus is also scheduled to be in the village on July 1. They will have showings at 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Program for youth
The Open Doors Society is holding a summer program in Fort Simpson every weekday, except Canada Day, until July 5.
The program is open to children ages six to 12. Children under the age of five must be accompanied by someone 14 years old or older. The morning sessions run from 10 to 11 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. The afternoon session are from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Every day there will be an outdoor activity, a science based-activity, a craft and a cooking activity.
Devolution signed
The NWT Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement was signed in Inuvik on June 25.
Premier Bob McLeod, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Bernard Valcourt, and leadership from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the NWT Metis Nation, the Sahtu Secretariat Inc., the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Tlicho Government added their signatures to the final agreement.
While the Devolution Agreement takes effect when it is signed, the transfer of responsibilities to the territory is scheduled to take place in April 2014.
– NNSL staff
Hockey changes applauded
A new rule which prohibit body checking at the peewee level of minor hockey is fine with an Inuvik hockey spokesperson.
"I am in total support of the new body checking policy," Carolyn Hunter, the president of the Inuvik Minor Hockey Association stated in an e-mail. "I believe that it is a move in the right direction.
"This is making the safety of our young hockey players our priority," she added. "This is especially important in our organization where both female and male players with a wide variety of skills play together."
So far, Hunter said the reaction locally has been mixed.
"Change is not always well received, especially if it is something that people themselves were involved in as a youth," she stated.
More security at youth centre.
First Air and Danmax Communication of Yellowknife have donated a surveillance system which will be installed in the Inuvik Youth Centre .
"After four break-ins at the Inuvik Youth Centre last summer, Danmax decided to donate a four-camera surveillance system and its installation to the Inuvik Youth Centre on June 10," said outgoing executive director Samantha Stokell. "The work and equipment is estimated at a worth of $5,000."
Paddle team up the creek
An Inuvik paddle team comprised of Dave Halpine and Mike Harlow had to withdraw from the Yukon River Quest race this week.
Halpine, who was participating for the first time, said Harlow had left June 23 with the duo's canoe to drive to Whitehorse. Just outside Eagle Plains, Halpine said Harlow encountered some bad road conditions and left the road, badly damaging the vehicle and the canoe.
"He called me to say he was more or less all right but they were getting set to medevac him," Halpine said. "He's too banged up to paddle, although we could have gotten another boat."
Other paddlers from Inuvik, including Kendall McDonald and Tim Gordon, have registered to run the race as well. Halpine said that duo is one of the pre-race favourites.
Arctic Market opens
The Arctic Market debuted in Chief Jim Koe Park on June 22.
The outdoor market featured a half-dozen vendors and a small but steady stream of customers.
Janice and Candace Seddon said they were kept fairly busy at their craft table, as was the Inuvik Greenhouse produce booth.
Jackie Challis, the town's director of tourism and economic development, said many people were looking for baked goods as well.
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