 | Home page |  | Text size |  | E-mail this page |
News Briefs: Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Airport evacuated
The Yellowknife Airport was evacuated for an hour yesterday around noon after a suspicious package located in the terminal, according to Earl Blacklock of the Department of Transportation. Al, a commuter who declined to give his last name, said he was in the airport early for a flight to Halifax when security workers went around and asked everyone to leave the airport.
Yellowknife RCMP were called to investigate the package which was deemed not a threat.
- Candace Thomson
Guilty plea in stabbing case
Crown prosecution withdrew a charge of attempted murder against a 23-year-old man after he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in relation to the stabbing of a 44-year-old Yellowknife man on Nov. 29.
Dean Ruben will be sentenced on Sept. 4 for the assault charge.
Tyson Ruben-Bucher, 19, still faces charges of attempted murder and will appear in court for a preliminary enquiry on Aug. 19.
Ruben has been in custody since the incident and agreed to remain so until his sentencing date.
- Daniel Campbell
Cab drivers lose suit
Nine former Diamond Cabs drivers had their complaints against their former employer dismissed in Territorial Court on Friday.
The complainants were each seeking around $6,500 for breach of contract and legal fees. Allegations of racism and discrimination were also dismissed by the judge. The drivers were let go by Ted Yaceyko, owner of Diamond Cab, in March 2012 after a disagreement over fares.
Many of the former Diamond Cabs employees went on to form their own cab company, Aurora Taxi.
- Daniel Campbell
Diabetes strips recalled
Health Canada has issued notice of a voluntary recall of certain lots of Nova Max Blood Glucose Test Strips. The recall also affects unused Nova Max Plus Glucose Meter Kits, which contain test strips from the recalled lots. According to the news release, the test strips may report a false, abnormally high blood glucose result.
"Under certain conditions, such a false result could lead users with diabetes to an insulin dosing error," the release stated.
The lot numbers are available on the Health Canada website. All healthcare professionals and pharmacists with unused kits involved in the recall should remove them from circulation immediately, the release stated.
- NNSL staff
Happy campers
Arviat
A group of students got to have some great times on land and water during a youth summer camp held in Arviat this past month.
The camp was highlighted by a number of fun-filled activities held at the Mikilaa Lake landing area.
Tourists believed dead
Baker Lake
Two American tourists are believed to have died after going missing this past week while fishing on Dubawnt Lake, about 250 kilometres southwest of Baker Lake.
The two men failed to meet a charter aircraft that was scheduled to pick them up at the lake on July 29.
Their boat was found about eight kilometres from their camp, out of gas.
The men were last seen fishing near Tukto Lodge and, by their own choice, were not accompanied by a guide.
Baker's Ookpik Aviation spent two days conducting a thorough search of the area, but could not locate the missing men.
The names of the two men, who are thought to be related, were not released as of press deadline.
Successful sisters
Arviat
It's been a year to remember for the successful sister tandem of Fiona and Heather Main of Arviat.
Fiona graduated from medical school (Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Sudbury) as a family physician.
Not to be outdone, Heather graduated from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto, Ont., with a master's degree in child study and education.
Tootoo Train departs
Rankin Inlet
Rankin Inlet's Jordin Tootoo of the NHL's Detroit Red Wings left Rankin Aug. 2 after a short visit with his mom and dad, Barney and Rose Tootoo.
Jordin was home for his brief visit after a whirlwind tour of a number of Nunavut communities.
The Tootoo Train was accompanied by noted Canadian sports reporter Stephen Brunt, who is working on a feature piece highlighting Jordin's off-ice activities.
Trying for the Games
Chesterfield Inlet
A large group of young athletes from a number of Nunavut communities descended upon Chesterfield Inlet this past weekend.
The athletes were in Chester to compete for spots on Team Nunavut's Arctic sports squad for the 2014 Arctic Winter Games.
Tryout results were not known as of press deadline.
Youth at the Games
Kivalliq/Sherbrooke, Quebec
The Kivalliq is well represented at the 2013 Canada Summer Games underway in Sherbrooke, Que.
The Games run from Aug. 2 to 17.
Named to representing Kivalliq on the wrestling mat are Sandy Saviakjuk and Jay Pudlat of Coral Harbour and Arthur Siksik of Rankin Inlet.
Among the youth ambassador contingent are Chelsea Tagoona, Kert Depeuter, Trent Aksawnee and Trina Qaqqaq of Baker Lake, Doulas Ollie of Arviat and Annette Ray Boucher of Rankin.
Baker's Jeff Seeteenak is Team Nunavut's chef de mission at the event.
Raising awareness
Kivalliq
A number of Kivalliq communities are trying to ramp up their efforts, once again, to increase awareness on the ongoing plague of suicide in the region.
A young anti-suicide, enjoy-life dance group was busy raising funds in Rankin Inlet this past week, while organizers in Baker Lake were busy planning a walk against suicide in that community for this week.
The majority of Kivalliq communities have held some form of anti-suicide, celebrate life event during 2013.
| 
