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Friday, August 26, 2016
Mail union files notice of strike
Mail and parcel service through Canada Post may face disruptions as early as Monday after the union representing up to 51,000 of the Crown corporation's employees issued a strike notice Thursday.
The notice was filed by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers after Canada Post CEO Deepak Chopra refused a 24-hour extension to talks, according to a news release from the union. As of Thursday, the union stated it doesn't intend to have members walk off the job yet. It's seeking a continuation of negotiations for a new collective agreement with Canada Post.
- Shane Magee
Cell connection problem fixed
Police issued an alert to residents yesterday that an issue with cell phone coverage means calls to RCMP by mobile devices were not all going through.
During the outage, RCMP stated people should either use a land line to contact police or go to the detachment in person. Bell Mobility issued an update at 5 p.m. yesterday when the problem was fixed. It wasn't clear when the issue began.
- Shane Magee
Federal minister to visit
Minister of Democratic Institutions Maryam Monsef will be in Yellowknife on Tuesday evening.
The minister will be in town to host a town hall meeting along with NWT MP Michael McLeod. Electoral reform will be the focus for the public meeting. It will be held at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- John McFadden
Three charged after drug busts
Three men face charges after RCMP executed a search warrant at a downtown hotel, seizing cash and about 260 grams of what's believed to be crack cocaine, according to a news release. Police were called to the hotel Wednesday evening. Cody Brownlee, 18, of Fort McMurray, Alta., Brandon Leach, 19, of Grande Prairie, Alta., and Taylor Peterson, 18, Grande Prairie, Alta., each face charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. Police refused to state where exactly the search occurred and no information was available at press time about when the three will next appear in court or whether they have gang connections.
- Shane Magee
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Johnny Berens ferry hours temporarily extended
The MV Johnny Berens ferry across the Mackenzie River to Wrigley will have extended operating hours from Aug. 25 to 28.
The hours are in order to accommodate the weekend handgames tournament that will be taking place in the community.
The ferry will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. each morning, and from 2 to 10 p.m. each evening on those days.
It is expected to resume normal operating hours on Aug. 29.
Caucus retreat in Fort Prov
Members of the legislative assembly from across the Northwest Territories will be making the trip to Fort Providence this week to attend a caucus retreat.
The retreat takes place at the Snowshoe Inn. It is scheduled to begin Aug. 24 and will run until the morning of Aug. 27, according to Snowshoe Inn's Linda Croft.
When the assembly is not in session, the caucus meets only twice each year, The assembly is expected to resume sitting on Oct. 13.
Education council holds feast
The Dehcho Divisional Educational Council had plans to hold a feast on Aug. 24 in Fort Simpson.
The event fell after press time, but a poster noted the feast was in celebration of the annual teacher's orientation.
It was set to begin at 5:30 p.m. at the community arbour, although if weather turned bad it would be held at the gymnasium of Thomas Simpson Secondary School.
Community members were asked to be green-aware, bringing their own plates and cutlery.
Gathering at Horne River
Members of Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation, the hamlet of Fort Providence and other communities gathered together at Horne River just outside Fort Providence last week.
All were welcome as families united for three days from Aug. 19 to 22.
On Aug. 17, during a speech to the community, Deh Gah Got'ie Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge said the gathering came after community members suggested families needed to come together in light of the crime troubles facing the community.
"(Some) of our young people have gone astray ... but we need to show them we do love and care about them," he said.
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