Debogorski may run as independent

Ice road trucker Alex Debogorski said Monday he has been asked to run as an independent in the May 2 election to give Conservative-leaning residents another option if they don't like Lee. Debogorski, a long-time Conservative, said he is concerned the party is running a known Liberal as its candidate.

"If she gets elected she's going to do some damage to the party," he said, adding he hasn't decided if he's going to run yet or not.

"I wasn't thinking about it, but it might be a possibility. If I was going to run it would be more of a Jesse Ventura-type campaign," he said, referring to the former professional wrestler and actor was elected governor of Minnesota in 1998 as a Reform Party candidate.

Don Cooper dies

Former deputy minister and Supreme Court Justice Don Cooper died Monday afternoon at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

Cooper, born in 1947 in Montreal, came to Yellowknife in 1975 and worked as a lawyer in the territory for nearly 20 years. Cooper left his legal practice in 1994 to work for the GNWT, eventually serving as deputy minister in the department of justice until 2008 when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of the NWT. In January 2010, he submitted his letter of resignation to the court, citing health reasons. Funeral arrangements were not known at press time.

- Terrence McEachern

Ice crossing holds

The ice crossing near Fort Providence should hold up for another week-and-a-half to two weeks, according to the Department of Transportation.

"But when it goes out, there will be nothing for four to six weeks," said Earl Blacklock, a spokesperson for the department.

An advisory came out last week saying low and fluctuating water levels could delay the operation of the Merv Hardie ferry, which crosses the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. It usually begins operations around May 13, while the ice roads close around April 16.

Blacklock said the Dettah ice crossing is in good shape.

- Nicole Veerman

Harbour plan report

The city is requesting public input on the first harbour plan background report, released last week.

The report provides a summary of the research and consultations conducted by the Planning Partnership and associated consultants.

The harbour plan seeks to establish a framework and vision for Yellowknife's waterfront, from Yellowknife River on the north to Negus Point to the south.

To view the report, visit the city's website.

- Nicole Veerman

New foundation president

The Yellowknife Community Foundation has named 23-year Yellowknife resident Darrell Vikse as the foundation's new president.

Vikse has been with the foundation since 2005 and is replacing Daryl Dolynny, who had been the foundation's president since 2008 but has stepped down.

The Yellowknife Community Foundation administers 19 scholarships and benevolent funds totalling more than $2.8 million.

- Nicole Veerman

Science fair

Whale Cove - Mary Lou Angidlik of Maani Ulujuk Ilinniarvik (MUI) in Rankin Inlet won the 2011 Qulliq Award for taking top spot at the Kivalliq Regional Science Fair in Whale Cove this past week for her project, Diabetes.

Karen Aggark of Victor Sammurtok School in Chesterfield Inlet took second place for her work, Hybrid Qulliq Oils, while Hope Makpah of MUI finished third for her efforts on optical illusions.

Angidlik, Aggark and Makpah, along with Inuglak School teacher Steve Penney and MUI teacher Katharine O'Connell, will now comprise The Team Kivalliq entry at the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Peterborough, Ont., from May 15 to 23.

For the complete story of the Kivalliq fair, please see the April 6 edition of Kivalliq News.

V-ball time

Rankin Inlet - The best volleyball players the Kivalliq region, and a number of communities across Nunavut, have to offer will be in Rankin this week to compete in the 11th annual Laura Gauthier Memorial volleyball tournament.

The action gets underway on Thursday, March 31, with championship action taking place on Sunday, April 3.

Raffle winners

Kivalliq/Rankin Inlet - Listed below are the names, communities and items won by the prize winners in the First Air Avataq Cup giant raffle held in Rankin earlier this month.

* Jonathan Ekwalak, Whale Cove, new truck

* Nowyah Williams, Rankin Inlet, two First Air tickets to Ottawa and a pair of tickets to an Ottawa Senators NHL game

* Peter Shamee, Arviat, pair of tickets to anywhere First Air flies

* Pauline Ulrich, Rankin Inlet, pair of First Air tickets to Winnipeg

* Margaret Nakoolak, Coral Harbour, pair of First Air tickets to Winnipeg

* Dorothy Gibbons, Arviat, ice auger

* Donot Milortok, Repulse Bay, materials for a new qamutiik

* Elder Misheralak, Rankin Inlet, 45 gallons of gasoline.

Tourney time

Repulse Bay - The hamlet of Repulse Bay has announced it will host the annual Arctic Circle Cup senior men's hockey tournament from April 28 to 30.

Up to six teams are expected to compete in the event, including squads from Coral Harbour and Rankin Inlet.

Fundraiser raffle

Rankin Inlet - The Rankin Inlet Volunteer Fire Brigade will begin selling tickets this coming month for a super raffle to raise funds for the fire department.

The two grand prizes will be brand new ATVs. Many more prizes will be available in the raffle. The winning tickets will be drawn at the Rankin community hall this coming July.

Art exhibit

Nunavut/Paris, France - The Nunavut Development Corp. sponsored an Inuit art exhibit at the Galerie Art Inuit Paris in Paris, France, this past month to expand awareness and distribution of Inuit art in that region.

The event was extremely well-attended and highly successful. Galerie sales exceeded expectations and numerous new European consumers were inspired to begin collecting Inuit art.

For the complete story on the Inuit art exhibit, please see the April 6 edition of Kivalliq News.

B-ball dates

Rankin Inlet - The dates for the Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Basketball League tournament have been changed to April 29 to May 1.

The event had been scheduled to run from April 8 to 10.

The entry fee for the event is $20 per person, with eight or nine players per team.

Calm Air will support Kivalliq teams travelling to Rankin for the tourney.

Those seeking more information on the B-ball event are asked to please contact Savik Ford in Rankin.