Gas prices hiked again

People at the pumps may notice gas prices have jumped again, bringing the price of a litre of regular gas to $1.339 from $1.289 late last week.

Michael Ervin, a Calgary-based gas consultant, said the reason for the gas hike, which is happening across the country, is a result of two things.

"One is higher crude oil prices and that constitutes a great portion of the reason for the price of gasoline in general ... And typically around this time of year you see an increase mark-up of gasoline as a result of higher seasonal demand for gasoline," said Ervin.

He said although gas prices might increase a bit leading up to the spring and summer months when more people are driving and the demand for gasoline is higher, they typically stabilize in the summer.

- Katherine Hudson

Molester's sentencing adjourned until June 27

The sentencing of a 56-year-old man convicted of molesting three female children 15 years ago was adjourned on Monday by Justice John Vertes in Supreme Court.

The reason for the adjournment is Gordon Randolph Larsen, the accused, replaced his trial lawyer Tracy Bock with Edmonton-based lawyer Brian Beresh, who will now make sentencing recommendations to the court on behalf of Larsen on June 27, when the case is back in court.

Vertes found Larsen guilty in Supreme Court on March 23 of three counts of sexual interference for incidents in Yellowknife from 1989 to 1994.

- Terrence McEachern

Man arrested after twig-swinging incident

A 42-year-old man wasn't charged by the Yellowknife RCMP for waving a small twig at people in the Stanton Plaza parking lot on Saturday, but he was placed in the drunk tank until he sobered up.

Const. Kathy Law said the RCMP received the call at around noon on Saturday, and he was arrested without incident for public intoxication. She added no one in the parking lot was hit with the twig, and could not provide a measurement of its size.

- Terrence McEachern

Trash talk

The city will present its recycling awards at a Solid Waste Management public forum Thursday.

The forum is taking place at Northern United Place to give residents an update on various projects currently underway at the Solid Waste Facility.

All residents are invited to attend from 7 to 9 p.m.

- Nicole Veerman

Youth Award

Rankin Inlet - The Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council made a surprise announcement during meetings held in Rankin Inlet this past month, declaring Kandace Kusugak as its first Youth Award recipient for her outstanding efforts in being involved and helping out within her community.

The council hopes to expand the Youth Award into an annual territory-wide award that would be presented in conjunction with its prestigious Wise Woman Award.

Basketball tourney

Rankin Inlet - The Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Basketball League will be hosting a tournament in the community from April 29 to May 1.

Organizers are inviting communities from across Nunavut to come to Rankin to participate in the tournament, community gatherings, games and other activities.

A maximum of nine players are allowed to a team.

Calm Air is offering support to teams travelling to the Rankin tournament from across the Kivalliq.

Bravo Challenge

Arviat - The Arviat Bravo Racing Club has announced it will host the eighth annual Xtreme Bravo Challenge in Arviat on April 23 and 24.

The event will feature cash prizes for the top five finishers in each of the three divisions, with $5,000 the top prize in the men's (18 and older) and women's (18 and older) divisions, and $4,000 going to the top performer in the Master's Division (40 and older).

There will also be $100 awarded to the racer with the best hole shot in each division.

Racers are reminded a proper vest and approved helmet with goggles must be worn.

The final heats will be held on Sunday, April 24, beginning at 1 p.m.

More hoops action

Baker Lake - The annual Kemp Angoyuaq Memorial basketball tournament is scheduled to be held in Baker Lake from May 14-15.

Action will be featured in both a men's and women's division, with a maximum of 10 players per team. The age limit for the event is 18 and older for males and 16 and older for females.

Team shirts with numbers are required.

Those interested in competing being asked to contact Steve Paterson on the Kemp Angoyuaq Memorial tournament page of Facebook.

Firefighter fundraiser

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

The two grand prizes will be a brand new ATV. Many more prizes will be available in the raffle.

The winning tickets will be drawn at the Rankin community hall as part of Nunavut Day activities.

Caring students

Repulse Bay - Grade 9 students at Tusarvik School in Repulse Bay raised almost $400 in support of people around the world who don't have enough to eat.

The 13 students held a bake sale to raise the money, selling items they baked themselves.

The money was donated to Canadian Foodgrains Bank, which works to end hunger in developing countries by providing food to people in need, and by assisting households to produce enough food for themselves or to earn enough income to buy healthy food for their families.