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News Briefs: Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Man arrested after children approached
RCMP have arrested a 29-year-old Yellowknife man after an individual approached two elementary school girls Friday, asking them to come to Edmonton with him.
RCMP are not releasing the name of the suspect.
"It's a privacy issue. It's under the Mental Health Act so we can't release the person's information," said Const. Amanda McGillivray.
According to the news release, a passerby intervened and the suspect never made any physical contact with the girls.
Police located the man at a nearby residence Friday and took him to Stanton Territorial Hospital.
- Kevin Allerston
Fire destroys shed
A small shed in the backyard of a house on 55 Street burnt to the ground Monday night.
"It's under investigation by the fire marshal," said Mayor Gord Van Tighem, who is the only city representative authorized to speak to the media. "It was a shed in a backyard and the damage would be the shed."
A renter of the property said all that was in the shed were a wheelbarrow and other tools and that no one was hurt.
The vinyl siding of the back of the house melted due to the heat from the blaze.
- Katherine Hudson
Development plan unveiled tomorrow
Homes North is expected to unveil its development plan for a subdivision in the Kam Lake area tomorrow at City Hall.
The new single and multi-family neighborhood will be located adjacent to Coronation Drive, and across Kam Lake Road from Bourque Drive and Demelt Crescent.
Residents are invited to the lower boardroom in city hall between noon and 2 p.m., and 7 and 9 p.m. for information on the development, including maps of the layout. Presentations will be held at 12:15 and 7:15 p.m.
- Miranda Scotland
Fire ban lifted
The open air burning ban has been lifted.
The fire department has downgraded the hazard rating for the Yellowknife area to high from extreme due to recent rain, according to a news release from the city. Nonetheless, fire officials are asking residents to be extremely cautious when lighting campfires.
- Miranda Scotland
Making a difference
Nashville, Tenn./Rankin Inlet
NHL forward Jordin Tootoo of Rankin Inlet is wellknown for helping out where he can across Nunavut.
But the Nashville Predator (who becomes a free agent July 1) also lends a hand in Nashville, as well. The Team Tootoo Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee recently announced grants totalling $11,900 to three Tennessee organizations, Students Taking a Right Stand (antibullying), Oasis Center (vulnerable and disconnected youth) and The Jason Foundation (prevention of youth suicide).
Entertainer honoured
Rankin Inlet
Longtime entertainer Charlie Panigoniak of Rankin Inlet was appointed to the Order of Nunavut this past week.
The announcement was made June 5 by the chairperson of the Order of Nunavut advisory council, Hunter Tootoo.
Kenojuak Ashevak of Cape Dorset was also appointed to the Order.
Panigoniak has been performing and recording music since the 1960s and is one of Nunavut's most wellknown personalities.
The Order of Nunavut recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural, social or economic wellbeing of Nunavut, and is the highest honour in Nunavut to be bestowed upon an individual.
Skill training
Repulse Bay
The Repulse Bay Health Centre, in conjunction with specialized CPR training for healthcare workers, hosted an advanced skilltraining session from May 25 to 28.
Nurse in charge Maria Fraiser organized the session, which attracted healthcentre staff, community members and teachers.
The session was funded through a grant from the Rankin Inletbased Brighter Futures Wellness Project and Keewatin Air/Nunavut Lifeline educator Catherine Gall.
Healthcentre participants learned advanced CPR skills, how to apply their learning while assisting the nursing staff in emergency situations, and how to use the skills within the community and out on the land.
Nursing staff were further instructed on advanced lifesaving procedures and instruction on the interpretation of EKGs.
The teachers attended the sessions for CPR instruction and the use of AED.
Student wins iPodin competition
Rankin Inlet
Leo Ussak Elementary School student Ian Kappi won a new iPad for his submission to the Making a Difference competition.
Each year Nunavut students are asked to submit a piece on a teacher who made a positive difference in their life.
Kappi won this year's award for extolling the benefits of his year with kindergarten teacher Carrie Stevenson, who won an iPod for being the subject of the submission.
Drug bust in Arviatyields marijuana and vodka
Arviat
Members of the Arviat detachment of the RCMP apprehended a man flying into the community with marijuana and liquor this past week.
Clayton Spence, 34, of Churchill, Man., was nabbed at the airport with 75 grams of marijuana and a quantity of vodka (Arviat is a dry hamlet).
Spence has been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking contrary to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, as well as unlawful possession of liquor contrary to the Liquor Act.
He is scheduled to appear in an Arviat courtroom on Aug. 13.
Gettin' the freight
Nunavut
Qikiqtani First Aviation (QFAL) and Sakku First Aviation (SFAL) announced this past week they were awarded 95 per cent of the markets required by a recent Government of Nunavut (GN) standing offer for freight.
The standing offer is for the shipment of all GN freight for the next 12 months and includes deliveries between most Nunavut communities.
QFAL is a joint venture between the Qikiqtaaluk Corp. and First Air, while SFAL is a joint venture between Sakku Investments Corp. and First Air.
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