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Yellowknife RCMP received two separate calls Thursday involving boats potentially in distress.

Shortly before 2 p.m., police were alerted of a 20-foot Crestliner boat with a stalled motor that was taking on water near Caribou Island on Great Slave Lake. Three passengers were on board. The boaters notified RCMP they had fixed the problem at about 3 p.m., Staff Sgt. Brad Kaeding told Yellowknifer.

Police were also called about a sailboat that was out of contact since Monday and is travelling on Great Slave Lake. As of press time, RCMP and the Coast Guard were collaborating on the search, though no vessels had been deployed, said Kaeding. Other boaters reported sightings of the sailboat since it dropped out of contact.

"Unfortunately, in a lot of these cases, people don't provide sufficient detail to their contact person," said Kaeding.

- Laura Busch

Filming delays

Filming for the CBC television drama series Arctic Air may cause traffic delays of up to three minutes near Sombe K'e Park today, stated a letter from Kendrie Upton, location manager for the show. Temporary no parking signs and hooded meters will also be in place.

- Lyndsay Herman

Conference to attract hundreds of doctors

Hundreds of doctors are expected to descend on Yellowknife later this month for the Canadian Medical Association's 145th annual general meeting.

The event, which is set to attract about 300 physicians, will run from Aug. 12 to 15, with the meeting taking place at St. Patrick High School.

- Miranda Scotland

Case against Kam Lake candidate stayed

Charges against Bryan Sutherland, a candidate in the 2011 territorial election who was fined for filing his candidate financial report late, have been stayed.

Sutherland was charged after he failed to pay the $250 fine he was given for not filing the report. Chief Electoral Officer David Brock said he has since worked with Sutherland to come to an agreement.

"(Sutherland) has paid the $250 fine and he has now signed a compliance agreement to recognize his wrongdoing and to commit to comply with the act in the future," said Brock, adding if Sutherland doesn't comply he could be taken back to court.

- Miranda Scotland

Premier and ministers visit the Deh Cho

Residents of six Deh Cho communities will have the opportunity to address and raise their concerns with high-level members of the territorial government next week.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche is conducting a constituency tour between Aug. 7 and 9. Menicoche will be accompanied by Premier Bob McLeod, David Ramsay, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Transportation, and Glen Abernethy, minister of Public Works and Services.

The group will be in Nahanni Butte and Fort Simpson on Aug. 7, Wrigley and Jean Marie River on Aug. 8 and Trout Lake and Fort Liard on Aug. 9.

Nahendeh Classic in Fort Simpson

Golfers can take advantage of the civic holiday to spend some additional time on the Seven Spruce Golf Course in Fort Simpson.

Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche is hosting the annual Nahendeh Classic on Aug. 6. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. for the tournament that will follow a four-person scramble format.

Teams will tee off at noon on the first of their 18 holes of golf.

Snowshoe Idol in final weeks

Singers with vocal and performance talent have two more chances to qualify for the fifth season of Snowshoe Idol.

Sixteen contestants have been chosen for the contest at the Snowshoe Lounge in Fort Providence. The next qualifying show will be held on Aug. 10 with the final qualifying show on Aug. 17. Four more contestants will be chosen to bring the roster to 20 performers.

The finals for the fifth season are scheduled for Sept. 8. Contestants are competing for a number of prizes including the grand prize of $1,000.

Forest fire numbers increase

The number of forest fires in the Deh Cho has increased substantially.

The region has had 41 fires as of July 31, up from 17 fires on July 24, according to information from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The fires blanket 57,065 hectares.

On July 31 fire crews were sent to work on a new fire. Lightning started the fire 54 kilometres northeast of Fort Simpson along the highway to Wrigley on July 30. Burning on both sides of the highway, the blaze covers approximately 56 hectares.

There have been 218 forest fires so far this year in the NWT.

Inuvik bathes in heat wave

The weather on Monday came close to a record, with highs reaching 30 C, the hottest July 30 on record. The record high for the month of July was 32.8 C on July 20, 2001. This temperature also matched the highest recorded temperature overall for Inuvik set on June 17, 1999.

Monday was more than 10 degrees above the average temperatures for this time of year, according to Environment Canada.

Win your ride

It's a full weekend for the Children First Society. Fundraising efforts are in full swing with the Town of Inuvik expected to be bustling this weekend.

The Midnight Sun Slo-Pitch Tournament is scheduled for this weekend and the society is holding a dance and raffle near the ball park.

Saturday, Party on the Permafrost takes to the dance floor at the Midnight Sun Complex. The dance in the community hall will have a retro vibe, with old staff members and music from the long-gone Zoo – the Mackenzie Hotel's old bar.

For something a little more family friendly, the society is raffling off three bikes Sunday at the ball park.

Festival seeks bands

The End of the Road Music Festival is still looking for local bands and performers to take part in the three-day festival.

This year, the festival runs from Aug. 17 to 19 at venues across the Town of Inuvik – from the Ingamo Hall Friendship Centre to the Midnight Sun Complex. There are also performances in the park, including a children's magic show.

"We try to provide something for the whole family," said Don Craik, Inuvik regional superintendent of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

Some performers include Welder's Daughter, Triple Threat, Louis Goose and Hey Romeo.

Last summer reading club session

Aug. 7 marks the last summer reading club session at the library. It's been running every Tuesday since school finished for the summer and now that it's getting close to the end of the season, assistant librarian Melani Adams said attendance has been picking up.

According to Adams, the program used to run during the day, but there has been a lot more interest in it now that the time has moved to the evenings.

"This is the first year we've held it in the evening because of all the clubs and camps," said Adams.

For youth, the Books in the Home program starts up again in early September.

"The parents and tots group is still meeting on Mondays and Saturdays," said Adams.

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