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News Briefs: Friday, Oct 26, 2012
Plane loses control of wing flaps
An Air Canada Express flight operated by Jazz Aviation couldn't open its wing flaps upon landing Wednesday, which caused Yellowknife emergency vehicles to respond. At approximately 1:25 p.m. Air Canada Jazz flight 8138 from Edmonton was making its descent into Yellowknife Airport when the flaps malfunctioned.
"The flight landed safely and taxied to the gate normally - no emergency landing was declared," said Manon Stuart, manager of corporate communications and linguistic services at Jazz Aviation.
- Svjetlana Mlinarevic
Investigation continues
A Sept. 19 attack on a 15-year-old girl is still under investigation, according to RCMP Const. Amanda McGillivray. The teen was attacked around midnight while walking on Franklin Avenue near the Discovery Inn. A man grabbed her and forced her into an alley and sexually assaulted her on the steps of the Legion building. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers.
- Svjetlana Mlinarevic
Tim Doyle steps down from chamber
The Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce announced this week that Tim Doyle is no longer executive director following his loss in the mayoral election last week. Interim executive director Sylvie Francoeur would not comment on the reason why Doyle, who was highly critical of city hall communications with the business community during the election, is out.
Francoeur took over the job on Sept. 4 when Doyle officially entered the race. Francoeur said she won't be applying for the job and will be filling the position until the new person is hired. Doyle did not return Yellowknifer's phone calls by press time.
- Simon Whitehouse
Australian group in Yk
A five-person Australian contingent will be in Yellowknife to share information with Canada's First Nations on the benefits of traditional lands stewardship. The contingent will be at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. During the information session, Australian aboriginal rangers will discuss their parks management system and their partnership with the Australian government.
- Svjetlana Mlinarevic
News Briefs: Thursday, Oct 25, 2012
Sewage shuts school
Echo Dene School in Fort Liard was shut down Oct. 18 after sinks on the north side of the building started to fill up with sewage, according to school principal William Gowans.
"We had a sewer pipe blockage and because there is sewer gas associated with that kind of stuff, the building just was not safe so we had to send kids home," said Gowans.
The Department of Public Works and Services sent a plumber to fix the problem Friday evening. The worker left thinking the issue was resolved but that wasn't the case, Gowans said.
"I checked the building on Saturday morning early and the same problem existed so they sent someone down from DPW (Sunday) night and they fixed it and we now have kids in the building, which is great," he said Monday.
Ferry in final weeks
The MV Lafferty ferry is on track to close in the first week of November, according the Department of Transportation.
The Liard River's current water levels are on par with those seen last year when the department shut down the ferry on Nov. 4.
Department spokesperson Earl Blacklock said the ferry has closed in November every year since 1997 with the exception of 2004 and 2005 when it closed Oct. 26.
The Johnny Berens ferry is expected to close around the same time, and Blacklock said the ferry is usually taken out three or four days earlier than the Lafferty.
Speedskater competes
Fort Simpson speedskater Madison Pilling joined international athletes in Calgary over the Oct. 12 weekend for the annual Oktoberfest competition.
Participants raced each of three distances – 500-metre, 1,000-metre and 1,500-metre – mostly in preparation for the first short-track world cup of the season, which took place at the Olympic Oval a few days later.
During the race, Pilling managed personal bests in all three distances.
Five other NWT speedskaters competed with her, including Dominique Bennett, Cullen McLeod, Austin Miller, Hannah Clark and Simon Austin.
Child porn bust
A child pornography investigation, Operation Snapshot, has led to the arrest of an NWT resident, according to RCMP.
The Fort Resolution resident, whose identity has not been released, was taken into custody Oct. 9 after a "person of interest" was identified in the settlement.
A search warrant for a residence in the community was obtained by police and computer-related equipment was seized from the area.
Halloween haunts
Don't feel like waiting until Oct. 31 to fully celebrate Halloween? This weekend, there are two haunted houses set to warm everyone up for the scariest night of the year.
Both the Midnight Sun Complex and the Aurora College Student Association are hosting a haunted house on Saturday.
"It's going to be pretty scary this year," said Rose Constantineau, recreation co-ordinator with the Town of Inuvik.
Later on in the evening, the Children First Society is holding Pumpkins on the Permafrost as a fundraiser at the Midnight Sun Complex.
There are two more haunted houses happening on Halloween, one at the Fire Hall from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., and the other at the Inuvik Youth Centre during regular drop-in hours starting at 4 p.m.
Squash sessions
A free four-day course is being offered at the Midnight Sun Complex starting Nov. 1.
NWT Squash is offering a coaching course designed to teach people how to coach beginners in the fast-growing sport. The course includes on-court training and all resource materials. It's one of three courses needed to complete the National Coaching Certification Program.
Vying for Aviva
Two community groups in Inuvik are still gunning for votes for the 2012 Aviva Community Fund competition. Arctic Paws is looking for funding for a mobile veterinary lab and the Children First Society is hoping for funding to go toward playground equipment for the new centre.
The two organizations aren't competing against each other, they are in different categories.
You can vote through your Facebook account for one, or both, causes until Nov. 5.
Fall social
The Inuvik Disabilities Committee is sponsoring a social on Oct. 30 for people with disabilities and their families.
From 3 p.m. until 7 p.m., there will be prizes, music, dancing and food. It's a Halloween-themed event so wear a costume and win a prize.
Last day for thanks
Volunteer appreciation dinner is coming up on Nov. 10 and today is the last day to submit names of people who should be included.
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News desk 
