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RCMP in Yellowknife are under investigation by Medicine Hat Police Service for an injury that occurred during its raids against organized crime drug dens last Friday.

Two emergency response teams, including one from Alberta, were deployed to five different properties in the city.

The injured person is a "member of the public," police say.

RCMP say the independent investigation was requested "to maintain public confidence and transparency," and not because of a public complaint.

- Daniel Campbell

Planes lands on one engine

A First Air 737 travelling from Norman Wells landed under the power of one engine at approximately 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Earl Blacklock, the Department of Transportation's communications manager, said the airport received a emergency call that the left engine was out at around 4:40 p.m.

Emergency services were dispatched to the airport and the plane landed safely without incident.

- Cody Punter

Christmas tree hunting

Those looking to harvest their own holiday trees this year can do so without fear of repercussions from forested areas outside of city limits.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources spokesperson Judy McLinton told Yellowknifer that, as in the past, any resident can harvest up to two trees without a permit. Anyone requiring three or more trees must first obtain a free timber-cutting permit.

- Laura Busch

Christmas hampers need toys

Yellowknife's Salvation Army needs more toy donations to fill their Christmas hampers this year.

The organization gives out a full Christmas dinner, toys and food to last 4 or 5 days to families in need every year. There are currently 180 families signed up to receive hampers this year, with more expected.

Unless there's more donations by Monday, many of the hampers will be sent to families without toys. Stacey Van Metre, a worker with the Salvation Army, said people can donate by going to the Salvation Army during office hours.

- Daniel Campbell

New hamlet council in Fort Liard

Fort Liard went to the polls on Dec. 9 to choose six hamlet councillors.

The new council includes incumbents Irene McLeod with 56 votes, JoAnne Deneron 53, Barbara McLeod 50 and Ken Nowoselski with 45. The two additional councillors are Kathie Hardisty with 49 votes and Ernest McLeod with 47.

Morris McLeod was acclaimed for a second term as mayor on Nov. 12. All terms are for two years.

Two new councils in Fort Providence

Voters in Fort Providence had two councils to choose on Dec. 9.

Eleven candidates were running for the four seats on the hamlet council. The successful candidates included incumbent Pearl Leishman with 61 votes, along with Jonas Landry 81, Violet Landry 63 and Evelyn Krutko with 58. The councillors will serve a three-year term.

One hundred and forty-four people voted in the hamlet election, a voter turn-out of only 23 per cent.

There were 10 candidates for the Fort Providence District Education Authority. The new board will include Violet Landry with 80 votes, Cindi Bonnetrouge 79, Albertine Nadli 75, Hilda Sabourin 73 and Shirley Gargan with 72. Only 139 people voted in the election.

Hunting ban stays for bison

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources announced Dec. 9 a hunting ban on bison will remain in place for the 2013-14 hunting season in the Mackenzie wood bison rage.

The measure is a result of the large loss of animals to anthrax in 2012. It is estimated more than half of the population died that summer, most from the outbreak.

Resident hunters will be able to purchase one tag to harvest a bison from the hybrid/plains bison population in the Slave River Lowlands Wildlife Management Unit U.

Fort Providence residents charged

Two Fort Providence residents are facing various criminal code charges related to proceeds of crime. A 29-year-old male and a 21-year-old female, along with a 33-year-old male from Hay River, were in a vehicle that the Hay River RCMP intercepted on Highway. 1 south of Enterprise on Dec. 2. RCMP found a large amount of cash, a concealed weapon and a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle. All three were released to appear in the Hay River Territorial Court at a later date to answer to the charges.

Ice roads not open

There is no word yet as to when the ice roads to Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk might open.

Earl Blacklock, the manager of communications with the Department of Transportation, said Dec. 6 he hadn't received any reports on ice conditions along the Mackenzie River. Blacklock said the department tries to open the roads before Christmas to help facilitate Christmas travel, but there is no guarantee. He said the record late date for opening is early February, while the earliest has been Dec. 9.

"On average, it opens around Dec. 18," Blacklock said.

Some people have been too impatient to wait and have been driving the river. The ticket for that offence is $750, Blacklock said.

Film fest dates set

The Arctic Images film and photography festival is coming next year.

Terry Halifax, one of the organizers, said the new date for the festival is Feb. 28 to March 2.

"We have photography greats Dave Brosha, Michelle Valberg and Don Weber coming to display work and run workshops."

The festival will be an exhibition of Arctic photography of all sorts, from smart-phone snaps to full-blown photo-art and video.

Any image from within the Arctic Circle is eligible to be entered and/or displayed. There will also be juried art shows for anyone interested in entering.

The festival will be held at East Three school.

Mail delivery disrupted

The storm that blew in on the Dec. 7-8 weekend has further disrupted Inuvik's mail delivery.

The storm left the Dempster Highway closed in the Eagle Plains and Fort McPherson areas for the better part of two days, which has caused further delays.

The service has been unpredictable for the last month or so while the GWNT struggled to keep the Tsiigehtchic ferry running in adverse ice conditions.

The Inuvik post office continues to have extended hours, until 7:30 p.m., to help deal with the crush of parcels that are backlogged.

Budget approval

Town council was expected to approve Inuvik's interim operating budget on Dec. 11, following a budget discussion Dec. 7.

Coun. Terry Halifax said the document includes a $16.6 million capital budget with $12.87 million earmarked for a new water treatment plant. The interim operating budget is $14 million.

A revised budget is scheduled to be approved Jan. 8, which will include updated information on the contract status of municipal employees.