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Friday, August 14, 2015
Bear killed in Range Lake area
A black bear was shot and killed by an Environment and Natural Resources wildlife officer around 3 p.m. in a residential area behind Walmart on Thursday, according to department spokeswoman Judy McLinton.
The bear had been sighted in the area of Brown Court and Lovell Court in the Range Lake neighbourhood earlier.
"It was a threat to public safety," McLinton said.
- Shane Magee
Wong to run in Weledeh
City councillor Dan Wong has announced that he will run for MLA in Weledeh riding in November's territorial election. Wong, 30, has been a councillor since 2012. He ran for MLA in 2003 in Yellowknife Centre when he was 18, finishing fifth in a seven candidiate field.
Wong said his work term with the GNWT's department of health and social services ended in May.
He says he will remain a councillor until the Oct. 19 municipal election. Fellow councillor Cory Vanthuyne is the only other declared candidate in Weledeh riding for the Nov. 23 election.
- John McFadden
Warrant for accused in drug case
One of the three men arrested in April when RCMP carried out a drug search warrant in the Frame Lake area is on the lam. Husam Ali, 21, was charged with two counts of possession of drugs, possession of marijuana the purpose of trafficking and possession of the proceeds of crime exceeding $5,000.
He was expected to make another appearance in court Tuesday but did not show. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
- Shane Magee
Woman's death caused by alcohol poisoning
A woman, Faye Grandjambe, whose body was found behind the Gold Range Tavern last September, died of acute alcohol poisoning, according to Cathy Menard, chief coroner of the NWT.
Menard said she released the information after asking gaining permission from family. The 30-year-old Grandjambe, who was originally from Fort Good Hope, was found unresponsive in an alley early in the morning on Sept 27.
- John McFadden
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Former Deh Cho MLA wins liberal candidacy
Members of the Liberal Party of Canada officially chose former Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod to be their candidate in the upcoming federal election during a nomination election on Aug. 8.
McLeod won against fellow nominee Gail Cyr with 71 per cent of the vote. According to a Liberal Party news release, voter turnout was 53 per cent.
A third nominee, Kieron Testart, dropped out of the race in July to support McLeod.
McLeod has promised to run an "open and transparent campaign that stays focused on issues that matter to the people of the NWT."
McLeod, who lives in Fort Providence, has been working as a tourism development officer since his defeat by Michael Nadli in the 2011 territorial election. Prior to that, he served as Deh Cho MLA since 1999.
New chief in town
Darcy E. Moses has been elected as the new Chief of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation after voting band members turned out to the polls on Aug. 5.
Moses, who has been serving as acting chief since former chief Tim Lennie resigned, won the position after running against Lloyd Moses.
Albert Clillie, Kyle Clillie, Elsie Hardisty, George Moses, Maurice Moses and Raymond Pellissey were all elected as councillors.
Vote counts were not available.
Liidlii Kue places at handgames
Liidlii Kue's men's handgame steam returned victorious from Behchoko after winning fourth place at the $18,000 handgames tournament, which took place Aug. 7 to 9.
Chief Gerry Antoine the last time the First Nation put together an official team was 2011.
"We had fun and we learned as we went along," Antoine said. "People cheered for us; we made people laugh."
The band is now looking to send a team to the upcoming tournament in Fort Liard, and will be working to improve its drumming, he said.
Team members included Antoine, Ernest Tonka, Tyler Lafferty, Jim Antoine, Cory Sangris, Frank Hope, Roy Sangris, Walter McPherson and Raymond Horassi.
Greenhouse grows
The federal government along with the territorial government will be funnelling a combined $130,000 into a local business in Fort Simpson.
Aboriginal Fort Simpson business Head of the Line Services, which will be investing $102,000 of its own money in the project, will put the government funds toward a greenhouse initiative that began in 2014 and is supposed to last one year.
More flights available
A new agreement between Canadian North and First Air which took affect July 27 means more direct flights to Yellowknife from Inuvik.
The codeshare agreement allows the airlines to alternate aircraft to transport passengers, rather than be in direct competition.
In an e-mail, Canadian North spokesperson Kelly Lewis stated the agreement is advantageous to the airlines and the travelling public. It means they will no longer have two planes travelling the same routes in and out of Inuvik on the same day.
Council discusses bear threats
Coun. Melinda Gillis at a committee of the whole meeting Aug. 10 brought up the preponderance of bears in the community this summer. She said that although she appreciates the efforts made to clear brush and use bear-proof blue bins, the animals are still a problem near her home.
Senior administrative officer Grant Hood said finding money for more brush clearing was a possibility, but it would require a joint approach with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as well as residents to protect against bears.
"There's been what, 20 or 25 bears being reported this summer," said Coun. Kurt Wainman. "We've got kids going back to school soon and we don't have our bear population under control in town. I've never seen this in this community before."
Former CBC North host charged
Roy Goose of Inuvik is expected to be in court Sept. 29 for a preliminary hearing on allegations of sexual assault dating back to between Jan. 1, 2003 and Dec. 31, 2004.
The former host at CBC North radio has been charged with sexual assault and sexual interference with a person under 14 years of age.
Interns to be announced
The Gwich'in Tribal Council is expected to make a final decision on who the successful candidates of their internship pilot project will be by Aug. 14.
Ten applicants have put their names forward.
The project will provide training and on the job experience for nine Gwich'in participants, according to a news release. They will receive year-long full-time employment opportunities through paid work assignments with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and the Gwich'in Tribal Council, who will both accept three interns each year, beginning in September.
The internship program is expected to enable the Gwich'in Tribal Council to employ trained experienced staff to implement its land claim agreement and to operate its governance institutions.
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