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Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Loud bang forces plane to return to Yk
A spokesperson for First Air confirms passengers heard a loud bang Monday before an engine was shut down and a Norman Wells-bound plane returned to Yellowknife shortly after takeoff. Dan Valin told Yellowknifer the plane, an Avro 146 with 41 passengers aboard, landed safely. He said the plane took off from Yellowknife at 10:15 a.m. adding pilots shut down one of the plane's engines at 10:34 as a precaution and landed at 10:44 a.m. No emergency was declared, he said. Passengers left on another plane about two hours later. The source of the bang remains under investigation.
- John McFadden
Drug trial for alleged 856 members ends
Supreme Court Judge Andrew Mahar will deliver his verdict in the drug trial for two alleged '856' gang members on March 27. Michael Robert Hopkins, 29, of Langley, B.C. and Christopher Mathers, 32, of London, Ont., are both charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. RCMP allege they are members of the gang, based on B.C.'s lower mainland. They were arrested on Dec. 6, 2013 following RCMP drug raids around Yellowknife. The trial began on Feb. 13 and lasted five days. The suspects were on trial together.
- John McFadden
Lifesaving society warns of ice dangers
The Lifesaving Society of Alberta and the NWT is warning residents about the dangers of thawing, unstable ice. In a news release, the society states recent warm temperatures have created unstable ice surfaces.
"Even if ice measures at the right thickness ... candling during melting weakens it vertically," the society stated.
- John McFadden
Minister addresses junior kindergarten
The public is invited to attend a meeting on junior kindergarten tomorrow at the legislative assembly. Education, Culture and Employment Minister Alfred Moses will meet with the Standing Committee on Social Development tomorrow at noon in Committee Room A.
It's the third education meeting the minister has had this week. Moses met with MLAs on Monday to discuss early childhood development, and then again yesterday about a pilot program to reduce students' class time.
- Kirsten Fenn
Filming a first
Arviat/Rankin Inlet
Members of the Arviat Film Society will be in Rankin Inlet this coming month to capture the inaugural Terence Tootoo Memorial (TTM) Calm Air Cup senior men's hockey championship in Rankin Inlet.
The TTM is replacing the Avataq Cup as the number one senior men's tournament in the Kivalliq region.
The first TTM will run in Rankin from March 8 to 12.
Gathering to celebrate upcoming mine
Rankin Inlet
Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) will be holding a special gathering today, Feb. 22, at the Meliadine gold project camp to commemorate AEM's announcement to bring Meliadine online and into production by 2019.
Scheduled to make presentations at the special event are AEM's chief executive officer Sean Boyd, Kivalliq Inuit Association president David Ningeongan and Rankin Mayor Robert Janes.
Legion members meet
Rankin Inlet
A special meeting has been called for this evening, Feb. 22, for members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 169, in Rankin Inlet.
The meeting will get underway at 7 p.m. at the new Legion in the old Elections Nunavut building behind the Northern store.
Members in good standing, members who wish to renew and people seeking to join the Legion are all welcome to attend.
The current interim management committee for Branch 169 is comprised of Pelagie Sharp (interim president), Mark Wyatt (interim vice-president), Gabriel Karlik (past president), Nathaniel Hutchinson (interim Sergeant at Arms), Ford Widrig (interim treasurer), Jimi Onalik (interim secretary), Blaine Chislette (building maintainer), and members at large Darrin Nichol, Steven Merkosak and Jason Todd.
Territorial championship coming up
Arviat
Midget-aged players from across Nunavut will soon be descending upon Arviat to compete in the 2017 Nunavut Midget Hockey Territorial Championship.
The midget territorial runs from March 3 to 5 to Arviat.
Expansion celebrated with prizes, giveaways
Baker Lake
The Northern store in Baker Lake celebrated the completion of its expansion and renovation by holding a grand-opening celebration for the community in Baker on Feb. 14.
Members of the community joined Northern staff members for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m., before enjoying price savings, giveaways, and contests throughout the day.
The store's 4,000 square-foot expansion allows it to offer its customers a greater selection of fresh grocery, household and outdoor-living products, as well as more of a variety for baby essentials and a Tim Hortons.
The store now also features the community of Baker Lake's first pharmacy.
Customers can fill their prescriptions and access patient-focused services from the community pharmacist.
A consultation room will enable shoppers to discuss their health and wellness goals with the pharmacist through medication reviews and wellness clinics.
Playoffs near
Rankin Inlet
The Rankin Inlet Senior Men's Hockey League was scheduled to complete its regular season with the playing of its final make-up game on Feb. 20.
As of press time it was not known if the league planned to start its playoffs on Feb. 22, or wait until the end of the Polar Bear Plate juvenile/junior 'C' tournament this coming weekend in Rankin.
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