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Newsbriefs: Friday, July 14, 2017
Sobering centre opens Monday
The sobering centre is scheduled to open its doors Monday, according to Damien Healy, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Services.
The centre will be temporarily located at the Yellowknife Community Arena this summer. Facilities are expected to be open 12 hours a day to provide intoxicated individuals a safe place to sober up.
- Kirsten Fenn
NWT firefighters to help B.C.
Sixteen NWT firefighters are now in B.C. helping the province deal with hundreds of wildfires, mostly in the central interior. According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the crews left Wednesday for Prince George as part of the Canadian Interagency Mutual Aid Resources Sharing Agreement. The agreement allows firefighting equipment, personnel and aircraft to be shared between territories and provinces.
- John McFadden
Man medevaced after contact with RCMP car
Medicine Hat police have been asked by Yellowknife RCMP to review an investigation into an incident in which a man was seriously hurt when he came into contact with an RCMP vehicle.
In a news release, Mounties state the incident happened at about 4 a.m. on Monday near 48 Street downtown.
The man was medevaced to Edmonton. His condition is unknown and police have not released his name. RCMP are looking for the driver of a dark SUV which was at 47 Street and Franklin Avenue at the time of the incident. A NWT RCMP Major Crimes Unit investigation is ongoing. Medicine Hat police will review the investigation once it is complete.
- John McFadden
Upcoming road closure
The intersection of Finlayson Drive and Calder Crescent will be closed to traffic starting Monday due to construction, according to the city. Drivers are asked to follow traffic signs and reduce their speed.
Bus Route B will take a detour along Range Lake Road, while stops near Horton Crescent, Demelt Crescent, Dusseault Court and Woolgar Avenue will temporarily be out of service.
- Kirsten Fenn
Newsbriefs: Thursday, July 13, 2017
Nihtat reaffirm self-government
The Nihtat Gwich'in Council reaffirmed its pursuit of its own self-government agreement independent of the Gwich'in Tribal Council during the group's annual assembly Saturday, July 8.
President Jozef Carnogursky confirmed the decision, though the council did not allow the Inuvik Drum to view the proceedings.
Town pressures feds on satellite station
The Town of Inuvik has contacted the federal government about issuing a license for Planet Labs to conduct earth observation from its antennae at Inuvik's commercial satellite ground station.
Mayor Jim McDonald said the big issue was the timing of the license application, according to Global Affairs.
He raised concerns in the community about the effect the delay could have on investment in that industry.
Planet Labs, which along with Kongsberg Satellite and New North Networks made a $10-million investment in the commercial ground station, has threatened to pull out of Inuvik if it cannot get a license from the regulatory body.
Jim Koe Park redevelopment plan taking shape
A draft plan to redevelop Jim Koe Park will be made public for feedback from the community.
Much of the park has been left derelict since the demolition of Samuel Hearne Secondary School, which moved to East Three School.
During the recent council meeting members discussed some ideas for the area.
Those included having two softball fields to attract larger tournaments, or one softball field and one soccer field.
Washrooms and a hook-up to water for cooking services are planned to be included.
The sun will indeed set again
The sun is due to set again, briefly, on July 19, after almost two months of 24-hour light.
According to timeanddate.com, the sun will set at 2:47 a.m. July 19 and come back up at 3:15 a.m.
By Aug. 1, there will be more than four hours between sunset and sunrise.
Around Aug. 12 or 13 the sun will not be visible until midnight any longer.
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