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Newsbriefs: Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Cops make drug bust at airport
A man is in custody, charged with possession of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking, after Mounties were called to the Yellowknife Airport Sunday evening by the airport tower.
According to an RCMP news release, the man was a passenger aboard an inbound Air Canada flight. RCMP stated about 300 grams of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia were seized.
Robert Zukowsky, 38, was held for a court appearance Friday. He also faces a charge under the Canadian Aviation Regulations Act.
Police confirmed in an e-mail they were initially called to the airport in relation to a report that Zukowsky had been smoking in an airplane washroom.
- John McFadden
Astronauts revealed
Justin Trudeau announced the names of the country's newest astronauts this weekend during Canada Day celebrations in Ottawa.
The Canadian Space Agency chose Joshua Kutryk of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., and Jennifer Sidey of Calgary, Alta., out of a pool of 3,772 applicants, according to the federal government.
Yellowknife's Capt. Nathalie Sleno was among 17 candidates shortlisted for the position in April.
Sleno is a medical officer, pilot, doctor, teacher and mother of seven.
- Kirsten Fenn
Want to build a robot?
Tamarack Training Centre is hosting a summer robotics camp as well as drop-in workshops for youth ages 10 and up. Participants will learn how to build a robot and code while working with mBots, which are described as the perfect entry level robots.
The camps run from July 24 to 28 and from August 21 to 25. Sessions are being offered in the morning and afternoon.
- John McFadden
Patio grant approved
Downtown businesses planning to build a patio can apply for a $10,000 grant from the city.
The application is available on the City of Yellowknife website. Once the application is approved, businesses will have to show proof of liability insurance and a sidewalk patio licence agreement.
Up to $10,000 will be provided to businesses once proof of construction costs are submitted.
Businesses can also apply for a $500 grant for opening their washrooms to the public.
- Emelie Peacock
Residents petitions airline
Arviat
Hundreds of Arviat residents have joined together to lobby Calm Air International - the sole airline offering flights into Arviat - regarding passenger service in and out of their community.
Led by John Main and Simona Baker, 544 voting-age residents have signed a petition regarding the flights offered by Calm Air. The petition seeks a resumption of direct flights between Arviat and neighboring Churchill, Man.
"Winnipeg is a frequent destination for leisure, business and medical travelers from Arviat," the petition states. "In order to travel south to Winnipeg for leisure, business or medical reasons, Arviat residents are required to first travel north to Rankin Inlet.
"This leg of the journey is often accompanied by a two-to-eight-hour wait in Rankin before finally boarding the jet to Winnipeg. This north-then-south flight routing is inconvenient and exhausting for Arviat residents. It causes medical travelers and the elderly to endure hardship."
In a news release, Main stated the petition had "overwhelming support" and people really wanted to see a change.
"We appreciate the service offered by Calm Air and all the support it provides for community events," stated the news release. "We believe the company cares about our town.
"This petition is about improving service and meeting customer needs."
Child fires rifle
Whale Cove
Three people were injured after a five-year-old loaded and fired a high-powered rifle in Whale Cove this past week.
The RCMP stated in a news release the rifle had recently been unloaded following a hunting trip. On June 29 the child located, loaded and fired the rifle, causing shrapnel to injure two adults and a youth.
The release stated the injuries were relatively minor in nature, but the possibility to cause grievous bodily harm or death was extremely high.
The Whale Cove detachment of the RCMP reminded people in the release it has free trigger locks available, as do other RCMP detachments across Nunavut.
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