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Lights go on again

Saturday will be Samuel Hearne Secondary School's first day of the Lights On program this year. High school students from the community and area are invited to the school from 7 to 10 p.m.

Heidi Bender, one of the organizers of the Lights On program, said the program started in Inuvik in April with about 40 participants and when it started up again in October, there were Saturday nights with more than 70 youths in attendance.

"The biggest, most popular event is open gym sports, intramural sports," she said, but the nights also include movies, board games and Nintendo Wii activities.

The program will run until the end of the school year.

Inuvik player signed to Western Hockey League

The Portland Winterhawks have signed Inuvik's Steven Alldridge.

The 15-year-old forward plays for Kelowna, B.C.'s Pursuit of Excellence AAA Midget U18 team, in the North American Prospects Hockey League. In 34 games this season, he has five goals and eight assists. Last season Alldridge played for the Notre Dame Bantam AA team in the Regina, Sask., Midget Tier 2 League.

"We believe he has the potential to be an excellent player in the WHL, and we're excited he's joining our organization," said Mike Johnston, Winterhawks general manager and head coach.

Alldridge is expected to join the Winterhawks next season.

Meeting on rec leases

The public is invited to provide input concerning the framework for recreational leasing that will apply to Commissioner's land in the NWT.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs has been working to develop criteria for identifying Commissioner's land for recreational use and to recommend the number and density of new recreational leasing sites should lots be found that could be developed without negatively impacting the environment.

The information session will be in the Mackenzie Hotel's Permafrost Room from 7 until 9 p.m. on Feb. 7.

Chopper braves the cold

German-based helicopter company Eurocopter is currently carrying out flight tests for its new model of helicopter.

The aircraft must be able to operate in temperatures down to -45 C, which it has seen a few times over the past few weeks.

"We had -40 C already twice in the last couple of weeks so were very happy about that," said flight test engineer Carl Ockier.

The company, made up of about 10 crew members, arrived in Inuvik on Jan. 3 and is scheduled to stay until the end of February.

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