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8TuesdaySeptember172013RobertsonheadframegrantedanotherreprieveByJACKDANYLCHUKOfferedachancetobeim-mortalizedasthepoliticianswhoconsignedtheRobertsonheadframetothescrapheapofhistoryYellowknifecitycouncildecidedlastweektogivetheiconicstructureonemorechance.InsteadofsigningtheRob-ertsonsdeathwarrantascityadministratorsrecom-mendedcouncilvotedunani-mouslytoaskNewmontMin-ingtodelaydemolitionforsixmonthswhiletheyagainexplorewaysandmeanstopreservethelandmark.ThedecisioncameafteranemotionalpleafromNorahHigdenwhoworkedfor23yearsinthehoistroomatopthe76-metrestructureandawarningfromWaltHumphriespresidentoftheNWTMineHeritageSociety.IllputupabrassplaquethatsayshoweveryoneofyouvotedonthisHumphriessaidtoachorusofcheersandapplausefromthepublicgallerythatwaspackedwithsupportersoftheRobertson.YellowknifewasfoundedonminingandhascollectedmillionsintaxrevenuefromminesHumphriessaidbutcouncilhasditheredonsavingtheheadframeanddonenothingtorecognizethecontributionmininghasmadetothecommunity.Higdensvoicebrokeasshetoldofahikerwhousedtheredblackandwhitetowerasahomingbeaconafterlosingherwayandthethrillofsee-ingthesunriseandsetfromheraerieintheTerritoriestalleststructure.TorontoandCalgaryhavespentmillionstobuildtowerstheyaretouristattractionsandwehaveourowntowerwithfantasticviewsofthecityandthelakeshesaid.Itwasthecostofpre-servingtheRobertsonthatpromptedcounciltoseekpos-sibleusesfortheheadframeveyearsagowhendemoli-tionrstloomed.Proposalsrangedfromaclimbingwallandlookouttocondominiumsandallcarriedpricetagsinthemillions.Accordingtothelatestestimatefromcityadmin-istrationdemolitionwouldcostmorethan1millionandpreservationdepend-ingonhowtheheadframeisusedasmuchas250000ayear.HigdensuggestedthatHeritageCanadamightsupportpreservationandHumphriessaidtheminingindustrymightcontributetoafundtosavetheRoberstonasauniquepieceofminingtechnology.WatchingthefallofagiantByJACKDANYLCHUKThetalleststructureinYel-lowknifewhenitwaserectedthe48-metrehighGiantMineroasterstackwaserasedfromtheskylinethissummerthesamewayitwentupin1953brick-by-brick.Bythetimetheminenallyshutdownin2003thousandsoftonnesofpoisonouschemicalshadspewedfromthestackandontothesurroundinglandscape.Whatdidntgoupinsmoke237000tonnesofarsenictrioxidewillbefrozenandstoredundergroundaspartofthefederalgovernments1-bil-lionremediationandperpetualmaintenanceprogram.PhotosJackDanylchukIndustryMiningPoliticsMunicipalPhotoMeaganWohlbergYellowknifecitycouncilhasaskedforsixmoremonthstodecidethefateoftheRobertsonheadframe.GiantMinessmokestackhasnowdisappearedfromtheskyline.Mid-summerprogresshighlightsthebrick-by-bricktake-downprocess.WorkerspreparetodismantletheiconicGiantMinesmokestack.