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27TuesdayDecember172013PolarVisionWellbeSEEINGyouin2014.HappyHolidaysfromallofusatWherequalitycomesrstandservicecomesnaturally.PolarVision113510948thStreetintheNunasiBuildingYellowknife.Tel867920-4500.TollFree1866944-7466Fax867873-4550.Emailpolarvisionssimicro.com.www.polarvision.caHOURSMonday-Friday900am-600pmSaturday1000am-500pmByDONJAQUECountrymusicstarDwightYoakamperformedatagiantprivatepartyinFortSmithSaturdaynighthostedbyawomancelebratingher50thbirthday.AnnLepinehasalwaysbeenaYoakamfanandde-cidedher50thneededtobecelebratedinstyle.Shewentalloutandthrewanunfor-gettableparty.YoakamwastwohourslateforthebashbecausehisprivatejetflyingoutofCaliforniahadtroubleandwasforcedtoturnback.ThejetwassubstitutedforanotherandthecountrysuperstarmadeittoFortSmithsiconicRoaringRapidsHallbymidnightonSaturdaynight.AftersingingHappyBirthdaytohishostAnnhelaunchedintoamedleyofalmostnon-stopsingingintotheweehoursofthemorningtothedelightoftheecstaticguests.Anntoldmetosinglotsofoldonessaidthetalentedmusicianandsothecrowdgottohearmanyofhishitsplussongsfromhislatestalbum.DwightYoakamheadlinesFortSmithbirthdaypartyArtsCultureMusicThepartystartedwithdin-nerforthe165invitedguests.TheNWTsNorthCountryRockopenedtheshowtowarmthingsup.WhenYo-akamarrivedatmidnight40luckymostlyfemalefansselectedbyLepinelineduptogettheirpicturetakenwithhiminanalcovehiddenfromview.Thenheinhistrade-markstetsonwithhisfour-personbackupbanddressedinsequinedjacketsjumpedonstagefortheperformance.Thehappyguestswereen-thralledwiththeundertakingbyLepineandherfamily.RelativeswerebroughtinfromUraniumCitySaska-toonandYellowknife.HerdaughterCharlenewholivesinGrandePrairiewasnotsupposedtobeabletoattendbutshowedupasasurpriseguest.Shetookoverthemicandtoastedhermothersay-ingthatshegrewuplisten-ingtoDwightYoakam.Shesaidsherememberswhen-everhermothercleanedthehouseYoakamtuneswereplayedatvolume.Popularsincetheearly1980sYoakamhasrecordedmorethan21albumsandsoldmorethan25millionrecords.Ofthose12weregoldandninewereplatinumalbumsincludingthetripleplatinumalbumThisTime.WhenYoakamsangAThousandMilesfromNo-wherethehitsongoffthatbiggestsellingalbumhein-troduceditsayingNeverhavethewordstothissongbeenmoretruethanrightnowwhenIamsingingitinFortSmithNorthwestTerritories.Thenameoftheextraor-dinarypartyguestwassupposedtobeasecretinFortSmithbutasisthecaseinsmallNortherntownsthewordgotoutandspreadquicklyafewdaysinadvanceoftheparty.So-cialmediawasabuzzinthecommunitywithallkindsofspeculation.Lepinetoldthecrowdbeforedinnerthatwhensomeofthestagecrewarrivedbyplanethedaybe-foretherewasalineofve-hiclesattheairporthopingtocatchaglimpseofthecountrystar.Shehadtoaskherguestsnottopostpho-tosandcommentsabouttheeventduringtheperformancewiththeirphones.ShesaidtherearealotofDwightYo-akamfanswhowouldliketobethereandmightevenshowuphopingtogetin.LepinesaidshebeganplanningtheeventlastFeb-ruaryandkeptitasecretallthattime.ShesaidhavingDwightYoakamactuallycometohercommunityandperformwaslikeadream.ItwassomethingIthoughtcouldnothappenbutitdid.Itwassoawesome.At200a.m.Yoakamandhismusiciansandcrewde-partedandthedelightedcrowdstartedtosettledownandheadoffintothenight.Nobodywillevertopthispartyannouncedoneguest.PhotocourtesyofDwightYoakamDwightYoakamandhiscountrybandfromLosAngelesperformedforaprivatepartyinFortSmithSaturdaynightplayingnon-stopfornearlytwohourssingingmanyofhisbestknownhits.