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TuesdayMarch10201523926MACKENZIEHIGHWAYHAYRIVERNTPhone867-874-2771.TollFree1-866-327-0717www.monsterrec.comInstockmodelsavailableforwinterroadshipment.VisitDiggerzPowersportsonlineatwww.diggerz.ca2AspenRoadHayRiverNTX0E0P0867874-3224HUGECLEARANCESALEUPTO3500OFFINSTOCKATVSANDSNOWMOBILES867872-3000orgraphicsnorj.ca207McDougalRdFortSmithNTWeofferarangeofcustomdesignproductsandservicescascadegraphicsCommunitiesprepareaswinterroadswitherawayByDALICARMICHAELInmostplacesthewinterseasonmarksaperiodofquietandcalmassnowblanketsthegroundandcreatureshideoutinhibernationbutincom-munitiesisolatedfromtheoutsideworldwintermeansitstimetotakeaction.Thepeoplewhoresideintheseoftensmallhamletsandtownsonlyhaveawindowofafewmonthstostockuponnecessitiesfortheyeartocome.Oncethatlinkisgoneitsbacktopayingexorbitantpricesforown-ingoods.OffthebeatenpathatTroutLakeIntheDehchocommunityofTroutLakeSambaaKethewinterroadispackeddownwithalightsnowcatmachineborrowedfromneighbouringFortSimpsoneveryDecember.Fortwoweeksthecommunitysitsitchingandwaitinguntilalayeroficeformsonthenewroadwhentheycannallyven-tureoutintotheworld.Oneofthethingsthecom-munityreallylooksforwardtoisthatthreemonthsofwinterroad.ItsverybenecialtothecommunitysaidSambaaKeDeneChiefDolphusJumbo.Theybringinbulkstaples.Itsgoodforthestoreitselfwhichhastowaitninemonthsoftheyeartogetitopenagain.Eventhoughthesmallham-letofjust90residentsisonlyafewhoursfromthetranspor-tationhubofHayRiversum-mermuskegpreventsanyonefromleavingunlesstheycanfootthebillforacharter.Theairlinesaresky-highonpricesJumbosaid.TheseairlinecompaniesdothebesttheycantohelpoutTroutLakebutthepopulationissolowthatsomedaystheyremak-ingthatschedrunwithnopas-sengerssotheyrenotpayingitoff.Theywerelosingmoneysotheygaveuponthat.Whiletheroadisopenthemunicipalitystocksupongasoilandinfrastructuretokeepthingsrunning.UnfortunatelythewinterroadalsoopensupTroutLaketobootleggersanddrugsaspikethatisnoticeableinthesmalltownJumbosaid.Therearetimeswhenwetalkaboutanall-weatherroadcomingtoTroutLakebutformewerenotreadyforithesaid.Weneedtohavesomecontroloveranall-weatherroadnotjustforalcoholbutallkindsofhuntersandsh-ermenandsoforth.Whogoesshingandwhoisbringinginwhathowmuchshingandhuntingyoucandoaroundmyarea.Theresjustalotofimpacttothesmallcommunitywithanall-weatherroad.IntothebarrenlandsWhatiWhenthewinterroadopensuptoWhatiahamletnorth-westofBehchokothetownissilentforabouttwomonthsac-cordingtochiefAlfonzNitsiza.Peoplearemorethanhappytogetoutandgettheirsuppliesbecausethecostofgoodsinthecommunityissohighwithgasandeverythingelsehesaid.UnlikeTroutLakeWhatihasaregularlyscheduledightthatdeliversgroceriestoresidentsbutpricesarestillsohighthatshoppinginYellowknife-oreventakingatriptoEdmon-ton-toloadupispreferable.Thatroadreallyisalifeline.Itbringsinallkindsofmaterialforourhousingconstructionandotherprojectshesaid.Whileeveryoneisoutgather-ingtheirsuppliesthemunici-palityishardatworkllingupacommunalgastank-onethathasneverrunoutaccordingtoNitsiza-andstoringsuppliesthatwillbeneededfortheyearsbuildingprojectsataskthatcanonlybecompletedwhenthewinterroadisin.GasolinepriceshavegonedowneverywhereelsebutinthoseremotecommunitiesNitsizasaid.RightnowinWhatigasisabout1.70alitreandthedieselfuelpriceismoreandsopeoplewouldusewoodforheattosubsidizefuelcostsandeverythingelse.TheretheroadisinstalledbylateJanuaryandmeltsawaybyearlyApril.FortuneMineralsNicomineissettobebuiltneartheregioncreatinganecessityforanall-seasonroad.Un-likeJumboNitsizaisexcitedaboutthisprospect.TheTlichogovernmenthasdonethestudiesthetraditionalknowledgestudythesocialimpactandtheGNWTalsodidtheirstudysowehavetojointlysubmitthosereportstotheregu-latoryboardNitsizasaid.Oncetheboarddenesthatitslowimpacttheroadcangoaheadwithconstruction.Thedetailsofwhowillconstructtheapproximately100-kmroadandwhowillpayforitstillhavetobeworkedoutbutwhatevertheendresultNitsizasaiditspellsnewprosperityforWhati.Untilthoseyear-rounddreamscometruethetownwillbefacedwiththewinterroadclosurewithinthenextmonthorso.Astheroadgoesoutthereislessvisitinglessmovementandacalmcomesoverthetown.TotellyouthetruthsomefeelreliefbecauseofallthetrafcNitsizasaid.Temporarytravelrouteslikeiceandwinterroadsareontheirwayoutforanotherseason.FilephotoWINTERROADS