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Charlotte Helston
REPORTER
Charlotte Helston grew up in Armstrong and after four years studying writing at the University of Victoria, she came back to do what she loves most: Connect with the community and bringing its stories to life.
Covering Vernon for iNFOnews.ca has reinforced her belief in community. The people and the stories she encounters every day—at the courthouse, City Hall or on the street—show the big tales in a small town.
If you have an opinion to share or a story you'd like covered, contact Charlotte at Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230.
Charlotte Helston's Stories
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Okanagan rail corridor proponents pledge $5 million for community trail
VERNON - A citizens group has committed to raising $5 million to build a rail trail from Vernon to Kelowna if local municipalities secure the land. Brad Clements of the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative says several community members have already expressed interest in making donations toward the creation of the trail. “People say, 'Let us...
Man arrested for powering licensed grow-op with stolen electricity
CHERRYVILLE - Police found something wasn’t quite right at a licensed medical marijuana grow-op in Cherryville. RCMP say officers were already aware of the legal, 1,200 plant operation in the North Fork Road area, but had suspicions the operator was stealing electricity. Police executed a search warrant at the property March 17 and arrested one...
Vernon woman step closer to MasterChef Canada crown
VERNON - Vernon’s Jennifer Innis continues to prove her cooking skills on national television. The dental hygienist and mother of three made it to the top ten on MasterChef Canada Sunday night, March 29. “I never thought I'd even make the show, let alone the top ten. Thanks everyone for your continuous support,” Innis writes on...
Police investigate second Lumby assault involving group of youths
LUMBY - Police are dealing with a second situation where someone was surrounded and assaulted by young people in Lumby. Cpl. Henry Proce says the most recent case happened March 16 when a patient at the Monashee Mews care home was confronted by several youths at the bus stop on Norris Road. The youths began...
Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival bucks the trend and survives
SALMON ARM - We’ve got Joni Mitchell to thank for the words ‘You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone’ but the community of Salmon Arm gets the credit for acting on that epiphany before it was too late. Six months ago, things were uncertain for the Roots and Blues Festival. A number of...
UPDATE: Power restored to 2,400 Enderby and Spallumcheen residents
VERNON - More than 2,400 residents in Enderby and Spallumcheen were without power this afternoon. B.C. Hydro says power went off at 11:43 a.m., March 27 for some 2,450 customers east of Highway 97. The outage was caused by a tree falling on the wires and power was restored shortly after 2 p.m. To contact...
Spring snow at Okanagan resorts leaves ski bums less bummed
OKANAGAN - It may have been a rainy week in the valley, but it was dumping snow at local ski hills. Silver Star Mountain in Vernon got close to 60 cm of new snow in the last week, blanketing alpine runs with a 209 centimetre base. As of Friday morning, all chair lifts except the...
HELSTON: Hundreds of bears die every year for this stupid reason
This goes out to anyone who’s left their garbage out and had a bear get into it; you might as well have put a bullet through its head. It sounds harsh, I know, but hundreds of bears across B.C. are killed by conservation officers every year because they’ve grown habituated to garbage. Sorry to break...
History of the Okanagan Commonage Reserve
VERNON - With the impending sale of the discontinued rail corridor between Vernon and Kelowna, the Okanagan Indian band has revived a historic land claim on a large tract of land known as the Commonage Reserve. Formed in 1877 by the Joint Indian Reserve Commission (established by the governments of Canada and B.C. to create...
Satellite images show just how much Vernon has changed in 30 years
VERNON - It’s no surprise the Vernon area has grown over the last 30 years, but now you can see just what those changes look like from above. This incredible time lapse of satellite images from 1984 to 2012 on Google Earth Engine shows how different the city looks today. You will see new building...
Bears are waking up and looking for food in the North Okanagan
VERNON - The Conservation Service is reminding the public to minimize attractants as bears come out of hibernation and start looking for food. Conservation officer Mike Richardson says the number of bear complaints has already started to climb in the North Okanagan. “They’re definitely awake and coming out of their dens,” Richardson says. On Monday,...
Citizens call for drastic changes to Greater Vernon Water
VERNON - A citizens group is calling on local politicians to overhaul plans for Greater Vernon’s water supply, including the cost to residents. Citizens for Changes to the Master Water Plan made their case to Vernon City Council Monday afternoon, asking for support in taking a “fresh new look” at the plan. Spokesperson Eric Jackson...
Rail corridor in doubt as Okanagan Indian Band takes land claim to court
VERNON - The Okanagan Indian Band is filing a notice of claim in B.C. Supreme Court, asserting aboriginal title to a portion of the discontinued CN rail corridor between Lake Country and Vernon. It’s part of the same rail corridor local municipalities are working towards purchasing for conversion into a trail, but Okanagan Indian Band...
Doubt cast over 2015 season of Vernon’s Avenue Market
VERNON - There’s concern that a Vernon market designed to attract people to the downtown core is actually having a negative affect on some merchants. The summertime Avenue Market, which is coming into its second year, invites vendors to set up on 30 Avenue on Friday evenings. When it started, the hope was that it...
Vernon parents left frustrated with City Hall over student safety
VERNON - Vernon parents are disappointed local government isn’t planning to do more to make the roads around Beairsto School safer as a drive-through Tim Hortons is built across the street. Out of 11 traffic safety recommendations made by the Beairsto Parent Advisory Council — such as widening sidewalks, reducing the speed limit on 27...
Have your say on SD 83 school changes at these upcoming meetings
NORTH OKANAGAN – The public will play a large role in the decision-making process into…
Co-workers step up efforts to support Vernon nurse badly injured in hit and run
VERNON - Co-workers continue to support a Vernon nurse left unable to walk after a hit and run last winter. As part of an ongoing fundraiser called Robin’s Journey, co-workers have launched a silent auction to help support her financially. Organizer Tina Berg says the community’s response so far with donations has been overwhelming. “Robin...
Lumby-based medical marijuana company still awaiting Health Canada approval
LUMBY - It’s been slow going for a company looking to grow medical marijuana in Lumby. Darcy Bomford, the CEO of True Leaf Medicine Inc. (chaired by former B.C. premier Mike Harcourt) says the company is still waiting for full approval from Health Canada. “It’s been almost a year waiting for this one location,” Bomford...
HELSTON: Why I didn’t go to your government press event
As a journalist, I have the pleasure of dealing with government communications on a fairly frequent basis. You might not notice that because quite often, government officials are not quoted in my stories. Believe me, it’s not for lack of trying. Either they didn’t call me back by deadline, they didn’t call at all, or...
Enderby couple toughs out grim diagnosis with love and laughter
ENDERBY - Ray Hartt, an Enderby firefighter, will do just about anything for his wife, recently diagnosed with a rare and fatal autoimmune condition. He doesn’t hesitate to do the dishes or the laundry. He installed a remote control camera in the house so he can keep an eye on her, even when he’s not...
Shipping container doors open to reveal unique Vernon art show
VERNON - The shiny steel doors of Vernon’s new pop-up art gallery open to the public today. The large metal shipping containers donated by BigSteelBox represent the first art gallery of its kind in the Okanagan. Designed to house a portion of the international Okanagan Print Triennial show, the satellite gallery at the corner of...
Coroner releases findings into fatal Easter crash near Vernon
VERNON - A driver who crossed into the wrong lane on Highway 97 two years ago made no attempt to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle, a coroner’s report into the deaths of three people has found. In her report, Margaret Janzen of the B.C. Coroners Service describes the 2013 Easter Sunday collision that killed Eric...
Former Vernon Mountie to stand trial this summer on child porn charges
VERNON - A former Vernon mountie charged with possession of child pornography will stand trial this summer. Ryan Hampton, 37, was scheduled to start his trial Mar. 2 in Vernon Supreme Court but his case has now been put over until July. It has also been moved to the Kelowna courthouse. Hampton, a former police...
Silver Star Road, voted worst in B.C., is getting a facelift
VERNON - B.C.’s worst road is getting some love from the provincial government. Silver Star Road in Vernon, voted number one in BCAA’s 2014 worst roads survey, is one of the items listed in a 10-year transportation plan released by the province. Sometime in 2015, the road will be resurfaced as part of an initiative...