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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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Appeal to be heard over Lavington pellet plant’s operating permit
LAVINGTON - Construction may have started on a pellet plant in Lavington, but in six months time, an appeal will be heard over the company’s operating permit. Three local residents and members of Lavington Is For Everyone (LIFE) filed an appeal with the Environmental Appeal Board, calling for a review of the Ministry of Environment’s...
Molotov cocktail chucked at Vernon church
VERNON - Police and the Fire Department are investigating after a molotov cocktail was thrown at the Vernon Family Church Monday night. Deputy Fire Chief Lawrie Skolrood says a nearby resident noticed a large flame around 7:30 p.m. outside the church, located on 25 Avenue, and phoned 911. “It’s very fortunate the building was stucco...
What you should know before spending the night at a forestry campsite
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you can’t bear the thought of digging out your own personal earthen toilet bowl, jump back in your 36 foot deluxe model travel trailer and turn right around — forestry camping is not for you. Those of you who didn’t spend Sunday morning frantically reserving a campsite in one of B.C.’s provincial...
Windstorm wreaks havoc on Lumby trailer park
LUMBY - It was like a scene out of the Wizard of Oz: A carport swept into the air, bits of siding blowing off homes and dust clouding the air. There were numerous wind-related incidents Saturday afternoon in the North Okanagan — B.C. Hydro responded to some 300 wind-related outages across the province — but a trailer...
Money from bad guys goes to the good guys in Vernon
VERNON - A new advocacy centre for abused or neglected children, training for domestic violence workers, educational initiatives around technology issues like cyber-stalking — all brought to you by previously dirty money. On behalf of the provincial government, Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster today announced five grants for three local organizations from the civil forfeiture program,...
Windstorm forces Lumby residents from their homes
VERNON - Lumby residents were evacuated from their homes over the weekend due to a major windstorm. Around 7 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 14, RCMP officers were called to a home in the 400 block of Mabel Lake Road in Lumby for a hydro hazard caused by the wind. “The wind blew a portable carport up...
More cuts on the horizon for Vernon School District
VERNON - More cuts are on the way in the Vernon School District. The provincial government requires $437,000 of cuts in non-instructional costs at School District 22 next year, rising to $814,000 in 2016/17. “Our School District has suffered many cuts in funding in recent years. We’re proud that we’ve kept much of the cost...
Vernon joins Canada-wide rallies against Bill C-51
VERNON - Vernon residents will protest a controversial piece of government legislation at a rally Saturday afternoon. The focus of the protest is Bill C-51, the federal government’s Anti-terrorism Act. The proposed legislation would allow federal authorities to investigate terrorism by accessing the public’s private information, and sharing that information among intelligence and law enforcement...
How a group of North Okanagan teachers took funding into their own hands
NORTH OKANAGAN - It’s not always easy in cash-strapped times for teachers to find spare change for programs, but a group in the North Okanagan has found a way to think outside the box. The Outdoor Learning program in the North Okanagan and Shuswap, unlike many other courses in School District 83 such as the cancelled adult...
HELSTON: What we can learn from an Enderby senior’s tragic death
What caused Enderby senior Barbara Derenowski to start the ignition in her old pick-up truck and drive, knowingly without her licence, more than 70 kms from her home up a remote, unplowed road where her body was eventually found, remains a mystery. We know from her neighbours she was a sweet, friendly, self-reliant woman who...
School District 83 facing yet another budget shortfall with little left to cut
NORTH OKANAGAN - Deeper cuts are on the way in the North-Okanagan Shuswap School District. At a board meeting Mar. 10, secretary-treasurer Sterling Olsen said the district must find $1.8 million in savings to balance next year’s budget. “It is a very challenging financial picture and it looks like we have a number of years...
Vernon art project asks, Who are you?
VERNON - Queer, real, stereotyped. Victorious over victimization. Fragile and fighting back. These are some of the words and phrases you’ll find painted alphabetically on large boards as part of a project called Respect Lives Here, sponsored by the Social Planning Council for the North Okanagan. Participants from the Vernon Women’s Transition House, Vernon District...
Developer must pay $80,000 in upgrades before building drive-through Timmies across from elementary school
VERNON - A group of Vernon parents fear a new drive-through Tim Hortons and gas bar will worsen traffic around an adjacent elementary school, but the city claims the opposite. City planner Dale Rintoul says the developer has agreed to provide $80,000 for intersection upgrades at 35 Avenue and 27 Street, where both Beairsto Elementary...
School board moves to public consultation on big changes for September 2015
NORTH OKANAGAN – There could be some big changes in School District 83 as early…
Behind the scenes and stereotypes of one of the last strip clubs around
MOVE OVER GREASY STRIP CLUBS, BURLESQUE IS BACK AND IT ISN'T JUST FOR MEN ANYMORE CONTENT ADVISORY VERNON - Holly Hart has been called many things in her life; easy, a drug addict, a hooker. Certain people think because they know what she does for a living, they know who she is. But those people...
What many dementia patients have in common with the Enderby senior found dead last week
VERNON - More people are living independently with dementia instead of in care homes than you might think, says an Interior Health Authority doctor. That includes people like Barbara Derenowski, 73, who drove off from her Enderby home last week without a valid driver’s licence and was found dead days later on the side of...
Vernon RCMP remind drivers to slow down after speeding spike
VERNON - The Vernon RCMP is reminding the public to slow down after clocking one driver going upwards of 50 km/h over the posted limit — just one of numerous drivers ignoring posted speeds. Traffic services noticed the excessive speeder Mar. 7 around 7:21 a.m. on Highway 6 near Ricardo Road in an 80 km/h...
Police appeal for tips after fire engulfs Vernon house
VERNON - Mounties are appealing to the public for information after a Vernon house caught fire Monday night. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk said a jogger noticed flames on 25 Avenue around 8:30 p.m. and called 911. Vernon RCMP, the BX-Swan Lake Fire Department, and Vernon Emergency Management Services responded to the blaze. The home was...
Vernon nurse left in a wheelchair after hit and run could use your help
VERNON - The life of a Vernon mother and nurse changed forever when she was struck in a hit and run last December. The woman, in her 40s, was left a quadriplegic and is currently receiving treatment in Vancouver. Friends have launched a fundraising page to help with her recovery. “Robin has spent her career...
Countdown already on for 2016 Mardi Gras Winter Carnival
VERNON - Vernon will have ten days of Mardi Gras celebrations as part of the 2016 Winter Carnival. Hot on the heels of the 2015 Carnival of Rock and Roll, organizers are already gearing up for next year. Executive director Diana Williamson says the board received over 100 suggestions for the theme but narrowed it...
Many hands might make light work if co-housing comes to Vernon
VERNON - A local woman hopes to introduce a new way of living to Vernon. It’s called co-housing, and Barbara Van Sickle is passionate about it. With a blend of private homes and common areas, co-housing neighbourhoods foster community, group decision making and the philosophy that many hands make light work. “Socially, it’s much more...
Ringette players from around B.C. converge in Vernon
VERNON - Thirty seven ringette teams from around the province will gather in Vernon this weekend. The occasion is the provincial A and B Championships featuring divisions from under 14 to under 18. Games began at 7:15 a.m. Friday and continue all weekend with the gold medal games set for Sunday afternoon. An opening ceremony...
School closures recommended in the North Okanagan-Shuswap district
NORTH OKANAGAN – A number of school closures are being eyed in the North Okanagan.…
HELSTON: Ski coach did more than just peep on his students
The case of a Seattle ski coach who secretly videotaped his young students while they were changing at Silver Star Mountain is despicable, creepy, and vile, but perhaps the saddest part is that all those young girls were betrayed and let down by someone they trusted—their own teacher. He wasn't a strange pervert looking through...