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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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Why Enderby’s tragic dementia case won’t be the last
ENDERBY - The neighbours of a friendly Enderby senior are in shock after the 73-year-old went missing and was found dead in a remote fishing area far from home days later. Barbara Nell Derenowski lived alone in a rented unit of a house on Salmon Arm Drive in Enderby. Sometime after 2:30 p.m. Monday, she...
This Vernon actor brings the party to YouTube in new series
VERNON - YouTube sensation Ian Fisher got his start writing comedy sketches and goofing off as Mage the Street Magician in Vernon. That was back in Fisher’s teen years at Seaton Secondary. The Toronto-based actor has now moved on to bigger projects like The Party Show, but he'll never forget his earliest ventures. “No matter...
Golfers rejoice: Local course to open Thursday
SPALLUMCHEEN - At least one local golf course is boasting an early March opening. The Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club is opening its driving range Thursday, Mar. 5. — one of the earliest dates around. The course at Predator Ridge is eyeing an April 8 opening, and the Vernon Golf and Country Club says the...
Fire and vandalism draw authorities to Armstrong middle school
ARMSTRONG - A fire at Lenwood Middle School in Armstrong had 32 firefighters jumping out of bed at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Initially reported as a structure fire, members feared the worst. But Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Chief Ian Cummings says it was just a small fire in a garbage can a few feet from the school. “There...
How the Vernon Art Gallery is solving space problems with steel boxes
VERNON - A unique attraction is taking shape downtown Vernon. Five massive container boxes arrived in the empty lot across from Cenotaph Park Monday morning. In two weeks time, the steel boxes will house a major international art show. “It’s fairly unique,” Vernon Public Art Gallery executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant says. “I myself haven’t...
Ski coach apologizes for secretly filming young girls at Silver Star Mountain Resort
VERNON - Before getting caught secretly filming young girls between 14 and 16 years old undressing on a school trip to Silver Star Mountain Resort, Jason Paur was a popular ski coach, mentor and friend to his students. That all changed when a trio of girls noticed a Luminex camera hidden in the curtains of...
These videos about small Thompson-Okanagan towns will make you proud to live here
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - From brewhouses to outdoor theatre companies, a number of small businesses in the Thompson-Okanagan are being celebrated in a six-part video series. It’s part of a project called Small Business, Big Culture that highlights select cities across B.C. and Alberta. Vernon, Armstrong and Kamloops made the cut, in addition to Medicine Hat, Lethbridge,...
One of the Okanagan’s most expensive, multi-million dollar homes is hiding in Vernon
OKANAGAN - If a Vernon home complete with its own theatre, library, and heli pad sells for the asking price — close to $8 million — it would become the third most expensive residential property in the Okanagan Valley. But if you look the property up on B.C. Assessment, it doesn’t even make the top...
Surprise construction costs blow new Vernon sports track budget
VERNON - Unexpected costs mean Vernon’s new sports track is more than three quarters of a million dollars over budget. But taxpayers shouldn’t worry about the $790,000 overrun, says Greater Vernon director Mike Macnabb. The extra funding is expected to be recovered through reserves and donations. “We have a very aggressive plan to get some...
Vernon’s top cop reflects on 35 years with the RCMP
VERNON - RCMP Superintendent Reg Burgess’ entry into the police force 35 years ago was a serendipitous one. The now 60-year-old had a business administration degree under his belt and was working as a loans manager in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was single and rooming with a fellow who happened to be a police officer....
The household remedy that started a major RCMP drug investigation in Enderby
VERNON - When authorities raided an Enderby business and lodging house last week, they noticed a horrible smell from a weird substance growing in a jar and called in the RCMP's drug lab unit from Vancouver—complete with full-body suits and gas masks. But your average health nut might have immediately recognized it as a home-made...
Why this controlled burn was needed in a West Kelowna park
KELOWNA - You might notice smoke coming from West Kelowna’s Kalamoir Regional Park today while crews conduct a controlled burn. Due to vandalism on some of the trees near the King Road entrance to the park, the Central Okanagan Regional District is burning wood debris that could pose a fire hazard. The regional district picked...
Eco-friendly Earthship trend lands in Vernon
VERNON - Vernon could soon be home to a bourgeoning building trend: an off-grid, self-sustaining structure called an Earthship. The buildings — which feature recycled building materials like old tires and bottles, solar electricity, passive thermal heating and cooling, water collection systems, and indoor food production — are popping up all over the world from...
Smoke leads Vernon firefighters to the Ministry of Forests
VERNON - The Vernon Fire Department attended the scene of a fire Tuesday not knowing the Ministry of Forests set it on purpose. The B.C Wildfire Management Branch planned the controlled burn just off Highway 97 in the Predator Ridge area but didn’t give the Vernon Fire Department any notice. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair...
Residents respond to Enderby eviction notice
"I AM EXTREMELY ANGRY WITH THE CITY AND HOW THEY'VE DEALT WITH THINGS." ENDERBY - Zhao Walker, a 25-year-old artist who hitchhiked to the area four years ago, is one of the people who lived in the back of the Gypsy Bazaar in Enderby before the city evicted them. For years, he helped run the...
Why a jury found a Vernon man guilty of raping his daughter, but not of incest
VERNON - A Vernon man continues to show no remorse for years of sexual abuse on his daughter and her friend and that got him some extra time in prison. The man, who cannot be named by court order to protect the identity of his daughter, was originally charged with three counts of sexual assault—two...
Come discover Enderbeagle
ENDERBY - A small North Okanagan community might have to change its name to Enderbeagle in honour of its latest celebrity—a beagle named Miss P. Miss P (for Peyton) is being celebrated worldwide as this year’s best in show after a surprise win at the Westminster Kennel Club in New York Tuesday. Four-year-old Miss P...
Unsafe Enderby boarding house possibly a chemical drug lab
ENDERBY - An Enderby building decorated on the outside with brightly painted murals is now being investigated as the site of a possible chemical drug lab. Police discovered evidence of a drug lab Wednesday, Feb. 18 while assisting the City of Enderby with an evacuation order. Eleven boarders, including up to four children, were ordered...
Authorities evacuate residents from hazardous Enderby boarding complex
ENDERBY - Eleven people, including as many as four children, have been displaced after authorities issued a do not occupy order on the building. Kevin Alstad, local assistant to the Fire Commissioner for the City of Enderby, described the building as “a hazard requiring the immediate removal of the occupants for their own safety.” In...
Shuswap woman petitions Province for improved seniors care
VERNON - Judy Galley uses words like horrific, neglectful and nightmarish to describe the state of seniors homes in B.C., and she wants to change that. The Shuswap woman launched a petition calling on the provincial government to improve staff-to-patient ratios at care homes after experiencing the system firsthand. Her parents resided in Kelowna care...
Lumby RCMP appeal to public after two thefts in less than a week
LUMBY - Police are reaching out for public assistance in solving two thefts earlier this month in Lumby. The first was a break and enter Feb. 8 at Tire Craft on Dyffryn Road. The alarm was set off, and when police arrived, they found the rear door had been forced open and money stolen from...
Mud slide shuts down Highway 6 near Needles Ferry crossing
VERNON - Highway 6 is shut down in both directions one kilometre west of the Needles Ferry, due to a mud slide. According to Drive B.C., there is a detour available on Barnes Creek Forest Service Road. As of 3 a.m. Feb. 19, road assessment was still in progress and there was no estimated time of...
Police believe Cherryville vandal was motivated by logging dispute
CHERRYVILLE - Police believe a recent act of vandalism was motivated by a controversial logging operation in Cherryville. Heavy equipment belonging to the company contracted to build a logging road in the Cherry Ridge area was vandalized sometime around Jan. 13, Lumby Cpl. Henry Proce says. The construction of the road is part of a...
Better than money: John Howard Society gets major property donation
VERNON - The John Howard Society has received a gift few non-profits ever do: real estate. A 3,600 square foot suite inside the Creekside Professional Building was given to the society by a local couple, Mike and Beverly Davies, Tuesday, Feb. 17. It’s the largest gift ever received by the society, and believed to be...