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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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Judge to hear evidence against Lumby man accused of murder
VERNON - A Lumby man accused of murdering his girlfriend, a local teacher, is before a provincial court judge this week. A preliminary inquiry for Howard Everett Krewson, also known as Howard Everett, began Wednesday, Feb. 4 and is scheduled to last five days. Krewson, 55, was charged with the second degree murder of Linda...
Lavington pellet plant could be operating in the next school year
LAVINGTON - A pellet plant will be up and running in Lavington within the year, says the president of Pinnacle Renewable Energy Group. According to Leroy Reitsma, site preparation work is underway and will wrap up in roughly 10-15 weeks. After that, the company will apply for a building permit and start constructing the plant,...
Armstrong horse owner fears for animals being sent to auction
“I HOPE THESE HORSES FIND GENTLE PEOPLE. I HOPE THEY LIVE OUT LONG AND FULL LIVES” ARMSTRONG - The possibility some of his 100 horses may go to slaughter after a court-ordered auction this weekend is not a pleasant thought for Armstrong man Gary Roberts. But that’s the reality the SPCA and the courts have...
Enderby’s connection to the Super Bowl
ENDERBY - In between football and Katy Perry Sunday evening, audiences were treated to a sneak peak of a movie filmed partly in Enderby. A trailer for Tomorrowland, starring George Clooney, Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie, debuted when the game went to commercials. The trailer reveals a magical world of space ships and wondrous gadgets,...
Vernon RCMP academy instills teens with life skills
VERNON - Not every teen who enrolls in the week-long, Depot-like RCMP Youth Academy in Vernon becomes a police officer. For some, the early mornings, mandatory exercise, daily chore of making their bed, and getting woken up in the middle of the night for mock disturbance calls is not for them. But for 2002 Charles...
Thin ice warning for Vernon’s Swan lake
VERNON - Authorities are warning the public to stay safe around Swan Lake. With warming temperatures over the last week, the ice on the lake has thinned significantly. Police and Vernon Search and Rescue were told three people walking on the ice fell through, and that’s prompting some cautionary words. “This is very concerning as...
The hunt is on for a new anchor at Village Green Mall
VERNON - Target isn’t the only vacancy in Vernon’s Village Green Centre. If you walk around the shopping mall, you’ll see four vacant shop spaces. When Target closes, it will be five. The City of Vernon’s economic development manager Kevin Poole has his eye on it, but says this is a time of year when...
By the numbers: Vernon SPCA at a glance
VERNON - Here are some things you might not know about the Vernon branch of the SPCA. It costs the non-profit roughly $665 to shelter a single cat. Over the course of a year, the branch goes through some 52 jugs of laundry detergent. The facility runs on six employees and 75 volunteers. Branch manager...
HELSTON: A reminder that you’re innocent until proven guilty
In Canada, you’re innocent until proven guilty whether charged with murder or stealing an ice cream cone. Sure, you might not go to court over a frozen milk product, but the point is, no matter how heinous or mild the crime, the principle remains the same: an allegation is not a conviction. We brought you...
The unique approach Vernon is taking to selling itself
VERNON - A new City of Vernon tourism initiative is focussing more on recommendations shared by word of mouth than snagging a write up in a guide book. The city understands many people rely on reviews from friends and family when picking a place to visit, and it’s found a way to track how often...
Rescuing a horse? Here’s what you’re getting into
“AT THIS POINT, EVERYONE’S THINKING WITH THEIR HEARTS” ARMSTRONG - We’ve seen a lot of generosity and kindness in the weeks following an animal cruelty case, but the SPCA is cautioning people not to let good intentions cloud their judgement. Armstrong man Gary Roberts faces two charges of animal cruelty, and has been court ordered...
Park downtown Vernon for free on the following days
VERNON - There are several opportunities to park downtown Vernon without plugging the meter over the next few months. At the request of the Downtown Vernon Association, council approved free parking on Saturday, Feb. 14 from 12-3 p.m. for the Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off event. The association also requested free parking on Feb. 21, May...
How co-workers are supporting a Vernon nurse still recovering from accident
TWO NURSES WENT OUT ON A LATE NIGHT COFFEE-RUN FOR CO-WORKERS. ONE RETURNED IN AN AMBULANCE VERNON — The night shift nurses in Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s bustling Unit C—a section of the emergency room—have long taken turns going out on their break and bringing back coffee for the team. In the early morning hours of...
Increased fines would better protect animal welfare says Vernon SPCA
VERNON - The Vernon SPCA wants local governing bodies to look at ways of improving animal welfare through the use of bylaws and fines. Branch manager Chelsea Taylor came before Vernon council Monday, Jan. 26, to highlight some of the things the city, and the North Okanagan Regional District, could do for animals in the...
Vernon man facing 17 charges following inter-agency investigation
VERNON - A Vernon man is facing 17 criminal charges following a police investigation that began with a shipment of heroin landing at the Vancouver International Airport. Canada Border Services air cargo officers intercepted a large quantity of heroin originating from Thailand Jan. 8 at the Vancouver Airport, according to a release issued by the...
Vernon sees strongest housing starts in years
VERNON - The City of Vernon is boasting its highest number of housing starts in six years. There were 255 housing starts in 2014, the highest number since 2008, which saw 368 starts. Meanwhile, overall building permit values jumped to $93 million, almost doubling the $50 million in 2013. It’s all good news in the...
Back home and back to business for Vernon’s Upper Room Mission
VERNON - The door is once again open at Vernon’s Upper Room Mission. The soup kitchen served lunch in its dining hall for the first time in two months today, Jan. 26, and communications manager Lisa Anderson says it’s good to be home. “This is where our clients feel most comfortable coming in out of...
100 horses for sale following Armstrong cruelty investigation
"LET'S SAVE THIS THING AND MAKE IT TURN OUT FOR THE GOOD" ARMSTRONG - Homes are being sought for 100 horses in Armstrong following an animal cruelty investigation. The horses belong to Gary Roberts, 69, who faces two counts of animal cruelty charges stemming from a December 2014 B.C. SPCA investigation. Seventeen of Roberts’ horses...
Kelowna RCMP marijuana raid a ‘form of discouragement’
VERNON - A police raid might seem like an extreme way to send a message, but a Vernon businessman thinks that was the case with a marijuana dispensary that was shut down in Kelowna. Imre Kovacs is a partial owner of The Herbal Health Centre in Vernon, which opened in the summer of 2013, and...
Interior Health appealing $75,000 fine for endangering workers at Vernon hospital
VERNON — Interior Health Authority is fighting a $75,000 fine imposed by WorkSafe B.C. for exposing its workers to toxic substances. The fine was issued Sept. 19, 2014, three years after WorkSafe first inspected the Vernon Jubilee Hospital diagnostic laboratory and deemed its ventilation system inadequate. Workers were exposed to formaldehyde and other toxic substances,...
Vernon’s Kevin Hill takes home gold
VERNON - Vernon is applauding the success of one of its own today with the news of local snowboarder Kevin Hill winning gold at the Winter X games in Aspen, Colorado. Hill earned the medal Friday, Jan. 23 in the snowboarder X competition. The community couldn’t be happier for him. Silver Star Mountain Resort issued...
Animal cruelty charges laid against Armstrong horse owner
ARMSTRONG - An Armstrong man is facing criminal charges after animal cruelty investigators seized 16 emaciated horses from his care. Gary Roberts, 69, is charged with causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal and failing to provide necessities for an animal. He also faces one count of uttering threats to cause death or bodily...
HELSTON: Our libraries are worth the money
As the Okanagan Regional Library looks for places to snip and save costs, one municipality has stepped up as a champion for its local branch. In the last few months, we’ve heard about cuts to staff positions and reductions in business hours as part of a process to improve equity at the regional library’s 29...
Splatsin First Nation takes lead role acquiring rail corridor
ENDERBY - The Splatsin First Nation is taking a lead role shaping the future of the abandoned Canadian Pacific Rail line between Armstrong and Sicamous. The band is hoping to bring all stakeholders together in the coming weeks to develop a plan to preserve the line in its entirety, and come up with a use...