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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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You won’t believe what a tourist found while visiting Vernon
VERNON - Most people go home from a dig at Canada’s only opal mine with a small trinket. Others, like Donna Nelson, get very lucky. On a recent trip to Vernon, the Saskatchewan woman and her husband went on a dig with Opal Resources Canada, which operates the Opal Miners Gift Shop on Highway 97...
Former NDP candidate seeks a seat on Vernon city council
VERNON - A former NDP candidate is running for a seat on Vernon city council. Mark Olsen has lived in Vernon for 28 years and wants to give back to his community. The CUPE school support staff president was an NDP candidate in the last provincial election. Olsen believes one of the big issues in...
A cougar killed her dog and dropped it at her feet
VERNON - A Vernon family is readjusting to life without their beloved family dog after he was killed by a cougar in their backyard. Milton, a six-year-old Chihuahua/Maltese, was let out to play as usual the morning of Sept. 21 in the backyard of the family’s McLennan Road property in the BX area of Vernon....
Foul play ruled out in death of Vernon teen
VERNON - Foul play has been ruled out in the death of a former Vernon teen who died at a work residence in Kindersley, Saskatchewan. Police initially called 19-year-old Dylan Cordell Hanna’s death suspicious, but an autopsy conducted Sept. 16 has since dispelled any notions foul play was involved. Hanna was found Sept. 14 at...
‘Large sum’ of unclaimed cash could go to good samaritan who found it
ARMSTRONG - No one has claimed a wad of money found in the Armstrong Liquor Store earlier this month, and with each passing day, the good samaritan who turned it in gets closer to cashing out. Video surveillance at the liquor store shows the owner of the cash—a white haired woman in a black top...
Vernon woman in the running for high-stakes music contest
VERNON - She got her start playing open mic nights at the El Portillo Coffee House in Vernon. The Vernon Performing Arts Centre welcomed her to its stage, and her voice carried through Polson Park on Canada Days passed. Now, Vernon’s Jodi Pederson, 26, is one of 12 artists picked out of 250 applicants across...
Groundbreaking training will help Vernon search and rescue help you
VERNON - Members of Vernon Search and Rescue are trying something new as they huddle around a helicopter watching a teammate dangle a few feet off the ground. The apparatus they're using is called a winch, and it will allow qualified technicians the ability to descend as much as 300 feet to the ground to...
Early morning car crash under investigation
VERNON - Police are investigating a series of events ending with a car crash and no sign of the occupants. It all started shortly after midnight Sept. 28 when the Vernon RCMP received a report of a car speeding through the intersection of 32 Avenue and 32 Street. “The silver car with two occupants was...
Three cougars shot while fourth remains at large in BX
VERNON - Conservation officers shot three cougars stalking household pets in the BX area of Vernon, but remain on the lookout for a fourth cat still at large. Terry Myroniuk, with the B.C. Conservation Service, says officers were called out Sept. 21 after the first cougar killed a dog. The owner had let her dog...
Vernon City Hall wouldn’t be the same without Ollie
VERNON - Ollie trots in to work at Vernon City Hall around 8 a.m. and heads to his desk in the engineering department. Well, actually he heads under it, because Ollie is no ordinary city staffer—he’s an office dog. The five-year-old schnauzer spends a lot of his day-job snoozing under owner Ken Juniper’s desk in...
Future of Kin Race Track on the table
VERNON - The future of Kin Race Track will on the table at a public meeting this weekend. The Okanagan Equestrian Society is holding a public input and information meeting on Saturday to discuss options around the replacement of the grandstands, which were destroyed in a suspected arson earlier this year. “While insured, the insurance proceeds...
The letter that restored this man’s faith in humanity
VERNON - On his fifth night camped out on the roof of Save On Foods to raise contributions for the food bank, Jim Tennant was feeling low. Not because of the gloomy weather, and not because he hadn’t reached his goal of 25,000 pounds of donated food, but because someone stole a Salvation Army kettle,...
HELSTON: Local politics are not boring
I’d like you to list the names of your city councillors. Okay, just one councillor. The mayor? No? Then you’re just like I was before I got paid to know. I’ll be honest; I never used to take much interest in local politics. Like many, I considered it boring, small town, no consequence stuff. But...
Another candidate in the running for Vernon mayor
VERNON - A prominent local businessperson has announced his intention to run for mayor in the upcoming municipal election. Akbal Mund, known for his involvement in numerous local events and fundraisers, says he’s ready to take on a role at city hall. “One hundred per cent of my focus will be looking after the City...
Jamie Morrow wants to be Vernon’s next mayor
VERNON - Another candidate is in the running for City Hall’s top seat. Jamie Morrow, 54, wants to have a hand in shaping the City of Vernon’s future. The events and program assistant for Okanagan College’s School of Business wants to see Vernon continue to grow as a vibrant and healthy community where future generations...
List of child porn charges against ski coach grows
VERNON - A Seattle ski coach with an impending trial in Vernon was indicted on more child pornography related charges across the border this week. On Wednesday, a U.S. federal grand jury indicted Jason Christopher Paur, 44, on five charges, including two counts of production and transportation of child pornography, and one count each of...
The Vernon SPCA needs your help
VERNON - The Vernon SPCA needs a little help from its friends. Branch manager Chelsea Taylor says donations are down at the moment. The non-profit organization relies on the public not only financially, but through donated cat litter, laundry detergent, garbage bags and other essential items. “We seem to be running out of those (items)...
Extra pay for mayor and council approved
VERNON - The next people who sit on Vernon city council will have the option of getting paid to attend meetings, on top of the salary they already receive. Mayor and council decided to keep the stipend at the current $137 for half or full day meetings, but not before throwing out a proposal to...
Vernon councillor seeks another term
VERNON - Councillor Brian Quiring will seek another term on Vernon council this fall. A partner with MQN Architects, Quiring has lived in Vernon since 1993 and served on council for the last three years. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Master of Architecture degree and supports development and construction as an...
There’s a passionate new face in the Vernon election race
VERNON - A passionate newcomer determined to put some personality in local politics has announced she’s running for a seat on Vernon city council. Dalvir Nahal, 38, is a first time councillor candidate. Born in India and raised in Vernon, she’s called the city home for the last 36 years. The energetic and candid breast...
If you see this actor around the North Okanagan, be sure to call him ‘sir’
VERNON - The stars are aligning for Hollywood’s return to the North Okanagan. Okanagan film commissioner Jon Summerland says it’s looking like the Hollywood movie Go With Me, based on a best-selling book, will be filmed in the region. Oscar winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins has already signed on to star in the thriller. “We’ve...
WATCH: Vernon Search and Rescue to demo groundbreaking rescue technique
VERNON - Vernon Search and Rescue is taking its skill set to all new heights. The unit is launching a ground-breaking, two-year pilot project to test out an operation known as the Helicopter Winch Rescue. The procedure is used around the world, as well as inby the Canadian Coast Guard, the military and specialized emergency...
Governance question snipped from fall election ballot
VERNON - A question about changing how local municipalities are governed has been stripped from the fall election ballot in Vernon. City council voted not to include a question asking voters if they want the city to pursue the creation of a municipal restructuring committee. The committee would study the implications of governance restructuring. The...
Raising cash for face-to-face meetings between victims and criminals
VERNON - Sitting down at a table with someone who committed a crime against you, getting answers about why they did it, and talking about what can be done to repair the harm isn’t the conventional ending in the justice system. It’s called restorative justice, and has helped people on both sides of the equation...