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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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Chamber of Commerce on board for an Okanagan rail trail
VERNON – The push for an Okanagan rail trail is picking up steam. The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce has joined the movement to preserve the rail bed between Vernon and Kelowna as a recreational corridor. The chamber unanimously passed a motion to call on all levels of government to take a leadership role in...
Sheriff’s vehicle set on fire near Vernon courthouse
VERNON - A B.C. Sheriffs car is the latest victim in a series of suspected arsons. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the vehicle was parked on 27 Street near the Vernon Courthouse. The RCMP was alerted to the fire around 10:40 p.m. June 12. “When the police attended they noticed a small fire burning beneath...
HELSTON: You need to help snuff out Vernon’s arsonist
In the past five weeks, Vernon has been on edge with an ongoing string of suspected arsons now totaling 15 fires. First it was dumpsters. Then piles of garbage and recycling. Now boats and vehicles. Two men were arrested in connection to one of the fires, but police don't believe they set the others. Unfortunately...
Child care programs filling up fast upon full strike notice
VERNON - At least one Vernon child care organization is filling up fast following the announcement of a full teacher strike. The North Okanagan Child Care Society is expanding its programs next week to give parents a safe place to put their children while school is out. Executive director Hollie Henderson says full day camps, typically...
Fiery scene considered suspicious
VERNON - A flaming dumpster in Coldstream is the latest in a series of suspicious fires in the area. The Coldstream fire department was dispatched to the Graystone Drive fire around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Six firefighters were at the fire hall that night for training and were able to respond immediately. “As we came down...
Seven week evacuation order lifted
SHUSWAP - An evacuation order for half a dozen Shuswap properties located near McIntyre Creek has finally lifted. The order, prompted by a major debris flow in the creek April 23, was in effect for seven weeks while emergency management crews assessed the risk and the Ministry of Transportation conducted repairs. Properties near the debris...
Vernon vacancy rates plummet
VERNON - It’s harder to find a place to rent in Vernon this year, and in some cases, more expensive to secure one. The spring 2014 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s spring rental market report is out and it says Vernon’s vacancy rate (percentage of available or unoccupied rental spaces) has plunged to 4.1 per cent...
Okanagan routes hit top spots in worst roads survey
OKANAGAN - The Okanagan has some of the worst roads in the province. That’s the message voters in BCAA’s Worst Roads survey are sending this year. Silver Star Road in Vernon hit first, Westside Road near Attenborough Road second, and Cosens Bay Road in Coldstream third. Two other portions of Westside Road in West Kelowna...
Medicinal marijuana company to set roots in Lumby
LUMBY - The Village of Lumby is open for a once outlawed business and at least one company is highly interested. True Leaf Medicine Inc., chaired by former B.C. premier Mike Harcourt, is waiting for full approval from Health Canada to open a marijuana production facility in Lumby. The municipality recently passed legislation allowing medical...
Rail trail a good, but expensive, idea: MP
VERNON - Federal, provincial and municipal governments are discussing the fate of the Okanagan rail corridor. Colin Mayes, Okanagan-Shuswap MP, says there was a meeting of elected representatives at the federal, provincial and municipal levels about the possibility of preserving the land for use as a recreational corridor. “I feel the corridor is very important...
Measures sought to curb accidental storefront drive-ins
ARMSTRONG - Michelle Cummings, owner of The Source in Armstrong, thought people driving into storefronts was like lightning—it never strikes twice. But since a truck smashed its way inside her electronics store, a driver crashed into 7/ Eleven in Vernon and another drove into the Kindale Developmental Association, part of the same shopping complex as...
School board positions on the chopping block
NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP - The number of trustees in school district 83 could dwindle by the end of the summer. The North Okanagan-Shuswap school district is considering reducing its board to seven trustees down from nine to save $23,420 and help balance the 2014/2015 budget. A review of B.C. school districts revealed SD 83 has more...
Former Lumby councillor seeks federal role
VERNON - A former Lumby councillor is vying for the Conservative nomination in the next federal election. Janet Green, who sat on Lumby council from 2009-11, will officially announce her candidacy at a press conference Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Village Green Hotel. Colin Mayes, three-term MP for the Okanagan-Shuswap, will not be seeking...
Moncton officers honoured in North Okanagan
VERNON - The Vernon RCMP detachment is awash with flowers, candles and condolences from the public in honour of the three fallen officers in Moncton. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk on behalf of the Vernon detachment expressed his thanks at a press conference Monday. “Your support of our members during this time is very much appreciated...
Vernon arson tally continues to climb
VERNON - Fire set to an abandoned house and a pleasure boat has added to the list of suspected arsons within the city. Saturday around midnight, Vernon RCMP were called to a fire in an abandoned house in the 3800 block of 30 Avenue. “The rear of the building was totally engulfed when the fire...
Homeless deaths inspire memorial and call to action
VERNON - This past winter, Chuck Harper drove past a pair of homeless men he knew well from his work at the local shelter. He was aware of their addictions and health troubles. Having panhandled on the streets of Vernon when he was 16, he didn’t judge or look down on them— he called them...
How police are using this gadget to curb speeding
VERNON - You can’t completely hide your speed from the cops anymore, even if they aren’t there to catch you in the act. Drivers will notice a new speed reader board circulating around the North Okanagan. The $10,000 gadget was purchased by the cities of Armstrong, Enderby and Township of Spallumcheen as a way to...
First patients could be admitted to new Vernon hospital ward in 2016
VERNON - The new ward at Vernon Jubilee Hospital could be welcoming patients around the beginning of 2016. Construction to complete the top two floors of Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s Polson Tower launched today with a celebration attended by Interior Health, the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District and local dignitaries. The $29.6 million unit...
Art show stripped from college walls goes up at local gallery
VERNON - A controversial art show pulled from the gallery at Okanagan College in Vernon has a new space to continue the conversation. Local artist Ryan Robson’s evocative female portraits, which were deemed too disturbing for the walls of the college, will be displayed at Gallery Vertigo until the end of the month. The paintings...
Vernon’s fire service not saving much money, yet
VERNON - While the City of Vernon and its firefighters union spar over appropriate service levels and financial resources, a quick comparison to similar-sized cities shows it's likely too early to tell if Vernon’s new firefighting model will make a dent in the budget. Vernon sends two firefighters, instead of the conventional four-person crew, to...
Powerful storm felt across the city
VERNON - Cleanup and repairs are underway today following a major storm Tuesday afternoon in Vernon. According to Environment Canada, 12 mm of precipitation fell that day. Locals certainly felt it as they drove through gushing water, noticed lifting asphalt on the street, and watched basements flood. Tanya Laing Gahr, with the City of Vernon,...
UPDATE: Okanagan man dies in Vernon accident
VERNON - An Okanagan man is dead after a fatal accident on Highway 97 near Birnie Road. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the man was driving a Subaru and veered into an oncoming truck around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. He died at the scene. A driver and passenger of the truck were taken to hospital with...
Looks like it’s going to be a big year for excessive speeding
VERNON - Police have nabbed almost as many excessive speeders in the past six months as they did in all of last year. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says 22 drivers have been caught speeding excessively in the North Okanagan so far this year, compared to a total of 25 in 2013. “B.C.'s speeding law compels...
Okanagan youth conflicted on provincial student walkout
OKANAGAN - As teachers strike in shifts across the province this week, it appears students have found a day to voice their own opinions. The B.C. Student Walkout for Students, launched by Surrey teen Victoria Barker, is set for Wednesday, the only day this week not scheduled to have strike action. A Facebook group created...