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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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Crews still trying to restore Kingfisher landlines
ENDERBY - Despite a minor setback, Telus hopes to get landlines restored in a small community just east of Enderby by the end of the day. Landlines went dead in the Kingfisher area, roughly 25 kilometers from Enderby, last Friday following a massive landslide that washed out sections of Mabel Lake Road, a bridge and...
Father of convicted killer expected to plead guilty
VERNON - Guilty pleas are expected this week in the matter of convicted murderer Matthew Foerster’s father, who is charged with accessory after the fact in the death of Armstrong teen Taylor Van Diest. According to court documents, Stephen Foerster, 60, is scheduled for disposition in Kelowna Supreme Court Wednesday. He’s also charged with obstruction...
Motorcyclist takes spill on highway through Vernon
VERNON - A motorcyclist was rushed to hospital this morning after taking a spill on Highway 97 in Vernon. Capt. Darren Cecchini with Vernon Fire Services says the 50-something motorcyclist was cut off by a car on 32 Street across from the EconoLodge around 9:30 a.m. Monday, forcing him to halt abruptly and lay his...
Major flood hits Kingfisher community
ENDERBY - A road, a bridge, and a community’s link to the nearest city was swept away by a barrage of water and debris Friday. About 300 feet of Mabel Lake Road near the Kingfisher Interpretive Centre is gone. So is the bridge over Cook Creek. In its place is a massive debris field of...
Unsellable donations costing Salvation Army precious funds
VERNON - The Salvation Army Thrift Shop isn’t always getting a good deal when it comes to donations, especially at this time of year. Instead of being sold for funds, some items actually cost the organization to get rid of. For Salvation Army store manager Gary Rich, it’s a weekly frustration that balloons in the...
In their shoes: Riding along with Vernon bylaw
VERNON - I thought bylaw officers spent all their time shoving parking tickets on my windshield with uncanny timing until I suited up in a protective vest and accompanied them on a typical evening shift. We didn’t go near a single parking meter. On a Friday night, Vernon bylaw officer Russ Lutsenko handed me the...
Silver Star Road earns gold so far in worst roads survey
VERNON - A stretch of pavement — or lack thereof — in Vernon is topping the list in BCAA’s worst roads survey. Voting opened earlier this week, and it didn’t take long for Vernon’s Silver Star Road to climb to first place. The survey is open until May 26, so results could still change gears....
Suspicious car fire outside law office
VERNON - Investigators are calling a vehicle fire Wednesday evening on Main Street suspicious in nature. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says the department responded to a fully involved Ford Explorer in the lane way by Nixon Wenger just off 30 Avenue around 6:30 p.m. “Firefighters extinguished it and requested RCMP attend,” Blair says. “They...
School board approves layoffs to help trim $1.4 million from budget
VERNON - The Vernon school district is axing expenditures across the board to combat a $1.4 million shortfall. Preliminary approval has been given to School District 22's budget for the 2014-2015 school year and the plan shows cuts to library staffing, special education, administration and transportation routes. Board chair Bill Turanski said a staff restructuring...
Suspicious fire creates pallet-burning potato chips
VERNON - A suspicious fire is under investigation at a Vernon business. Police were called to MTF Price Matters on 24 Street Monday at 1:20 p.m. to look into a fire that started in a wooden pallet covered in potato chips. “It’s undetermined what the cause of the fire is,” Molendyk says. “A pallet and...
Trial begins for man accused of dangerous driving in death of Kamloops man
VERNON - A Lavington man’s dangerous driving causing death trial began Tuesday, almost three years to the day he was involved in a crash that left a Kamloops man dead. Terrance Edward Brown, born in 1977, faces one count of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. He was...
Worst Roads survey gets in gear
THOMPSON OKANAGAN - If you’ve got a gripe with a road near you, it’s time to pipe up. Until May 26, B.C. motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can cast a vote for their 'Worst Road' nominee. Voters can pinpoint the stretch of road they feel is the worst in B.C. and specify what infrastructure issue they're...
Shuswap residents still can’t go home
SHUSWAP - An evacuation order is still in effect for some residents located near a debris flow. The evacuation began last Wednesday for people living around McIntyre Creek near Salmon Arm. According to a geotechnical engineer and environmental geoscientist, a collection of debris is still lodged in the creek. They also identified water pooling around...
Canada Day prep proves tough without Nicol
VERNON - Volunteers are having a hard time pulling together Canada Day celebrations without the leadership of councillor Patrick Nicol. Nicol, who passed away in January after a long battle with cancer, chaired the Canada Day committee for many years and vice chair Ken Barker says his name was “synonymous with the day for more...
Police seek rightful owners of stolen dolls
VERNON - Police are hoping to reunite a collection of dolls with their rightful owners. The six dolls are dressed to represent several different countries, and four appear to be in their original boxes. Police found the dolls in a stolen vehicle last February. The truck had been involved in a single vehicle motor vehicle...
Teen in hospital after bush party stabbing
VERNON - A local teen remains in hospital with serious injuries after being stabbed at a massive bush party over the weekend. The assault occurred at a party in the Noble Canyon area near Becker Lake at approximately 3:30 a.m. April 27. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says there are reports that between 100-300 young people...
Road maintenance goes downhill at Silver Star
VERNON - It may be time to mow your lawn in most parts of Vernon, but snowfall is plaguing those who live and work in the Silver Star area. Silver Star Mountain Resort and year-round residents are sounding the alarm over questionable road maintenance practices following a snowstorm this week. Resident Steve Darby and his...
Taking on the world with a pair of roller skates
VERNON - When psychology student Noni Phillips puts on certain make-up, laces up her roller skates, chomps down on her mouth guard and hits the floor to kick some butt, she becomes someone else — an alter ego named Major Psyc Ho. Roller derby, the fastest growing women’s sport in North America, is the UBCO...
Riding along with the RCMP police dog unit
VERNON - Sherri Funfer usually spends her day with a 14 pound Jack Russel Terrier, not a pack of police dogs. The Salmon Arm resident got to tag along with the dog team Tuesday after her brother won the package at a fundraiser for HugABulls and the Okanagan Humane Society last November. Knowing how much...
Evacuation orders persist for Shuswap residents
SHUSWAP - An evacuation order remains in effect for seven Shuswap properties located near a large debris flow. Residents living within 50 metres on either side of McIntyre Creek near Salmon Arm have been on evacuation order since Wednesday afternoon when debris clogged the creek. The order was issued as a safety precaution against potential...
Mayoral candidate itching to return to politics
VERNON - A 74-year-old Vernon man who has already worn many hats is now throwing his in for mayor. Klaus Tribes, a former City of Vernon councillor for 18 years, is running for mayor in the upcoming municipal election. “I want to get back at it,” he says. “I was retired and I didn’t like...
Debris flow prompts evacuation order in Shuswap
SHUSWAP - An evacuation order remains in place for residents living by McIntyre Creek near Salmon Arm due to a large flow of debris Wednesday. Debris in the creek created flooding and slide concerns for people and property in the area, and as a precaution, the Columbia Shuswap Regional District has put residents living 50...
School day will shorten as part of teachers’ strike
NORTH OKANAGAN - Changes at local schools this week include the elimination of recess and reduction of the school day as part of teachers’ strike action. Superintendent of school district 83 Glen Borthistle says phase 1 strike action is slated to begin Wednesday, and will mean shaving 15 minutes off the school day, and cutting...
Evening market to entice community to heart of Vernon
“YOU’RE GIVING PEOPLE BACK THAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY” VERNON - Vernon’s downtown will be alive this summer with music, sidewalk cafés, open air shopping and most importantly—people. Avenue Market was given the go ahead by Vernon city council Tuesday and will launch May 9 on 30 Avenue. The 4-7p.m. Friday market will see downtown merchants...