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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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Funeral service set for councillor Patrick Nicol
VERNON - There’s no shortage of ideas for how the city will remember councillor Patrick Nicol, who died last week after a long battle with cancer. While council wants to involve the community in the process, and wait until after his funeral February 3, several possible tributes are floating around. “They range from a plaque...
Serious accident sends cyclist to hospital
VERNON - A cyclist is facing serious injuries after being struck by a car on Highway 97 by Fruit Union Plaza. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says a 27-year-old male cyclist rode out from the alley behind Earl's Restaurant and was hit by a northbound Pontiac Sunfire car around 5:30 a.m. Several witnesses told police the...
Vernon snowboarder makes Canadian Olympic team
VERNON - Another Vernonite is headed to Sochi. Kevin Hill, 27, will be competing in snowboard cross at the Olympics. According to his bio, he’s had his sights set on the Olympics since first watching them on television. He joins Vernon skier Justin Dorey, named earleir this week to the Canadian team. He started snowboarding...
When there’s no one else to talk to
VERNON - A local agency devoted to helping others is looking for some community support. The Vernon People in Need Crisis Line, which has been operating for 37 years, has just 21 full time volunteers, and that’s not enough to answer every call. Volunteer coordinator Tammy Scheepbouwer says the service connects people who need to...
Garbage truck crashes into Vernon yard
VERNON - A Vernon father is choosing to focus on the good news after an unmanned garbage truck came barreling down 40 Avenue into his yard. His wife and children weren’t hurt. The truck only grazed his house. “It was really lucky,” Paul Dixon says. Around 11:30 a.m. January 22, the truck was seen coasting...
Rare ice formation on Highway 97 excites climbers
SPALLUMCHEEN - An unusual ice formation on Highway 97 near Armstrong is attracting groups of Okanagan climbers. In Spallumcheen just north of Swan Lake by the roundabout leading to Hutley Road, a towering rock face, blasted into existence a couple years ago during highway construction, is veiled in ice. For Rick and Sari Cox,...
Coroners service confirms heroin overdose of Kelowna teen
KELOWNA - A teenager died of a heroin overdose the day after her friend bought the drugs downtown Kelowna, confirms a coroners report released today. The friend found Jenessa Kelly Brown, 19, in bed, face down on the mattress July 27, 2013 around 10:50 a.m. at her Kelowna residence, coroner Andrew Cave said. She was...
Okanagan men named to Canadian Olympic team
OKANAGAN - Two Okanagan skiers are Sochi-bound. Justin Dorey, 26, of Vernon and Matt Margetts, also 26, of Penticton were named to the Canadian Olympic team today in the halfpipe category. Dorey was born in Calgary, calls Vernon home, and currently lives and trains in Whistler. He was part of the Silver Star Freestyle Club...
Big shoes to fill in wake of councillor’s death
VERNON - Friends and colleagues say Coun. Patrick Nicol, who died this week after a long battle with cancer, will never truly be replaced. The City of Vernon isn’t rushing to fill his vacant seat, and because there are still enough members on council (six), a by-election is not required. General municipal elections will be...
Police urge caution after Vernon cougar sighting
VERNON - You’ll want to keep your eye out for a big cat if you live on Okanagan Landing. RCMP are investigating a report of a cougar on Longacre Drive, not far from Okanagan Landing Elementary School. In recent weeks, three cougars were spotted in Coldstream and two in Lumby. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says...
Art gallery referendum pushed to 2015
"WE'RE GOING IN CIRCLES" VERNON - The people won't have their say on a new arts facility until at least 2015, a big step back for those at the Vernon Public Art Gallery. The Greater Vernon Advisory Committee voted Thursday to delay the referendum until a $100,000 arts and culture master plan is created and...
Controversial art exhibit stripped from Okanagan College
'IT FEELS LIKE: KEEP IT TO YOURSELF' VERNON - A controversial art show at Okanagan College’s Vernon campus has been shut down because of complaints it was “too disturbing.” The series ‘Lady-like’ by local artist Ryan Robson, 29, depicts women in bondage, pain and sexual suffering—images that created plenty of controversy at the college campus....
Bail changes for Vernon cop facing child porn charges
VERNON - A Vernon cop facing child pornography charges now has a tighter set of bail conditions, and a looming preliminary inquiry. A judge fine-tuned the wording on Ryan Hampton’s bail conditions Wednesday. Number six of his seven conditions stated he ‘was permitted’ to be in the presence of children under 18 under the following...
Slippery sidewalks cause concern
VERNON - The City of Vernon is on a slippery slope when it comes to handling sidewalk clearing. Last year, the city shifted snow clearing responsibilities to property owners, but not everyone is abiding by the new rules, and that’s creating safety concerns. Vernon bylaw officers say the owners of a Pottery Road property are...
Regional district fined $18,540 for water contamination
VERNON - Four years after tainted water poured out the taps of 3,500 Lavington homes, the Regional District of North Okanagan has been sentenced for letting it happen. Provincial Court Judge Mayland McKimm approved a joint submission from Crown and defence lawyers Thursday morning, ordering the district to pay $18,540 for its four water contamination...
Amalgamation unlikely to move forward: MLA
VERNON - Efforts to amalgamate the four jurisdictions of Greater Vernon appear to have hit the end of the road. Even supporting a study of unification was unanimously voted down by Coldstream council Monday. There’s similarly no interest from Area B and C directors, and even though the City of Vernon was expected to vote...
No additional jail time for Vernon drug traffickers
VERNON - A trio of Vernon men involved in Saskatchewan’s largest drug bust in history won’t spend any further time behind bars than what they’ve already been sentenced to, a court of appeal judge decided Wednesday morning. The Honourable Chief Justice Robert Richards dismissed the Crown’s appeals for longer jail time, leaving William Bruce Larsen...
Party organizer disputes RCMP claims of Rave party
SOOTHERS? WHAT SOOTHERS? VERNON - A dance at the Vernon Recreation Centre was for the most part a safe, sober and smoothly run event, despite claims by Vernon RCMP that hundreds of underage students were drunk or high, says the president of the company that hosted the event. Alexandre Handa was at the dance Saturday...
Amalgamation proponents appeal to Vernon, Coldstream councils
VERNON - Vernon city council is poised to give the go ahead on a provincial review on the pros and cons of amalgamating Greater Vernon, but they may be alone. Monday afternoon, the Greater Vernon Governance Society appealed to Vernon council for support a plan to ask the province to conduct a study on amalgamating...
You don’t need sun to break a warm weather record (unfortunately)
VERNON - Looks can be deceiving. While it’s a damp, grey day in Vernon today, the city is actually beating a warm weather record. Around 11 a.m., it was 10 C, a couple degrees warmer than the former record, 7.8 C in 1945, measured at the Coldstream Ranch weather station, which has data reaching back...
Vernon rave well-prepared for drug use
SOOTHERS, GLOW STICKS, WATER... AND FIRST AID VERNON - The RCMP sent busloads of teenagers back to their Kelowna hotel after shutting down a rave at the Vernon Recreation Centre late Saturday night. Police say the partiers, including a majority of Lower Mainland students under 18, were extremely intoxicated, some receiving medical care by first...
Shelter workers raise alarm bells after tenth street death
VERNON - The John Howard Society is mourning yet another client death—an estimated tenth in the past 12 months. “It just seems like every couple weeks we hear about someone who has died," executive director Barbara Levesque says. "It’s been a really difficult, tragic year for the community.” Around 2:30 p.m. Sunday, a man in...
Art gallery to reopen despite ordeals
VERNON - The Vernon Public Art Gallery will soon reopen its doors after a month-long closure caused by flooding. Executive director Dauna Kennedy-Grant says everyone at the gallery is looking forward to getting back to normal after a challenging winter. “It’s been very chaotic,” Kennedy-Grant says of the sudden closure December 6. “It’ll be nice...
Warm temperatures could melt winter
VERNON - There could be massive melting early next week if predicted temperatures hold true. Environment Canada is forecasting a high of 8 C next Monday along with a 30 per cent chance of showers. That would beat the hottest temperature on record for that day in over 100 years, with the current bar set...