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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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Ten traffic bylaws you’ve never heard of
VERNON - In his career as a bylaw officer, Vernon’s Clint Kanester has seen and heard some crazy things, but he says the day to day is like a broken record. “I knew a (bylaw officer) who told people if they could tell him a story he hadn’t heard, he wouldn’t give them the ticket,”...
Vernon school district to produce anti-homophobia policy
VERNON - Vernon is joining other school districts across the province in creating a mandatory anti-homophobia policy. So far, about 20 school districts have passed policies offering specific protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students. “We want to make sure all our students feel safe and represented,” school district 22 superintendent Joe Rogers...
Boys and ghouls: Meet the ghosts of Vernon
VERNON - Have you ever noticed a strange shadow lurking in the back row of the Towne Theatre in Vernon? Positive an invisible hand knocked over your popcorn? Well it could be Loyd, the ghost that haunts the theatre. The Towne is one of Gabriel David Sumegi Newman the Second’s favourite stops on his annual...
Three break-ins over nine days frustrate police and businesses
VERNON - It’s been a rough couple of weeks for Vernon businesses. Over Thanksgiving weekend, Canada Post and Del Selin Gunsmith Ltd. were broken into, and now a third business has been targeted. Around 2:30 a.m. this Monday morning, thieves smashed a window and entered the Shoppers Drug Mart on 31 Ave. They made off...
How two men became police backup on their way to work
VERNON - Two Vernon men are being hailed as heroes, but they say they just did what anybody else would have done. Andy Wilkie and Adrian Wikene, Klean-Rite employees on their way to a job were late for work last Tuesday, but they had an inarguable excuse. Driving past the Green Valley Motel on Highway...
Okanagan Regional Library to improve equity among branches
OKANAGAN - Some communities have been getting too good a bang for their buck when it comes to library services, but a new page is about to be turned. A financial review of the Okanagan Regional Library conducted by the auditing firm Grant Thornton has revealed some inequity between its branches. “In general, it showed...
“I have a great passion for our defence”
THE QUOTE THAT HAD THE JUDGE SEEING RED VERNON - The chairman of the Regional District of North Okanagan insists there was passion and respect in his voice—not indifference—when he commented on a judge’s ruling against the local government last month. Provincial court judge Mayland McKimm adjourned sentence proceedings Wednesday because of “troublesome” remarks made...
Lumby residents displaced after truck crashes into house
LUMBY - Police are investigating what went wrong when a truck drove into the front of a house Sunday evening. Lumby fire chief Tony Clayton says a pickup truck veered off Vernon Street (Highway 6), blasted through a power pole and proceeded into a house. Elderly residents were home at the time, and while shaken...
Driving faster on a certain Vernon road might actually be safer
VERNON - Motorists may be able to cruise a little quicker on a high-use stretch of road. Vernon city council is reviewing an earlier decision which lowered the speed limit on 25 Avenue near Ellison Elementary School to 50 km/h from 80. “That’s the longest, straightest, widest road in the city,” Coun. Mary Jo O’Keefe...
Awesome autumn events fall into place
VERNON - There’s plenty of fall fun to be had this weekend. With above normal temperatures and the promise of sun, it’s a prime weekend to enjoy the Okanagan’s spectacular outdoors. Davison Orchards is hosting the Family Pumpkin Festival Saturday and Sunday. Try pumpkin fudge, pick out the perfect pumpkin, or just stroll around the...
No deaths in horrific Vernon car crash
"How somebody lived, I don't know" VERNON - It was one of the ugliest car crashes a Vernon police officer has seen in his entire career, yet somehow, nobody died. Cpl. Gerry Kovaks says the investigation into a two vehicle accident that left a PT Cruiser and a Mazda crushed on Highway 97 last week...
Finance Minister confronted for off loading services to cities
VERNON - Vernon’s mayor took an opportunity to confront B.C.’s Minister of Finance on a matter of fairness for all municipalities at a luncheon Wednesday. Mayor Rob Sawatzky said the provincial government's budget accomplishments were built by downloading services to municipalities. He asked Finance Minister Michael de Jong if he had plans to help local...
RDNO sentencing delayed due to comments made by board chair
VERNON - The day after the Regional District of North Okanagan was found guilty of failing to provide clean drinking water to the public, the board chair made comments to the media maintaining there had been no wrongdoing, and that’s a concern to the trial judge. Provincial Court Judge Mayland McKimm, who was scheduled to...
How to avoid a parking ticket in Vernon
KEEPING IT SIMPLE? CITY CREATES 32-PAGE POLICY VERNON - A new parking policy is driving some politicians up the wall. A draft policy came before Vernon city council Tuesday, and while it was ultimately endorsed, it garnered some harsh criticism. The 32-page policy, which will be published on the city website, gathers up all existing...
City Hall urged to quell late night noise
VERNON - City Hall is being urged to put a damper on noise from nightclubs, machinery and leaf blowers before it drives any more business out of Vernon. Ed Buie, general manager of the Journey Inn, came before council Tuesday to explain the situation. “I’ve had countless guests tell me what a nice clean hotel...
Couple “lucky” to be okay after collision with moose
VERNON - Police are reminding the public to buckle up, slow down and drive safe after an elderly couple and their car collided with a moose over the weekend. The Grindrod couple was headed north on Highway 97 near Enderby’s Starlight Drive-In around 7:30 p.m. Sunday when they struck a large animal with their Honda...
Thieves target Canada Post
VERNON - What they’ll buy with their shiny new collector’s coins—or why they went to so much trouble to get them—is anybody’s guess. Sometime late Sunday night or early Monday morning, thieves slipped into the Canada Post on 32nd Avenue by breaking a window and crawling in. They stole a collectible coin display case from...
Thieves make a bang driving stolen truck into Vernon gun shop
VERNON - Thieves rammed the door of a local gun shop open with a stolen vehicle and lifted five assault style firearms from the business Sunday evening. RCMP were alerted to the break-in around 8 p.m. by the shop’s alarm system. They arrived to find a gaping hole in the front of the Del Selin...
IN PICTURES: Demolition Derby revs up crowd
ARMSTRONG - Thousands took to the Armstrong fairgrounds this weekend for the return of the Demolition Derby. There were crushed bumpers, dangling tailgates, and a healthy helping of debris. In between rounds, drivers made frantic repairs to ready their rides for more mayhem. %%Embed1%%
Locals make deals with the Dragons
VERNON - They braved the Dragon’s Den, and they left victorious. Mark Hanson, of Armstrong, and Frank Deiter, of Vernon, scored some major business opportunities during their appearances on CBC’s the Dragon’s Den. Their clips—filmed back in March and April—aired Wednesday night. The two contestants spoke about their products earlier in the week, but their...
“A single photo contains your whole life”
HOW ONE GIRL HELPED PUT CONNOR DEE AWAY She explains how he lured her, used her, tormented her, and all the things she hopes the next girl does differently. VERNON - She still gets a shiver when she is reminded of him: The car he drove, having her picture taken or a Facebook request from...
Stranger-danger on the Internet: how parents can help
VERNON - Would you let your 11-year-old flash her chest to a stranger on the street? Of course not. But the predators aren’t on the street anymore; they’re online. Sgt. Mathias Vanlaer works for B.C.’s Integrated Child Exploitation Unit and says the old adage “Don’t talk to strangers” is as relevant as ever. Just this...
“Our alleys resemble a textbook ghetto”
CONCERNED CITIZENS URGE AUTHORITIES TO ADDRESS DOWNTOWN SAFETY VERNON - Members of the community are imploring the city to take action against the illicit activity, unreasonable nightclub noise, and public defecation they say is a day to day reality in downtown Vernon. Graham Angus, who manages the Kekuli Centre, and works for the Vernon Safe...
Child sex offender sentenced to two more years in prison
ALMOST FOUR YEARS TOTAL FOR BLACKMAILING YOUNG GIRLS ONLINE VERNON - A Vernon man who lured children as young as 11 over the internet, blackmailed them, and kept folders of their naked photos on his cell phone will spend far more time in prison than anyone expected. Provincial court judge Mayland McKimm sentenced Connor Dee,...