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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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Could dogs make this Vernon park a safer place?
VERNON – A North Okanagan city has quietly been working on strategies to turn a…
MLA Eric Foster outspent rival candidates by more than double
VERNON – There was big range in what Vernon-Monashee candidates spent on their election campaigns.…
Should the Province hold a byelection for a new North Okanagan-Shuswap School Board?
NORTH OKANAGAN – The province is being pressured to hold a byelection in the North…
Vernon council approves new rules for sheltering in city parks
VERNON – It’s now officially against the rules to have a temporary shelter in a…
Vernon traffic flagger assaulted by driver; left shaken
VERNON – Nobody likes waiting in road construction, but most people manage to keep their…
Men who tried — and failed — to rip off North Okanagan grow-op given jail time
VERNON – They didn’t pull it off, but they’ll still do the jail time. A…
How the City of Vernon plans to regulate camping in parks
VERNON – The City of Vernon is proposing penalties of up to $200 for those…
Drug-fuelled assault left North Okanagan man naked, beaten, and pepper sprayed
VERNON – A violent assault that left a man naked, beaten and pepper sprayed earned…
UPDATE: Spallumcheen emergency operation centre standing down
SPALLUMCHEEN – Fire crews are making steady progress on a wildfire that broke out yesterday…
‘It’s leading to burnout,’ Vernon business owner says of local labour shortage
VERNON – Lisa Gallie used to get 50 to 70 resumes when she advertised a…
City of Vernon takes local man to court over harassment, insults
VERNON – Art Gourley just won't shut up. The 74-year-old Vernon man is well known…
UPDATE: Crews respond to wildfire in Spallumcheen; evacuation alerts issued
SPALLUMCHEEN – Crews continue to battle a wildfire that started in the Spallumcheen area this…
Building boom in Vernon maturing at just the right time for tenants
VERNON – From luxury retirement resorts to shiny new apartment buildings, a number of large-scale…
Anonymous donation gives Vernon Crisis Line $50,000 boost
VERNON – A big donation from an anonymous donor is helping a Vernon organization continue…
How Coldstream does a rainbow crosswalk
COLDSTREAM – Rainbow crosswalks are an international statement that a city is welcoming to alternative…
Man walking on Highway 97A near Enderby struck and killed by vehicle
ENDERBY – A man was killed while walking on Highway 97A in the North Okanagan…
Police watchdog investigating Sicamous RCMP incident
SICAMOUS – B.C.’s police watchdog is investigating an incident involving the Sicamous RCMP. On Tuesday,…
Kelowna chosen to host Federal Liberal Party summer caucus meeting
KELOWNA – An Okanagan city has been chosen as the location for this year’s Liberal…
Bystanders use water bottles, handfuls of dirt to fight roadside fire in Lake Country
LAKE COUNTRY – Bystanders jumped into action Monday night to stop a roadside fire in…
Orphaned duckling flies to new home in Vernon after being rescued during spring floods
VERNON – After a rough start, things are looking up for a rescued duckling. Vernon…
Can you guess what Vernon’s top spoken languages are?
VERNON – It’s no surprise that for more than 38,000 Vernon residents, English is the…
The latest on beach water quality at the north end of Okanagan Lake
VERNON – Water testing has come back within acceptable levels for Kin and Sandy Beaches…
Province to start Stickle Road construction after long weekend
VERNON – After being talked about for years, the government is finally breaking ground on…
Man wielding a corkscrew tries to rob South Okanagan pot dispensary
CAWSTON – Police responded to an unusual call earlier this week in which a man…