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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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Young boy approached by stranger, offered ride home in Armstrong
VERNON – A young boy was offered a ride home from a stranger last week…
Vernon bylaw will step up monitoring at homeless camps
VERNON – With the number of homeless camps expected to rise again this summer, efforts…
Vernon Mounties remove yellow stripe to protest pay, working conditions
VERNON – Some Vernon police officers are joining the Canada-wide ‘No-Stripe Campaign’ in protest of…
Vernon to investigate options for putting council meetings online
VERNON – Taping Vernon council meetings and posting them online is not as simple as…
Needles found in Vernon playground an isolated incident: School District
VERNON – The Vernon School District is hoping to find out who scattered dozens of…
Dozens of needles found at Vernon elementary school
VERNON – More than 50 discarded needles were found on the grounds of a Vernon…
Vernon man builds back-alley shrine to honour 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge
VERNON – A Vernon man has made it his mission to convert the nondescript alley…
Salmon Arm RCMP crack down on rule-breaking drivers
SALMON ARM – A traffic blitz in Salmon Arm netted a number of drivers caught…
Ghost stories, money laundering, and secret tunnels: Storied Armstrong Hotel up for auction
ARMSTRONG – From a ghost named Emily to a secret safe that has never been…
Ten years later, marijuana trafficking case with ties to the Okanagan still far from over
VERNON – More than a decade after the alleged crime took place, a trafficking case…
Man detained, subsequently released in suspected Vernon drug lab investigation
VERNON – Police and health officials continue to investigate a suspected drug lab found in…
No fire coverage means North Okanagan home left to burn
VERNON – It continues to smoulder, and in some places, there’s still open flame at…
Vernon immigrants earn top scores in citizenship challenge
VERNON – A group of immigrants in Vernon scored some of the highest marks in…
RCMP, Hazmat and Health Canada at scene of suspected drug lab in Vernon
VERNON – Police, along with Health Canada and the Vernon Fire Department’s Hazmat team, are…
West Kelowna RCMP investigate rollover that injured three people
WEST KELOWNA – A Jeep carrying five people flipped onto its roof over the weekend,…
UPDATE: Man who disappeared in North Okanagan may be dead: RCMP
LUMBY – The search for an Alberta man missing in the North Okanagan continues, however…
Tentative deal reached in sale of Vernon’s Green Valley Motel
VERNON – A well-known Vernon property could be in store for some changes. First listed…
Four snowmobilers helped from the backcountry by Vernon Search and Rescue
ENDERBY – Vernon Search and Rescue went out to locate two missing snowmobilers over the…
‘Scandalous remarks’ strike a sour note with judge in Vernon neighbours dispute
VERNON – Making inflammatory statements, allegations of deceit and scandalous remarks did not pay off…
MISDIAGNOSIS: MP will look into bigger picture of Vernon woman’s legal struggle
VERNON – A Vernon woman’s concerns with how medical malpractice suits are handled will be…
Big investment announced for rail trail between Armstrong and Sicamous
SICAMOUS – Efforts to convert the old rail line between Armstrong and Sicamous into a…
Chemical imbalance forces closure of Vernon pool
VERNON – The Vernon pool is shut down today due for public safety reasons. The…
You weren’t imagining it; there are more potholes in Vernon this year
VERNON – Potholes are worse this year, and there are more of them. Due to…
Vernon building being torn down to make way for parking
VERNON – A downtown Vernon building is coming down. The city owned building at the…