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Charlotte Helston

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 Twitter Facebook

  • Joined: January 01, 2023
  • Articles: 4097

Shuswap firefighters miss Christmas dinner to fight fire

SHUSWAP - While most were sitting down to dinner on Christmas Day, 29 firefighters left their loved ones to battle a devastating house fire in the Shuswap. The call came in just after 6 p.m. Dec. 25, and saw firefighters from four different departments rush to the scene, regional fire chief Kenn Mount says. On...

HELSTON: Why we’re waiting around at the courthouse

Reporters, lawyers, and no doubt court staff were on the edge of their seats earlier this week in Vernon awaiting not a landmark ruling from the judge, but a verdict on whether there was even enough time to hold the sentence hearing at all. It was already the third time the case was up for...

Vernon RCMP on the lookout for wanted man

VERNON - Police are asking you to keep an eye out for a wanted man. A warrant for theft of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property relating to a Dec. 17 incident in Vernon was issued Dec. 18 for Dale Christopher Babiy, 22. Babiy is described as Caucasian, and 5’4” tall, 150 lbs,...

Vernon RCMP seek rightful owner of professional photography equipment

VERNON - A box of photography equipment is the latest in a string of items the Vernon RCMP is hoping to reunite with its rightful owner.   Vernon RCMP recovered a black plastic box of professional style photography equipment on Jan. 5, 2016, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy said. The equipment is believed to have been stolen.  ...

Vernon RCMP want to know if you can identify this man

VERNON - Police in Vernon want to know if you recognize a man caught on video surveillance. On Dec. 18, a trailer and Polaris ATV were stolen from the 5300 block of 27th Avenue in Vernon, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a release. They were later recovered in the 5500 block of Willow Place in Vernon....

Robbery at Vernon dispensary nothing unusual — for any business: Pot activist

VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon were warned about police raids, but an armed robbery got one of them first. Police said three men robbed Black Crow Herbal Dispensary on 48 Avenue at gunpoint the evening of Dec. 30, making off with cash and marijuana products. The robbery comes on the heels of an...

Vernon man claiming ‘addiction’ to child porn facing jail for possession

VERNON - A Vernon man will be handed a mandatory minimum of three months in jail, and possibly more, after getting caught with child pornography. Police began investigating Karl David Lawrence after an RCMP monitoring tool picked up suspected child pornography activity on his IP address in March 2014, Crown counsel  Cristina Cabulea said during...

New water woes add to concerns at the Vernon art gallery

VERNON - The Vernon Public Art Gallery has sprung yet another leak. Water started dripping from the ceiling of the storage and permanent collections area sometime over the night of Jan. 5 to 6, according to executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant. It’s the latest in a string of leaks at the gallery over the past...

North Okanagan-Shuswap MP opens doors to constituency office

VERNON - Constituents will soon be able to visit their member of Parliament in Vernon. North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold’s constituency office opens Thursday, Jan. 14, on 29th Street. It’s the same office former MP Colin Mayes used. "I am very excited to officially open my office in Vernon," Arnold says in a media release....

Why your condo neighbours might not be allowed to smoke on their own balconies

SALMON ARM - There are strict rules in today’s world about where you can smoke and where you can’t, but as a Salmon Arm man found out through a lengthy legal battle with his strata council, there are some grey areas. Walter Peter Andrushko moved into a Salmon Arm condo for residents aged 55 and...

Report of person falling into Swan Lake turns out to not be a person at all

VERNON - There was some commotion on Swan Lake Tuesday afternoon after reports that someone may have fallen through the ice. As it turns out, it was probably just a wild animal. Leigh Pearson with Vernon Search and Rescue says they found the hole in the ice and discovered animal tracks, but no human footprints....

City of Vernon reminds residents about snow and ice control

VERNON - The city is putting out some reminders after a day of heavy snowfall in Vernon. The city drew attention to several aspects of snow and ice control in a media release issued late this afternoon, Jan. 4. First off, the city says vehicles and recreational equipment parked on streets during snowfalls poses major...

North Okanagan home values trending up

VERNON - There’s an upswing in the assessed value of homes in the North Okanagan. According to B.C. Assessment’s latest number-crunching, single family residential properties rose in value in most communities in the North Okanagan and Shuswap regions between July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2015. The biggest jumps were in Spallumcheen and Salmon Arm...

Vernon RCMP issue road warning after numerous accidents

VERNON - Drivers are being warned to take it slow on local roads today. Persistent snowfall today, Jan. 4, is creating slippery conditions on Vernon roads and highways. The slick conditions have prompted a police warning to take extra precautions to avoid a crash. “There have been numerous accidents on Highway 97 from the Crystal...

Vernon RCMP looking for tips in scooter theft

VERNON - Police are hoping to track down a scooter stolen from a local woman. The black Kayshan electric scooter was stolen sometime during the night on Dec. 28 from 2305 23 St. in Vernon, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says. The owner doesn’t know the serial number of the scooter, but is hoping someone recognizes its...

Longer Service B.C. hours in Vernon start today

VERNON - People will have an extra hour to stop by Service B.C. in Vernon as part of a pilot project starting today. Service B.C. is testing out extended hours in response to requests from local residents, the province said in a media release. The pilot project will see the Vernon office stay open from...

Vernon RCMP wants to know if you’re missing a key and some hockey cards

VERNON - Police in Vernon are hoping to reunite a bag filled with sentimental items with its rightful owner. The red duffle bag was found on a bench outside the Alpine Centre on Kalamalka Lake Road around 11:20 a.m., Dec. 20., Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says. Inside was a red key with the word ‘home’ on...

Woman jumps from moving vehicle in attempt to evade Vernon police officer

VERNON - A woman with several outstanding warrants made a dramatic, yet unsuccessful, attempt to flee from police in Vernon. An officer patrolling the area of 30 Avenue noticed a white Chevrolet truck speeding around 3 a.m. Dec. 31 and attempted to pull over the driver. Instead of stopping, the driver fled south on 35...