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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.
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Mounties investigate shots fired in Vernon
VERNON - Vernon RCMP have launched an investigation after a report of shots being fired at a townhouse complex. RCMP Sgt. Dave Evans says in a media release police were called to a townhouse in the 1600-block of 43 Avenue Wednesday, Sept. 23 around 3:40 a.m. A preliminary investigation led police to believe a confrontation...
Vernon man reunited with VW beetle after 35 years
VERNON - A Vernon man’s spunky 1962 Volkswagen Beetle has found its way back home. It’s the car John Deak, a realtor with Century 21 in Vernon, learned to drive on back in 1980 in Williams Lake. His parents bought the bug from a neighbour for $900. At 16, Deak took his driving test in...
ELECTION 2015: Mark your calendars with these upcoming all candidates forums in the North Okanagan-Shuswap
NORTH OKANAGAN – With the 2015 federal election fast approaching, there are a number of…
A Tower of Care completed one donation at a time in Vernon
VERNON - From people donating to ‘light a bulb’ on the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Christmas tree to volunteers selling second hand clothing, the community has come together for health care. The Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation announced Wednesday, Sept. 23, that enough donations have been received to complete the top two floors of the Polson Tower...
Two Vernon dogs escaped car crash, one still missing
VERNON - A Vernon woman is pleading with the public to keep an eye out for her dog after it jumped from a car following a crash and hasn’t been seen since. Tonya Olson says her boyfriend was driving with their two dogs, Rizza and Diego, on Sept. 21 when the vehicle spun out of...
Look back and laugh: A Vernon comedian retells all his humiliating tales
WHEN YOU'RE THE WORST HOCKEY PLAYER ON THE WORST HOCKEY TEAM YOU TURN TO COMEDY VERNON - Sam Mullins is wrapping up his North American comedy tour not only in his hometown, but on the stage where he saw his very first play — the Powerhouse Theatre in Vernon. “I must’ve been like seven or...
About that plane flying in circles over Vernon
VERNON - If you were wondering what that red and white Cessna plane was doing flying in loops above Vernon this past week, you weren’t alone. The aircraft earned quite a bit of attention flying in circles, sometimes for hours in the same spot. People reported seeing it circling above Cools Pond, the BX area,...
Lumby murder trial rescheduled for 2016
VERNON - A Lumby man accused of murdering a local teacher will stand trial in the spring of 2016. Howard Everett Krewson, 55, faces one count of second degree murder in relation to the death of his 51-year-old girlfriend, Linda Ross, a teacher at the Vernon School District’s Alternative Learning Program. Krewson’s trial was scheduled...
Watch flyboarders set a new record on Kalamalka Lake this week
'A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPARE IT TO SUPERHEROES LIKE IRON MAN, AND THAT’S HONESTLY WHAT IT’S LIKE. YOU FEEL ON TOP OF THE WORLD' VERNON - It’s a cutting edge water sport straight out of the Jetsons, and some of Canada’s top athletes are bringing their futuristic stunts to Kalamalka Lake this week. Team CanFly,...
Infotel prize winner says new tablet came at the perfect time
'THIS DOES NOT NORMALLY HAPPEN FOR ME, I’VE NEVER WON ANYTHING LIKE THIS' VERNON - Vernon resident Elaine Drinkwater remembers the first prize she ever won — $50 towards a silver utensil set. She was a teenager, and not particularly thrilled about the prize, especially since it didn’t even cover the full cost of the...
Motorcyclist collides with deer on highway by Swan Lake
VERNON - A collision between a motorcycle and a deer slowed down traffic on Highway 97 by Swan Lake Tuesday afternoon. The accident happened around noon when a southbound motorcyclist struck a deer, RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says. “The motorcyclist was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries,” Noseworthy says. Traffic was impacted for a short...
Watch this North Okanagan apple grow; incredible one minute time lapse
VERNON - A Vernon orchard has captured the magic of an apple’s growth from blossom to fruit in a one minute video. Davison Orchards put a camera on a single Honeycrisp apple in March and watched it grow. You can see the incredible transformation in the time-lapse below. The video has already been shared 1,878...
While others walked away, you won’t believe who saved a Vernon pet shop from disaster
"THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULDN'T HAVE DONE WHAT HE DID" VERNON - If not for the heroic act of a homeless man, the owners of a Vernon pet store believe their business — and animals — would have been destroyed by fire. AJ’s Pets & Things owners Andrew Willmott and Lisa Badach caught the suspected arsonist...
Vernon convenience store clerk shaken, but not hurt, after robbery
VERNON - A convenience store employee did the right thing when a man in a ski mask told him to open the cash register early yesterday morning. After being threatened with what looked like bear spray around 4:30 a.m., Sept. 20, the lone clerk at Mac’s Convenience Store on 27 Street did as he was...
$2-million pharmacy project at Vernon Jubilee Hospital a wrap
VERNON - Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s old emergency department has been transformed. Left empty after the emergency department moved to the Polson Tower in 2011, the space was renovated to house the hospital’s pharmacy. Those renovations, which began in early 2014, are now complete, and the new pharmacy — previously located in the basement — becomes...
Vernon’s Village Green Centre celebrates 40 years in the community
VERNON - After four decades the Vernon mall still offers something you can’t get with online shopping: a social, community atmosphere. Much has changed at the Village Green Centre since its grand opening Aug. 6, 1975. Now, friends can meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee before strolling through the automatic doors. You can...
Mystery continues for Vernon’s rash of arson cases, despite recent arrest
VERNON – A series of suspicious fires in Vernon is not being pinned on a…
Why drivers will want to be on their best behaviour this week on North Okanagan highways
NORTH OKANAGAN - Consider this your first warning to follow the rules of the road. Ignore it, and you might get into some trouble with the police over the next week in the North Okanagan. The RCMP is deploying officers from Vernon, West Kelowna, Sicamous, Revelstoke, Golden and the South Okanagan to patrol areas in...
Community steps up and saves Terry Fox Run in Vernon
VERNON - After risking cancellation due to a lack of volunteers, the Terry Fox Run has been more than just saved — it’s shaping up to be one of the most successful runs in years. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Terry’s run, and the 30th year Vernon has participated in the event. In...
HELSTON: Personal ads and the lengths people must go to find housing
SINGLE DAD LOOKING TO SETTLE DOWN: Seeking warmth. Security. Positive atmosphere. Must be okay with dogs, kid friendly. Preferably easy on the wallet — and the eyes. Clean and tidy a definite plus. No, it’s not a personal ad. It’s a wanted ad for housing — creatively embellished, though not unreasonable, as personals are —...
UPDATE: Vernon mayor responds to income tax charges
'EVERYTHING WILL BE CLEARED UP" VERNON - Vernon’s mayor is in trouble with the tax man. Mayor Akbal Singh Mund is charged with two counts of failure to comply with the Income Tax Act but he doesn't expect the action to go anywhere. “They’re looking for further paperwork. It’s not like I haven’t paid my...
Arrest made in Vernon pet store arson
VERNON - Police have charged a local man with arson in connection to a small fire outside AJ’s Pets & Things earlier this month. RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says surveillance footage released by the store showed a man appearing to start the Sept. 6 fire. Police appealed to the public for help locating and identifying...
High bacteria levels prompt swimming advisory at Vernon’s Kal Beach
VERNON - That last swim of the summer might not feel so refreshing after you read this. An advisory is in effect recommending people not go swimming at Kal Beach due to high counts of E. coli in the water. Jennifer Jacobsen, a team leader for environmental health with the Interior Health Authority, says the...
Vernon men charged with murder return to court
VERNON - A pair of local men accused in the murder of 42-year-old Jason Hardy were in Vernon Provincial Court again this week. Brandon Joseph Clayton Wellington, 18, and Tal Kalum La Riviere, 28, both face second degree murder charges in relation to Hardy’s death. A 14-year-old Greater Vernon boy, whose name is protected under...