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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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Police tail prolific offender across Okanagan Lake, into the bush
VERNON - A police chase by both land and water ended with the arrest of a prolific offender in Vernon this morning. The pursuit began just after 6:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, after police received a report of a suspect on Okanagan Lake near Lakeshore Road. The man had commandeered a Zodiac boat and was...
Rescuer’s ‘heart dropped’ after finding missing girls’ kayak empty on Okanagan Lake
HAPPY ENDING FOLLOWS FRANTIC SEARCH FOR YOUNG GIRLS STRANDED IN OKANAGAN LAKE OKANAGAN - Even after finding the inflatable kayak floating empty in the middle of Okanagan Lake on Saturday, a retired fire chief didn’t give up the search for a pair of young girls who were supposed to be in it. The girls, aged...
Fire destroys shed, vehicles on Vernon property
VERNON - A pillar of black smoke rising from a Vernon property Sunday afternoon was the work of a vigorous shed fire. The blaze broke out just before 2 p.m., Aug. 9 in the 4200-block of 27 Avenue, and appears to have started in or around a plastic garden shed, deputy Vernon fire chief Jack...
How people are stealing water in Greater Vernon
VERNON - The regional district is cracking down on water thieves. It’s come to the North Okanagan Regional District’s attention a number of people on the Greater Vernon Water system are bypassing water meters. The water utility keeps track of how much water goes into the system, and how much is used by consumers, and...
From Enderby to the Venice Film Festival: Anthony Hopkins movie hits the big screen
"YOU'LL SEE ENDERBY RIGHT FROM THE LOGO TO THE CLOSING CREDITS" ENDERBY - A movie shot in the North Okanagan will be screened at one of the most prestigious film festivals in the world. Go With Me, starring Sir Anthony Hopkins, Julia Stiles, and Ray Liotta will be featured in the Venice Film Festival this...
Canadian Tire to reinvent former Vernon Target space by next spring
VERNON - Shoppers will have to wait until at least next spring to see inside the former Target space in the Vernon mall. Scarce details are being released from the Canadian Tire Corp., which announced it was buying 12 real estate leases, including the Vernon location, last May. Canadian Tire spokesperson Joscelyn Dosanjh says in...
Mark your calendars: North Okanagan-Shuswap all candidates forum happening next month
VERNON - North Okanagan and Shuswap residents will get a chance to learn more about their federal election candidates at an upcoming forum. It’s still a month away, leaving ample time to mark the free event on your calendar. Local candidates in the federal election will state their platforms and take questions in written form...
Driver in hospital after truck flips, lands on roof in Vernon
VERNON - A man is considered lucky to be alive after his truck crashed and rolled on a busy Vernon thoroughfare. Emergency crews responded to the single vehicle crash around 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the intersection of 58 Avenue and 27 Street. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says the overturned vehicle was found...
Credit card skimmer discovered at Vernon gas station
DEVICE IS DIFFICULT TO DETECT VERNON - A device used to skim credit card information from unsuspecting victims might have been used at a Vernon gas station. Staff at the Esso Gas Station at 3400 32 St. in Vernon discovered the device Friday, July 31, and reported it to the RCMP. “The device was on...
Armstrong moves to elevated watering restrictions
ARMSTRONG - Armstrong residents are being told to cut back on water use. The city has implemented stage two water restrictions, which means residents can’t use sprinklers or irrigation systems to water lawns, gardens trees or shrubs. Washing driveways, sidewalks, parking lots or exterior building surfaces is also banned, according to a notice on the...
BY THE NUMBERS: This week in wildfires
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The big news this week was, you guessed it, wildfires. If you weren’t…
Coroner’s findings in death of Enderby senior
ENDERBY - Dementia is considered a contributing factor in the death of an Enderby woman. Barbara Nell Derenowski, 73, was found dead March 4 on a logging road near Douglas Lake after driving many kilometres from her home in Enderby. Her neighbours were shocked and saddened to hear of her passing. According to a coroner’s...
Push for traffic light at Stickle Road in Vernon continues
VERNON - There continues to be widespread disagreement over what to do with Stickle Road. While the Ministry of Transportation scrapped it’s original plan and is now touting the idea of a protected T intersection, local government officials remain unimpressed. The ministry presented its revised plan to the North Okanagan Regional District board of directors...
Grass fire near Vernon landfill no longer a threat
VERNON - Quick-acting fire crews managed to suppress a grass fire at the Vernon landfill well before it turned into something bigger. Vernon Fire Rescue was notified just before 5 p.m., yesterday, July 23, but had some initial difficulty pinpointing where it actually was. A number of people phoned 911 to report smoke, but with...
Crews make progress on Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland
FALKLAND - Fire crews have made significant headway on the Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland. As of Friday morning, the 348 hectare fire was 50 per cent contained, according to B.C. Wildfire. The suspected lightning-caused fire was first reported Monday, July 20 and fire crews have worked hard all week to establish some level of containment....
HELSTON: Life lessons taught by fire and a grab-and-go-box
As hundreds of wildfires rage across the province, I have, for the first time ever, made ‘the box.’ The everything-that’s-important box, the grab-it-and-go box. The box that if everything else burns to the ground, will still exist. My family moved to the Okanagan in 2003, and my first impressions of the valley were smoky skies,...
If floating the river in Enderby is on your summer bucket list, do it sooner than later
ENDERBY - Extremely low water levels could cut the summer tubing season short on the Shuswap River in Enderby. Madison Giesbrecht, program manager for the Shuswap River Ambassadors program, which monitors river conditions and provides information to user groups, says river levels are about a month ahead of schedule, and particularly low at that. “We...
How a standoff between a horse, two dogs and cougar ended in Lumby
LUMBY - It was a sight Lumby resident Tina Berg never expected: Her 1,300 pound horse practically nose-to-nose with a cougar. It was around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, when Berg, who lives about three kilometres out of Lumby in a rural area, heard her dogs barking. “It was a bark I just know means...
Removing land from Kal Park in Vernon continues to worry local officials
VERNON - Additional concerns are arising around a controversial plan to remove land from Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park in Vernon. The Regional District of the North Okanagan board of directors finally heard from B.C. Parks this week about a Ministry of Transportation proposal to remove a 20 metre right-of-way, down from an originally requested 30...
Grass fire burning near Vernon landfill
VERNON - Emergency crews are descending upon a new grass fire in Vernon. The fire was reported just before 5 p.m. today, July 23 on Birnie Road, near the landfill, and is an estimated two hectares in size. The Vernon Fire Department is at the scene and has requested back up from B.C. Wildfire. Fire...
What to do if you encounter a cougar
Merely seeing a cougar does not mean you are in imminent danger. Watch the cougar’s behavior and respond accordingly. STOP - Pick up all small children immediately. Do Not Run. Sudden movement may provoke an attack. Try to back away from the cougar slowly. SPACE and DISTANCE. Never approach a cougar at any time for any...
Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland holding at 348 hectares
FALKLAND - There was no growth in the Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland overnight, and crews hope to establish some level of containment around the blaze today. Together, the two fires making up the blaze five kilometres northwest of Falkland in the Bolean Lake area remain at an estimated 348 hectares in size as of Thursday, July...
Take a seat at the painted piano downtown Vernon
VERNON - The people of Vernon are making beautiful music together, thanks to a colourful, communal piano on Main Street. The old upright piano appeared about three weeks ago on the sidewalk outside a 30 Avenue business, Good Gracious. The store’s former owner Dave Russell, who is now retired, came up with the idea after...
UPDATE: Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland flares up
FALKLAND - After seeing no growth Tuesday night, the Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland expanded in size Wednesday. B.C. Wildfire estimates the blaze, located five kilometers northwest of Falkland, is now 348 hectares as of 2:18 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22. The fire was a reported 250 hectares earlier in the day and showing a...