Elevate your local knowledge
Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!
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
Retired fire chief in small B.C. community defies wildfire evacuation order
70 MILE HOUSE – When retired firefighter Brad Potter decided to stay behind and defy…
Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival finds its rhythm
SALMON ARM – The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival is back on track. The…
Family makes plea for return of cherished photos stolen in Vernon theft
VERNON – A grieving family is begging for the return of some precious possessions. A…
Could dogs make this Vernon park a safer place?
VERNON – A North Okanagan city has quietly been working on strategies to turn a…
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…
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…
‘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…
How Coldstream does a rainbow crosswalk
COLDSTREAM – Rainbow crosswalks are an international statement that a city is welcoming to alternative…
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…
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…
North Okanagan woman takes body painting skills to international competition
ARMSTRONG – Christine Turpin has only ever painted on actual canvass a handful of times.…
Singer Sarah McLachlan makes waves on trip to Vernon
VERNON – Renowned singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan may soon be singing “I will remember you” with…
HE’S BACK: Former MLA Ben Stewart looking to fill vacant Kelowna-West seat
KELOWNA – A well-known politician is taking aim at the vacant seat left by former…
North Okanagan cop charged in connection with highway crash
NORTH OKANAGAN – A police officer in the North Okanagan is facing a charge of…
Good samaritans stop to douse small roadside fire in North Okanagan
VERNON – People in the Okanagan are very much on guard when it comes to…
Good character doesn’t excuse Vernon man from paying the price for “vicious” night club assault
VERNON – The Court of Appeal has upped the jail sentence for a young Vernon…
Prolific Vernon offender sent back to jail for break-and-enters, stolen property crimes
VERNON – A Vernon judge said it was sadly “not surprising” that a petty criminal…