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Steve Arstad
I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.
Steve Arstad's Stories
Propane theft prompts Penticton police to seek public assistance
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP are looking for a person or persons with an excessive need for propane. Thirteen propane tanks were reported missing from the Skaha Lake Road 7-11 gas bar on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The tanks are believed to have gone missing between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day, stolen from an exterior...
A vegan revolution? Taste testing the next generation of fake meats, vegan mayonnaise
CONCORD, N.H. – How far have vegan alternatives come to tasting like the real thing? Not far enough, according to a panel that tasted some options for The Associated Press.
A look at some of the 69 people newly-appointed to the Order of Canada
OTTAWA – Sixty-nine new appointments to the Order of Canada were announced Wednesday by the Governor General. The appointees include six companions of the order, 14 new officers and 49 new members.
Court appearance for man accused of widely witnessed assault
PENTICTON - A man accused of viciously assaulting his girlfriend and another man was released on bail in Penticton court, Wednesday, Dec. 29. Crown Prosecutor Nashina Devji asked that Randall C. Toews be detained on numerous charges including assault stemming from an incident on Martin Street in Penticton on Sept. 11, 2015. Devji told court...
Lone female in South Okanagan rural crime spree makes court appearance
PENTICTON - The lone female among four alleged thieves involved in a series of break and enters and mailbox damage in the Twin Lakes area may make bail if she can find a $1,000 surety. Chelsey Anne Thorstenson, 28, appeared in court before Judge Gale Sinclair today, Dec. 30, charged with possession of stolen property...
Penticton court appreciative of man’s insight into his own behaviour
PENTICTON - A Penticton man showing promise at straightening out his life received a conditional sentence in Penticton court this week for charges stemming from a vehicle theft more than a year ago. Clifford Robert Dranchuk was charged with two counts of theft under $5,000, possession of break-in instruments and driving while prohibited, after police...
Holidays and weather doesn’t stop flow of blood donations in Penticton
PENTICTON - With a blood donor clinic taking place in Penticton this week red has come to signify more than the Christmas season for many South Okanagan and Similkameen residents this year. Canadian Blood Services held a two day clinic in Penticton earlier this week and turnout for holiday clinics can be hard to predict...
Theft and snowball fights keep Penticton RCMP busy Christmas week
PENTICTON - Penticton thieves were especially active Christmas Eve last week. Police responded to 52 files on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Among the calls were a rash of thefts from vehicles reported Christmas Eve, including: - safety equipment stolen from a vehicle parked on Canyon Court - a vehicle on Wellington Street was rifled through,...
Faulty fireplace results in close call at Naramata home
PENTICTON - A Naramata resident is fortunate damage to his house wasn’t greater following an unusual fire yesterday evening. Naramata Fire Chief Tony Trovao says the fire department responded to a call of a structure fire on Granite Place around 8:50 p.m. Monday, Dec.28. Travao says the resident had the fire mostly out by the...
Twin Lakes crime spree leads to police chase
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP spent a busy day prior to Christmas tracking down thieves in the Twin Lakes area. Police responded to calls of break and enters on Grand Oro Road in the Twin Lakes area on Wednesday morning, Dec. 23, RCMP media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says. While investigating the break-ins, police were alerted by another Grand...
No day off for Soupateria volunteers in Penticton
PENTICTON - While many people in Penticton took today off, not so for the volunteers at Penticton Soupateria. They were kept busy through the noon hour serving clients at the Martin Street kitchen, Dec. 28. Soupateria cook Pat Witzraney says the kitchen has been serving a few less people in the last week, down from...
Penticton digging out after heavy snowfall
PENTICTON - Penticton residents with mobility issues faced difficulties getting around today as city crews tried to get a handle on the weekend snowfall. Many sidewalks and street curbs remained snow covered or slushy early Monday afternoon, Dec. 28. City Hall was closed for the Boxing Day stat, so there was no official word available...
Penticton firefighters douse car fire
PENTICTON - Firefighters were called to downtown Penticton this afternoon to put out a car fire. Fire crews arrived at the intersection of Wade Avenue and Martin Street at approximately 12:50 p.m., Dec. 28, to find a Honda Civic parked at the curb with smoke billowing from the hood and flame from the engine compartment....
Pickup truck dislodges concrete barriers after losing control on Highway 97
PENTICTON - Frozen, snowy roads continue to take their toll on traffic in the South Okanagan. The driver of a Toyota Tundra pickup narrowly missed plunging down a steep, 300-foot embankment when her vehicle went out of control and struck several concrete barriers lining Highway 97 late Sunday afternoon.The truck dislodged two of the barriers,...
Are changes coming for Penticton’s two tourism associations in 2016?
PENTICTON - The city is looking everywhere it can to find ways to cut costs and operate city interests more efficiently and that includes both city entities entrusted with promoting the region's tourism industry. Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the overlap in function between the Penticton Hospitality Association and Tourism Penticton could be leveraged to the...
Penticton Christmas tree recycling program back for another year
PENTICTON - Penticton residents will have the opportunity to recycle their Christmas trees once again this year. City residents can drop their trees off at Fire Hall #2 at 285 Dawson Ave. where they will be collected, chipped and recycled. Drop offs are permitted between Dec. 26, 2015 and Jan. 31, 2016. For more information,...
Holiday changes for garbage pickup in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen
PENTICTON - Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen residents will not receive garbage collection on Christmas and New Year’s Day as the pickup schedule is revised to accommodate the holiday season. Collection on those two days will shift to Saturday, Dec.26 and Saturday, Jan. 2. Penticton city residents with regular Friday collection and residents in Keremeos,...
Penticton city councillors share their festive season traditions
PENTICTON - We asked Penticton’s politicians to share their memories about their Christmas traditions, what they remembered most fondly about Christmas with their families and what traditions they follow from year to year. It’s a busy time for everyone but two Penticton councillors took the time to reply to our questionnaire to give residents a...
Christmas laser lights causing problems for Okanagan airport
PENTICTON - A new form of Christmas lighting may have been at issue behind a police incident at Penticton Regional Airport earlier this month. RCMP were called to Penticton Regional Airport on Sunday evening, Dec. 13, after a pilot reported seeing a green laser light flash in the cockpit as he was about to land,...
Summerland Polar Bear Dip offers symbolic way to signify new beginnings
SUMMERLAND - If you haven't already, it’s time to start thinking of New Year’s resolutions, and what better way to kick off a new year and turn over a new leaf than with a bracing plunge in Okanagan Lake? This is the 31st year the Summerland Kinsmen have sponsored the annual Summerland Polar Bear Dip. ...
Osoyoos woman absolved of assaulting an officer
PENTICTON - An Osoyoos woman charged with willfully resisting or obstructing a police officer and assaulting a police officer walked away from a Penticton courtroom a free woman today, Dec. 23 after a judge preferred her evidence over that of police. Judge Roy Dickey handed down a decision of not guilty on both counts against...
Police respond to mail theft south of Penticton
PENTICTON - Police responded to reports of a mail theft south of Penticton today, only to find the suspects throwing stolen property and weapons out of the vehicle as they tried to make their get away. Community Policing Coordinator Rick Dellebuur says unconfirmed reports of mailbox and residential theft in the Twin Lakes area prompted...
Town of Oliver familiar with new CAO hire
PENTICTON - Keremeos’ loss will be Oliver’s gain as village Cathy Cowan recently accepted the Chief Administrative Officer position in the Town of Oliver. Cowan’s departure from Keremeos will come less than eight months after she was hired as CAO of the Similkameen village. She’ll be bringing 20 years worth of experience with the Regional...
Winter break activities to keep you busy in Penticton
PENTICTON - Christmas 2015 looks like it will be white in Penticton this year, which will be a blessing to those looking for winter activities on the valley bottom. With Apex Mountain Resort a 40-minute drive from downtown Penticton, winter is never far away, no matter what kind of winter we’re experiencing, however. The resort...