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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
Local filmmaker captures the brilliance of Summerland
PENTICTON - The latest video offered by Okanagan filmmaker Steve Cogbill highlights his hometown. Cogbill’s Three minutes in Summerland captures the diversity and beauty of Cogbill’s home. “It’s such a beautiful place, I wanted to make a video to capture some of its brilliance,” Cogbill says. Cogbill's film captures the natural beauty surrounding the community as...
Penticton Moccasin Run promotes cultural values, health
PENTICTON - The Penticton Indian Band’s Outma Sqilx’ Cultural School played host to students from the Okanagan Nation Alliance on Friday, Oct.16. The school hosted the fourth annual Moccasin Mile - a cross country running race involving First Nations schools from Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton, Vernon and West Kelowna. Organizer Karolyn Bonneau says the students 9-years-old...
Wanted: Extras for TV movie shoot in South Okanagan
PENTICTON - South Okanagan residents have a unique opportunity to take part in the movie business. Odyssey Media and Reel One Pictures are looking for extras for the TV movie Hand in Love being filmed in Osoyoos. It will air on The Movie Network in Canada. Laurie Pavon-Solis is in charge of background casting for the...
Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District area “D” governance study underway
PENTICTON – The Regional District of Okanagan Similkmaeen’s Area “D” governance study has begun as…
Overdose suspected in two South Okanagan deaths
PENTICTON – It’s not known yet what substance is responsible for seven overdoses and two…
Increasing demand for Penticton police in third quarter
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP detachment continues to see an increase in calls for service in the city and region. Supt. Kevin Hewco presented the detachment’s third quarter activity in separate meetings to city council and Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board members this week. The Penticton detachment responded to 5,593 calls for service during this...
Melvilles makes $1.5M donation to Penticton medical foundation
PENTICTON - The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s $20-million campaign continues to grow following a generous donation by a former Penticton family. George and Sylvia Melville recently donated $1.5 million to the medical foundation’s campaign, which is raising money to supply medical equipment to the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital. George is...
ELECTION 2015: Dogwood poll indicates electoral race tightening up in South Okanagan-West Kootenay
PENTICTON - A poll conducted by the Dogwood Initiative indicates the federal electoral race tightening up in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding. The poll places NDP candidate Dick Cannings in first place, in spite of a decline in support, while Conservative Marshall Neufeld holds second place. Liberal candidate Connie Denesiuk continues to gain ground, while...
School closures looming in South Okanagan as enrolment levels decline
PENTICTON - Years of declining school enrolments have taken their toll on School District 67 and the board is finding itself running out of options when it comes to future budget cuts, meaning school closures could be coming. Approximately 60 residents gathered in the IMC Building behind the school board offices Wednesday evening, Oct. 14,...
Osoyoos-based Columbia River Treaty workshop highlights Okanagan impacts
PENTICTON - A public workshop held recently in Osoyoos to discuss the Columbia River Treaty highlighted Okanagan issues stemming from the 50-year-old pact. The workshop, which took place at the Sonora Centre in Osoyoos on Oct. 7, was held in the Okanagan to raise the profile of the treaty’s impacts on the valley and prioritize...
Police concerned over motorist’s inattention in school zones
PENTICTON - Motorists are being reminded to pay attention to new signage within school zones in the community. Penticton RCMP issued a release this week reminding parents and others using school zones that several new regulatory signs are now in effect surrounding certain schools within the local school districts. Police are concerned many motorists are...
Fest-of-Ale provides $35,000 to community groups
PENTICTON - The 2015 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Craft Beer and Cider Festival gave back to the community following another successful festival earlier this year. Okanagan Fest of Ale representatives distributed $35,000 back to the community last week during a presentation held at the Shatford Centre. The annual Fest-of-Ale event, which takes place in early April, is one...
Cross border water conference shares ideas, compares notes during drought year
PENTICTON - Those with a stake in the Okanagan River watershed on both sides of the 49th parallel gathered in Osoyoos last week to exchange ideas, discuss this year’s drought conditions, and work towards a more cooperative relationship in the management of the Okanagan River. The conference, which first took place in 2007, happens every...
Cougar sighting in east Penticton
PENTICTON - A recent cougar sighting has the conservation office reminding residents to be diligent with pets and attractants to reduce the potential of conflict between visiting wildlife and residents in Penticton. Penticton Conservation Officer Dave Cox’s warning comes on the heels of a cougar sighting in the Adams Crescent and Ridgedale Avenue area of...
Still time to provide input on SS Sicamous park plan
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton has extended its deadline for pubic input on design concepts for the SS Sicamous park area. Residents interested in commenting on the project will now have until Oct. 16 to do so. First phase of a multi-phase plan to reconstruct the area around the SS Sicamous includes improvements to...
Penticton Community Centre leisure pool repair work underway
PENTICTON - The leaky leisure pool in Penticton will be fixed, but it will be several weeks before the pool can be used again. Work crews and professionals have come up with a solution to fix the pool’s leaking drains, which were discovered while refilling the pool following a summer shut down for pool deck tile...
Penticton police dodge rocks and deal with fake guns
PENTICTON - Police spent a busy week tracking thieves, dealing with imitation handguns and dodging rocks while breaking up an unruly party. For the second time in two weeks, thieves struck a roofing supplier, police reported today, Oct. 13. Penticton RCMP spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says thieves broke into a fenced compound at Proline Suppliers on Oct....
Casino looking for new digs as Lakeside Resort looks at expansion of convention facilities
PENTICTON - Penticton Lakeside Resort, Convention Centre and Casino will be sporting a name change, along with other more significant changes over the next two years. The hotel’s General Manager, David Prystay, recently announced the hotel would not be renewing their lease with Lakeside Casino when it expires in 2017. Prystay says the hotel plans...
Investigation into Penticton fatal crash continues
PENTICTON - Police continue their investigation into a head-on collision that killed one person Friday evening, Oct. 9. RCMP media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says the crash took place at approximately 7 p.m. Friday evening when a red Ford pickup travelling southbound on Lakeside Road crossed the centre line of the highway and struck a 2002 Kia...
Man accused of bringing gun into Penticton Law Courts denied bail
PENTICTON - The man accused of bringing a shotgun into the Penticton Law Courts earlier this year will remain in jail for the time being. Jessy Arthur Michaud appeared by video in front of Judge Gale Sinclair this morning, Oct. 13, when he was denied bail on five charges, three of which related to an...
Restoration efforts underway following downtown Penticton fire
PENTICTON - The owner of a downtown Penticton building damaged by fire last week says it will not have to be torn down. Nikkos Theodosakis says restoration work has begun on the building, which caught fire in the early hours of Sept. 30, with cleaning of the ten office units on the building’s second floor....
Gap between rich and poor getting wider in South Okanagan-Similkameen: Vital Signs report
PENTICTON - The third annual Vital Signs report has given the South Okanagan-Similkameen failing grades when it comes to jobs, affordable housing and the gap between the rich and poor. The report is produced by the Community Foundation of Okanagan-Similkameen and studies 11 issues in an attempt to define the overall health and wellbeing of...
Penticton mother of two faces eviction for paperwork error
'NOW I HAVE LITERALLY NOWHERE TO GO, EXCEPT BACK TO THE WOMEN'S SHELTER WITH MY TWO KIDS' PENTICTON - A Penticton family facing an uncertain future as the eviction deadline on their subsidized housing nears says difficulty with ministry paperwork is to blame and wishes her landlord would show a little bit of compassion for...
Pro-waterslide group launches website, plans rally supporting Skaha Park proposal
PENTICTON - A group of people in favour of the constroversial Skaha Marina and waterslides development in Skaha Park have created a website and a Facebook group to get their message out. One of the organizers Miranda Tumbach says they just want to show their support for the proposed project and don't want to criticize...