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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
Navigation system upgrades at Penticton Regional Airport
PENTICTON - Nav Canada is updating one of its navigational aids at Penticton Regional Airport to make it more reliable. The federal agency is replacing the existing localizer antennae on the airport's instrument landing system. Nav Canada site manager Paul England says the Penticton airport is part of a national upgrade of airport navigation equipment....
Unprovoked assault by career criminal gets federal time
PENTICTON - A Penticton man will do some serious jail time for a vicious, unprovoked attack that left his victim scarred for life. John Marshall Szanto, who appeared in Penticton Provincial Court today, Sept. 24, will serve three years for the assault, which took place on March 14 this year. Crown Prosecutor John Swanson recounted...
Koopmans mistrial application denied
PENTICTON - The original charges laid by a jury last April in the murder trial of John Ike Koopmans will stand. Defence lawyer Don Skogstad’s application for a mistrial on the count of attempted murder in the John Koopmans murder trial was denied in court this morning. Skogstad based his application on reasoning the jury was...
Penticton to take closer look at local job market
PENTICTON - The need to help local employers find and keep skilled workers has the City of Penticton looking to conduct some labour market research. In an effort to help local employers the City of Penticton recently put out two request for proposals, one to conduct labour market research and a second looking for a...
ELECTION 2015: Where to go to find candidates forums in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding
PENTICTON - The lengthy campaign in this year federal election has meant there’s been lots of time to schedule all candidates meetings in the riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay. With six all candidates meetings already attended by most candidates in the riding, there might be some solace taken in the fact that one third of...
Mount Baldy’s future opening in doubt as sale of resort remains in limbo
PENTICTON - A local ski area’s future opening date remains in doubt with winter just around the corner. In an information release issued earlier this month, Baldy Capital Corporation Executive Fred Johnston reported little progress over the past several months regarding the completion of the purchase of the ski resort on terms agreed to by...
Naramata Bench winery raises money for local SPCA
PENTICTON - The Penticton SPCA got some financial help last week courtesy of a Naramata Bench winery. The SPCA of the South Okanagan received a donation of nearly $6,000 on Sept. 16 from Hillside Winery and Bistro, on behalf of the winery’s tasting room team, sales and marketing representative Mark Burgess says. The funds were...
Penticton put on international stage at tourism convention
PENTICTON - Hundres of travel writers and other tourism professionals are set to take over Penticton next week. The GoMedia convention takes place at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre Sept. 27 to Oct. 1, and is hosted by Tourism Penticton and its partners. More than 130 national and international travel writers and journalists as...
Penticton adventure park’s last day of operation dedicated to James McIntosh
PENTICTON - A Penticton adventure park will dedicate its final day of operation for the season to celebrate the life of James Christian McIntosh. On Sunday, Sept. 27, LocoLanding will be donating 100 per cent of the proceeds of their final day of the season to the McIntosh family. “When something as tragic as the...
Oktoberfest coming back to Penticton
PENTICTON - Peachland’s loss may be Penticton’s gain when it comes to fall festivities. Peachland’s Oktoberfest celebrations will not take place this year due to sluggish ticket sales, but for those in the valley wishing to celebrate the fall event there’s no need to cry in your beer — Penticton’s fifth annual Oktoberfest is back...
Flyfishers club looking forward to more upgrades along Penticton Creek
PENTICTON - With more work left to be done on the Penticton Creek restoration project, one group is stepping back from the aging river channel just long enough to admire the view. “I like looking this way — not behind me,” Penticton Flyfishers club spokesperson Bruce Turnbull says as he surveys the 80-metre completed portion...
New Naramata Centre board invites community input
PENTICTON - The new board at Naramata Centre is seeking community input as they work towards defining a new future for the centre. Board Chair Doug Woollard and board member Jeremy Church have invited Naramata residents to join in a conversation about Naramata Centre’s future at 7 p.m. on Oct. 1 in the Chalmers Chapel....
Three bears feasting on garbage shot in Penticton
PENTICTON - Household garbage led to the ultimate demise of a bear sow and its two cubs after the trio became habituated to the easy food source. The female bear and her two cubs were reported on Friday morning in a small wooded area just west of Cherry Lane Mall, east of Parkway Elementary School...
Naked drivers and bears keep Penticton cops busy
PENTICTON - From bears to bare and guns to thefts, Penticton RCMP saw it all last week. On Wednesday, Sept.16, a 1989 Chevrolet Cavalier was stolen from the parking lot complex at 390 Rigby St. in Penticton. Police discovered several other vehicles broken into in the parking lot as well. On the same evening, gas...
How you can help the family of Penticton boy struck and killed by car
PENTICTON - A fundraising webpage has been set up for the Penticton family of the young boy killed by a car earlier this month. James Christian McIntosh, 5, died after he was struck by a car driven by an off-duty RCMP officer while he was crossing Highway 97 at Fairview Road on Sept. 15. Friends of...
Manager of Summerland pizza shop looking at jail for relationship with teen employee
PENTICTON - A 35-year-old Summerland man who conducted a secret relationship with a 16-year-old girl could face three months or more in jail. Josh Roberts is expected to find out his fate today, Sept. 21 after entering a guilty plea in Penticton Provincial Court for sexual exploitation for his part in the relationship. Judge Gregory...
Penticton protesters call for justice in Roxanne Louie murder case
PENTICTON – Okanagan Nation members, some on horseback, gathered outside the Penticton courthouse today to…
Cougar kills domestic goat in Grand Oro area
PENTICTON - Penticton conservation officers are on the lookout for a cougar that killed domestic livestock in the Grand Oro Road area earlier this week. Conservation officer Jim Beck says the cougar is suspected of killing a goat just south of Twin Lakes, reported Sept. 15. Conservation officers visited the site and determined it was...
Celebration of life service planned for five-year-old killed in crash
PENTICTON - A celebration of life will be held this weekend for five-year-old James Christian McIntosh, who was killed after being struck by a truck earlier this week. The service will be held at St. Anne Church at 2 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 20. The public is welcome to attend. The Holy Cross School Grade 1...
ELECTION 2015: Green Party announces South Okanagan-West Kootenay candidate
PENTICTON - With a month to go before the federal election, the Green Party of Canada has finally announced a candidate for the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding. Samantha Troy, a resident of Rossland since 1996, will represent the party in the upcoming Oct. 19 federal election. Troy, who is working toward a masters degreee in...
Why independent investigators are probing a traffic fatality in Penticton
PENTICTON - An investigation into Tuesday evening’s fatal collision continues as a roadside memorial to five-year-old James Christian McIntosh grows at the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Highway 97. James was killed Tuesday evening, Sept. 15 at approximately 5 p.m. while crossing the road at the crosswalk with his father and brother when he struck...
Improperly stored firearm proves costly for Penticton man
PENTICTON - An avid hunter will have his firearm returned to him after his rifle was found improperly stored in his vehicle during a roadside check. Kimberly Brad Christensen appeared in Penticton Provincial Court yesterday, Sept. 16, to enter a guilty plea on a charge of careless use or storage of a firearm. Christensen ran...
Penmar Community Arts Society gets funding boost
PENTICTON - The Penmar Community Arts Society have a new sponsor who is also providing the theatre initiative to turn the movie house into a performing arts centre with a financial boost. The Penticton accounting firm White Kennedy Chartered Professional Accountants has made a $5,000 donation to the society while acquiring naming rights. Society president...
Canucks Young Stars tournament in Penticton coming of age
PENTICTON - The Canucks Young Stars tournament is coming of age and providing some serious economic returns to the City of Penticton. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit can take a lot of credit for the four day event, which began six years ago following a pitch he made when he was a city councillor to Vancouver Canucks...