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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
Psychotic episode resulted from ‘controlling’ house guest: Lawyer
PENTICTON - A Keremeos man will not serve jail time for throwing rocks through a window of the Keremeos RCMP detachment. Robert Polovnikoff faced Judge Gale Sinclair on Wednesday, August 5 facing a mischief charge following a bizarre day in Keremeos. Crown Prosecutor Kurt Frolik said Polovnikoff believed someone had planted a bomb in the...
Penticton getting second WestJet flight
PENTICTON - Tourism Penticton received some good news as the organization welcomes its new executive director. WestJet is adding a second flight to the Peach City. The flight will be added to WestJet's schedule in mid-February, 2016, according to outgoing executive director Chris Bower. Bower says the new flight will depart the Penticton Airport at...
South Okanagan woman’s dog saves her during bear attack
PENTICTON - A South Okanagan woman is recovering from a harrowing bear attack in the Willowbrook area last week. The woman was walking her dog when the bear attacked on Aug. 5. She suffered a badly broken arm, which required surgery, claw scratches to her back, and a cut to her face. Conservation Officer Jim Beck...
Final day of Peachfest
PENTICTON - It’s day five and the final day of the 68th annual Penticton Peachfest. There’s still lots going on as the Pentown Throwdown Skateboard and BMX event continues at Riverside Park, as does the Shiela Bishop Memorial Wooden Bat Slowpitch Tournament in Lions Park. The Downtown Penticton Association's Kiddies Day Parade heads down Main...
Quick response stops South Okanagan wildfire
PENTICTON - A rapid response and lack of wind helped firefighters gain a quick upper hand on a wildfire southwest of Kaleden last night. Kaleden fire chief Darlene Bailey says firefighters were called to a smoke sighting near Partington and White Lake Roads at around 6:30 p.m., August 8. They arrived to find a Rank...
Best place to watch August meteor shower in the South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Having an astrophysical observatory right on your doorstep can come in handy during cosmic events. Wednesday, Aug. 12, is the date of this year’s annual Perseid meteor shower event at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory. Astronomers from the observatory will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the meteor showers....
Keremeos wildfire leaves two homeless
PENTICTON - A human-caused wildfire west of Keremeos has left two people homeless. The grass fire broke out at about 8:30 a.m. this morning, Aug. 8, along Highway 3 about eight kilometres west of Keremeos, according to Keremeos fire chief Jordy Bosscha. Bosscha says a mobile home, a number of outbuildings and numerous farm implements...
Skaha Bluffs to see increased RCMP and volunteer patrols
PENTICTON - It’s going to be a lot tougher for thieves to vandalize vacationer's vehicles thanks to local RCMP and volunteer initiatives at Skaha Bluffs. Penticton RCMP and Community Policing volunteers were up at the Skaha Bluffs parking lot today, August 7, conducting a patrol and placing auto crime prevention notices on vehicles in the...
Saturday events at Peachfest
PENTICTON - Day four of the Penticton Peachfest begins with a Pancake Breakfast at the Elks Lodge at 343 Ellis Street, running from 7- 10 a.m. The annual Peach Parade is next at 10 a.m. with more than 100 entries from throughout B.C. and the Pacific Northwest. The parade route runs down Main Street from Pen...
Concerns raised about high pressure door-to-door sales pitch
PENTICTON - RCMP have some advice for people concerned about a door-to-door sales pitch making the rounds in Penticton. There has been social media chatter about salespeople trying to get into people’s homes to inspect their furnace and hot water heater to see if they were “outdated and illegal.” Kathy Giguere posted a warning on...
Regional directors discuss agricultural land use issues with ALC chair
PENTICTON - Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen directors discussed Agricultural Land Commission issues with the commission chair this week. Commission chair Frank Leonard gave directors a brief summary of his role and as chair and the present state of the land commission, before taking questions from the director’s board at their regular meeting Thursday. Leonard says...
Kittens abandoned at Penticton SPCA shelter
PENTICTON - Leaving animals at the door of the SPCA still amounts to abandonment, according to the Penticton SPCA manager. Shelter manager Corinne Ross says two kittens were left in a pet carrier at the Penticton shelter's doorstep and were discovered just before the shelter opened at noon, Aug. 7. Ross thinks the animals were...
Archery now a legal activity in Penticton
PENTICTON – It’s now legal to practice archery in Penticton. Drawbows may now be operated…
Bear conflict in Willowbrook
PENTICTON - It's been anything but a carefree summer for residents of the small community of Willowbrook this year, with a wildfire, a windstorm and now a bear issue In the past month alone, the South Okanagan community has had a tumultuous summer so far: a nearby wildfire threatened, a windstorm damaged a number of...
Here’s whats happening Friday at Peachfest
PENTICTON - The 68th annual Penticton Peachfest begins day three events at Okanagan Lake Park with the West Coast Lumberjack Show, starting at 12:30 p.m., and again at 4:10 and 7:25 p.m. Musical performances for Friday include the following acts: - 13 Broken Bones (music from the 70s and 80s) at 1:45 p.m. - A-P...
No triathlon funding from the regional district this year
PENTICTON - A Challenge Penticton request for sponsorship was stopped dead in its tracks after the group submitted the request late, and the regional district revised its policy. Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board members voted unanimously against a July 16 request from Challenge Penticton owners Kevin Cutjar and Michael Brown for $48,000 over three...
Highrise development moves forward in Penticton
PENTICTON - A proposed highrise residential development in the city’s south end will continue to move forward after Penticton City Council approved the necessary amendments this week. The proposal, which involves the development of three residential towers, will see one 12-storey and two 14-storey towers built in three phases at 3388 Skaha Lake Rd. Councillors...
Thursday’s Peachfest action at Okanagan Lake Park
PENTICTON - Weather for the first day of Peachfest may not have been ideal, but that didn’t stop thousands from showing up along the Okanagan Lake shoreline to watch the Royal Canadian Snowbirds perform their magic. The forecast for today, Aug. 6, calls for clearing skies this afternoon, just in time for day two activities....
Man suspected of bringing shotgun to Penticton court arrested
PENTICTON - The man suspected of bringing a loaded shotgun into Penticton courthouse last month was apprehended earlier this week. Jessy Arthur Michaud was arrested by members of the Penticton RCMP on Tuesday, Aug. 4, according to RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Dave Tyreman. Michaud is alleged to have entered the Penticton Law Courts on Monday,...
Luxury hotel a no-go for Penticton events centre
PENTICTON - There is little interest in constructing a luxury hotel at the South Okanagan Events Centre and those who did show interest did not provide worthwhile submissions. Council delivered their verdict on the idea following a staff study and review of two expressions of interest received by the city concerning proposals for construction and operation...
VIDEO: One-girl act entertains Main Street Penticton
PENTICTON - You never know how you’ll be entertained on Main Street during a Penticton summer. Forget about Willy and the Poor Boys, down on the corner — this young lady can do it all. This one-girl band was spotted recently near Knight’s Pharmacy in the downtown core, providing some entertaining free music for passers-by....
Second protest pretty much same as the first
PENTICTON - The second rally to protest the decision to move ahead with plans for a waterpark at Skaha Lake turned out to be an anticlimactic affair on Monday, Aug. 4. Turnout for the rally appeared to be roughly the same as the number of people that massed in front of city hall on July 20....
Charges possible after children found locked in hot vehicle in Penticton
PENTICTON - For some people, the message just doesn’t seem to be getting through when it comes to leaving kids or pets in locked vehicles. RCMP were called to the Walmart parking lot last Thursday evening, July 30, after bystanders noticed kids left in a car, according to Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth....
Grenade, pipe bomb and vehicles thefts keep Penticton officers on their toes
PENTICTON - It was a break from the ordinary for Penticton RCMP this week as they dealt with a grenade and a pipe bomb. Penticton RCMP were kept busy last week answering numerous calls for vehicle thefts and vehicle break-ins last week. They also dealt with an errant hand grenade and pipe bomb. A Penticton...