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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
Midweek crimes include man shot with an arrow
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP were kept busy late Wednesday afternoon and evening with assaults and an attempted robbery in the city. Penticton RCMP received a call to an assault in progress at 5:18 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 in the vicinity of West Bench Hill Road above Doc’s Golf Centre on Highway 97. Police were...
Challenge Penticton seeks funding commitment from regional district
PENTICTON - Valley First Challenge Penticton has invited the regional district to take a sponsorship role in Challenge’s triathlon races to the tune of $48,000 over three years. Challenge Penticton owners Kevin Cutjar and Michael Brown met with Regional District Okanagan Similkameen directors Thursday, July 16 to offer the board the opportunity to be the naming sponsor...
Fruit pest prevalence prompts regional district reminder
PENTICTON - As cherry season peaks in the South Okanagan, backyard fruit growers are being reminded to be vigilant about controlling fruit tree pests. The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has had a bylaw in place since 2001 for all rural electoral areas and the Town of Oliver requiring residents with cherry trees to control...
Accused in Penticton shooting granted bail
PENTICTON - The man accused in a shooting incident near Penticton’s northeast boundary was released on bail today, July 17. Matthew James Cameron, accused of one count of attempted murder in a shooting incident that took place Monday night, July 13, on Lindsay Road in Penticton, was delivered to court but did not make an...
School bus crash near Osoyoos
PENTICTON - A car crash on Highway 3 near Osoyoos yesterday afternoon involving a school bus narrowly avoided tragic consequences. RCMP say a collision between a Dodge pickup towing a travel trailer and the school bus took place on Highway 3, 20 kilometres west of Osoyoos at about 1:30 p.m., Thursday, July 16. According to...
Weekend events include Peach Classic Triathlon and Bull-a-rama
PENTICTON - The oldest triathlon race in the Okanagan takes place for the 33rd time this weekend starting from Rotary Park. The Peach Classic, which goes Sunday July 19 at 7 a.m., is an Olympic and sprint distance race which involves a 1.5 and 750 meter sprint swim, a 40 kilometre Olympic or 20 kilometre...
New Penticton city manager ready to assume the reins
PENTICTON - Penticton’s new Chief Administrative Officer has been busy this week getting acquainted with city personnel and procedures as he comes out of retirement to take on the city manager’s job Eric Sorensen does not have any municipal government experience, but has an extensive background in the private sector. He was president and CEO...
Penticton RCMP kept hopping with stolen vehicles
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP were kept busy with vehicle related incidents last week. Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says an RCMP officer driving on Eastside Road on Tuesday, July 7 spotted a vehicle reported stolen a short time before. The officer turned around and followed the vehicle, which soon was driven into a ditch. The three men...
Police reveal second victim in Penticton shooting
PENTICTON - Police have revealed further information regarding a shooting incident near the city’s northeast boundary earlier this week. Penticton RCMP say a second person was wounded following a shooting in the 2000-block of Lindsay Road at approximately 10:20 p.m. on July 13. Police say the persons involved knew each other. The suspect and one...
Vehicle ends up in Okanagan River Channel
PENTICTON - An early morning car crash ended with a vehicle in the Okanagan River Channel this morning. Penticton RCMP, B.C. Ambulance and Penticton Fire Department personnel responded to call at 12:34 a.m., July 16, to the crash at the intersection of Skaha Lake Road and Channel Parkway. RCMP ensured everyone had made it out...
Mayor discusses city’s philosophy behind new CAO hire
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton means business as it welcomes a new Chief Administrative Office to city staff. Penticton’s new city manager is coming into the office with no prior experience, but Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says he doesn’t think that will be an issue. The city announced yesterday the hiring of Eric Sorensen as...
Warthog art piece reunited with owner
PENTICTON - The owner of a rather unique piece of art is happier than a pig in - well, you know - after finding her lost art treasure this morning, July 15. Just after 9 a.m., Judy Rowe of Penticton appeared at the Penticton RCMP detachment to claim a metal sculpture of a warthog, Penticton...
Police on the lookout for cigarette-tossing drivers
PENTICTON - Motorists in the South Okanagan beware - you could receive a ticket for something other than a driving infraction while on the road during these hot summer days. Penticton RCMP are on the watch for motorists who throw cigarette butts out the window as the fire danger increases. “We’ve always ticketed drivers for...
Tourism Penticton firing on all cylinders says departing director
PENTICTON - Leaving Tourism Penticton was a hard decision to make but the executive director says he is giving the group lots of time to move someone new into the role. Departing executive director Chris Bower says leaving his position in Penticton is 'a hard one.' “I really enjoyed my time here. Tourism Penticton and...
Cyclist struck on Green Mountain Road
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP report a cyclist was struck while riding on Green Mountain Road near the junction of Westhills Road at approximately 5 p.m. last night. The driver was issued a 90 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition for being impaired and had his vehicle impounded, in addition to being charged with driving without due care...
Granfondo event great for the cash register, not so much for travelling public
PENTICTON - Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit is defending Sunday’s Granfondo bicycle race saying economic impacts outweigh complaints from residents and motorists in the region over traffic slowdowns. A number of negative comments surfaced on social media regarding traffic disruptions following the Sunday, July 12 event. RCMP police spokesman Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth also noted police received...
Driver gets jail time for driving while prohibited
PENTICTON - A Penticton man faces jail time after being caught one too many times driving while prohibited. On March 6, 2015, Penticton RCMP stopped Paul Chavez Efrain, 21, driving a Honda Civic on Paris Street in Penticton. Efrain was found to be driving while prohibited at the time. A record check also revealed the...
Great Cherry Spit coming up in Naramata
PENTICTON - Naramata’s weekly Wednesday afternoon market is celebrating local agriculture with a special event on July 22. The Great Cherry Pit Spitting Contest is coming back to the market for the sixth time, Market Manager Darren Rettie says. Two years ago a cherry picker working in Naramata took the record from local champion Kim...
Concealed shotgun discovered at Penticton court house
PENTICTON - It's unknown what his intent was but the watchful eye of a Sheriff may have stopped a potentially serious incidents at the Penticton Law Courts Monday after a man was found carrying a concealed shotgun. Penticton RCMP say a man and woman entered the Penticton court house yesterday around noon. The man was...
UPDATE: Police investigation continues at Naramata shooting scene
PENTICTON - Police activity continues today, July 14, at a residence located at the end of Lindsay Road, on the Naramata Bench. Penticton RCMP continue their investigation into a shooting that occurred at the residence at approximately 10:30 last night. According to police, two men were involved in the incident. One is being treated for...
One injured, one in custody following Penticton shooting
PENTICTON - A single victim is in hospital following a shooting incident on the outskirts of Penticton last night. Penticton RCMP received reports of shots fired around 10:30 p.m. yesterday, July 13. Police responded to a residence near the Penticton-Naramata boundary where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to...
Grist Mill chef takes top honours at Similkameen wine event
PENTICTON - A light rain that turned into a downpour failed to dampen enthusiasm for the Barbecue King competition, Similkameen Winery Association’s premier wine event. The Grist Mill’s Natasha Schooten took home top honours, claiming Barbecue Queen for 2015, winning Judges Choice Award for her wine and food pairing of slow smoked short ribs with...
Agriculture committee wants open deer season within Penticton city limits
PENTICTON - Deer within Penticton city limits could soon be fair game for hunters. Penticton's Agriculture Advisory Committee has made a request to allow First Nation harvesters and other regulated hunters the right to hunt on large private holdings with the landowners’ permission on outlying acreages within the city limits.The recommendation came out of a...
Motorcycle accident sends one to hospital
PENTICTON - Emergency crews were called to another motorcycle accident in the South Okanagan today, July 13. Members of the Okanagan Falls Volunteer Fire Department, the RCMP and B.C. Ambulance service responded to a motorcycle accident near the intersection of Old Kaleden Road and Highway 97 at approximately 3:45 this afternoon. According to a bystander...