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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
Summerland fire leaves man homeless
PENTICTON - A Summerland man is homeless following a fire in the community yesterday, June 1. Summerland Fire Department Chief Glenn Noble said the fire department was called to the Summerland Beach RV Park at 11:30 p.m. Monday for a structure fire. Firefighters arrived to find a large fifth-wheel trailer in the park ablaze. Noble...
Placement of Penticton power poles a problem after paving
PENTICTON - A couple of errant power poles on a newly reconstructed street corner by the City of Penticton has some people shaking their heads. Residents in the area of Industrial Avenue and Atkinson Street have noticed two power poles at that intersection located on the crosswalk beyond the curb following the recent completion of...
Wibit Water Park bringing promise of summer fun to Penticton
PENTICTON - A new way to enjoy the Okanagan Lake waterfront is coming to Penticton later this month. Rylie and his father Randy Gallagher are partners in bringing the Penticton Wibit Water Park to Okanagan Beach. Set up will begin on June 15 and the two entrepreneurs will open their floating water park across from...
Regional grants policy revamped
PENTICTON - The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen is making changes to its grants policy. Chief financial officer Sandy Croteau said one facet of the new policy will see gas tax funding only used for projects involving land owned or leased to the regional district, eliminating the funds from the reach of non-profits and societies who...
Local businesses urged to become “Friends of the Games”
PENTICTON - General Manager of the Penticton Lakeside Resort David Prystay is one of the first community sponsors to become a Friend of the Games through his offer of in-kind services to the host society. The Lakeside will be the host hotel for the 2016 B.C. Winter Games, which will take place in Penticton from...
Lotto 6/49 ticket purchased in Penticton worth $1 million
PENTICTON - Someone who bought a Lotto 6/49 ticket in Penticton is going to be doing a happy dance soon. The B.C. Lottery Corporation reports the $1-million winner in the guaranteed prize of the Saturday, May 30, draw purchased their ticket in Penticton. The winner with the exact match to the winning number — 03362986-03...
Quick action by Penticton firefighters following lightning strike
PENTICTON - Penticton firefighters responded to a couple of structure fires over the weekend, starting with a lightning strike Friday afternoon which caused some anxious moments for residents of Huth Avenue. Deputy Fire Chief Dave Spalding says lightning hit a tree and ignited a garden shed situated just below at about 2:30 p.m. during the...
Rainfall warning for South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Residents of the South Okanagan are advised to get prepared for possible flooding over the next couple of days as Environment Canada issues a rainfall warning. Forecasters are calling for rainfall amounts between 25 and 40 millimetres tonight and tomorrow, with the rain expected to be heavy at times. An upper disturbance moving...
Search continues to fill top job at City of Penticton
PENTICTON - The search for someone to fill the top administrative position at the City of Penticton has narrowed, while a new department head has been hired. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says advertising for the Chief Administrative Officer job has attracted over 100 applications and the city is compiling a short list and conducting initial interviews....
Mutual aid: why you see your firefighters in neighbouring communities
PENTICTON - The massive shop fire in Naramata last weekend saw fire crews from several outlying communities scrambling to aid Naramata with extra firefighters and equipment. Extra resources were brought to bear through a mutual aid agreement with Penticton, Summerland and Kaleden which saw those departments release equipment and manpower from their fire protection areas...
Okanagan-Skaha school trustees look at cost of living hike
PENTICTON - A pending vote on a pay increase could be bad timing for Okanagan-Skaha school board trustees, from a public perception point of view. The suggestion of a raise comes after the trustees recently passed a budget which included tough cuts to make up for a shortfall of provincial funding. It also comes on...
Over $12-million in improvements to Hope-Princeton highway
PENTICTON - Those travelling from the South Okanagan and Similkameen to Vancouver on Highway 3 will soon see construction activity on one of the route’s most notorious stretches west of Princeton. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Transport Canada have announced work is scheduled to begin next month on a $12.53-million highway realignment project...
BC Ambulance, search and rescue teams perform rescue near Summerland trestle
PENTICTON - A 40-year-old man in medical distress near the Summerland KVR trestles was found by triangulating his location with cell towers Thursday afternoon. Penticton Search and Rescue members were mobilized at approximately 1:30 p.m., May 28 after receiving a request for assistance from B.C. Ambulance, who had received a distress call from a man...
Robb Nash delivers powerful message of hope to students
PENTICTON - Robb Nash is in the South Okanagan singing poignant messages of hope and talking to students about the trials and tribulations of teenage life. Nash is a successful recording artist out of Winnipeg who has had four songs on the Canadian top 40. He turned his back on a record contract and potential commercial...
Conservation officers give stray cougar a reprieve
PENTICTON - A wild cat discovered in a tree in Penticton’s Lakeside Rotary Park Wednesday morning used up one its nine lives, as far as the conservation authorities are concerned. The young cougar was discovered by a Penticton resident walking his dog by the Peach, May 27. Both conservation officers and the RCMP attended, Barb Leslie...
Got Bats initiative works to save furry night fliers
PENTICTON - There is no reason for residents of the Okanagan to "go batty" over problems they might have with the furry, nocturnal flying creatures this summer. The BC Community Bat Project is getting ready for a busy summer educating and instructing Okanagan residents on how to handle bat issues. The “Got Bats” initiative is...
Lakeshore Drive residents wake to cougar sighting
PENTICTON - Residents in the area of 100 Lakeshore Drive may have witnessed an unusual sight this morning — a cougar lounging on park grass just east of the Peach Concession at approximately 7:30. “My wife called me on the way to work and said there was a cougar across the street,” says Penticton resident...
Some Okanagan Falls residents will be dry on Thursday
OKANAGAN FALLS - A few Okanagan Falls residents will find themselves without running water for a period of time Thursday. On Thursday, May 28, residents and businesses south of Unit Electric in Okanagan Falls will be without water after 8 a.m. The shutoff will affect users on Maple Street south of Unit Electric and will also...
Naming opportunities come with large donations to hospital fund
PENTICTON – The campaign for funds to equip Penticton Regional Hospital’s planned Patient Care Tower…
Robb Nash spreads message of hope and purpose South Okanagan schools
PENTICTON - Canadian recording artist Robb Nash and his band are performing in a number of South Okanagan schools on May 27 to 28, speaking to students about hope and purpose through a unique and engaging rock concert experience. This school tour has been made possible by the invitation and generosity of the local Crime...
Delays anticipated with Industrial Avenue paving project
PENTICTON - Motorists using Industrial Avenue west of Main Street might want to find an alternate route for the rest of the week. Final paving capping off a rebuild of Industrial Avenue in the city’s industrial area began today, May 26. Motorists faced delays earlier this morning as the paving project got underway on Industrial Avenue between...
Celebration marks centennial of first KVR trains into Penticton
PENTICTON - Penticton has a party planned for an important anniversary of the city’s rail transportation history. On May 31 the museum, Peach City Community Radio and the Department of Canadian Heritage will commemorate the arrival of the first trains on the Kettle Valley Railway into Penticton with 'Steamfest in the Park.' Fifteen hundred Pentictonites...
Relay for Life
PENTICTON - The Penticton Relay for Life takes place May 30 at the Penticton High School track. The community fundraising event takes place on an annual basis. In 2014, 400 relays across the country saw Canadians join together in the fight against cancer. Penticton’s relay will take place during daylight hours this year, beginning at 11...
Amazing Race Canada returns to the Okanagan
PENTICTON - The Summerland area is about to get some nationwide publicity thanks to a popular national TV show that just finished taping in the area. The Amazing Race Canada recently wrapped up a shoot in the South Okanagan with a segment that is expected to air sometime in July. The Summerland Waterfront Resort was...