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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
Fire ants found in Naramata concern Kamloops researcher
PENTICTON – A Thompson Rivers University researcher wants to stop a newly-discovered invasive species from…
On the hunt for summer weather in Penticton
PENTICTON - With temperatures hitting 24 Celsius in Penticton Tuesday, April 28, city residents were out in full force lounging in parks, walking the Okanagan lakefront in comfortable summer attire, or in the case of Syd Birch of the Okanagan Treasure Hunters Club, exploring Gyro Park for lost treasures. Birch says he was 'just killing...
Pedestrian walkway nearing completion
PENTICTON - Kaleden’s first sidewalk is reshaping and urbanizing the community’s major road. Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Community Services Manager Mark Woods says the Lakehill Road project is 'going very well' and expects the walkway to be completed sometime in May. He says construction fell a few weeks behind due to negotiations for further land...
School superintendent’s salary subject to scrutiny
PENTICTON - School District 67 is getting plenty of reaction to news Superintendent Wendy Hyer was given a significant pay raise at a board meeting last December. “I’ve been on the phone, in interviews all morning,” Chair Linda Van Alphen said today, April 28. The Penticton Herald reported yesterday Wendy Hyer got a $17,000 pay...
Missing Penticton hiker located after weekend search
PENTICTON - With more than a foot of fresh snow in the Brent Mountain area on Saturday a hiker was left out in the cold that night as rescue crews worked quickly to locate the man, who was reported missing after not returning from a day hike. The family of a 19-year-old Penticton man called...
Massive sale big news for bookworms
PENTICTON - Read any good books lately? If you haven’t, you won’t want to miss this week’s golden opportunity to find some spring reading at the Rotary Club of Penticton-Okanagan’s annual book sale on right now. You'll also be contributing to worthy causes. Past President Ian Esson says this is the clubs' 11th year running the...
Keremeos bank teller to repay fraudulent funds
PENTICTON - A former cash-strapped customer service representative for a Keremeos bank will have to pay back $25,000 she fraudulently took from customers' accounts, Judge Gregory Koturbash ruled in Penticton provincial court today, April 27. Elizabeth Natalie Elgie was working at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Keremeos in 2011 when her supervisor discovered...
Penmar Arts Society creating investment cooperative
PENTICTON - The Penmar Community Arts Society has an investment opportunity for budding Ed Mirvish types in Penticton. The society held a rooftop party to announce a new investment opportunity for theatre-goers. The group plans to create a cooperative following discussions with Penmar property owners, who gave the society an option to purchase the property...
Repair cafe offers a new approach to recycling
PENTICTON - A Penticton group hopes a European recycling idea will turn Penticton's trash back into treasure today. Okanagan Upcycle Resource Society is hosting a Repair Cafe at their centre located at 180 Industrial Ave. Laurel Burnham with the society is enthusiastic about the opportunities offered by things people throw away. Burnham says the repair...
Money for merchants from moorage: city official
PENTICTON - Moorage space means money to business in Penticton, according to the city's economic development officer. A contested aspect of planned improvements outlined in the SS Sicamous Master Plan is the addition of seven day moorage slips on the jetty north of the SS Sicamous. About 30 people rallied against the planned moorage prior to...
Hospital Foundation celebrates new residence, imaging equipment
PENTICTON - Penticton Regional Hospital has some of the most state of the art X-ray equipment in the Okanagan following the completion of a major upgrade to the hospital’s radiology department. The hospital’s recent upgrades include updated X-ray rooms and a new portable, digital X-ray unit. The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation held an open...
Osoyoos RCMP help save hawk’s life
PENTICTON - Osoyoos RCMP handled a trio of incidents that involved land, water and air this week. In the air, on Friday, April 24, a Kestral Hawk flew into the grill of a commercial truck driver’s rig while travelling between Rock Creek and Osoyoos. The driver sought help at the Osoyoos RCMP detachment after finding...
School board frustrated with education ministry following AGM address
PENTICTON - B.C. school trustees, including those on the Okanagan-Skaha School Board, want the Minister of Education to live up to its Memorandum of Understanding on Co-Governance with the trustees. Board chair Linda Van Alphen said trustees from across the province expressed that sentiment at the recent Annual General Meeting. Part of Deputy Minister of...
Challenge Penticton adapting to new triathlon realities
PENTICTON - The world of triathlon racing has been changing in recent years, and the management team with the Valley First Challenge Penticton wants to lead the pack in participant satisfaction. Building the brand and providing race participants what they want are two keys to success, says Kevin Cutjar, who co-owns the race with Michael...
More construction on Channel Parkway
PENTICTON - A new construction zone on the Channel Parkway is challenging Penticton drivers. A construction crew has removed the traffic islands from the intersection of Channel Parkway and Warren Avenue to increase the length of the left turn lane, said B.C. Ministry of Highways district operations Manager Jeff Wiseman. The increased capacity of the...
Public invited to dual opening ceremonies at Penticton Regional Hospital
PENTICTON - Donors and the public are invited to a pair of opening ceremonies at Penticton Regional Hospital this Friday from 2-4 p.m. The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation raised $1.5 million in 2013 to update the Digital Imaging (X-ray) department at PRH. State-of-the-art digital radiography equipment was purchased to replace the outdated cassette equipment...
Resident wants drawbows removed from firearms bylaw
PENTICTON - A request from a resident to allow manual bow and arrow usage within city limits may get a serious look as the city prepares to host the B.C. Winter Games, which includes archery sports. Penticton resident Rick Hamilton wants to see a change made to the City of Penticton’s bylaw that regulates or...
Council continues to explore options for Ecole Entre-Lacs
PENTICTON - The city would like to help French language school Ecole Entre-Lacs offset its costs for use of city recreational facilities, but it will not be through an arrangement similar to that offered to School District 67. The decision followed a lengthy discussion about a request to have a contractual agreement for guaranteed usage...
Specialized water rescue tool will help Penticton Search and Rescue crews
PENTICTON - Here is one tool local rescue units may find handy during spring freshet. Penticton Search and Rescue has a new line gun. The gun is used to shoot a small line across a river, and is used to aid victims in river rescue. Member Kelvin Hall says a small line such as a...
Penticton firefighters extinguish balcony blaze
PENTICTON - No one was injured and there was no major damage after a balcony fire at 86 Lakeshore Dr. East in Penticton this afternoon. Penticton firefighters got a call of visible flames on the balcony of one unit at approximately 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 21. Capt. Tom Smith says a planter on a resident’s...
On-site hotel could boost business at Penticton Convention Centre
PENTICTON - A premium hotel would help pull in more bookings for the underultilized 60,000-square-foot Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, according to city staff. In a report to council Monday, April 20, staff recommended council move forward on a zoning amendment that would add 'tourist accommodation' as a site-specific use to the city owned property...
Man killed near Keremeos remains unidentified
PENTICTON - A man who was struck and killed while crossing the highway near Keremeos Friday night remains unidentified. At 11:03 p.m. on April 17, a blue Dodge pickup truck travelling east on Highway 3, just south of the intersection with Highway 3A in Keremeos, and collided with a man crossing the highway. The driver...
Citizens challenge plan to moor motorboats near SS Sicamous
PENTICTON - A group of Penticton residents staged a rally in front of Penticton City Hall to voice their objection to an element of the SS Sicamous Area Master Plan. Gerry Gilligan fronted the rally, attended by approximately 30 citizens. They were objecting to a part of the plan that would see five to seven...
Annual Day of Mourning in Penticton
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton will acknowledge the Annual Day of Mourning on Tuesday, April 28, at 11 a.m., with a public gathering at the memorial tree in front of McLaren Park Arena. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit will read the city’s proclamation and any members of the public wishing to come forward will have an...