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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
Dangers associated with shoveling snow not always apparent
PENTICTON - That big blast of winter isn't just a problem for city crews. It can be a problem from a health point of view for residents trying to dig out, but there are ways to reduce the possibility of suffering an injury. Snow shovelling can be a risky thing for many of us to...
Rising temperatures could add to Penticton’s cleanup woes
POTENTIAL FLOODING FROM SNOW MELT A WORRY PENTICTON - Driving around Penticton Monday afternoon two actions appeared to be common place on just about every street throughout the city - residents pushing stuck vehicles and those shovelling snow. By mid-afternoon snowfall was diminishing and temperatures were rising. That could be good and bad news for...
Winter weather causing disruptions at Penticton Regional Airport
PENTICTON - The South Okanagan’s latest onslaught of winter weather is affecting air travel in and out of Penticton Regional Airport. Debra Williams, Corporate Communications officer for Jazz Aviation LP reported Monday morning flight operations in Penticton were being impacted by weather. Air Canada Express (Jazz) flights to and from Penticton were cancelled Sunday due...
City work crews having a tough time keeping up with snowfall
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton reported this morning crews were being kept busy just keeping main arteries, emergency routes, steep hills and main transit routes open as snow continues to pound the city and region. “Given the significant snowfall, it’s likely crews will have to circle back and do these routes again before moving...
UPDATE: Buses running in School District 53, late in Penticton, no buses in Summerland
PENTICTON - In case you weren’t aware, the snow has been piling up outside. Heavy snow yesterday and last night has covered the region. School District 67 reports Penticton buses are running, but they will be late, while Summerland buses will not run this morning. The Summerland bus situation will be reassessed later today. School...
Kettle campaign surges to success in final days
PENTICTON - The final days of Penticton Salvation Army’s 2014 Christmas Kettle Campaign proved to be very productive. Salvation Army Kettle Campaign Coordinator Trish Dobrik was ecstatic to report Jan. 2, 2015 that the campaign ended up exceeding its target due to a surge in donations and volunteer effort in the final days. “Let me...
New Years holiday cuts into blood donations
PENTICTON - New Year’s celebrations may have had an impact on donations during day two of this week’s regularly scheduled Canadian Blood Services clinic in Penticton. Donors had the opportunity to donate blood for the last time last year, or for the first time this year at this week’s clinic, which took place over a...
Flu season underway with outbreaks in five Interior Health institutions
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The flu season is upon us and Interior Health is dealing with a number of its facilities in the Okanagan suffering from active outbreaks over the holidays. Dr. Sue Pollock, Medical Health Officer with Interior Health, said what is currently being experienced in the Okanagan is “a fairly typical influenza season" so far. "Normally we...
Christmas tree recycling in Penticton
PENTICTON - The big buildup to Christmas has come and gone, the big day is over and now, clean up begins. What to do with that tree in the living room that is starting to lose its needles? City and regional governments are encouraging residents not to burn their Christmas trees once the holiday season...
PHOTOS: Hardy souls bring in the New Year in frigid style
ANNUAL POLAR BEAR DIP SUMMERLAND - About 150 hardy souls brought in the New Year with a dip in the frigid waters of Okanagan Lake near Summerland Thursday. Participants ignored a chilly south wind pushing breakers onto Sunoka Beach to rush headlong into the lake at high noon. Most were out within seconds of contacting...
Library, pool and arena busy over holidays
PENTICTON - Penticton’s public institutions saw increased usage over the holidays, with the library alone seeing double the usership it normally does on a Monday. Penticton Public Library’s Systems Librarian, Shelley Murphy, said after being closed for four days usership doubled what was usual for a Monday. “It was amazingly busy yesterday. We had line...
UPDATE: Police investigating fire at Pass Motor Inn
PET BELIEVED DEAD IN FIRE PENTICTON - Penticton firefighters battled a blaze that broke out last night at the Pass Motor Inn, located at 2307 Skaha Lake Road. Firefighters were called to the scene at roughly 8:30 p.m., Dec. 30, according to a media release from RCMP. The building was evacuated while firefighters worked to...
Take the plunge into the New Year
PENTICTON - You can make a New Years resolution to start 2015 with a splash - into Okanagan Lake, that is. The 30th Summerland Kinsmen’s Annual Polar Dip is coming up on January 1 in the frigid waters off Sunoka Beach, Trout Creek. This year’s event promises to be great fun for participant and spectator...
Fuel prices dip below a dollar in the South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Gas prices appear to be following temperature patterns in the South Okanagan this week - trending downwards. The price of a litre of regular gasoline fell below a dollar - 99.9 cents per litre - at the Kaleden Petro Can earlier this week. “I’ve seen an increase in customers since our price dropped...
Penticton’s Tree of Dreams fundraiser goes above and beyond
PENTICTON - As the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation's ninth annual Tree of Dreams campaign winds down executive director Janice Perrino is hopeful the fundraiser will continue to exceed its goal. “We were concerned that this year’s Tree of Dreams campaign would not be as successful as in past years,” Perrino said, noting this year’s...
Anybody seen a stolen dragon’s head?
PENTICTON - Osoyoos RCMP are asking residents in Penticton and the surrounding region to be on the lookout for some items stolen in two separate break and enters in Osoyoos last week. A break and enter to the Wander Home Furniture store in Osoyoos on Dec. 20 netted thieves a small amount of cash in...
Quiet Christmas reported by city emergency services
PENTICTON - It was a quiet Christmas for Penticton’s police and fire services. “A handful of stolen vehicles were reported over the past few days,” said Penticton RCMP Watch Commander Constable Chad Jackson, “but other than that things were pretty much average over Christmas." Jackson said six Dodge pickups were stolen from residences in the...
Penticton party places for New Years
PENTICTON - If you’re looking for party action in Penticton to celebrate the New Year, there are a number of night spots that are more than willing to help you bring in 2015. The Penticton Lakeside’s New Years Eve Party begins at 6 p.m. when the doors open to the Grand Ballroom. At a cost...
Judge ponders drug sentence in light of rehabilitation effort
PENTICTON - A Penticton man will spend another 10 months behind bars despite his attempts to rehabilitate himself. Penticton Provincial Court Judge Gale Sinclair pondered the dilemma finding a proper sentence for 27-year-old Dwayne Lee Gabriel upon hearing of his rehabilitation efforts following two drug offences which took place in 2012. Federal Crown Prosecutor Ashleigh...
Keremeos Grist Mill society chair frustrated by RFP process
PENTICTON - Uncertainty over who will be operating the Keremeos Grist Mill next year is frustrating the heritage site’s society chairman. “We’re kind of annoyed and baffled,” Grist Mill Foundation chair Dave Cursons said earlier this week. “It’s a sluggish process - nobody seems willing to move it along.” A Request For Proposal was issued...
Penticton’s official Christmas lights tour
PENTICTON - When you are looking for Christmas lights to see in Penticton, you do what we did: Ask the bus drivers. We did our best to find some of the best areas of the city for Christmas lights and compiled them into this handy map. But the city has to have more than this: Did...
Assault victim recipient of Christmas generosity
PENTICTON - Assault victim Ken Paton was overwhelmed at the charity shown him after a short fundraising effort was held for him on a friend’s Facebook page. Leigh Follestad recently noted Paton’s plight after being hospitalized following a bizarre confrontation that took place early in the morning of Dec. 1 after Paton answered a knock...
Spirit of Christmas triumphs over theft
PENTICTON - A Penticton mother and son are experiencing the true spirit of the Christmas season after suffering a devastating robbery earlier this week. Jackie Hooper and her son, Brandon Drury left their Atkinson Street home late Monday morning to shop for Christmas gifts. It promised to be great holiday; Brandon, who suffers from VACTERL...
Facebook group fights graffiti
PENTICTON - Penticton resident Kyle Bachmann is determined to do something about graffiti in the city after last weekend’s spray painting spree. “I’m tired of so many people out there doing graffiti in Penticton. On the weekend, Smart Shopper, Queen’s Park and Parkway Schools, the old Kentucky Fried Chicken building, Theo’s, Murray’s Pizza, Whole Foods...