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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
Breach of sentence proves costly for Princeton man
PENTICTON – A Princeton man pled guilty to drug possession, driving and weapons charges after…
Transit fares to increase slightly in South Okanagan
PENTICTON - It’s going to cost a little more to use public transit in the South Okanagan in 2015. B.C. Transit announced Dec.22 cash fares on local trips in Osoyoos will rise from $1.75 from $1.50. Fares between Osoyoos and Penticton, and places in between, are also up 25 cents, but for longer regional trips,...
Garbage pickup and Christmas tree recycling schedule for the Christmas holidays
PENTICTON - The city would like to note some changes to curb side garbage and recycling pickup due to the Christmas holidays for the schedule taking place until Jan. 4, 2015. December 25, 2014 garbage and recycling will be picked up on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014. January 1, 2015 garbage pickup will instead be collected...
Mount Baldy to reopen this season
PENTICTON - South Okanagan ski enthusiasts should be rejoicing after hearing Mount Baldy will be re-opening this season. Baldy Capital Corporation, a Calgary based company, made the announcement this week after recently reaching a Memorandum of Understanding to purchase the resort. The company has reached an interim financing and management agreement with newly appointed receiver...
Kettle Campaign stalled by lack of volunteers
PENTICTON - With two days left in the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign, Kettle Coordinator Tricia Dobrik is hoping to bolster volunteer ranks in order to reach this year’s goal. “We barely covered kettle shifts last week, and today we missed three shifts - two at the liquor store and one at Shoppers Drug Mart,” Dobrik...
Three companies short listed for PRH Care Tower selection process
PENTICTON - Three proponents have been short listed to participate in the next stage of the competitive selection process to design, build, partially finance, and maintain the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH) The short list for the Request For Proposal stage of the Patient Care Tower at Penticton Regional Hospital was announced today....
Two Penticton businesses vying for best in B.C. status
PENTICTON - Two Penticton businesses made the semi-finalists list for the 12th annual Small Business B.C. Awards. The two Penticton businesses in the top 10 are White Kennedy LLP for Best Workplace and SO Country Radio with Dennis Walker for Premier People’s Choice. “I’m very pleased. The comments I have received indicate to me that...
City facing electrical rate hikes in 2015
PENTICTON - Hydro rates in the city are going up next year. Exactly how much more Penticton residents will be paying remains to be decided. Penticton City Council took on the issue of electrical rate increases at the Dec. 15 council meeting. Staff told council three increases were coming in the new year, including a...
Christmas hiatus for young Penticton actor
PENTICTON - A young Penticton actor will be looking for his next project now that the Fox crime drama Gracepoint has come to a close. Nikolas Filipovic played the role of murdered 12-year-old Danny Solano. The final show in the series aired December 11. The 15-year-old actor is a grade 10 student at Penticton High...
Penticton council working to deal with election problems
PENTICTON - It wasn't smooth sailing during the Penticton election in November. There were too many candidates, signage problems and crowded polling stations, according to the city's corporate officer. Dana Schmidt delivered a summary of the election to the newly elected city councillors this week, noting 31.4 per cent of eligible voters, and less than 10...
Return of stolen dog “best present ever” for SPCA
PENTICTON - Staff and volunteers at the Penticton SPCA are celebrating the return of Cooper, a one year old miniature pinscher-pug mix stolen from the Penticton SPCA in October. Someone scaled the shelter fence and cut a hole in the building to steal the dog, which was one of 14 dogs and seven horses seized...
Feast on Thompson-Okanagan fare at the Christmas dinner table
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Our region is a food producing mecca, and with Christmas on the way, what better time to take a look at what we can buy locally to put on the table? We took a look at the region and came up with five opportunities to make that big Christmas meal tasty, healthy, and...
Major upgrade budgeted for Corry Place in Penticton
PENTICTON - The people living on Corry Place in Penticon recieved an early Christmas present from city council this week. The councillors voted unanimously in favour of a staff recommendation to include the reconstruction of the street in the 2015 budget. Prior to the start of budget talks on Dec. 8, a Corry Place resident made...
Penticton house fire illustrates need to be ‘fire aware’ during the holiday season
PENTICTON - A house fire in Penticton Sunday, believed to have been started by a candle, brings a reminder from the Penticton Fire Department to be careful when using candles during this holiday season. The fire, which occurred in the 200 block of Okanagan Avenue West at 1:48 p.m. Dec.14, was knocked down quickly, according...
Looking for things to do in Penticton over the Christmas break?
PENTICTON — If you are need to beat the winter blahs, melt away some of those extra Christmas pounds or looking for something for the family, you might find what you need right here — Recreation Penticton will be offering a free Aqua Fit class on Dec.18 as a way to get fitness buffs into...
Have you entered the Penticton Arts Awards?
PENTICTON - If the nominations are as good as this promotional video from the Penticton Arts Council, the Penticton Arts Awards this February should be spectacular. The arts council is hosting its second annual art celebration on Feb. 26, 2015 to recognize winning nominees for their outstanding artistic achievements. The council put out the video...
Cemetery options discussed at committee meeting
PENTICTON -Penticton city council was given a refresher course on the state of Lakeview Cemetery at a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Dec. 15. The cemetery issue raised some controversy during council’s initial budget discussions on Dec. 8. At that time, Councillor Helena Konanz asked Penticton Public Works Manager Len Robson to describe...
Council feels the love following public hearing
PENTICTON - Monday’s public hearing packed the gallery at city hall with residents, some of whom spilled out into the corridors. The business at hand concerned a piece of city-owned property located at 1400 Riddle Road, to be re-designated in the Official Community Plan from residential to parks and recreation prior to Monday’s council meeting...
Water order for Wolfe Creek rescinded
PENTICTON - A Dec. 11 Do Not Use order issued by Interior Health for water from Wolfe Creek immediately downstream from Copper Mountain Mine to the mouth of the Similkameen River has been rescinded. The decision to lift the order came after a review of water samples out of Wolfe Creek and Lorne Lake. Results...
Five local books for under your tree this Christmas
PENTICTON - If you’re looking for some local books this Christmas - for yourself or as gifts - you might be surprised to find the wealth of talent and subject variety coming from a number of Penticton and area authors. Judy Zubriski of "Hooked on Books" in Penticton pointed out five local authors with recently...
Summerland man escapes child porn charge in ‘cautionary tale’
"A FEW SECONDS OF DRUNKEN STUPIDITY AND YOU COULD BE COMMITTING A CRIME WITH MANDATORY MINIMUMS OF ONE YEAR:" CROWN PENTICTON - A Summerland man pled guilty to voyeurism in Penticton Provincial Court Monday for actions Judge Gale Sinclair called “stupid in the extreme.” The 19-year-old man, who can't be identified because of a publication...
Six signs its Christmas time in Penticton
PENTICTON - There are six signs the Christmas season is upon us in Penticton. 1 - It’s not really Christmas in Penticton until you see the SS Sicamous decked out in Christmas lights, not just the standard lighting we are used to throughout the year. It’s worth a look, down at the waterfront at the...
New RDOS board promoting regionalism
PENTICTON - The regional district's new chair and vice chair are both taking a regional view to the table as the new board held its inaugural meeting on December 11. Several new faces joined the Regional District Okanagan -SiImilkameen board following the November 15 municipal elections. New members of the board include Terry Schafer (Area...
New school board brings skill and experience to the table
PENTICTON - With three new faces elected to School District 67’s board of trustees, new Chair Linda Van Alphen and Vice Chair Ginny Manning believe the board that will lead the school district for the next four years has experience as well as “diverse skill sets.” Even though there are three newcomers to the board...