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
UPDATE: Accident shuts down Highway 97 south of OK Falls
PENTICTON - A serious motor vehicle accident that shut down Highway 97 in both directions just south of Okanagan Falls sent two to hospital yesterday afternoon. Police were initially led to respond to calls of an accident near Kaleden and south of Okanagan Falls at Alba Road prior to receiving word of the proper location...
Thieves wrestle away safe
PENTICTON - RCMP are on the lookout for one or more brazen and beefy thieves after a safe was stolen from a Penticton jewellery store. Police were called at 8:22 a.m. on Jan. 9 and arrived to find the lock on a door leading to a common hallway at 311 Main St. damaged and insecure. The...
Penticton firefighter commended for bravery
PENTICTON - A Penticton firefighter was commended for bravery during a presentation at the Jan. 14, 2015 meeting of Penticton city council. Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit presented firefighter Curtis Gibbons with a Certificate of Commendation from the office of the Governor General of Canada in recognition of his assistance in helping a drowning swimmer in...
Council advances downtown improvements
PENTICTON - Another step forward for the downtown Penticton revitalization project at today's, Jan. 12, council meeting. Phase one improvements to Main Street were advanced with the adoption of a bylaw that will establish a local service area in addition to giving the go ahead to construct street improvements in the first phase. Council also...
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...
Learning Lunch series returns with a topic meant to put you to sleep
PENTICTON - Be prepared to come away from this workshop with a good night's sleep on your mind. The Learning at Lunch program returns to Penticton Public Library Museum auditorium on Friday, Jan. 16, from noon until 1 p.m. Cheryl and Arthur Halsted will present a COSCO Senior’s Health and Wellness Institute workshop that will...
Okanagan Falls meeting to discuss dual park proposals
PENTICTON - Residents of Okanagan Falls and Heritage Hills will have an opportunity to have their say about two park proposals for the communities at an upcoming meeting. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Seniors Centre in Okanagan Falls, starting at 7 p.m. and is designed to address the possibility of...
City finalizes 2015 budget
PENTICTON - Penticton city council has finalized their budget after just six days of deliberations. On Jan. 12, 2015 council approved a 1.3 per cent increase to cover a $326,230 deficit. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the 2015 budget factors in cost control and fiscal responsibility, in addition to several strategic investments asked for by residents...
Now the wheels on the bus go round and round Okanagan Falls
PENTICTON - Two new transit routes will provide service to residents surrounding Skaha Lake. Beginning next Monday, Jan. 19, inaugural service on Route 20 will begin with five round trips per day from Okanagan Falls to Penticton. Stops will also be made at Skaha Estates and Heritage Hills, with the regional run terminating at Cherry...
Penticton fuel prices drop below a dollar per litre
PENTICTON - The Penticton market has breached the benchmark figure of one dollar per litre for gasoline. The price of a litre of regular gasoline broke under the one dollar per litre barrier on Sunday, Jan. 11, as gas stations in the city posted prices of 99.9 cents per litre for regular gas. The one...
Bridge across channel expected to be economic generator
PENTICTON - The Penticton Indian Band officially announced the commencement of construction of the band’s Satik (pronounced Sa-TI-koo) Crossing bridge on Jan.12. The bridge is expected to open up approximately 150 acres of locatee lands that were previously inaccessible. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Working with the City of Penticton and other partners, we can...
Village residents happy to see Mount Baldy reopening
PENTICTON - Skiers in the South Okanagan had two reasons to feel good about their sport last week. After the region received a huge dump of snow last weekend, new operators at Mount Baldy announced Friday, Jan. 9 they would soon be open again to the general public. Mount Baldy’s new operator took control on...
Penticton property assessments up in 2015
PENTICTON - B.C. Assessment released the latest property information for Penticton and the South Okanagan - Similkameen this week. Assessed values of most homes in the South Okanagan are up in value compared to last year’s assessment roll. The changes in property values are modest, however, in the -5% to +5 % range for the...
Construction begins on bridge to economic development in Penticton
PENTICTON - Preliminary construction on the new bridge across the Channel Parkway at Green Avenue began this week. Flaggers and traffic cones lined the road north and south of the Green Avenue intersection on Friday as workers removed traffic islands, causing some confusion to motorists as well as some minor slowdowns. Penticton Indian Band Chief...
Nine days jail time for knock-knock assault
PENTICTON - A Penticton man who knocked on a stranger's door then beat the man who answered was sentenced this week to nine days in jail. Michael Cravens was sentenced Jan. 5. He was also given 15 months probation, with conditions. He got a further 21 days for breaching release conditions just two days after...