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
Penticton Christmas tree recycling program back for another year
PENTICTON - Penticton residents will have the opportunity to recycle their Christmas trees once again this year. City residents can drop their trees off at Fire Hall #2 at 285 Dawson Ave. where they will be collected, chipped and recycled. Drop offs are permitted between Dec. 26, 2015 and Jan. 31, 2016. For more information,...
Christmas laser lights causing problems for Okanagan airport
PENTICTON - A new form of Christmas lighting may have been at issue behind a police incident at Penticton Regional Airport earlier this month. RCMP were called to Penticton Regional Airport on Sunday evening, Dec. 13, after a pilot reported seeing a green laser light flash in the cockpit as he was about to land,...
Holiday changes for garbage pickup in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen
PENTICTON - Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen residents will not receive garbage collection on Christmas and New Year’s Day as the pickup schedule is revised to accommodate the holiday season. Collection on those two days will shift to Saturday, Dec.26 and Saturday, Jan. 2. Penticton city residents with regular Friday collection and residents in Keremeos,...
Okanagan Similkameen Regional District office upgrades, upgraded
PENTICTON - The upgrade to the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District office building is on budget thanks to a gas tax grant from the Union of B.C. Municipalities. The board of directors have approved some add ons to the building renovations, in addition to giving final budget approval to the project. Chief administrative officer Bill Newell...
Government, charities work towards a solution to homelessness in Penticton
PENTICTON - Progress is being made by a coaltion of several groups involved in a mission to find a solution to homelessness in Penticton. About 25 people from government and local community groups have met to exchange information and ideas, and plan how they will move forward to find a solution to homelessness in the...
Regional District and City of Penticton operating hours over the holidays
PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen and the City of Penticton will be open during the holiday season, taking three days off through Christmas. The main office at 101 Martin St. will close Friday, Dec. 25, Monday, Dec. 28 and Friday, Jan. 1, but will be open regular hours the remaining days, from...
Christmas tree recycling in the South Okanagan
PENTICTON - It's easy to recycle your Christmas tree in the South Okanagan. Penticton firefighters will pick up Christmas trees from Dec. 27 to Jan. 18 for a donation which will go the the B.C. Professional Firefighters Burn Fund and Muscular Dystrophy charities. You can call 250-490-2315 to arrange for collection. Trees can also be dropped off at...
Naramata and Summerland refugee groups coordinate efforts with MP Cannings
PENTICTON - Two refugee support groups in the South Okanagan are going to work together with help from local MP Dick Cannings. Representatives from the Naramata Syrian Refugee Initiative and the Summerland Refugee Group meet with the South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP this week to discuss refugee issues in the two communities, according to a media release. Laura...
Penticton council seeks clarification of fleet expense
PENTICTON - Penticton city councillors have taken exception with the name of a budget item they feel is misleading to taxpayers. City staff have a budget line called "mayor and council" worth $11,000. The expense is for the operation and maintenance of SUVs owned by the city for use by some employees and council. Chief financial...
Oliver emergency services called to lake rescue
PENTICTON - Emergency services converged on Tuc el nuit Lake in Oliver yesterday afternoon after a teenager went through the ice. Oliver Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson Rob Graham says the fire department, Oliver RCMP and B.C. Ambulance were called to the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m., Dec. 17, after receiving a call of a person...
Man accused of slashing pizza deliverer released on bail
PENTICTON - A Penticton man alleged to have attacked a pizza delivery man with a box cutter has been released on bail. Dayne Douglas Jones, charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and resisting a police officer, was granted release on $5,000 bail following an appearance in Penticton court this afternoon, Dec. 17. The...
Christmas hamper deliveries set for this weekend in Penticton
PENTICTON - The Society of St. Vincent De Paul Christmas Hamper drive is coming to a conclusion with final preparations being made for delivery of Christmas hampers this weekend. St. Ann’s Parish Office Manager Melinda Edis says volunteers are busy packing hampers today, Dec. 17, for delivery tomorrow. More than 400 hampers are being prepared....
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...
Penticton council looking at property tax increases
PENTICTON - Minimal tax increases over the past few years have caught up with the City of Penticton as staff and council met yesterday to begin scrutinizing the 2016 budget. This was council’s first major budget session this year and they didn't get a lot off good news from staff. Chief administrative officer Eric Sorenson...
Keremeos restaurant target of armed robbery
PENTICTON - Keremeos RCMP are investigating an armed robbery in the quiet agricultural community. The Keremeos Subway restaurant was held up at around 9 p.m. last night, Dec. 16, according to a media release from RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. Moskaluk says a lone man entered the business wielding a knife and demanding cash from...