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
Another former tenant of Penticton rental speaks out about rat issue
PENTICTON - Another former tenant of a Penticton rental house says he was forced out of the house because of rodent issues. Bram Avery told Infonews he and his wife rented the house, located at 292 Kinney Ave., prior to Linda Childs, who moved out last month because rats were overrunning the property. Avery says...
Phony firearms, drunk driving and drugs keep Penticton officers busy
PENTICTON - In addition to answering the usual calls for assistance, calls about an axe handle disguised as a gun and a break and enter to the local bottle depot kept Penticton RCMP busy last week. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Penticton RCMP stopped a man on Highway 97 just outside of Penticton and discovered he...
Similkameen youth treatment facility continues to languish
PENTICTON - The re-opening of a youth addiction treatment facility continues to stall in the Similkameen valley as the property’s owners work with the province to restablish new guidelines. Central City Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Johnstone says the foundation, which owns the former Portage youth addiction treatment facility known as The Crossing, remain committed...
Oliver family feels marijuana-laced baked goods to blame for sick dog
OLIVER - A family pet needed emergency care after ingesting enough marijuana to cause THC toxicity this past weekend, leaving his Oliver family to believe a Halloween prank is to blame. Faith Speed started 'Rangers Medical Support Fund' after her dog got sick this past weekend, which she believes was caused when someone left something...
Halloween hijinks include kids with ‘copious amounts’ of alcohol in Penticton
PENTICTON - Police spent a busy Halloween night responding to numerous fireworks and intoxicated persons complaints. “Copious amounts of liquor was seized from 15 year old youths,” Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. Numerous backpacks were seized, full of bottles of everything from Jack Daniels whiskey to Captain Morgans rum, he says. Several two-litre...
Why Penticton police hope the city hosts more events like Ribfest
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP resources are feeling the pressures of increasing call volumes and depleted ranks as this year’s crime statistics defy normal patterns. Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski describes the call volumes as “wonky” this year, as seasonal call volumes in the off season winter months this year reached summer volumes at times. Lozinski says...
Directors voice policing issues to region’s top cop
PENTICTON - The recent graffiti epidemic was just one of the topics Penticton RCMP's top cop spoke about during the Regional District board meeting Jan. 22. Penticton RCMP Superintendent Kevin Hewco discussed the RCMP’s annual performance plan with regional directors, a means by which each municipality is able to identify their own exclusive policing needs,...
Penticton RCMP kept hopping with stolen vehicles
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP were kept busy with vehicle related incidents last week. Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says an RCMP officer driving on Eastside Road on Tuesday, July 7 spotted a vehicle reported stolen a short time before. The officer turned around and followed the vehicle, which soon was driven into a ditch. The three men...
City concession stands targeted by thieves
PENTICTON - Beach concessions took a beating this week in the Peach City. Penticton’s Community policing Coordinator Rick Dellebuur reports a number of break and enters at the city’s various beach concessions during the past week. Overnight on Wednesday, Aug. 19, the concession at Lakawanna Park was broken into and cash stolen from the till. The...
A week of thefts and threats for Penticton RCMP
PENTICTON - Summer activity appears to be winding down in the city with Penticton RCMP reporting a quiet week. RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police investigated several vehicle thefts, mischief and domestic complaints over the past week in Penticton. On Monday, Aug. 24, police were called in the early morning hours to a...
Motorcycle thief surrenders after heroin-induced ‘vision’
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP came across a motorcycle thief, an excessive speeder and several break ins during their patrols last week. Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth reports a motorcycle belonging to a Surrey resident was found by police Tuesday, Sept. 29, after the driver crashed it on Marina Way near the art gallery. The...
Busy week for Penticton RCMP as thieves target vehicles
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP Community policing coordinator Rick Dellebuur reports the Penticton detachment responded to a number of thefts and break and enters in the past week. Beginning last Tuesday, Aug. 18, police recovered a 2011 Ford F-150 pickup that had been stolen from a Fairview Avenue address. The Alberta plated vehicle, which had keys...
Theft, unusual odours and annual grad party all part of Penticton RCMP work week
PENTICTON - Thefts kept police busy this week, along with some mischief and an annual unsanctioned graduation event. Tuesday, Sept. 1, a suspect was arrested by the drug task force after stealing men’s jeans from Mark’s Work Wearhouse at 2607 South Main St., according to Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth. The man was identified...
From meth use to mischief to spitting on a cop cruiser, Penticton RCMP again kept busy
PENTICTON - It was a week filled with drugs, vandalism, guns and theft for members of the Penticton RCMP. A man high on meth attempted to check himself into emergency on Wednesday evening, Sept. 9. He was refused admission and threatened to go outside to the parking lot and start smashing windshields, which caught the...
Police patrols respond to impaired octogenarian and other offences in Penticton
PENTICTON - It was a busy week for local RCMP as they dealt with a variety of infractions while patrolling area highways last week. Police received several complaints of an erratic driver behind the wheel of a grey Chevy Cobalt on Tuesday afternoon, Sept.1. The vehicle was located shortly after it struck another vehicle, but...