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
Improperly stored firearm proves costly for Penticton man
PENTICTON - An avid hunter will have his firearm returned to him after his rifle was found improperly stored in his vehicle during a roadside check. Kimberly Brad Christensen appeared in Penticton Provincial Court yesterday, Sept. 16, to enter a guilty plea on a charge of careless use or storage of a firearm. Christensen ran...
Canucks Young Stars tournament in Penticton coming of age
PENTICTON - The Canucks Young Stars tournament is coming of age and providing some serious economic returns to the City of Penticton. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit can take a lot of credit for the four day event, which began six years ago following a pitch he made when he was a city councillor to Vancouver Canucks...
Penmar Community Arts Society gets funding boost
PENTICTON - The Penmar Community Arts Society have a new sponsor who is also providing the theatre initiative to turn the movie house into a performing arts centre with a financial boost. The Penticton accounting firm White Kennedy Chartered Professional Accountants has made a $5,000 donation to the society while acquiring naming rights. Society president...
Kaleden business target of multiple break-ins
PENTICTON - Kaleden Petro Canada owner Jas (J.B.) Bansoota has discovered the best and the worst of social media, at least when it comes to the security of his business. The service station owner has been frustrated by a couple of recent break-ins where social media provided some leads to the perpetrators, but also may...
Penticton kidnapping incident results in five arrests
PENTICTON - A May 2015 kidnappping of a Penticton man has resulted in five arrests by Penticton RCMP. On May 21, a Penticton man was found in the ditch on Shingle Creek Road west of Penticton suffering from a broken leg and in hand restraints after having been kidnapped and beaten. The police have always...
New charity funds arts programs for Oliver students
PENTICTON - A new charity promises to help fund arts programs for children in the South Okanagan. Tinhorn Creek Vineyards announced the launch of their new charity today, Sept. 15. Celebrate the Arts has been established to fund fine arts programs for children in the local Oliver area. A cheque for $6,000 was presented this...
UPDATE: Owner reunited with artificial leg found on Penticton street
UPDATE: 3:20 P.M., SEPT. 15, 2015 The owner of the prosthetic leg found on Lakeshore Drive over the weekend has been found, Penticton RCMP report. Penticton City bylaw officers called the detachment to say they knew the owner of the leg, Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says in a press release. The woman had...
Penticton woman pleads guilty to impaired charge, driving while disqualified
PENTICTON - A Penticton woman is not to get behind the wheel for two years following a plea of guilty to a charge of impaired driving and driving while disqualified in Penticton court this morning, Sept. 14. Crown Prosecutor Kurt Froelich told court Leisha Blais was driving home from a Narcotics Anonymous meeting at a...
Penticton firefighters shake their boots for Muscular Dystrophy
Join the Penticton firefighters who are taking part in a valley wide boot drive. On Saturday, Sept. 19 they shake their boots across the valley in support of Muscular Dystrophy Canada. Stop by and drop off your extra change at one of these locations: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Penticton Market at Main and...
Penticton’s Skaha Lake dragon boat central on weekend
PENTICTON - The Skaha Lake shoreline was a busy place this weekend in Penticton, as the city welcomed thousands to the 15th annual running of the Penticton Dragon Boat Festival. “It was a great festival, probably one of our best,” Race Director Don Mulhall says. “Everything ran perfectly, races were on time, there were no...
ELECTION 2015: Harper makes promises during Penticton pit shop
PENTICTON - Stephen Harper’s campaign bus didn’t just stop at the door of Nor Mar Industries’ Brutus Truck Bodies shop — it drove right inside as Harper made a grand entrance to several hundred of the party faithful just after 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 13. The event, which was quietly announced to members of the...
ELECTION 2015: Voting basics in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay
PENTICTON - Penticton voters have a number of choices available to them when it comes to casting a ballot in the upcoming federal election. The City of Penticton lies within the newly created riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay. There are currently three candidates on the ballot; Liberal Connie Denesiuk, Conservative Marshall Neufeld, and New Democrat Richard...
Penticton city council asked to restrict new liquor licenses
PENTICTON - Local liquor and wine purveyors reacted to potential changes to the province’s liquor licensing laws by paying Penticton city council a visit. Lee Keller of Cherry Lane Liquor Store appeared before council at council's regular meeting, Sept. 8, to request council pass a bylaw stating any new liquor license, including wine in grocery...
When children play with fire, the Penticton Fire Department has a response
PENTICTON - A program run by the Penticton Fire Department works to ensure the city’s youth don’t get the wrong idea when it comes to playing with fire. Penticton Fire Department’s Jodi Fotherby says they participate in the Juvenile Firestarter Program. Three members have taken the course through the Fire Commissioner’s office and are certified...
Host team takes a beating in game two of Canucks Young Stars Tournament
PENTICTON - Hockey season got underway in Penticton as the Canucks Young Stars Classic hockey tournament began at Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre last night. The rookies from the Vancouver Canucks and the Edmonton Oilers squared off, Sept. 11, following game one earlier in the day, which pitted Calgary against Winnipeg. A capacity crowd was...