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
Lightning strikes keep crews hopping dousing wildfires
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Thunderstorms moving through the region ignited several new fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre. The fire danger rating for the Kamloops Fire Centre is high to extreme, with more lightning in the forecast for today, Aug. 13. “We did see lightning move through the area, followed by reports of fires yesterday, so we...
National park proposal part of provincial intentions paper
PENTICTON - As calls for a national park in the South Okanagan continue, the province is inviting public input to provide feedback for an intentions paper proposing how land might be protected in the South Okanagan region. The policies proposed in the paper will be applied only to three distinct areas in the region. The...
Penticton native centre provides cultural grounding
PENTICTON - A First Nations educational initiative that began more than 40 years ago has grown into a cultural institution aiming to connect and strengthen Aboriginal Peoples with their heritage and culture. The En’owkin Centre got its start in the 1970s as the Okanagan Indian Cirriculum Project and provided instruction for native students from Kindergarten...
Customer reels in crustacean crook
PENTICTON - A Penticton man with a penchant for prawns has a future court date following his apprehension for shoplifting. Bryan Murray Moxam was arrested Friday, Aug. 7, after being chased out of the Penticton IGA by a customer who realized Moxam had merchandise he hadn’t paid for, according to RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don...
Why you’ll want to reserve your Okanagan red wines this year
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - All through the Okanagan region, winemakers are getting excited about prospects for this year’s grape crop. Hot, sunny days that have been relatively constant since early June have brought this year’s vintage along at blazing speed, and Okanagan winemakers believe the conditions are right for one of the best vintages ever. “It’s definitely...
Reel Peach Fest film festival expected to return
PENTICTON - The first Reel Peach Fest film festival was a success and it's expected it will return again next year. Winning entries were announced at the conclusion of the Penticton Peach Festival on Sunday, Aug. 9. Thirty-two submissions were displayed over the course of Peachfest, consisting of one to three minute videos in two...
Close call for Penticton cat caught in leg hold trap
PENTICTON - 'Look at what the cat dragged in' is rarely used to describe something pleasant and for one Penticton couple that was certainly true this weekend. Terri Lynn Stroomer and Chris Whalen’s cat came home Saturday evening, Aug. 8, dragging a leg hold trap. The feline had been caught in the old trap, which...
Peachfest a success in eyes of the law
PENTICTON - It was a relatively quiet Peach Festival week in the city, at least from an RCMP point of view. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says the week was 'fantastic, overall.' “Other than the first evening, the weather cooperated for the rest of the week, there was a good family atmosphere in the city...
South Okanagan senior athletes ready for 55+ Games
PENTICTON - Sixty-three seniors from the South Okanagan and Similkameen are taking heed of advice to stay active as they get older. A group of Zone Five participants in the upcoming 55+ Games, formerly known as the B.C. Senior's Games, took part in a photo opportunity this morning, August 10, at the South Okanagan Events...
Psychotic episode resulted from ‘controlling’ house guest: Lawyer
PENTICTON - A Keremeos man will not serve jail time for throwing rocks through a window of the Keremeos RCMP detachment. Robert Polovnikoff faced Judge Gale Sinclair on Wednesday, August 5 facing a mischief charge following a bizarre day in Keremeos. Crown Prosecutor Kurt Frolik said Polovnikoff believed someone had planted a bomb in the...
Penticton getting second WestJet flight
PENTICTON - Tourism Penticton received some good news as the organization welcomes its new executive director. WestJet is adding a second flight to the Peach City. The flight will be added to WestJet's schedule in mid-February, 2016, according to outgoing executive director Chris Bower. Bower says the new flight will depart the Penticton Airport at...
Best place to watch August meteor shower in the South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Having an astrophysical observatory right on your doorstep can come in handy during cosmic events. Wednesday, Aug. 12, is the date of this year’s annual Perseid meteor shower event at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory. Astronomers from the observatory will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the meteor showers....
Final day of Peachfest
PENTICTON - It’s day five and the final day of the 68th annual Penticton Peachfest. There’s still lots going on as the Pentown Throwdown Skateboard and BMX event continues at Riverside Park, as does the Shiela Bishop Memorial Wooden Bat Slowpitch Tournament in Lions Park. The Downtown Penticton Association's Kiddies Day Parade heads down Main...
Keremeos wildfire leaves two homeless
PENTICTON - A human-caused wildfire west of Keremeos has left two people homeless. The grass fire broke out at about 8:30 a.m. this morning, Aug. 8, along Highway 3 about eight kilometres west of Keremeos, according to Keremeos fire chief Jordy Bosscha. Bosscha says a mobile home, a number of outbuildings and numerous farm implements...
Saturday events at Peachfest
PENTICTON - Day four of the Penticton Peachfest begins with a Pancake Breakfast at the Elks Lodge at 343 Ellis Street, running from 7- 10 a.m. The annual Peach Parade is next at 10 a.m. with more than 100 entries from throughout B.C. and the Pacific Northwest. The parade route runs down Main Street from Pen...