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
New housing for medical students
PENTICTON - A new residence facility for visiting medical students and locum physicians is being prepared near Penticton Regional Hospital’s psychiatric unit. The second half of a factory built, single storey residence was lowered into place Feb. 28 on the hospital grounds. A $500,000 donation by Lloyd and Lota Jobling to the South Okanagan Similkameen...
Retiring regional district public works manager turning hobby into second career
PENTICTON - More art is in the future of retiring Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Public Works Manager Doug French. French will be retiring from his position at the end of March, when Roger Huston joins the regional district to take over the public works reins. French has been with the RDOS for five years....
Charitable concern fulfills daily need in the city
PENTICTON - The Christmas season and the accompanying generosity and goodwill that goes along with it has been over for a couple of months now, but that doesn’t mean the need for charity has diminished in the community. Whether its Christmas or not, those in need can continue to count on the Penticton Community Soupateria...
Penticton RCMP threatening letter investigation winding down
PENTICTON - Police presence at Penticton schools following the discovery of a threatening letter will be scaled back after classes end on Feb. 27 with Penticton RCMP saying they have exhausted all leads. The threatening letter found on school grounds Feb. 18, 2015 prompted a swift response from Mounties, but the investigation offered no new developments this...
Hazy regulations helping to create smoky air
PENTICTON - The kind of smoke that comes from burning wet leaves and brush might be harmful to your health and the health of neighbours in the valley, but it may not be clear which days are best for burning because of how that information is distributed in the south Okanagan. With warm February weather...
Future of Naramata Centre still undecided
PENTICTON - Two upcoming meetings of the Naramata Centre Board of Directors will hopefully define the immediate future of the retreat, board spokesman Gerry Anderson said Feb. 26. “We have a board meeting Sunday and our Annual General Meeting in June. Those meetings will go a long way to deciding our future direction,” Anderson said....
Valley-long trail envisioned by regional district
PENTICTON - The Okanagan's three regional districts like the idea of a continuous trail running from Osoyoos to Vernon. The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen’s board chair and Chief Administrative Officer met recently with Central Okanagan and North Okanagan counterparts to discuss the possibility of a trail running the length of the valley. “We meet with...
THREATENING LETTER: What Penticton police are telling parents as they prepare for a new school week
PENTICTON - Fears of a continued threat and frustration over communication was on parents’ minds at a community meeting set up by School District 67 following last week’s discovery of a threatening letter at Skaha Lake Middle School. Police and school officials met with students' parents and members of the public to hear their concerns...
Canadian country music star George Canyon to play Peachfest
PENTICTON - Country music fans, mark Friday, Aug. 7 on your calendar. That's the day George Canyon performs during this year’s 68th annual Penticton Peach Festival. Canyon is considered to be one of the most requested and well known stars on Country Music Television, in addition to being the most played Canadian artist on Canadian...
Threatening letter reaction, the line between thwarting a threat and mentioning a menace
PENTICTON - The only thing that appeared out of place at four schools named in last week’s threatening letter was the presence of police in parking lots Monday. Ty Carey and Nolan Aubie, grade 11 students at Princess Margaret Secondary School said they had attended an assembly Monday just prior to lunch. They said there...
Gangster parolee back behind bars
PENTICTON - A man previously convicted of offences in Kelowna and Winnipeg is back behind bars following his arrest in Osoyoos on the weekend. Osoyoos RCMP arrested Donald Bryce Lyons at his residence on Feb. 21 after his parole was revoked, according to an RCMP news release. Lyons was apprehended without incident after a Canada...
More to Penticton bridge project than meets the eye
PENTICTON - As bridges go, one wouldn’t think the new Satik bridge currently under construction at Green Avenue and the Channel Parkway in Penticton would be a very complicated project. After all, it’s a small bridge, with a low span running a distance of 100 feet or so. But there is more to the Satik...
KOOPMANS TRIAL: Two shot dead for revenge: Crown
PENTICTON — Two people from Princeton were shot to death and another was seriously wounded because the gunman was "crushed" and betrayed by his belief they broke into his home and stole from him, a Crown prosecutor told the jury today, Feb. 25, in the opening of the murder trial of John Ike Koopmans. Koopmans...
Penticton municipal candidates spent more than $100,000 on campaigns
PENTICTON - It cost an average $4,526.34 to try to get elected to Penticton City Council during last year’s November municipal election. The six successful candidates spent a total of $27,158.09 to get elected. That compares to an average expenditure of $2,322.21 spent by all of the 25 council candidates that tossed their hat into...
February weather helps city move capital project along
PENTICTON - The almost complete absence of winter in Penticton this February has helped the city make steady progress with its capital works program this year. Work on the rebuilding of Industrial Avenue that began in October, 2014 restarted recently after a short shut down. A mild and relatively precipitation free February has helped city...