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
Council gets stingy under new grant policy
PENTICTON - Grant discussions highlighted Penticton city council’s desire to reduce perennial grant requests at Wednesday's budget meeting. Council began the day with a list of grant requests totalling $791,876. Their goal was to whittle away $121,870 of that in order to get the budget on track with the budgeted amount of $670,000. By meeting's...
The price of electricity on the rise in Penticton
PENTICTON - The cost of electrictiy in Penticton is going up by 4.4 per cent as of Feb. 1. The 4.4 per cent rate hike works out to about $4.50 more a month for the average residential customer and is the result of a 4.55 per cent B.C. Hydro rate hike. Pencticton city councillors decided...
Taggers no match for this trio
PENTICTON - When three locals saw tag vandalism spray-painted across the Penticton Legion, they rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Barbara Coburn-Jaager and Ivo Jaager were basking in the glowing aftermath of a job well done Thursday, the day after their successful graffiti clean up effort. The two were assisted in the clean up...
Cause of motel fire undetermined
PENTICTON - The investigation into last week's fire at the Pass Motor Inn in Penticton won't offer the answers interested parties are looking for. After a thorough inspection of the burned-out unit in which the fire began Penticton fire inspector Mike Richards reported this week the fire department was unable to determine the exact cause...
This week has gotten much better for the Penticton Legion
PENTICTON - Volunteers and patrons found something unexpected on the outer walls of the local legion Wednesday afternoon—no more graffiti. Earlier in the week, possibly Saturday night, vandals made their scribbles on the Martin Street home of the Penticton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion—huge blue and green tags. Legion vice-president Ivo Jaager says it...
City catching up with big snow
PENTICTON - Communications Officer Simone Blais said it’s too soon to say how much this week’s heavy snowfall will cost Penticton residents. “Operations staff will have to submit time sheets, all the vehicles, equipment and supplies used will have to be identified and these reports will take weeks to come through,” she said. Blais said...
Busy start to 2015 for Penticton rescue group
PENTICTON - Penticton Search and Rescue members started 2015 with a busy New Years day. The rescue group began 2015 by volunteering to help out at the Summerland Kinsmen’s 30 annual polar bear dip. Eight members provided safety services in and out of the water to keep the 150 frigid frolickers safe as they made...
Keremeos firefighters called to structure fire
PENTICTON - Keremeos and District Volunteer firefighters were called to a structure fire on Tenth Avenue in Keremeos just after noon today. Keremeos Fire Chief Jordy Bosscha said 10 firefighters responded to the scene to find a building, measuring approximately 30 by 40 feet, engulfed in smoke. “It wasn’t fully involved when we arrived,” Bosscha...
Car flips into Skaha Lake
PENTICTON - Two men are safe after their car went off Eastside Road and into Skaha Lake early this morning. The two Penticton males were southbound, going to Oliver when they lost control of the vehicle on ice just north of the Heritage Hills turnoff at approximately 1 a.m., Jan. 6. The vehicle, a 1998...
Rising temperatures could add to Penticton’s cleanup woes
POTENTIAL FLOODING FROM SNOW MELT A WORRY PENTICTON - Driving around Penticton Monday afternoon two actions appeared to be common place on just about every street throughout the city - residents pushing stuck vehicles and those shovelling snow. By mid-afternoon snowfall was diminishing and temperatures were rising. That could be good and bad news for...
Winter weather causing disruptions at Penticton Regional Airport
PENTICTON - The South Okanagan’s latest onslaught of winter weather is affecting air travel in and out of Penticton Regional Airport. Debra Williams, Corporate Communications officer for Jazz Aviation LP reported Monday morning flight operations in Penticton were being impacted by weather. Air Canada Express (Jazz) flights to and from Penticton were cancelled Sunday due...
City work crews having a tough time keeping up with snowfall
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton reported this morning crews were being kept busy just keeping main arteries, emergency routes, steep hills and main transit routes open as snow continues to pound the city and region. “Given the significant snowfall, it’s likely crews will have to circle back and do these routes again before moving...
Kettle campaign surges to success in final days
PENTICTON - The final days of Penticton Salvation Army’s 2014 Christmas Kettle Campaign proved to be very productive. Salvation Army Kettle Campaign Coordinator Trish Dobrik was ecstatic to report Jan. 2, 2015 that the campaign ended up exceeding its target due to a surge in donations and volunteer effort in the final days. “Let me...
Christmas tree recycling in Penticton
PENTICTON - The big buildup to Christmas has come and gone, the big day is over and now, clean up begins. What to do with that tree in the living room that is starting to lose its needles? City and regional governments are encouraging residents not to burn their Christmas trees once the holiday season...
New Years holiday cuts into blood donations
PENTICTON - New Year’s celebrations may have had an impact on donations during day two of this week’s regularly scheduled Canadian Blood Services clinic in Penticton. Donors had the opportunity to donate blood for the last time last year, or for the first time this year at this week’s clinic, which took place over a...