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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
Thief with a penchant for Wal-Mart won’t be home for Christmas
PENTICTON - A Penticton man won’t get his wish to spend Christmas with family following a Tuesday Penticton court appearance on today, Dec. 22. Brandon Michael Hurren was sentenced on counts of driving while prohibited, theft under $5,000 and breach of recognizance for a number of incidents that occurred in Penticton and Kelowna this year....
Penticton lawyer facing more allegations from Law Society
PENTICTON – A Penticton lawyer faces a disciplinary hearing as a result of allegations in…
Oliver emergency services called to lake rescue
PENTICTON - Emergency services converged on Tuc el nuit Lake in Oliver yesterday afternoon after a teenager went through the ice. Oliver Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson Rob Graham says the fire department, Oliver RCMP and B.C. Ambulance were called to the scene at approximately 3:30 p.m., Dec. 17, after receiving a call of a person...
Man accused of slashing pizza deliverer released on bail
PENTICTON - A Penticton man alleged to have attacked a pizza delivery man with a box cutter has been released on bail. Dayne Douglas Jones, charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and resisting a police officer, was granted release on $5,000 bail following an appearance in Penticton court this afternoon, Dec. 17. The...
Keremeos restaurant target of armed robbery
PENTICTON - Keremeos RCMP are investigating an armed robbery in the quiet agricultural community. The Keremeos Subway restaurant was held up at around 9 p.m. last night, Dec. 16, according to a media release from RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. Moskaluk says a lone man entered the business wielding a knife and demanding cash from...
Penticton resident reports cougar with house cat in its jaws
PENTICTON - A pet owner in the upper Penticton Avenue area may be missing their cat following a pair of cougar sightings in the area earlier this week. Two sightings were reported to Penticton conservation officers on Monday, Dec.14. Conservation officer Dave Cox says the sightings were reported to the conservation office around 8 p.m....
Charges laid in collisions that killed five bighorn sheep in South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Two drivers are facing multiple charges after killing five bighorn sheep in two separate collisions on Highway 3 west of Keremeos in October. The collisions occurred on Oct. 1, 2015, around 4 p.m. when an eastbound Ford F250 pickup driven by a 56-year-old man and a Dodge Ram pickup driven by a 75-year-old...
Vicious assault on Penticton delivery man
PENTICTON - A Penticton delivery man making a late night call to a Westminster Avenue residence was seriously assaulted yesterday. Police were called to Penticton Regional Hospital around 1 a.m. this morning, Dec. 15, after receiving a call of a 35-year-old man suffering serious lacerations to his hands and face from an assault. While making...
Long list of charges resolved in Penticton with more than one year jail
PENTICTON - A Penticton man will serve more than a year in jail for a long list of charges involving numerous incidents taking place in two provinces, over several years. The law caught up with Scott Bradley Mathieson in Penticton Courthouse yesterday, Dec.14, as Judge Gale Sinclair sentenced Mathieson to a total of 380 days...
South Okanagan national park focus group suddenly terminated
PENTICTON - A local MLA is disbanding a national park focus group just weeks after it was formed. Boundary-Similkmeen MLA Linda Larson says in a media release, "while there is a need to protect the natural landscape of the South Okanagan, the question of how that is done has been a divisive one.” Larson says...
Collision shuts down northbound lanes of Highway 97 north of Trout Creek
PENTICTON - Northbound traffic on Highway 97 has been disrupted for a period of time this afternoon and evening following a two vehicle collision. A statement issued by Drive B.C. issued at 6:30 p.m. indicated the highway was still closed following the collision, which motorist Tony Madeira says happened just in front of him at...
WWE Road to Wrestlemania coming to Penticton
PENTICTON - Wrestlemania is coming to the South Okanagan Events Centre. WWE Live presents Road to Wrestlemania at the centre on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016. The best of the WWE’s superstars and divas will be part of the Penticton show, including Demon Kane, Dean Ambrose, Intercontinental Champion Kevin Owens, Dudley Boyz and Bray Wyatt and...
Blues, rock and gospel in Penticton Dream Music Festival lineup
PENTICTON - A new group of artists will be centre stage at the 2016 Dream Music Festival. The Dream Cafe Co-op announced the dates and line up for next year’s festival — where Blues and Rock will visit their Gospel roots — today, Dec. 4. The 2016 festival will take place at the Penticton Trade...
Amazing model railroad in Osoyoos is famous
PENTICTON - An Osoyoos entrepreneur’s model train hobby has become a major tourist attraction in the South Okanagan. The Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad has been fascinating visitors to the area for 12 years. The 4,000 square foot display depicting a European style landscape is Canada’s largest Marklin model train layout. "It’s more than a railroad. I’ve...
No ski season at Mount Baldy
PENTICTON – The prospects for Mount Baldy Ski Area opening this season are all downhill…
Cant stop the music: Osoyoos high school band plays on after budget cuts
OSOYOOS - When budget cuts led to the cancellation of band class, a small group of determined Osoyoos band students and their volunteer band teacher decided to create their own musical education. Music teacher Anne Murseli has known most of the eight band members since elementary school and when budget cuts cancelled the music class...
Early morning blaze destroys travel trailer in Okanagan Falls
PENTICTON - Okanagan Falls volunteer firefighters were hampered by cold temperatures and a lack of fire hydrants while fighting a blaze just south of the community early this morning. Firefighters arrived at a property at the corner of Highway 97 and Alba Road at about 1:30 a.m., Nov. 30, to find a travel trailer completely...
Naramata Centre could temporarily house refugees
PENTICTON – Naramata Centre could find new life as a temporary home for several Syrian…
Trial for four accused in kidnapping moving forward in Penticton
PENTICTON - The trial of four men accused of kidnapping and beating another man continued to move forward in Penticton court this afternoon, Thursday, Nov. 26. Carey Anderson, Kerry James Ellis, Albert Edgar Fontaine and John Marshall Szanto are accused of kidnapping and aggravated assault, and other charges following a May 21 incident on Shingle...
Summerland Christmas Express nearly sold out
PENTICTON - For those wishing to take a ride on the Summerland Christmas Express, the last train with any room on board will be leaving the station sooner, rather than later. Kettle Valley Steam Railway marketing manager Tracey Slattery says this year’s Christmas schedule is nearly completely sold out - and that includes an additional...
Cawston man serves jail time for alcohol-induced assaults, threats
PENTICTON - A Cawston man was handed a court order to stop drinking and given time served as part of a sentence handed down in Penticton court today, Nov. 26. Gabriel Julian Labrosse was sentenced to 47 days time served by Judge Gale Sinclair on multiple charges including assault, assault with a weapon and uttering...
Evidence indicates Penticton dog attacked by deer, not cougar
PENTICTON - A Penticton resident’s pet was subject to an encounter with a wild animal yesterday — but was it a predator? Penticton conservation officer Dave Cox says his fellow officer Jeff Hanratty investigated a report of a dog encountering a cougar on Marina Way at approximately 1:30 p.m., Nov. 25. After meeting with the...
Kip Moore tour coming to the South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Multi-platinum singer-songwriter Kip Moore is bringing his rocking country to Penticton next year. The 2016 Wild Ones tour has been extended to include extra stops in Canada, including the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, according to a press release from the events centre. Moore’s album Wild Ones is a mix of blue-collar country music...
City of Penticton and Gateway reveal their hands in quest to relocate casino
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton and Gateway Casinos and Entertainment have come to an agreement on a new location for the city’s casino. The new Cascades Casino Penticton will be built on South Okanagan Events Centre property next to the Wine Country Visitor Centre at the corner of Highway 97 and Power Street, taking up existing...