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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
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’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...
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...
ELECTION 2015: Stephen Harper tentatively scheduled to visit Penticton
PENTICTON - Conservative leader Stephen Harper could be making a stop in Penticton this weekend. There are tentative plans for Harper to arrive Sunday, Sept. 13, for a 5:45 p.m. rally at a location still to be disclosed, according to an invitation sent out to party faithful. Plans are also in the works for Harper...
Penticton plays host to hockey, jazz and dragon boats this weekend
PENTICTON - The Penticton entertainment scene is ramping up for the coming weekend, filling the city with a mix of music, dragon boats and National Hockey League prospects. “There is not a room to be had,” Penticton Hospitality Association President Robert Appelman says. “I know the various organizations have been trying to get rooms, but...
Man wanted on Canada-wide warrant picked up in Oliver
PENTICTON - A man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant is now in police custody following an arrest by Penticton RCMP Drug Task Force and Oliver RCMP members this week. Marcus Wilfred Sheena was apprehended on Sept. 9 for breaching conditions of a two-year sentence for a violent assault four years ago. Sheena and a female...
Young Stars Classic begins with Canucks training camp in Penticton
PENTICTON - Hockey season is almost here again, and nowhere will that be more evident than Penticton's South Okanagan Events Centre this week. The roster and schedule for the Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic Tournament was announced today, Aug. 31. The tournament begins with the Canucks training camp on Sept. 10. Practices on the arena's main...
Gaining ground in fight against Naramata’s fire ants
NARAMATA - A biologist from Thompson Rivers University has made some progress in his battle to stop an invasive species of fire ant from gaining a foot hold in the South Okanagan. Dr. Robert J. Higgins and assistant Naomi Harder have been working to find an effective method of eliminating the invasive species discovered in Naramata...
Why the bridge to nowhere in Penticton is actually going somewhere
PENTICTON - It’s being called a “bridge to nowhere” by some on social media, but developers building the Satikw Bridge at Green Avenue on the Penticton river channel say that’s an unfair label for a project which has taken two decades to come to fruition. Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation’s economic development consultant Chris Scott...
Penticton RCMP ask for your help to find a stolen truck
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP hope the public can help locate a vintage pickup truck reported stolen earlier this week. Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says the pickup truck was stolen from the Okanagan Marina parking lot on Marina Way in the early hours of Sept. 2. Police are looking for a grey, custom built 1950 Chevrolet short...
Penticton firefighters called to townhouse bedroom blaze
PENTICTON - Quick action by Penticton firefighters kept a bedroom blaze from spreading in a townhouse complex yesterday. Penticton Fire Chief Wayne Williams says the department received a call to 3099 South Main St. at 6:38 p.m., Sept. 3, to find a bedroom in one of the units at the Chateau Village ablaze. “The truck...
Brother and sister facing identical charges in Penticton homicide case
PENTICTON – A brother and sister accused of murder are now facing identical charges. Lawyers…
Drivers beware: Increased enforcement of school zones next week
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - RCMP are sending a message to the province’s drivers reminding them September is back to school time. Police are asking drivers to remember their ABCs and if they don’t, they will certainly help teach them a lesson, according to a RCMP media release. The driver’s ABC’s are: A for attention, B to be...
Check those campfire plans if you’re camping in the south Okanagan
PENTICTON - Campers planning a campfire this weekend in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen may need to rethink those plans. While the campfire ban was lifted earlier this week on lands under jurisdiction of the B.C. Wildfire Service, it will not affect the regional district’s temporary open fire ban, which remains in effect. All...
Four rescued from Manning Park
PENTICTON - Four missing men are safe due to the combined rescue efforts of the RCMP, B.C. Parks and three search and rescue organizations. Princeton ground search and rescue teams were activated by Princeton RCMP yesterday, September 1, after police received a distress call from four men stranded in the wilderness area straddling the Canada...
Earthquake south of the border felt in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Did you feel the earth move this morning? If so, you’re not alone. Natural Resources Canada’s Earthquakes Canada website is reporting a 4.3 magnitude earthquake, with an approximate epicentre east of Grand Coulee, Washington, struck around 9:40 a.m today, Sept. 1. Natural Resources Canada reports the earthquake was lightly felt in Bridesville, Kelowna and...
Winners dig deep at Penticton Challenge triathlon
PENTICTON - Over 1,100 athletes from across North America and as far away as Europe and Asia braved the cool, wet weather to take park in the Challenge Penticton triathlon on the weekend. Sunday was race day with Victoria's Brent McMahon winning the men's event and Jennifer Spieldenner from Illinois grabbing the women's title. “I...
Evacuation order rescinded for properties affected by Testalinden Creek fire
PENTICTON – An evacuation order for 27 properties near the Testalinden Creek wildfire has been…
Changes coming to the 2016 version of Challenge Penticton
PENTICTON - As athletes mill around the Challenge Penticton athletes village at Okanagan Lake Park preparing for this Sunday's race, race organizers are already planning for next year's event. Changes are on the horizon for Challenge Penticton as race organizers set their sights on 2016. Organizers say the 2016 version of the race will be run...
Fire crews anxiously watch weather at Testalinden Creek
PENTICTON - B.C. Wildfire firefighters expect to spend an anxious day on the front lines in the battle against the Testalinden Creek wildfire with strong wind in the forecast. Fire information officer Heather Rice says the wind is expected to pick up from the south around noon today, Aug. 28, which could be detrimental to...
Evacuation alert expanded for Testalinden Creek wildfire
PENTICTON - A forecast for increased wind has resulted in an expansion of the evacuation alert for the Testalinden Creek wildfire. The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen issued the evacuation alert expansion late in the day yesterday, August 27. The notice applies to properties north of the Testalinden Creek fire area, along Tinhorn Creek, Old Golf Course...
Penticton seeks to be a more inclusive community
RAINBOW CROSSWALKS? PENTICTON - Penticton City Council wants to be an inclusive community, and they are seeking ways to demonstrate that idea. Noting the recent installation of rainbow crosswalks in nearby communities such as Princeton, Summerland and Kelowna to demonstrate inclusivity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community, council recently asked city staff...
Challenge week underway in Penticton
PENTICTON - Challenge Penticton weekend is descending upon the city, and along with the main event on Sunday there are numerous other events that involve the whole family. In addition to Challenge races for kids and casual participants, the Downtown Penticton Association will be hosting numerous activities and entertainment in Gyro Park on Friday, Aug....