Steve Arstad

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

  • Joined: January 01, 2023
  • Articles: 6731

Penticton crime stats continue to climb

PENTICTON - Crime isn’t taking a holiday in Penticton, at least not in this year’s second quarter. Penticton RCMP responded to 4,885 calls for service from April to June of 2015, up from 4,188 calls received during the same period last year, a 17 per cent increase. There was a 26 per cent increase in...

Boston Pizza founder returns to Penticton to share wisdom

PENTICTON - Three former Pentictonites who have made a name for themselves in the business world enjoyed a relaxing luncheon discussing their successes and passing some advice along to members of the Penticton and Wine Country Chamber of Commerce. Jim and Brad Treliving and Rick Kozuback were guest speakers yesterday, July 23, briefly discussing their...

Main Street to shutdown for water, sewer upgrades

PENTICTON - Next Tuesday, July 28 might be a good day for city motorists to avoid Main Street between Carmi Avenue and Granby Street. Ongoing underground work to upgrade water and sewer systems along Carmi Avenue in anticipation of the hospital care tower expansion at Penticton Regional Hospital will result in the closure of Main...

Oliver firefighters looking for reprieve from battling Willowbrook wildfire

PENTICTON - Oliver Volunteer Fire Department members are starting to feel the effects of fighting a wildfire while attempting to conduct their daily routines. The department continues to send firefighters up into the mountains above the Village of Willowbrook to assist B.C. Wildfire Management crews put out the Willowbrook fire, which began Monday, July 20....

South Okanagan governments make a plea for voluntary cuts in water consumption

PENTICTON - There are concerns about water supply as the summer’s hot weather combines with minimal rainfall in the South Okanagan. The Okanagan Similkameen Regional District recently followed the City of Penticton’s move, made last week, to ask residents to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 30 per cent. The regional district was responding to the...

Power pole problem solved?

PENTICTON - The City of Penticton’s Public Works Department recently completed modifications to a couple of errant Fortis power poles located at the intersection of Industrial Avenue and Atkinson Street. The work was required after a major upgrade of the street earlier this year to add curbs and sidewalks at the intersection. Two Fortis power...

Heightened security at Penticton Courthouse

PENTICTON - Following the discovery of a concealed shotgun at the courthouse in Penticton last week, security has been stepped up. People attending the Penticton Law Courts today, July 22, found themselves subject to security screening. A portable walk-through metal detector was set up inside the courthouse foyer in a setup similar to airport screening....

UPDATE: Fugitive Ronald Teneycke believed to have car-jacked a new ride

PENTICTON - RCMP now believe prolific offender Ronald Teneycke has car-jacked another vehicle after assaulting the driver. Teneycke was picked up hitchhiking on Baldy Mountain Forest Service Road by the driver of a 1999 3/4 ton GMC pickup truck with the words Okanagan Rustic Furniture across the back window. The license plate is 6721 GG, Cpl....

Big plans for former waterslides property in Penticton

PENTICTON - Plans to construct three residential towers and a hotel in the city’s south end continue to move forward after receiving the first set of approvals for a zoning change earlier this week. The development is proposed for a 2.5-acre portion of the property at 3388 Skaha Lake Rd. that was the former location...

Stolen cigarettes and ice cream bars, and other Penticton crime

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP continue to deal with higher call volumes this summer with another busy week at the detachment. - Police continue to search for chronic offender Ronald Teneycke following his failure to show up for an intermittent jail sentence. Police media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says police have followed up on a number of...

Penticton council stands resolute in waterpark decision

PENTICTON - Several hundred residents converged on city hall Monday to voice support for and against a Skaha Lake Marina waterfront proposal, but Penticton council appears to be unfazed by demands of those opposed to the plans. Those against the plan called on council to call a referendum, or otherwise force a re-thinking, on the...

Big cat sighting on Duncan Avenue in Penticton

PENTICTON - A mid-city street was the location of a cougar sighting in Penticton early this morning. Penticton Conservation Officer Mike Stern says the conservation office answered a call placed at approximately 12:30 a.m., July 21, by residents who said they possibly saw a cougar running across Duncan Avenue East, towards them. The two residents...

Regional building stats point to heightened construction activity

PENTICTON - After several years of slow growth, the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District is seeing a surge in building activity. Development services manager Donna Butler says 2014 was "a very busy year" and statistics so far indicate 2015 on track to meet or exceed last year’s building activity. To date, the regional district has issued...

Regional district office renovations to start in September

PENTICTON - The first major renovation to the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s headquarters on Martin Street in Penticton is late in starting, but still expected to be completed this year. The project was supposed to get started shortly after this year's budget was tabled, but a change in staff and lengthy discussions over how to...

Curbside collection initiatives could benefit from contract extension

PENTICTON - The regional district is following up on a contract option included in its curb side collection agreement to extend the present service an additional two years. With the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District’s contract with BFI Canada, which is now called Progressive Waste Solutions, slated to end on June 30, 2016, solid waste management...

Anti-waterpark group disrupts Penticton council meeting

PENTICTON - Hundreds of people showed up at City Hall to let council know their feelings about waterfront revitalization at the city’s south end. Enduring 35 Celsius heat, a huge crowd formed in front of Penticton City Hall well before the designated time of 5 p.m. today, July 20. Police cordoned off the 100-block of...

Where there’s smoke, there’s sanitary sewer testing

PENTICTON - Sanitary sewer smoke testing is set to begin next week at a various locations around Penticton. The city's contractor Coast Pipeline will be using smoke to locate storm water entering the sewer system, starting Monday, July 27, according to a media release. Crews will attach a smoke blower to the top of a...

Midweek crimes include man shot with an arrow

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP were kept busy late Wednesday afternoon and evening with assaults and an attempted robbery in the city. Penticton RCMP received a call to an assault in progress at 5:18 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15 in the vicinity of West Bench Hill Road above Doc’s Golf Centre on Highway 97. Police were...

Challenge Penticton seeks funding commitment from regional district

PENTICTON - Valley First Challenge Penticton has invited the regional district to take a sponsorship role in Challenge’s triathlon races to the tune of $48,000 over three years. Challenge Penticton owners Kevin Cutjar and Michael Brown met with Regional District Okanagan Similkameen directors Thursday, July 16 to offer the board the opportunity to be the naming sponsor...

Fruit pest prevalence prompts regional district reminder

PENTICTON - As cherry season peaks in the South Okanagan, backyard fruit growers are being reminded to be vigilant about controlling fruit tree pests. The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has had a bylaw in place since 2001 for all rural electoral areas and the Town of Oliver requiring residents with cherry trees to control...

Accused in Penticton shooting granted bail

PENTICTON - The man accused in a shooting incident near Penticton’s northeast boundary was released on bail today, July 17. Matthew James Cameron, accused of one count of attempted murder in a shooting incident that took place Monday night, July 13, on Lindsay Road in Penticton, was delivered to court but did not make an...