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 fuel prices drop below a dollar per litre

PENTICTON - The Penticton market has breached the benchmark figure of one dollar per litre for gasoline. The price of a litre of regular gasoline broke under the one dollar per litre barrier on Sunday, Jan. 11, as gas stations in the city posted prices of 99.9 cents per litre for regular gas. The one...

City finalizes 2015 budget

PENTICTON - Penticton city council has finalized their budget after just six days of deliberations. On Jan. 12, 2015 council approved a 1.3 per cent increase to cover a $326,230 deficit. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said the 2015 budget factors in cost control and fiscal responsibility, in addition to several strategic investments asked for by residents...

Bridge across channel expected to be economic generator

PENTICTON - The Penticton Indian Band officially announced the commencement of construction of the band’s Satik (pronounced Sa-TI-koo) Crossing bridge on Jan.12. The bridge is expected to open up approximately 150 acres of locatee lands that were previously inaccessible. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Working with the City of Penticton and other partners, we can...

Village residents happy to see Mount Baldy reopening

PENTICTON - Skiers in the South Okanagan had two reasons to feel good about their sport last week. After the region received a huge dump of snow last weekend, new operators at Mount Baldy announced Friday,  Jan. 9 they would soon be open again to the general public. Mount Baldy’s new operator took control on...

Okanagan Falls meeting to discuss dual park proposals

PENTICTON - Residents of Okanagan Falls and Heritage Hills will have an opportunity to have their say about two park proposals for the communities at an upcoming meeting. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the Seniors Centre in Okanagan Falls, starting at 7 p.m. and is designed to address the possibility of...

Nine days jail time for knock-knock assault

PENTICTON - A Penticton man who knocked on a stranger's door then beat the man who answered was sentenced this week to nine days in jail. Michael Cravens was sentenced Jan. 5. He was also given 15 months probation, with conditions. He got a further 21 days for breaching release conditions just two days after...

Construction begins on bridge to economic development in Penticton

PENTICTON - Preliminary construction on the new bridge across the Channel Parkway at Green Avenue began this week. Flaggers and traffic cones lined the road north and south of the Green Avenue intersection on Friday as workers removed traffic islands, causing some confusion to motorists as well as some minor slowdowns. Penticton Indian Band Chief...

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...

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...

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...

Penticton property assessments up in 2015

PENTICTON - B.C. Assessment released the latest property information for Penticton and the South Okanagan - Similkameen this week. Assessed values of most homes in the South Okanagan are up in value compared to last year’s assessment roll. The changes in property values are modest, however, in the -5% to +5 % range for the...

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...

Dangers associated with shoveling snow not always apparent

PENTICTON - That big blast of winter isn't just a problem for city crews. It can be a problem from a health point of view for residents trying to dig out, but there are ways to reduce the possibility of suffering an injury. Snow shovelling can be a risky thing for many of us to...

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...