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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
Changes to Penticton water billing hoped to ease resident frustrations
PENTICTON - Changes are coming to the way Penticton residents pay their water bills. The city currently reads and bills for water consumption on a semi-annual basis while electricity is billed on a monthly schedule. The irregular water charges result in budget issues for residents and greater customer dissatisfaction, City Chief Financial Officer Colin Fisher...
Cart program will include yard waste pickup in Penticton
PENTICTON - Penticton's new cart-based garbage collection program will also include pick-up of yard waste when it's implemented in 2016. City staff asked council to approve the proposed cart program design at Monday’s council meeting. Public Works Manager Len Robson told council a partial cart program wouldn’t work because any manual lifting of a garbage...
Penticton council refuses to chicken out on backyard hen pilot project
PENTICTON - A plucky city council approved permits for backyard hens in the city for another six months. The pilot project began in May 2014. Twelve residents applied at the time and were given approval but those permits expired in November. Planning Manager Blake Laven gave council an update on the results of the project...
City of Penticton hopes to secure federal funding
PENTICTON - Green energy and water projects topped Penticton city council’s list of preferred projects for submission to a new round of New Building Canada funding. Penticton city staff and council discussed a number of possible projects for submission to the New Building Canada Fund, which recently opened a second intake of applications. The city...
Stolen dog Myster returns to the Penticton SPCA
PENTICTON - The mystery of the missing Myster is a mystery no more. Myster, the one-year-old cane corso-whippet mix, was recovered and returned to the SPCA today, Dec. 8, South Okanagan B.C. SPCA Branch Manager Carolyn Hawkins says. Hawkins says the dog has been taken to an undisclosed location and will be transferred to a...
Penticton mayor calling for a community-based response to homelessness
PENTICTON - It’s going to take a collaborative, community effort to establish a housing for the city’s homeless. That from Penticton mayor Andrew Jakubeit after a meeting held last week to explore options to resolve the city’s homeless plight. There are concerns the numbers of homeless in the city is on the rise. Interested groups are trying...
Break-ins, tool thefts highlight police investigations last week in Penticton
PENTICTON - Penticton thieves with a penchant for tools made off with several more this week, leaving local RCMP to investigate several more break and enters. A vehicle parked at Sky View Blinds was broken into overnight on Dec. 1, Penticton RCMP spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says. A window was smashed to gain entry and numerous...
Shoplifting incidents on the rise in Penticton as Christmas approaches
PENTICTON - It would seem 'tis the season for shoplifting in Penticton, with calls for thefts on the rise this month. Police arrested a man and woman for shoplifting incidents at Dollarama, Value Village and the Real Canadian Superstore on Dec. 1, Penticton RCMP Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. The two Merritt residents apparently decided to...
Arson suspected in one of two fires to break out in Penticton overnight
PENTICTON - Officials are investigating after two recent blazes in the city — one that caused an explosion in an industrial area last night and a suspicious one at a local grocery store early this morning. A fire started in the loading dock of the Save on More supermarket at Cherry Lane Mall is being...
Pendergraft returned as Chair at regional district board elections
PENTICTON - There were few changes to Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board following the inaugural meeting. Electoral Area “A” Director Mark Pendergraft was elected board chair for his fourth year while Penticton mayor Andrew Jakubeit received the nod as vice-chair for his second year. Electoral Area “F” West Bench director Michael Brydon took on...
Explosions rock industrial area in Penticton
PENTICTON - Emergency personnel responded to a series of explosions in a Penticton industrial area yesterday evening. Around 9:30 p.m. yesterday, Dec. 7, a report of an explosion came in for Commercial Way in Penticton. Eyewitness Skyar Noe-Vack could see a large plume of black smoke coming from the rear of a building at the...
School closures at odds with Summerland’s vision of future growth
PENTICTON - The mayor and council in Summerland have expressed their concern about with the Okanagan Skaha school district plan regarding potential school closures, specifically the possible closure of Giant's Head elementary school. They say school closures are inconsistent with council’s vision for the community and condemned any school closure in the district. "The difficulty...
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...
Christmas season begins in Penticton with Santa Claus Parade and Light Up
PENTICTON - A raw south wind and the threat of rain failed to dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of Pentictonites who braved cool conditions Saturday afternoon to view the Santa Claus parade. The 19th edition of the parade went north on Main Street from White Avenue, terminating at Gyro Park. Even though temperatures were above...
$77,000 worth of temporary hires requested at regional district budget talks
PENTICTON - The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen is looking add $77,600 to the 2016 payroll for temporary and part time positions. At budget talks this week at the Penticton Lakeside Restort, directors considered requests for five positions from several departments. Building Services is seeking three positions, one to help with Kennedy Lake permitting, one to...