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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: 6735

Chronic offender Ronald Teneycke in hospital

PENTICTON - The man who led police on a recent manhunt in the South Okanagan is in hospital and unable to make a routine court appearance. Ronald Arthur Teneycke’s counsel, Michael Welsh, appeared in court without the accused, and was not in a position to speak to a bail hearing. Welsh also noted he lacked...

VIDEO: Penticton offers background for commercial starring Carey Price, Kaylyn Kyle

PENTICTON - Where does one of the biggest stars in the National Hockey League shoot a commercial? Penticton, of course. Montreal Canadiens goaltender and MVP Carey Price stars in a commercial for Under Armour that was shot last month in Penticton. It also features Canadian women’s soccer world cup midfielder Kaylyn Kyle. The commercial is...

How to lockdown a correctional centre job

PENTICTON - The South Okanagan will get an economic shot in the arm when the Okanagan Correctional Centre is completed in late 2016 and the recruitment process for jobs at the prison continues. More than 240 full-time correctional officer jobs will open up, creating opportunities for those interested in the demanding role as a correctional...

Accused in double murder cases pursues mistrial

PENTICTON - The defence lawyer for the man convicted in the double homicide of two Princeton residents and the attempted murder of a third is applying for a mistrial application. Lawyers handling the Koopmans murder trial discussed future court appearances for sentencing and a mistrial application in Penticton Supreme Court today, Aug. 24. John Ike...

Arson or accident? Investigators wonder about White Lake wildfires

PENTICTON - An unusual number of wildfires occurring in the rural neighbourhoods of Kaleden and Willowbrook has local and B.C. Wildfire Service officials concerned. Fire information officer Kayla Pepper says they are concerned about the fires which have occurred in the White Lake area. She says they are working with other agencies including the RCMP...

City grant helping to reduce fresh fruit and produce waste

PENTICTON - A City of Penticton grant is helping to reduce the amount of food wasted during the abundant summer months. The Okanagan Fruit Tree Project says the $7,000 grant has allowed the hiring of a part time coordinator to increase the amount of overproduced food redistributed to those in need. Coordinator Deb Thorneycroft says...

Woman killed crossing Penticton street identified

PENTICTON - The B.C. Coroners Service has identified the woman struck and killed at a pedestrian crossing in Penticton last week. Colleen Esther Mary Brennan, 48, died of injuries sustained after she was struck by a pickup truck at approximately 4 p.m., Aug. 18, while crossing Maple Street. The Penticton resident was rushed to Penticton...

Wildfire smokes Rock Creek music festival

PENTICTON - The Rock Creek fire has claimed another victim, this time in the form of an annual music festival. Ponderosa Music and Arts Festival organizers have announced the Rock Creek event will not take place this year. They explain in a media safety concerns have been raised by local government officials due to the...

Penticton city councillor forced to flee Washington State wildfires

"IT WAS VERY, VERY SCARY" PENTICTON - A camping trip turned into a nightmare for a Penticton couple thanks to the wildfires raging in Washington State. Penticton city Coun. Helena Konanz and her husband Adam were forced to cut short the mid-week holiday when wildfires had them beating a hasty retreat from Winthrop yesterday, August...

First phase of Trail of the Okanagans nearing completion in Summerland

PENTICTON - Construction is nearing completion on the Trail of the Okanagans connection between Summerland and Trout Creek. Founding Director of the Trail of the Okanagans, Don Gemmell, says the link is nearly finished, as workers perform clean up work on the corridor. The connection, which links Lakeshore Drive in Summerland to Landry Crescent in...

How does a local Penticton company one up an A&W float-thru? One word: Relvis

PENTICTON - Earlier this week, the massive burger chain A&W produced a commercial about a stunt on the Penticton channel. Now a home-grown competitor has one-upped the big guys in style: Elvis style. Ralph "Relvis" Ramsay, owner of Houndogs at the mid-way point on the Penticton channel produced a high-quality commercial celebrating ten years in...

Oliver wineries confident wildfires won’t affect quality of crop

OKANAGAN - The full effects of Friday’s wildfires on Oliver wineries may not be known for awhile but winery owners are breathing a sigh of relief no wineries have been lost during the blazes. Fire crews continue to make progress in their efforts to quench the Testalinden Creek and Wilsons Mountain fires this week. What still...

Okanagan First Nations develop new business with sustainable sockeye initiative

PENTICTON - Years of hard work and dedication by the Okanagan Nation Alliance to re-establish the Okanagan sockeye has resulted in a new and emerging interior fishery, as well as a new business opportunity for local First Nations. The Alliance reintroduced sockeye fry into Skaha Lake in 2003, entering into cooperative water sharing agreements with...

Structure fire at Oliver business

PENTICTON - Oliver has been rocked by another major fire, this time a structure fire to a business. Following two major wildfires near the town last Friday, August 14, the Oliver Fire Department is fighting another fire this afternoon. Members of the Oliver Volunteer Fire Department have been fighting a blaze that broke out at...

The danger of drones in wildfire zones

PENTICTON - One of the members of the B.C. Wildfire aircrew who spotted the drone flying over the Testalinden Creek fire near Oliver Sunday says it was pure luck they saw the unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV. The errant drone prompted an immediate grounding of eight helicopters and five planes, and as a result, the...

A&W claims first ever ‘float-thru’ on Penticton channel

PENTICTON - A&W sent an actor and crew to Penticton recently to film a commercial for its Facebook page. The series of ads feature a float-thru rather than a drive thru on the Okanagan river channel through the Peach City. There were no shortage of floaters ready for a free burger. Too bad no one...

Uneasy calm in Oliver after frantic night firefighting and evacuating

PENTICTON - Hundreds of people remain out of their homes as crews continue to battle the two wildfires in the Oliver area today. There is an uneasy calm after the frantic firefighting and evacuations last night. Smoke plumes dot the mountainsides west of the community today, Aug. 15, after the Wilsons Mountain and Testalinden Creek fires...

UPDATE: Crews battling two wildfires near Oliver

PENTICTON – The fight continues today to get a handle on the pair of wildfires burning near Oliver, which have forced hundreds out of their homes and destroyed a house. The wildfires broke out yesterday, Aug. 14, and grew quickly thanks to high winds pushing the flames through grass, sage and open timber, forcing the...

Wildfires break out in Oliver; evacuations ordered

PENTICTON - Two wildfires are burning out of control north and south of Oliver this evening, Friday, August 14. The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen issued an evacuation order tonight for 200 homes in the Wilson Mountain area north of Oliver and in the Testalinden Creek area south of Oliver. Emergency Social Services has been...

Shooting victim facing further victimization by bureaucracy

PENTICTON - The man allegedly shot by prolific offender Ronald Teneycke finds himself frustrated by bureaucracy as he continues to heal from the harrowing experience. Wayne Belleville, 58, says he’s not quite ready to talk about being shot by Teneycke after meeting the man on a remote logging road above Oliver on July 22. As...

UPDATE: U.S. wildfire crosses border into Okanagan

UPDATE: 4:49 a.m., Friday, Aug. 14, 2015 The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has now rescinded the evacuation order for residents of Nine Mile Place on Anarchist Mountain due to a reduced threat of wildfire. Nine Mile Place, along with residents of Raven Hill Road and Raven Hill Place, will remain on evacuation alert due to...