Fort Smith Metro Daily News Briefs: A Thunder parade, 184th award, and top nurses

Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.

Main Street Anniversary
Main Street Fort Smith, which began as 64.6 Downtown, plans to mark its 10th anniversary with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Main Street office at 411 Garrison Ave. in downtown Fort Smith. The event is set for 10 a.m., on July 23.

Main Street said the organization has been focused on economic growth, historic preservation, helping grow the arts community, and community engagement.

“Over the last decade, we’ve brought together the arts, recreation, entertainment, and commerce to reimagine downtown,” says Amanda Hager, Executive Director. “Our mission is to create vibrant, walkable, and economically thriving spaces — and this ribbon cutting celebrates ten years of progress, plus a new chapter as Main Street Fort Smith.”

In summer 2024, the organization officially rebranded from 64.6 Downtown to Main Street Fort Smith, aligning with Main Street Arkansas and Main Street America’s nationally recognized community revitalization approach.

Following are some of the achievements noted by the organization in the past decade.•
• The Unexpected urban art festival (2015–present), introducing internationally acclaimed murals and public art, positioning downtown as a renowned cultural destination.

• Levitt AMP Fort Smith Music Series, an ongoing free concert series attracting diverse artists and audiences, enhancing community spirit and boosting local commerce.

• Development of Garrison Commons and Gateway Park, transforming underutilized areas into active community gathering spaces.

• Invest Fort Smith, an annual economic summit that unites business leaders, city officials, and regional experts to strategize and promote economic development initiatives for Fort Smith.

• Creation and adoption of the city’s “Propelling Downtown Forward” masterplan in 2017, enhancing downtown’s mobility, placemaking, and riverfront development.

Thunder Parade
The City of Fort Smith is planning a parade in honor of Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams, Fort Smith natives who were teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder which recently won the NBA championship.

The parade will be held in downtown Fort Smith on July 24. The event will begin at 4 p.m. with a public event at the Bakery District in downtown Fort Smith. That event will include live music, food trucks, and appearances by Joe and Williams.

A parade is set to begin at 6 p.m.down Garrison Avenue from North Sixth Street to North 10th Street. (See the parade route image.). After the parade, Joe and Williams are expected to talk about their time in Fort Smith and their basketball careers.

“Fort Smith is incredibly proud of Isaiah Joe and Jaylin Williams, not just for their success in the NBA, but for the way they represent our city with excellence, humility, and heart,” Fort Smith Mayor George McGill said in a statement. “They are proof that big dreams can grow from small towns, and this celebration is our way of saying, ‘thank you,’ for inspiring the next generation of Fort Smith youth.”

184th Award
The 184th Attack Squadron, based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, has been awarded the 2024 General Atomics Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Trophy, recognizing it as the top RPA squadron across all U.S. Air Force active duty, Guard, and Reserve units.

The unit, part of the 188th Operations Group at the 188th Wing, was cited in the award for executing 314 combat sorties and providing 5,972 hours of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in support of three named operations.

According to the Air Force, the squadron made history as the first unit tasked by the President of the United States to provide overwatch for humanitarian aid airdrops and led the Air Force in MQ-9 non-traditional defensive counter-air and counter-small unmanned aerial system engagements, conducting 66% of all such missions.

“I am immensely proud of the 184th Attack Squadron and the entire 188th Operations Group, whose combined efforts, flexibility and support earned the title of Best RPA Squadron in the Air Force,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Munoz, the 188th Operations Group commander. “Their unmatched professionalism and warfighter mentality exemplify the power of Total Force Integration, delivering unparalleled mission success and providing consistent short-notice RPA capability overseas. Another great example of how much the Air National Guard can offer to current missions, while posturing resilient RPA capabilities for future mission needs.”

Building Services Boss
Jesse Bennett has been named director of building services for the City of Fort Smith. He succeeds Jimmie Deer who recently retired after 44 years with the city.

Bennett will be responsible for managing the city’s building services department, which includes plan review, code enforcement, inspections, and building permitting.

Bennett was hired by the city in 2021, with his jobs including building inspector and plans/inspections manager. He holds several professional certifications, including ICC (International Code Council) certifications as a commercial building inspector and building plans examiner, as well as a state plumbing inspector license and INSPARK building inspector credential for natural disaster response.

“I am excited to lead efforts that directly contribute to the safety and well-being of our community,” said Bennett. “Knowing that our work keeps people safe gives me a deep sense of purpose. I look forward to mentoring my team, enforcing standards, and cultivating a strong culture of safety and professionalism.”

Top Nurses
Nurses with Baptist Health-Fort Smith and Baptist Health-Van Buren have been named to the prestigious Great 100 Nurses list.

The list recognizes exceptional compassion, commitment to high-quality care, and leadership in advancing the nursing profession in Arkansas, according to a press release from Little Rock-based Baptist Health.

Following are the nurses recognized in Fort Smith and Van Buren.
• Baptist Health-Fort Smith
Luke Cravey, RN, emergency room
Rachel Major, MSN, RN, nursing director
Addie Miller, RN, emergency room
Garrett Parson, RN, emergency room
Amanda Pettigrew, MSN, RN, assistant director of patient care
Ben Yother, BSN, RN, nursing supervisor

• Baptist Health-Van Buren
Regina Walker, RN, emergency room

The Great 100 Nurses Foundation recognizes 100 exceptional registered nurses annually in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Texas, All of the Arkansas recipients will be celebrated at an awards dinner in September at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock.

Alma Fiber
RightFiber, a brand of Jonesboro-based Ritter Communications, recently announced a $1.5 million investment to expand its fiber optic system in Alma. According to RightFiber, the Alma work builds upon $12 million to expand its network in the Fort Smith metro since 2022.

The company said the work should be completed in late summer and residents will see “clear communication” about the process, including signage and door hangers. Any property disturbed by the installation will be restored, the company noted.

“Continuing to invest in Alma’s fiber infrastructure reinforces our commitment to delivering advanced, future-proof technology to the communities we serve,” said Ritter Communications CEO Heath Simpson. “With our fiber-to-the-home network, residents gain the speed, reliability and bandwidth to support everything from smart home devices and streaming to remote work and digital learning. This expansion equips residents with the connectivity they need to thrive today and stay ahead of advancing technology.”

Student Support
The Arkansas Tech University–Ozark Campus has been awarded more than $1.3 million in estimated grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education for TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) programs.

The grant allows ATU-Ozark to work toward improving college retention and graduation rates among students that meet at least one of the following criteria: be a first-generation college student, meet federal low-income guidelines or have a documented disability.

ATU-Ozark Campus was first awarded the grant in 2020, with the grant cycle running through Aug. 31, 2025. A new grant was submitted in the summer of 2024, and on July 3, 2025, ATU-Ozark was notified that it has been selected to receive funding for the 2025-2030 cycle.

TRIO SSS at ATU-Ozark is 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education, with an annual budget of $272,364 to support 140 eligible students.

“We are thrilled that ATU-Ozark Campus has been awarded our second cycle of the TRIO SSS grant,” said Bethany Lucius, director of the TRIO SSS program at ATU-Ozark. “As a first-generation college graduate myself, I understand firsthand the challenges many of our students face. That’s why this program means so much to me because now I get to help provide the knowledge, guidance and encouragement I once needed. TRIO SSS is not about giving students financial support. It’s about offering something far more valuable: consistent mentorship, strong campus connections and personalized resources that empower students to thrive.”

Student services provided by the grant include academic tutoring, financial aid, scholarship guidance, career exploration, personal and academic counseling and mentoring.