Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: A 4,000-mile ‘Journey of Hope,’ fire and police fundraiser, and climate program input

Following are recent news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.

Journey of Hope
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (UAFS) sophomore Danu Regalado will ride about 4,000 miles from California to Washington, D.C., this summer with Journey of Hope.

Regalado is a UAFS electrical engineering major and a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. Journey of Hope and the Ability Experience, the nonprofit it supports, are part of the fraternity’s mission to empower individuals with disabilities through advocacy, awareness, and service.

“It means a lot to me personally,” he said, explaining that a pair of diagnoses – ADHD for himself, and autism for his cousin – shaped his childhood in Sallisaw, Okla.

“There was such a stigma against us for acting differently in school,” he said. “I didn’t ever notice anything I considered odd or strange, but the way people talked about us, like we were incapable of completing some tasks because we seemed different from them, always upset me.”

Regalado said he expects to cover roughly 70 miles a day. He’s been in endurance training on his bike, and in a strength training routine at the UAFS Recreation and Wellness Center. He said he’s also been working to prepare for the mental challenge of long days on the road, and the burst of social energy that will be expected as they travel from point to point.

“I have been told that the first two weeks can be rough,” he said. “I worry about going a little stir crazy as my ADHD makes repetition hard, but I have been working on it well, and I hope that the people I will be biking with will be understanding.”

Link here to learn more about Regalado’s journey.

Global Entry Event
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will host a three-day Global Entry enrollment event at the Fort Smith Regional Airport on June 19-21, 2026. The event is for individuals who have received conditional approval and are ready to complete the interview portion of the Global Entry application process. Appointments are required.

Applicants can schedule their interview by logging into their Trusted Traveler Portal (TTP) account, choosing the dates June 19-21, 2026, and selecting Fort Smith (Fort Smith, AR) as the enrollment location. The event will take place in the airport terminal in the baggage claim area. Attendees may park in the airport lot where the first 30 minutes are free.

Global Entry, a program under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers entering the United States. Members also receive the added benefit of TSA PreCheck eligibility.

To participate, applicants must complete an online application, pay a non-refundable fee, and pass a background check conducted by CBP. Once conditionally approved, they may schedule their interview during this special enrollment event at FSM. Link here for more information.

Harps Food Fundraiser
Springdale-based Harps Food Stores is conducting a fundraising campaign June 1 through June 28 designed to benefit fire and police departments in the communities where it has stores.

All Harps locations will participate in the initiative, giving customers the opportunity to support their hometown first responders through register donations. Shoppers can choose to contribute directly to their local fire department, police department, or both through $1, $3, or $5 donation options available at checkout. In addition to customer contributions, Harps Charity Golf will donate $80,000 to be evenly dispersed between the local fire and police departments.

To help kick off the fundraiser, Harps stores will host community events on June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., inviting local fire and police departments to bring vehicles and personnel for customers to meet and engage with.

Harps is a 100% employee-owned company, which operates 177 stores in eight states including Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee. Harps is the largest employee-owned company in Arkansas. Harps was founded by Harvard and Floy Harp in Springdale in 1930. Since then, the company has grown to employ over 7,200 associates.

ATU-Ozark ‘Specialist’ Student
Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus student Julie Boerlin of Tilly earned first place in the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist Word State Championship spring qualifier. Boerlin will represent Arkansas at the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist U.S. National Championship June 15-17 in Nashville, Tenn.

She will compete in her exam track, network with other top students from around the United States and celebrate her certification success. One winner per track will be named the U.S. national champion and earn a trip to represent the United States in the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship July 26-29 in Anaheim, Calif.

“I’m truly honored to receive this accomplishment and thankful for everyone who supported me along the way,” said Boerlin. “It means a lot to have this opportunity recognized, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”

ATU-Ozark students William Morrison (second) and Bethany House (fifth) also placed in the top five of the 2026 Microsoft Office Specialist Word State Championship spring qualifier.

Climate Program Input
The city of Fort Smith invites residents to attend upcoming public meetings to learn more about projects and programs funded through the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG).

The sessions will provide updates on current initiatives and give attendees an opportunity to ask questions and learn how CPRG-funded efforts are supporting environmental and sustainability goals in our community. Following is the meeting schedule.

June 4
Creekmore Park Community Center, 3301 S. M St., 6 p.m.

June 11
Elm Grove Community Center, 1901 N. Greenwood Ave., 6 p.m.

June 18
Cavanaugh Senior Activity Center, 2700 Cavanaugh Road, 6 p.m.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded the city $14.5 million as part of a CPRG totaling $100 million to the Tri-Region Arkansas CPRG Coalition. The grant, awarded under the “Energy and Environment Innovation for the Natural State” proposal, will drive a wide array of transformative projects in the state.

The Fort Smith Energy and Environment Innovation Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) provides a voluntary, locally tailored framework to guide the city’s transition toward a more economically viable and resilient future, according to the city.