Author: Michael Tilley

Well-intended

It was just a few months ago that the caller had these well-intended words of wisdom for yours truly: “You’re too damn impatient when it comes to progressive community change….

Legislate this

The deadline for filing new legislation in Arkansas’ 87th General Assembly has come and gone. This welcome calendar event reduces by half the anxiety of Arkansans with an interest in…

There is a serious matter we must address. While we argue and contemplate riverfront development options, express concern and frustration about our regional economy, respectfully attempt to maintain optimism about…

Dear Mayor:

An open letter to Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker. Dear Mayor Baker: Although there certainly are more important issues with greater long-term positive impacts for city residents we could discuss…

Censored

This essay is nothing more than the Top Ten essay topics proposed by yours truly that were rejected by the powers-that-be at The City Wire. They said it was for…

Go fact yourself

It was Feb. 3 when The City Wire posted the story about the Fort Smith board of directors voting to spend $62,000 to support an “opportunity analysis” of riverfront development….

So Sad

If they ever prove the global-climate-change-warming-apocalypse-crisis is caused by humans, it’s likely one of the top 10 sources will be the electricity consumed by the office of U.S. Sen. Blanche…

Facebook fugitive

Friends and relatives who are old enough to know better are becoming more active on this Facebook thing. One can be guilted into creating a Facebook profile to respond to…

Hoping for a pleasant surprise

Roger Meek says he is pleasantly surprised with the number of people interested in the future of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. Meek, the chairman of the chamber’s…

Sounds of retreat

The Fort Smith Board of Directors held a 2009 planning retreat Jan. 10 that lasted more than seven hours. Such meetings are analogous to buying an impressive arrangement of flowers….

Here we go again

Here we go again with this collective self-loathing about the future of American cultural, military, political and financial prestige and power. This gnashing of east coast educated teeth typically happens…

Fort Smith tourism funding and management: We do it different in these parts

Communities with which we compete for tourism dollars operate tourism efforts under one umbrella. Bumbershoot!

The emerging multi-million dollar question: What to do with the Fort Smith Convention Center?

Past, present and future funding decisions and fundamental tourism administration decisions will soon get mixed into a stew that someone will have to eat. (We recommend a red table wine and about two tons of Tums.)

Media misses

Please indulge, Kind Reader, and read the following list of top 2008 Arkansas news stories from the vaunted news professionals around the state. It goes like this: The Top 10…

Keeping tabs on the SOBs

It’s just another day, really. Another week. Another month. Another year, one hopes, above the daisies and dirt. But this calendar shift comes with an unavoidable remembrance that, honestly, best…

Of chamber coincidences and mayoral musings

Sometime between Christmas and New Year’s Day we should celebrate Roger Meek day. Roger and other members of the Meek family own and operate the Coca-Cola distribution business in the…

Fighting back against the Bah Humbug of job losses

The shame with all these economic troubles is that one doesn’t have to be a skeptical ass like me to find the need to suppress the negative irony when hearing…

Rediscovering previous notes on leadership, country and ideas

Recently rediscovered a few comments from yours truly noted for having received the most feedback from Kind Readers. Am hoping they are suitable for reframing in this space.   • Let’s…

I-49 funding possible, needs regional leadership

Highway experts say Fort Smith regional leaders must act aggressively and with innovative action on political and financing fronts if the important interstate project is to receive adequate funding.

A note on hoping American fundamentals remain fundamental

This thing about us Americans and our belief in the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is innate. Damn strong, I’d like to think. No matter what…