Author: Michael Tilley

Michael Tilley

Arkansas River commercial tonnage up 3% through June

Commercial tonnage shipped on the Arkansas River in the first half of 2022 is up 3% thanks in large part to a 22% increase in sand, gravel and rock shipped…

Fred Williams retires after 46 years of a ‘lucky’ and ‘off-the-wall’ career

Fred Williams says any book about his life and career should be titled “Colors Outside The Lines.” The longtime marketing and advertising agency owner credits his business success to “being…

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Arkansas’ tourism sector posts significant gains in early 2022

Arkansas’ leisure and hospitality sector continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic induced recession in 2020. Hospitality tax collections, tourism jobs and the state’s 2% tourism tax posted healthy gains…

Arkansas ends fiscal budget year with historic $1.628 billion surplus; special session called (Updated)

The previously estimated Arkansas budget surplus of $1.473 billion grew to a record $1.628 billion, which resulted in Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday (July 5) calling for an Aug. 8…

All Arkansas metro areas see year-over-year jobless rates improve in May

Jobless rates in all eight metro areas within or including parts of Arkansas were down compared with May 2021, and all areas posted year-over-year job gains. The largest job growth…

Legislative candidate faces financial troubles, denies domestic disturbance details

Ongoing financial and past personal issues have emerged for Max Avery, the Republican candidate in the Arkansas House District 49 race, which represents the northern part of Fort Smith. Avery…

Riff Raff: A cash and culture change in Russellville

About three decades ago, Arkansas Tech University let me graduate. My attendance was problematic for a few ATU leaders, and, likely, I was not the only person celebrating my graduation….

‘The Bricks’ to expand residential living space in downtown Fort Smith

More residential living will open in downtown Fort Smith as early as January 2023, with Ghan & Cooper Commercial Properties beginning a $6.5 million renovation of a former hotel into…

Chipotle to open a Fort Smith location

A Chipotle Mexican Grill will open in Fort Smith later this year, and will be part of a multi-tenant redevelopment of the former Logan’s Roadhouse restaurant in the northeast corner…

Permit issued, demolition to begin by July 1 on St. Scholastica Monastery

A permit was issued Tuesday (June 21) by the city of Fort Smith to Catoosa, Okla.-based DT Specialized Services for the demolition of the historic St. Scholastica Monastery. Demolition of…

Medical buildings top Sebastian County property deals in May

Ownership changes with medical properties were the top Sebastian County property deals in May, with four properties owned by Rodney and Stuart Ghan and Bob Cooper selling for a combined…

Don’t be an idiot

If you’re gonna be an idiot in this world, it helps to be lucky. I should know. I’m an idiot. It was May 11, 2021, when the colonoscopy doctor told…

Police Chief: Big pay raise for Fort Smith police officers likely part of 2024 budget

Fort Smith voters on May 24 approved a sales tax extension that will also provide money for the police department outside the city’s general fund. The high-profile promise to voters…

Propak acquired by Dallas-based Pallet Logistics of America

Fort Smith-based Propak has been acquired by Dallas-based Pallet Logistics of America (PLA). Propak founder Steve Clark said the deal will not reduce employment in Fort Smith, and he will…

Electric vehicles registered in Arkansas up 43% through May; up almost 300% since 2019

Electric vehicles registered in Arkansas are up 43% in the first five months of 2022 from the end of 2021, with Benton, Pulaski and Washington counties home to 57% of…

Home sales down 3.3% in Fort Smith metro through April

Largely because of home sales declines in Sebastian County, sales in the Fort Smith metro were down 3.3% between January and April, but the value of the sales was up…

Sisters confirm demo plans for St. Scholastic Monastery; demo could begin in three weeks

The Benedictine Sisters have rejected a flurry of requests and pleadings from state and local individuals and organizations and are moving ahead with demolishing the historic St. Scholastica Monastery in…

Arkansas’ electric co-ops to spend $1.66 billion on broadband expansion

Diamond State Networks, a coalition of 13 Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, is the newest wholesale broadband provider in the state with the goal of providing high-speed internet access to 1.25 million…

Preserve Arkansas acting to delay demolition of St. Scholastica

Little Rock-based Preserve Arkansas has received preliminary grant approval from a national trust to conduct an assessment of historic St. Scholastica Monastery in Fort Smith, which is set for demolition…

Efforts announced to expedite truck driver licensing in Arkansas

Hiring more examiners, using the Saline County Fairgrounds for skills testing, and approving overtime pay for examiners are some of the ways the Arkansas State Police and Arkansas Trucking Association…