Author: Michael Tilley

Michael Tilley

Riff Raff: Life, Luck and –30–

Editor’s note: What follows is an updated version of a commentary about Jack Moseley first published Oct. 16, 2005. Moseley passed away Nov. 15. It was August 1992 when, against…

Investor note positive on ArcBest, shares rise more than 6%

Transportation industry analysts with Stephens Inc. remain positive about Fort Smith-based ArcBest even as the company reported lower than expected third quarter earnings, and even with reports of a tough…

NCAA student-athlete pay review a ‘small first step,’ and a pre-emptive move

The about-face made by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Tuesday (Oct. 29) on the subject of paying athletes was not a surprise to those monitoring the long-brewing, controversial…

Glatfelter income tops $12.2 million in the third quarter, revenue up 10.8%

Glatfelter on Tuesday (Oct. 29) reported third quarter revenue was up more than 10%. The company, which operates a manufacturing facility in Fort Smith, also reported earnings per share of…

Fort Smith Board to begin hearings on more than $684 million in planned water, sewer projects

Almost 37% of the more than $684.821 million 10-year capital improvement plans for Fort Smith’s water and sewer system is related to federal consent decree requirements, with those requirements estimated…

Riff Raff: The return of Jerry Mack

There were several hundred folks at Jerry Mack Garrison’s funeral. Few there knew him. But he was a Lamar kid and most of us grew up there and we know…

State Board of Education compromises on Little Rock School District plan, votes to end teacher association

The Arkansas Board of Education on Thursday (Oct. 10) backed away from the Education Department’s plan to restore local control to parts of the Little Rock School District. The board…

Former Sen. Files prison release date set for Nov. 11

Former Sen. Jake Files, R-Fort Smith, who now resides in the City of Faith halfway house in Little Rock, is set to be released from federal detention on Nov. 11,…

Year-to-date travel out of Fort Smith Regional Airport up almost 5%

Business and tourism travel out of the Fort Smith Regional Airport continues to grow, with enplanements up almost 5% through the first nine months of 2019. September enplanements grew at…

Fort Smith metro travel and tourism sector improves in first half of 2019

Travel and tourism business in the Fort Smith metro has rebounded in the first six months of 2019 compared with what was a down year in 2018. Hospitality tax revenue…

Suit filed challenging residency qualifications of Judge Borengasser

Fort Smith attorney and judicial candidate Michael Pierce filed a lawsuit in Sebastian County Circuit Court challenging the residency qualification of Judge Claire Borengasser. Pierce is running for Fort Smith…

64.6 director seeks focus on ‘sustainability,’ hopes for a new brand for the city

A goal of Talicia Richardson is to not only foster near-term growth and improvements in downtown Fort Smith, but include a “sustainability” focus so the momentum of recent years continues….

Fort Smith Regional Airport traffic up more than 4% through August

Traffic gains out of the Fort Smith Regional Airport continue to grow, with the tally up 4.6% for the first eight months of the year compared to a 4% gain…

Discussion among regional mayors part of second annual Invest Fort Smith event

A panel discussion with regional mayors will be part of the second annual Invest Fort Smith summit set for Sept. 19, according to 64.6 Downtown Executive Director Talicia Richardson. Richardson…

Fort Smith sales tax revenue almost flat in first half of 2019

Fort Smith’s share of the 1% Sebastian County tax reached $8.51 million in the first six reporting months of the year, up 0.57% compared with the same period in 2018….

Baptist Health to open new urgent care center in Fort Smith, add up to 15 jobs

Little Rock-based Baptist Health plans to invest at least $800,000 and create up to 15 jobs in opening a new urgent care center in Fort Smith. The 3,300-square-foot center will…

Court filing seeks to vacate FOIA ruling against the city of Fort Smith

The city of Fort Smith on Tuesday (Aug. 6) filed a letter with Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge Michael Fitzhugh to follow an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling that reversed Judge…

Arkansas Tourism Ticker: Tourism tax up more than 5% in first four months of 2019

January-April hospitality tax collections among 17 cities surveyed for the Arkansas Tourism Ticker were up 3.9% compared with the same period in 2018, and the state’s 2% tourism tax revenue…

New UAFS chief touts better branding, ‘first choice’ goal, and transparency

She describes her first few weeks on the job as a “time of discovery.” Part of that discovery, said University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley, includes…

Officials in Fort Smith metro open to the idea of solar power

A growing number of Arkansas cities, counties and school districts are moving toward solar to handle all or a portion of their electricity demand. None of those are in the…