Author: Tina Alvey Dale

Tina Alvey Dale

Safety, hiring more officers discussed at Fort Smith Public School Board meeting

With two weapon-related incidents at Fort Smith Public Schools in the first two weeks of the school year, FSPS administration is looking for ways to make sure students and staff…

Deans added to Fort Smith high schools to help with ‘disciplinary actions,’ teacher support

In an effort to more effectively ensure discipline and help teachers and students get what they need in the classroom, the Fort Smith Public School District has added new administrative…

‘Ironclad’ agreement returned to FCRA seeking golf course property conveyance

Members of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) Board of Trustees asked for better terms before donating Deer Trails Golf Course to the City of Fort Smith. They got what…

ACME declines to donate property, forcing Fort Smith officials to negotiate a price

The Fort Smith Board of Directors (BOD) during a special meeting following the board’s study session Tuesday (Aug. 22) approved two resolutions to allow Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken…

Downtown Fort Smith ambassador program fully staffed

Fort Smith’s Downtown Ambassadors program is now fully staffed and ambassadors are hoping to make a difference for both business owners and visitors to Fort Smith downtown. The Fort Smith…

Largest Fort Smith area public schools not offering AP African American history course

The four largest school districts in the Fort Smith metro have no plans to offer an AP (advanced placement) course on African American history, but the Fort Smith and Van…

FCRA Trustees reject golf course conveyance plan from the City of Fort Smith

The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) Board of Trustees on Thursday (Aug. 17) rejected a an agreement with the City of Fort Smith that would protect the future of golf…

Study approved for downtown Fort Smith multi-use stadium

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved a resolution at its regular meeting Tuesday (Aug. 15) to fund a study of the possible development of a baseball or multi-use stadium…

Movie producers like new Arkansas film incentive law, but say more is needed

The Arkansas Cinema Society may have celebrated Act 517, which went into effect Aug. 1, but many filmmakers in Arkansas are wondering just how it is going to help the…

Peak Center flooding investigation request garners no responses

With no submissions on an advertised search for a request for qualification (RFQ) concerning an investigation into the flooding at Fort Smith Public Schools’ Peak Innovation Center, the FSPS Board…

City of Fort Smith sends Deer Trails Golf Course donation agreement to FCRA

The City of Fort Smith sent a donation agreement to the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority Board of Trustees in hopes that the FCRA will put the item on its Thursday…

Kayak rental coming to Carol Ann Cross Park in Fort Smith

Kayaks will be available for rent at Carol Ann Cross Park starting in September, bringing what city officials hope will be considered an affordable, family-friendly amenity to Fort Smith parks….

Fort Kids museum kicks off capital campaign with $15,000 donation

The Fort Kids Children’s Museum in Fort Smith kicked off its capital campaign Thursday (Aug. 10) with a $15,000 donation from Fort Smith Mayor George McGill. The proceeds were raised…

Addressing water leaks continues to be a struggle in Fort Smith

The City of Fort Smith repaired 182 leaks in the second quarter of the year, bringing the total number of leaks down to 426 throughout the city. However, that is…

New livestream designed to improve viewing of City of Fort Smith board meetings

The City of Fort Smith has improved livestreaming the Board of Directors meetings. Beginning with the Aug. 15 regular board meeting, meetings will be livestreamed through the city’s newly launched…

Construction delays requires relocation of around 245 Fort Smith elementary students

Because of construction delays at Ballman Elementary School in Fort Smith, Ballman students will begin the school year at Fairview Elementary School when they return to the classroom Aug. 14….

State of the State Mid-Year 2023: Arkansas’ tourism industry booming

Editor’s note: The State of the State series provides reports twice a year on Arkansas’ key economic sectors. The series publishes stories to begin a year and stories in July/August…

‘Almost’ 10,000 visit U.S. Marshals Museum in its first month

Visitors came by the thousands to see the U.S. Marshals Museum on the riverfront in Fort Smith during its inaugural month. Hannah Green, marketing coordinator, said the museum saw about…

Fort Smith metro building permit numbers decline in July, up 30% for the year

Construction slowed in the Fort Smith metro area in July but year-to-date numbers are still much higher than those in 2022. Fort Smith, Greenwood and Van Buren combined for $26.564…

Fort Smith film fest signs deal with Beverly Hills-based distribution company

The Fort Smith International Film Festival has taken a step up, growing from a festival into a film market thanks to a partnership with Porter + Craig Film and Media…