News on the Wire

Chris Kirk wins Fort Smith Classic; Daly finishes 22nd

story submitted by the PGA Tour Georgia’s Chris Kirk fired a 6-under 64 Sunday to come from behind and win the Fort Smith Classic by one stroke over Kyle Thompson,…

Broadaway takes Classic lead; Daly falls back

story submitted by the PGA Tour Josh Broadaway fired a 5-under 65 Saturday to take the 54-hole lead at the Nationwide Tour’s Fort Smith Classic, with John Daly falling back…

Convention events boost area hospitality sector in May

The overall decline continues in the Fort Smith area hospitality sector, but May brought the first gain in Fort Smith collections in more than a year. According to figures from…

Program, facility growth part of strategic plans at ATU-Ozark

The administration, staff, faculty and student leadership at the Ozark campus of Arkansas Tech University are focused on continuing a strategic plan began in fall 2008 that has helped push…

Arkansas’ personal income growth falls behind rest of the nation

Personal income growth in Arkansas totaled $92.958 billion in the first quarter of 2010, up 0.6% from the same quarter of 2009 and up 0.4% from the previous quarter. Unfortunately,…

State jobless rate falls to 7.7%; manufacturing job numbers gain

Arkansas’ unemployment rate fell to 7.7% in May, with the number of unemployed dropping to its lowest point for the first five months of 2010 and manufacturing employment posting five…

Chaffee Authority approves Mitsubishi incentives, bow-hunting permits

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] At the June 17 meeting of the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, trustees approved a resolution regarding the definitive agreement for the development of the 200,000…

BMB Merry of Arkansas sold to large global broker

Bowen, Miclette, Britt & Merry of Arkansas has been sold to Itasca, Ill.-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a global insurance brokerage and risk management with operations in 15 countries….

Big incentives necessary says Fort Smith chamber president

Paul Harvel says the leadership of Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce is not concerned about any precedents — future expectations — the $585,000 incentive package to Mitsubishi may set…

Mitsubishi exec focused on hiring (and eating) local

Other than the region as a whole, there is at least one specific winner in the decision by Mitsubishi Power Systems to build a $100 million wind turbine assembly plant…

AOG chief optimistic despite stalled NATGAS bill

Mike Callan remains optimistic about proposed federal legislation that encourages the use of natural gas as a fuel in fleet and personal vehicles. Callan, the president of Fort Smith-based Arkansas…

The City Wire special report: A ‘slimy’ vacation at Orange Beach, Ala.

Editor’s note: Roy Hill, a faculty member at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith and freelance writer for The City Wire, provides this first-person account of a family vacation…

Daly ready for Fort Smith Classic; calls on title sponsor to step up

story and photos by Ruby Dean [email protected] John Daly hit the course Wednesday (June 16) at Hardscrabble Country Club playing in the Pro-Am game with Coach Frank Broyles, Rooster McConaughey…

Alma Rotary Club continues community center push

story and photo by Marla Cantrell [email protected] When Alma’s Rotary Club formed in July 2008, the organizers had two goals: outdo Greenwood, the town’s biggest athletic rival, and build a…

Miss UAFS prepped for Miss Arkansas Pageant

story and photo submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith The week of July 11-17 is approaching quickly, but Rebecca Wheeley of Rogers will be ready as she…

More convention center study angers Mayor Baker

Fort Smith Mayor Ray Baker and George Moschner, the chief financial officer for Fort Smith-based Baldor Electric Co., share a frustration related to the future of the Fort Smith Convention…

Fort Smith board approves Mitsubishi incentives; overrides tax credit veto

From wind energy to tax credits, economic development was the theme of a Fort Smith board of directors meeting (June 15) that ranged in tone from broad compliments to pointed…

Arkansas releases benchmark test scores

Greenwood and Van Buren students were just a few of the area students scoring higher than the state average on the Grade 11 Literacy Exam, according to results released Tuesday…

Marshals Museum fundraising a tough job; staff remains optimistic

U.S. Marshals Museum officials say they continue to be optimistic despite what is proving to be a tough early effort to raise $50 million for the museum to be located…

Casey’s General Stores plans to expand into Arkansas

Casey’s General Stores Inc. is looking to expand into Arkansas, the Ankeny, Iowa-based convenience store operator said Monday in its quarterly earnings report. Casey’s President and CEO Robert J. Myers…