News on the Wire

UAFS event honors last two ‘Rainbow Girls’

story and photo submitted by the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Light was shed on personal civic involvement Jan. 19 at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith as…

Fort Smith Housing Authority reports on 2009

Despite the 2008 hangover from a federal audit and public trouble getting a new development approved, The Fort Smith Housing Authority was able to outline a list of “significant accomplishments”…

2009 likely the toughest ever for the trucking industry

It’s official. Sort of. The American Trucking Associations’ notes that in 2009 “the motor carrier industry has potentially endured the most severe drop in volumes ever.” Lane Kidd, director of…

Gov. Beebe, area citizens gather for Martin Luther King celebrations

story and photos by Ruby Dean [email protected] Hundreds of citizens in the Fort Smith area joined with Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe to celebrate the Martin Luther King holiday with a…

Wesley Clark may run for 2nd District seat; GOP field could grow

Wesley Clark, the Little Rock-native who served 34 years in the U.S. Army including a stint as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, could enter the race as a Democrat…

Fort Smith area avoids commercial loan woes; Metropolitan Bank not so lucky

With one big exception, the Arkansas-based banks among the 447 U.S. banks analyzed by SMR Research Corp. scored well with respect to commercial mortgage holdings. The big exception is Little…

Snyder not seeking reelection in Arkansas’ 2nd District

U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder, D-Little Rock, has said he will not seek reelection for Arkansas’ 2nd District, leaving the post vulnerable for a Republican to capture what has historically been…

Three set sights on District 66 (Van Buren) House seat

A schoolteacher, an attorney and the Crawford County assessor have entered the Arkansas District 66 Representative race to fill the post left vacant by term-limited Rep. Rick Green, R-Van Buren….

Auto parts supplier to add 250 jobs in Heber Springs

Add Heber Springs to the recent and pleasantly surprising trend of new job announcements in Arkansas. Gov. Mike Beebe was in the north central Arkansas town Friday to help announce…

Bank of the Ozarks hits 9th consecutive year of record income

Not all banks are in trouble, especially when they unload millions in securities and physical assets. Little Rock-based Bank of the Ozarks on Thursday (Jan. 14) announced net income of…

Hatwig seeks Sebastian County Clerk post

With long-time Sebastian County Clerk Doris Tate seeking the Arkansas Secretary of State position, the election for the county post will be without an incumbent for the first time in…

Sheffield appointed as Arkansas Supreme Court Justice

Little Rock attorney Ron Sheffield has been named by Gov. Mike Beebe has named to serve as an associate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Sheffield’s appointment is effective immediately,…

Booneville still struggling with Cargill loss, recession

story by Marla Cantrell [email protected] People in Booneville still talk about the days when getting a job at Cargill Meat Solutions plant meant good wages, job security and the hope…

Fort Smith metro foreclosure rate jumps 23.1% in 2009

The Fort Smith metro area saw a 23.1% jump in foreclosures in 2009 compared to 2008, according to a report from Irvine, Calif.-RealtyTrac. There was a 21% jump nationwide in…

Bass Reeves lecture draws crowd, money for statue

story and photos by Ruby Dean [email protected] Exactly 100 years ago yesterday (Jan. 12), Bass Reeves was pronounced dead and yet his legend still lives. To mark this event, the…

Arkansas’ race tracks/gaming centers post big gains in 2009

Electronic games of skill (EGS) wagers at Southland and Oaklawn dipped in December compared to the previous month, but once again, posted large gains over the previous year’s comparable periods….

Northside, Southside students pitch business plans to Rotary

Students at Northside and Southside High Schools in Fort Smith are getting a taste of what it’s like to start a business in a tough economy. Craig Pair, president of…

Regional bankruptcies and incorporations

Following are recent bankruptcy and incorporation filings from Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties. The information is provided by The Daily Record. a Little Rock-based news and legal information publisher….

Area building permit values take a dive in 2009

The numbers make a strong case for 2009 being an exception to the consistent claim that the Fort Smith regional construction sector experiences minor ups and downs. And unfortunately, the…

Bowen resigns appointment as Arkansas Supreme Court Justice

Health issues result in yet another resignation of a justice from the Arkansas Supreme Court. Citing health reasons, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Bill Bowen is resigning the post six days…