Fort Smith

2024: Notable Deaths in NWA, Fort Smith metro

Significant contributors to the Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith metro business and civic communities died in 2024. February Glenn Atkins, 60, Feb. 24 — Atkins earned a finance degree —…

F-35 jet arrival, I-49 work, consent decree among top 2024 Fort Smith metro stories

The first two of many fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets roared into Fort Smith in late December to mark another milestone in the foreign pilot training center at Ebbing Air National…

Fort Smith businessman, community ‘advocate’ Kelly Newton has died

Longtime Fort Smith businessman and community supporter Kelly Newton has died following what his family says was a “courageous fight with pancreatic cancer.” He was 74. Newton for decades owned…

Ruling could revoke marijuana cultivation license for River Valley Relief

A Dec. 30 ruling by Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herbert Wright Jr. again places in jeopardy the future of Fort Smith-based River Valley Relief (RVR), which is one of eight…

Land cleared for Scott-Sebastian County Library; cost estimated at $5 million

The land in Greenwood where a new Scott-Sebastian County Library will sit had to be cleared of rock before any construction could begin, but that part of the project is…

Consultant sought in Fort Smith Public School Board superintendent search

The Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education will meet in a special called meeting Jan. 7 to review possible firms to help with the search for a new superintendent…

14 Arkansas universities and colleges receive $26.7 million in HIRED grants

Of the $26.7 million in workforce training grants announced Thursday (Dec. 19) by Gov. Sarah Sanders, $4.45 million will land in the Fort Smith metro, and institutions in the University…

Fort Smith Board approves second payment for waterpark slides

The Fort Smith Board of Directors passed an ordinance at the regular board meeting Tuesday (Dec. 17) to pay for the second half of the cost of new slides at…

Funding approved for Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved $522,579 for Miss Laura’s Brothel Museum during its regular board meeting Tuesday night (Dec. 17). The Fort Smith Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)…

Fort Smith Board rejects ordinance that would have banned homeless camps

The Fort Smith Board of Directors on Tuesday (Dec. 17) rejected a proposed ordinance to address homelessness that in some ways mirrors a Grants Pass, Ore., ordinance that survived a…

Fort Smith School Board president discusses superintendent search plan

The Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education is preparing for a search that could begin in January 2025 for a superintendent to oversee a district with more than 13,000…

Community leaders: ’Strong’ leadership skills, building trust needed in Fort Smith city boss

Proven leadership and management skills are needed in the next Fort Smith city administrator, and the city should use a firm to attract candidates for the top job, according to…

Morawski discusses leaving as Fort Smith School District superintendent

Dr. Terry Morrawski, Fort Smith Public Schools Superintendent, announced Tuesday (Dec. 16) at the school board meeting that he may leave the district at the end of the school year….

Race cited in reassignment of Northside High School football coach

Fort Smith Public Schools Board of Education member Talicia Richardson on Monday (Dec. 16) brought up the question of race at the board’s regular meeting when discussing the recent reassignment…

‘Significant’ construction at pilot training center could begin in mid-2025

Groundbreakings for new facilities, including large flight simulator buildings, at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith could take place as early as summer 2025, and begin a four-…

Fort Smith Board to interview deputy administrators for top city job

Just a week after firing Carl Geffken as city administrator, the Fort Smith Board of Directors will on Tuesday (Dec. 17) interview Interim City Administrator Jeff Dingman and Deputy City…

Harps Food building new stores in Conway, Fort Smith

With construction set to begin on a Harps Food Store on the Arkansas College of Health Education (ACHE) campus, Springdale-based Harps is looking for a tenant. A building permit valued…

Future School of Fort Smith to limit use of cell phones; provide Yondr pouches

The Future School of Fort Smith is going phone-free in the new year. Starting with the spring semester in January, the school will provide Yondr pouches for all students in…

Polish F-35 jets expected to soon arrive in Fort Smith

The first two F-35 fighter jets built for Poland will soon roll off the Lockheed production line in Fort Worth, Texas, and Col. Nicholas Ihde is ready to fly one…

Traffic up 1.3% at Fort Smith Regional Airport through November

Enplanements at the Fort Smith Regional Airport between January and November totaled 56,430, up 1.3% compared with traffic in the same period of 2023. November traffic was down almost 7%…