Fort Smith

Owens Corning to add 50 jobs in Russellville

Owens Corning said it is expanding its presence in Russellville Monday (Feb. 27) and will add 50 new jobs in the area over the next two years. The Toledo-based building…

Crawford County Library Board appoints interim director

During a special called meeting Friday (Feb. 24), the Crawford County Library Board appointed Eva White interim director of the Crawford County Library System in the wake of Deidre Grzymala’s…

U.S. Marshals Museum receives Heritage grant; museum $3.5 million from campaign goal

The U.S. Marshals Museum (USMM) Foundation announced Thursday (Feb. 23) that the museum received an $800,000 Division of Arkansas Heritage Cultural Institutions Trust Fund award. The prestigious awards were announced…

Crawford County Library System director resigns; severance package approved

The Crawford County Library System director who came under fire for placing LGBTQ+ books in the library has resigned and will receive a severance package of more than $40,000. The…

Former gas station transaction the top January Sebastian County property deal

The top Sebastian County property transaction in January was part of a two-transaction deal with an old gas station property in Fort Smith that involved a real estate company based…

Sikes to retire as ATU-Ozark campus chancellor

Bruce Sikes will retire June 30 as the Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus chancellor, ending almost 10 years in the job and wrapping up 16 years with Russellville-based Arkansas Tech University….

Fort Smith Board to limit use of two city-owned downtown parking lots

The Fort Smith Board of Directors passed an ordinance at its regular meeting Tuesday (Feb. 21) that gives the city the ability to close the Blue Lion Downtown parking lot…

Haas Hall to open Fort Smith campus in August

Haas Hall Academy is wrapping up an almost $2 million renovation of former office space to open its fifth high school campus on the fourth floor of the Arkansas Colleges…

ACHE donates land for new no-kill animal shelter

The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education announced Monday (Feb. 20) that it has donated five acres on the ACHE campus for a new facility for Fort Smith Animal Haven, formerly…

Work to begin on $1.149 million facility renovation on ATU-Ozark campus

Work is set to begin on a $1.149 million renovation of the Industrial Control Systems building on the Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus after the ATU Board of Trustees approved a…

Fort Smith Board faces many options on water fee increases, timelines

The Fort Smith Board of Directors were given lots to consider – including a hoped for change to state law – during two study sessions this week about what residents…

Winery and coffee roasting operation, pre-school planned for Chaffee Crossing

The Fort Chaffee Development Authority (FCRA) Board of Trustees approved the sale of two buildings in the Historic District at Chaffee Crossing for use as winery, cidery and coffee roasting…

Fort Smith homebuilders begin work on 2023 Showcase Home

The Greater Fort Smith Association of Home Builders (GFSHA) broke ground Wednesday (Feb. 15) on the 2023 Showcase Home, signifying the start of work on the association’s main fundraiser for…

Animal rescuer worried about chilling effect of new Fort Smith ordinance

While some amateur rescuers are worried that a new animal transfer ordinance in Fort Smith could hurt their efforts to place strays living on the streets into loving forever homes,…

The Mill and The Exchange to open in downtown Fort Smith

The building has a chandelier from a theater in the Hamptons and a wheel from a Barnum & Bailey circus wagon. The wheel is a light fixture. One desk features…

Fort Smith fire chief dies after battle with cancer

Fort Smith Fire Department Chief Phil Christensen has died after a nine-month battle with cancer. He was 54. Christensen, who worked with the fire department since 1992, was named chief…

Fort Smith film fest receives record open day submissions; seeks volunteers

Seven days after submissions opened, the Fort Smith International Film Festival already has 86 submissions from 17 different countries. While staff is preparing for the third annual film festival in…

Inflation boosts Mercy Fort Smith expansion cost; work to wrap up in early 2025

Recent extreme winter weather has not slowed the progress of a major expansion of Mercy Fort Smith, but inflation has added more than $20 million to the hospital project that…

Animal transfer prohibition ordinance approved by Fort Smith Board of Directors

The Fort Smith Board of Directors unanimously passed an ordinance during its regular meeting Tuesday (Feb. 7) that makes it illegal to transfer an animal in the city limits unless…

Barling elementary zone change discussed as solution to high school population disparity

Student population differences between Northside and Southside High Schools has Fort Smith Public School officials and board members looking for a solution, with community members voicing their concerns about what…