Regions

Closed portion of U.S. 71 to reopen today (July 2)

The portion of U.S. 71 north of Mountainburg closed June 23 is scheduled to open by 5 p.m. today (July 2), about a week sooner than expected. The closed portion…

FY 2009 Arkansas tax collections see 2.1% dip

As expected, the national recession resulted in a rare decline in net revenue from tax collections for Arkansas’ fiscal year 2009 (July 2008-June 2009). The Arkansas Department of Finance and…

Men: What recession?

New survey suggests recession has had little impact on male spending patterns.

Wal-Mart retains spot as top U.S. retailer

Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. retains its spot as the nation’s largest retailer according to STORES magazine, a publication of the National Retail Federation. STORES’ Top 100 Retailers list is based…

Peter advises to use your Red Rooster to get bread

Some of the best buns in the River Valley are in Alma, but Peter isn’t so sure about a Boom-A-Rang return.

Golden Living completes sale of all Arkansas nursing homes

Fort Smith-based Golden Living is officially out of the nursing home business in Arkansas. The company announced Wednesday (July 1) the completion of a previously announced deal to sell 13…

Van Buren up, Fort Smith down on June building permit values

The city of Fort Smith issued 334 building permits in June for work totaling $11.89 million, down more than 49% from the busy May 2008 activity resulting from hail and…

Wine, church tours part of Rotary governor induction

The ceremony for A.C. Moncrief brought more than 200 to historic St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Altus.

Mahony appointed to Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

Emon Mahony Jr., the former president of Fort Smith-based Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corp. and former chairman of the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, was on Wednesday (July 1) appointed as…

Fort Smith city boss: Organizational review ready for release

The organizational review of city government first mentioned by Fort Smith City Administrator Dennis Kelly during a Dec. 23 city board of directors study session could be released during the…

First half of 2009 tough on shares of Arkansas-based companies; Baldor sees big boost

The share price of Fort Smith-based Baldor Electric Co. is up more than 28% in the first six months of 2009, but is still well below its 52-week high of…

Avoid the ‘greenwash’

American consumers are confused and skeptical of “green” product claims.

Fort Smith spay/neuter clinic gets big donation from PetSmart

The River Valley Animal Welfare Coalition has received a $68,000 grant from PetSmart Charities to help support a new spay and neuter clinic soon to open in the Quarry Shopping…

Water, recycling programs discussed by Fort Smith directors

Fort Smith Utilities Director Steve Parke laid out a $49 million-$54 million plan that would establish the potential footprint for a water treatment plant at Lake Fort Smith that could…

Fort Smith metro area jobless rate up to 7.5%

So much for the recent downward trend in unemployment in the Fort Smith area. The unemployment rate for the Fort Smith metro area increased to 7.5% in May after three…

Van Buren attorney announces bid for Arkansas House seat

Kevin Holmes announced Tuesday (June 30) he will run for the Arkansas House of Representatives seat (District 66) now occupied by State Rep. Rick Green, R-Van Buren, who is term…

Regional intermodal authority one step closer to reality

An almost two-hour meeting Monday (June 29) between city and county officials resulted in another step toward the formation of a regional intermodal authority. Mat Pitsch, director of the plan…

Accountant pay holds steady

Arkansas accountants don’t make anywhere near the national average.

Fort Smith directors detail short- and long-term issues, concerns

Back in May, The City Wire asked two basic questions — via e-mail — to the seven members of the Fort Smith Board of Directors. • What would you cite…

Better times ahead for national trucking industry?

A national trucking economist believes the worst might be in the rear-view mirror of the trucking industry. The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index was up…