Fort Smith Board to have at least one new name after upcoming election cycle
Four positions on the Fort Smith Board of Directors are coming up for reelection in November, and two are all-in for another campaign, one is out, and one is still deciding. Talk Business &...
View ArticleDirector Catsavis’ plan to offset sewer rate hikes meeting with opposition
A proposal by Fort Smith City Director George Catsavis to add a new property tax exemption to offset sewer bill increases has been labeled “irresponsible” by a state legislator and has drawn opposition...
View ArticleFort Smith Board approves bonds for Glatfelter, plan for additional city...
The Fort Smith Board of Directors authorized industrial revenue bonds in the amount of $75 million to pave the way for Glatfelter Advanced Materials in its bid to occupy the manufacturing facility at...
View ArticleFort Smith airport director still hopeful Air Guard will sign joint use...
Fort Smith Regional Airport Director John Parker said there has been “very little movement” on negotiations with the Air National Guard Bureau over the terms of a lease that could place the airport out...
View ArticleFuture School of Fort Smith advances in $50 million XQ super school challenge
Future School of Fort Smith, the startup high school to open in downtown Fort Smith in August 2016, has advanced to the semifinals of XQ: The Super School Project. The competition boasts a $50 million...
View ArticleFort Smith Directors frustrated with utility department financials, call it a...
Editor’s note: Story updated to provide estimate of debt service ratio as of April 12. ––––––––––––––––––– The Fort Smith Board of Directors received updates at Tuesday’s (April 12) study session on...
View ArticleNew Fort Smith boss to begin May 9, Board approves extension on sports complex
The Fort Smith Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday night (April 19) to approve newly hired City Administrator Carl Geffken for a May 9 start date, and capped his moving expense reimbursement...
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Gen. Darby statue ready for placement in Cisterna Plaza in downtown Fort Smith
On April 23, 1945, during the waning days of World War II, Colonel William Orlando Darby found himself with an unexpected mission. Robinson E. Duff, the Brigadier General and assistant commander of the...
View ArticleMore vendors set for expected larger crowds at the second annual Steel Horse...
The Steel Horse Rally is coming back to downtown Fort Smith on April 29 and 30 for its second annual event that looks to produce an even larger economic impact than 2015’s $4.272 million. Two early...
View ArticleFort Smith Board discusses diversity issue, whites make up 86.4% of city...
The Fort Smith Board of Directors finally got an opportunity to discuss department diversity across city government at Tuesday’s (April 26) study session, and they found common ground on one key...
View ArticleFort Smith Director Lorenz to seek re-election, Director Good changes course...
Fort Smith City Directors Mike Lorenz and André Good have decided to stick around for another term on the Fort Smith Board of Directors provided voters are willing to have them. The news came by way of...
View ArticleFort Smith Board agrees to settlement related to dispute over riverfront...
The Fort Smith Board of Directors agreed to a $130,171 settlement with SureTec Insurance Company and Dixon Contracting, over the city’s terminated contract with Dixon on the West River Front Trail...
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Van Buren group moving forward with plans, ideas on renovation in and around...
Van Buren Original (VBO) will hold its kickoff meeting on Tuesday (May 10) at 3:30 p.m. from the second floor of the King Opera House in downtown Van Buren. The location is fitting for a group that has...
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$3.05 million from coin sales presented to Marshals Museum by Sen. Boozman,...
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark, and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers, were in Fort Smith Saturday (May 7) to present the United States Marshals Museum with a $3.053 million check earned from surcharges...
View ArticleFort Smith CBID agrees to help fund ‘Propel Downtown Forward,’ also approves...
The Fort Smith Central Business Improvement District (CBID) has thrown its support behind the Propel Downtown Forward initiative undertaken by 64/6 Downtown, voting unanimously on Tuesday (May 10) to...
View ArticleVan Buren Original group holds first public discussion about downtown...
Van Buren Original (VBO) held its kickoff meeting in the second floor of the King Opera House downtown on Tuesday (May 10), identifying two key opportunities to revitalize the city’s historic downtown...
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Geffken begins job as Fort Smith city administrator, first goal is to fill...
Fort Smith City Administrator Carl Geffken may only have one day on the job under his belt, but he has already identified his top priority: filling key vacancies that have left city government treading...
View ArticleFort Smith Board not happy with $3.2 million budget surprise, approve interim...
The Fort Smith Board of Directors grilled the city’s Utilities Department over a $3.2 million appropriation request at Tuesday’s (May 17) regular meeting. Additionally, City Directors allocated $94,376...
View ArticleWork on Arkansas Highway 45 remains uncertain as traffic grows and adjacent...
The Arkansas Highway 45 intersection in the area of Planters Road is a hub for Fort Smith and Sebastian County employment. It’s also a traffic nightmare. Narrow lanes hinder truck shipments and...
View ArticleSummit: State, county and local resources needed to address mental health,...
A mental health summit held Wednesday (May 25) in Fort Smith covered treatment and incarceration issues with which resolution likely requiring new laws and new thinking at the state level. Leon Evans,...
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