I AM 479

🔍 Feature Story 5 min read Fort Smith, AR The doors of City Hall on Garrison Avenue are busy again, and for good reason. Fort Smith, Arkansas is moving four finalists forward for city administrator, and the choice will ripple across every street from Chaffee Crossing to West Rogers. What’s happening now The Fort Smith Board of Directors has set interviews with four candidates for city administrator. That is the top day‑to‑day job at City Hall. The Board governs. The administrator runs operations. This is a pivotal hire for the Fort. The board also green‑lit the next steps to keep the process moving. Expect structured interviews. Expect vetting. Expect a decision that sets the tone for the next several years. Why this matters to the 479 The city administrator shapes what you feel on your commute and in your water bill. They coordinate police and fire staffing. They set priorities for streets, drainage, and parks. They steer planning and development ...

📖 Community Explainer 3 min read Fort Smith, AR Here’s what’s happening and why Fort Smith should care: Baptist Health Fort Smith says the hospital will remain open, but operational changes are coming. In Fort Smith Arkansas, that touches ER waits, surgeries, and everyday care across the River Valley. If you’re new to the 479, here’s the lay of the land. We’ve got two major hospital anchors. Baptist Health Fort Smith sits just south of Garrison Avenue on Towson, serving downtown and the west side. Mercy Fort Smith is up off Rogers Avenue near I-49, serving the east side and Chaffee Crossing growth. Baptist is the former Sparks campus, a longtime medical hub for our city. Two systems. One shared mission. Care for the Fort. KHBS reports Baptist leaders are planning “operational changes.” They emphasized the hospital will stay open. Details were limited in the report. That means we could see adjustments to how services are organized, when clinics run, or ho...

⚡ Quick Take 2 min read Fort Smith, AR Hey Fort Smith, this is big. The first Finnish F-35 jets touched down at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith Arkansas, and a new era just started in the 479. If you’re new to the Fort, Ebbing sits at Fort Smith Regional Airport off Phoenix Ave and Old Greenwood Road. It’s becoming a hub where allied pilots train on F-35s, starting with Finland. That means more activity at the airfield, more uniforms around town, and more families joining our community. Expect to hear training flights over the River Valley. Most operations stay around the airport footprint, but you’ll notice them from Ben Geren Park to Chaffee Crossing and sometimes over downtown and Garrison Ave. This is strategic, local, and very real for our city. Old timers, you know this part of town well. You remember the 188th jets roaring past Rogers Ave and the quiet after they left. Today’s sound is different, but the pride is familiar. The base is ...

📅 Weekly Roundup 4 min read Fort Smith, AR Hey Fort Smith — welcome to your week. Fort Smith Arkansas had storms, big civic questions, fresh art, and a couple road headaches, so here’s the no-fluff rundown. 🌩️ WEATHER: Early morning storms left damage across the River Valley, per KHBS. Check fences, trees, and power lines if you’re near Garrison Ave or Chaffee Crossing. 🌩️ WEATHER: No active alerts today for the Fort. 10‑day trend from 5NEWS shows spring swings, so keep rain gear by the door. 🏥 HEALTH: City leaders want clearer answers from Baptist Health about what’s next after labor and delivery closed on Towson, per TB&P. Longtimers remember babies delivered there for decades, and newcomers should know this is our main hospital network in town. 🏫 EDUCATION: A Fort Smith special education teacher is accused of striking a 12‑year‑old with an iPad, per 5NEWS. The report says it happened multiple times; officials are investigating. 🏫...

📅 Weekly Roundup 4 min read Fort Smith, AR Hey Fort Smith. Here’s your fast, need‑to‑know roundup for Fort Smith Arkansas. New here or born on Rogers Avenue, we’ve got you covered in the 479. 🌩️ WEATHER: Early morning storms left scattered damage across the River Valley. Expect downed limbs and a few power blips in pockets right here in the Fort. Give yourself extra time on neighborhood streets. 🌩️ WEATHER:  Keep an eye on midweek rain chances before your I‑540/I‑49 commute. 🏥 HEALTH: Baptist Health will close labor and delivery at the Towson Avenue hospital. ER and other services remain. For newcomers: this is our major hospital by downtown and the river. 🏥 HEALTH: City Hall wants more detail from Baptist Health on what’s next. The mayor and a city director pressed for a plan. Longtimers know how important Towson’s campus is to families across the River Valley. 🏥 HEALTH: Teen volunteers are getting hands‑on experience at Baptist He...

🔍 Feature Story 5 min read Fort Smith, AR Hey Fort Smith. Walk Garrison Avenue right now and you can feel it — downtown’s getting another nudge forward. A new mini-grant program from Main Street Fort Smith just dropped, and it’s built to help business and property owners upgrade storefronts and bring empty spaces back to life in Fort Smith, Arkansas. What’s new on Garrison The headline is simple. Mini-grants for downtown improvements. Think fresh signage. Better lighting. Clean, safe facades. Pop-up activations in vacant windows. Small dollars that make visible change. For young readers: this is practical fuel for foot traffic and weekend plans. For our whole city: it keeps investment pointed at the core of the Fort. Who’s behind the mini-grants Main Street Fort Smith is the nonprofit that steers downtown’s day-to-day momentum. They’re part of the Main Street Arkansas and Main Street America network. Their focus is historic preservation with modern...

📖 Community Explainer 5 min read Fort Smith, AR Here’s what’s happening and why Fort Smith should care. The first Finnish F-35 jets just touched down at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This kicks off an international fighter training mission that will change our skies and our economy. If you’re new to the Fort, Ebbing is the military side of our airport. The main gate sits off Phoenix Avenue near the terminal and Old Greenwood Road. The Air Force picked Fort Smith to host allied pilot training for the F-35 and other fighters. Finland is among the first to arrive. They will fly from our runways. They will train in nearby airspace. This effort brings pilots, maintainers, and support crews to the River Valley. Our city becomes a hub for high-tech aviation in the 479. Old timers, you know this part of town well. You remember the 188th’s F-16s and A-10 “Hogs” carving turns over Ben Geren Park and the south side. You remember the jet wash ...

Hey Fort Smith! Big healthcare news for our neighbors: Baptist Health is closing the labor and delivery unit at its Fort Smith hospital, according to the Arkansas Advocate. For growing families from Chaffee Crossing to northside neighborhoods and across the River Valley, this is a significant change right here in the Fort. What does this mean? Fewer local options for delivering babies could mean more travel for expectant parents, shifts in where OB/GYNs deliver, and potential ripple effects on wait times at other regional hospitals. Families may need to plan routes across town or the river, consider backup transportation, and coordinate childcare earlier than usual. It’s a practical, everyday impact that will be felt from Rogers Avenue to Garrison Avenue and beyond. If you’re expecting, now’s the time to talk with your OB or midwife about where your delivery will take place, confirm insurance networks, and map out a plan for prenatal care. High‑risk pregnancies should check ...

Finding your voice is rarely a solo mission. Finding Your Voice: Stuttering Support and Resources in the Arkansas River Valley By Humayun Mian When Maria Rodriguez walked into her first job interview at a Fort Smith marketing firm three years ago, she felt her throat tighten—not from nerves about the interview questions. She had prepared thoroughly. The anxiety came from something else entirely: introducing herself. The “M” sound in Maria had always been one of her hardest to navigate. Maria is one of approximately three million Americans who stutter, and she’s far from alone here in the Arkansas River Valley. Yet stuttering remains widely misunderstood, often leading to unnecessary stigma, awkward interactions, and missed opportunities for support. What Stuttering Really Is (and Isn’t) Stuttering is a communication difference that affects the flow of speech. People w...

​ Hey Fort Smith crew, nobody likes sitting in a sweaty truck cab breathing diesel while twenty pickups crawl toward the scale house. The city just dropped a fresh bulletin telling us exactly when to roll in smooth and when to stay the hell home. Here’s the cheat sheet straight from Solid Waste Services (dated November 24, 2025). Golden Hours (basically empty) •  Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM Gates just opened, coffee still kicking in, barely any traffic. •  Monday – Friday: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Lunch rush is gone, most contractors are already on job sites or knocking off early. •  Saturday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM Weekend warriors haven’t rolled out of bed yet. You’ll be in and out before they find their keys. Red-Zone Hours (avoid like the plague) •  Monday & Saturday: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Every roofing crew, landscaping truck, and DIY dad shows up at once. Expect 30–60 minute waits. •  Weekday lunch window: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Construction guys on b...

  Charleston woman celebrates big lottery win after stop at Fort Smith gas station ​  Summarize ​ ASL said she celebrated her big win with a happy dance inside the Fort Smith gas station before sharing the news with her husband. CHARLESTON, Ark — A Charleston woman won big after a stop at the Casey's Gas Station on Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith on Feb. 10, according to the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery (ASL). M. Conway bought the ticket, keeping her eye on the top prize, and initially thought she had lost after not seeing the "instant win" symbol on her ticket. However, after receiving a message about claiming her winnings, Conway realized her numbers matched the top prize of $50,000. Conway celebrated her big win with a dance inside the Fort Smith gas station before sharing the news with her husband, according to ASL. She plans to go on vacation with her winnings.

  Fort Smith Northside boys upset Bentonville Fort Smith Northside's Derek Shepard (1) dunks in the second quarter of Northside's 77-64 win against Bentonville at Northside Arena on Friday. (Special to River Valley Democrat-Gazette/Ron Green) The Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies started track season a little early on Friday night. The Grizzlies scored 28 points in the first quarter and added 20 in the third quarter in sprinting to a 77-64 win against Bentonville in 6A-West play at Northside Arena. Northside (13-12, 4-8) will host rival Southside on Monday, a day earlier than originally scheduled due to a predicted winter storm. Friday, Derek Shepard scored 14 of his game-high 32 points in the opening quarter leading thew Grizzlies to an 18-4 lead five minutes into the game, 23-6 six minutes in, and a 28-15 lead after the quarter. "I'm for the first time in my life, I'm lost for words because I'm so proud of the kids," Northside Coach Cody Wilmath said.

  Men charged in regard to drug deals to face Sebastian County trial together Marvin Rojas, Kevin Rojas habitual offenders, prosecutors charge Two men charged as habitual offenders who are accused of dealing drugs will be tried together, according to Sebastian County Circuit Court records. Having been convicted of four or more felonies makes each man a habitual offender, according to prosecutors, which makes them subject to extended prison time as per Arkansas law. Kevin A. Rojas, 33, listed as homeless in Fort Smith, and Marvin A. Rojas, 34, of Alma, were arrested late on Dec. 10 by Sebastian County Sheriff's Office deputies, records show. Law enforcement personnel with the 12th/21st Drug Task Force were in charge of the case, police said. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, court records state. On Dec. 13, Kevin Rojas was charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession with the purpose to deliver more than 2 grams but less than 10 ...

  Chamber music comes to UAFS Gallery Feb. 22 The UAFS Gallery of Art and Design will serve as the backdrop for a chamber music performance Feb. 22 by Emily and Matthew Denman from the Fort Smith Symphony. After the guitar and harp selections, listeners will have the opportunity to view and explore the gallery's permanent collection. (Courtesy Photos/UAFS Gallery of Art and Design)

  Fort Smith metro ends 2024 on a positive jobs note The Fort Smith metro ended 2024 with a lower jobless rate and a net job gain of 1.3% compared with December 2023. The education and health services, manufacturing, and tourism sectors helped push year-over-year job numbers higher. Recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures note that the Fort Smith metro had an estimated 117,640 jobs in December, up 1,561 jobs, or 1.3%, compared with December 2023. The December jobless rate was 3.4%, better than the 3.8% in December 2023. The pace of Fort Smith metro job growth was behind the 4% in the Jonesboro metro, the 3.3% in Northwest Arkansas, and the 3.1% in central Arkansas. The region’s labor force – number of people eligible for the workforce – was an estimated 121,736 in December, up 0.9% compared with 120,625 in December 2023. The year-end jobs tally of 117,640 was below the 2024 monthly high of 119,155 in June, and regional employment remains well below the peak of 124,098 ...