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 ...

⚡ 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 ...