Eclipse worth the trip regardless of travel time, watchers in region say
Crowds waiting for the solar eclipse in a park in Greenwood on Monday became something like a tailgate party that included people from as far away as Los Angel…
Stories by Thomas Saccente
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Subscriber ExclusiveVan Buren cleanup program reports picking up 1,424 bags of litter last year
VAN BUREN -- A program designed to clean up Crawford County's largest city while allowing people to work off paying fines for misdemeanor crimes reported picki…
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Subscriber ExclusiveBenton County JPs approve getting cost estimate for more courtrooms, expansion for juvenile detention
ROGERS -- Benton County will use a professional firm to verify how much it will cost to provide more space for the county's criminal justice system.
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Subscriber ExclusiveSome in Sebastian County to be paying more for trash service starting this spring
FORT SMITH -- Residents in the unincorporated areas of Sebastian County can expect to start paying more for their weekly trash pickup for the second time in 13…
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UAFS seeks to eliminate five degree programs, citing low graduation rates, enrollment
FORT SMITH --The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith will recommend next month the elimination of five degree programs it determined to be nonviable.
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Crawford County man convicted of murdering wife denied new trial after attorney claims jury misconduct
VAN BUREN -- A man convicted of killing his wife last month was denied his request to be re-tried for his crimes in Crawford County Circuit Court.
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University of the Ozarks gets $2.2 million to create graphic design curriculum
CLARKSVILLE -- The University of the Ozarks announced Monday it received a $2.2 million gift from the Little Rock-based Windgate Foundation to create a new gra…
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Fort Smith osteopathic college student sets sights on NASA Aerospace Medicine Clerkship
FORT SMITH -- A man who's set to graduate from the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in May was selected as one of fewer than two dozen students to part…
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Subscriber ExclusiveCrawford County Justice of the Peace Republican primary candidates
Crawford County Justice of the Peace candidates for District 4, 5 and 13.
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Subscriber ExclusiveLamar School Board votes to hire new superintendent out of Monticello
LAMAR -- A seasoned school administrator with experience as a superintendent in the River Valley and Northwest Arkansas was chosen this week as the Lamar Schoo…
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Clarksville Harps damaged in fire, no injuries reported
CLARKSVILLE -- A Harps grocery store will be closed until further notice after fire damaged the building early Thursday.
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Subscriber ExclusiveProtesters rally against Franklin County Sheriff’s Office over status of puppies
OZARK -- More than a dozen protesters gathered outside the Franklin County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday to try to get answers on the well-being of four puppies …
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Subscriber ExclusiveGreenwood ready to make a splash as construction gets underway on Bell Park amenity
GREENWOOD -- Residents from both inside and outside the city will soon be able to enjoy a new splash pad at Bell Park that's been on the minds of those in char…
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Two arrested in Franklin County trespassing case; animal rescue group says it was trying to save dogs
ALTUS -- Three people who were trying to retrieve puppies from under an abandoned house in Franklin County have been arrested on trespassing charges, the count…
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Subscriber ExclusiveGreenwood City Council nixes Mexican restaurant’s request to apply for private club permit
GREENWOOD -- A local restaurant won't be allowed to apply for a state permit to serve alcohol after pushback from local residents and other concerns from the C…
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Van Buren City Council votes against lease agreement to restore Cedars Country Club golf course
VAN BUREN -- The City Council turned down a proposal from a group of local residents to restore a golf course.
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Fort Smith National Historic Site gets rid of entrance fee for visitor center, museum
FORT SMITH -- People from both near and far can now learn more about a pivotal period in River Valley history at a federal park free of charge.
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Subscriber ExclusiveLamar School Board searching for new district superintendent
A Johnson County school district is searching for a new superintendent to replace one who resigned in November but will be paid $10,833 a month through June.
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Attorney seeks new trial for Crawford County man convicted of murder, claiming jury misconduct
The attorney for a man convicted last week of killing his wife filed a motion Wednesday for a new trial based on reported "jury misconduct."
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Subscriber ExclusiveParis nonprofit hires architect for revitalization project for historic Smith Hospital
A nonprofit organization recently hired an architectural firm to aid in its initiative to revitalize the historic Smith Hospital.
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Subscriber ExclusiveSebastian County officials OK $617,950 purchase of approximately 25 acres for future development
Sebastian County got the money needed to acquire land that could be the site of a new Sheriff's Office and jail -- or something else entirely.
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Crawford County man sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of murdering wife
A jury on Thursday found a man guilty of killing his wife in July 2022, as well as using a firearm to commit the murder.
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Mansfield water system damaged, leaving 400-500 people without water service Monday
MANSFIELD -- Hundreds of River Valley residents continue to go without water service as the area grapples with a shortage brought on by winter weather.
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Osteopathic college in Fort Smith is one of eight testing sites for nationwide pilot program for new assessment
FORT SMITH -- The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education will help develop an assessment to train osteopathic medical students nationwide.
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Subscriber ExclusiveCrawford County Quorum Court tables ordinance on holiday pay for all county employees
VAN BUREN -- The Crawford County Quorum Court will consider changing how the county handles holiday pay after not reaching a consensus on the subject last week.
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Future School sophomores working on Antioch Discovery Garden restoration
FORT SMITH -- River Valley students have taken it upon themselves to breathe new life into a community project that provided fresh food to local residents year…
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Crawford County Library Board approves hiring new full-time system director, adviser
VAN BUREN -- The new director of the Crawford County Library System wants to bring a more positive view of the system back into the community after more than a…
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Subscriber ExclusiveGreenwood City Council adopts rate increases for water, sewer bills
GREENWOOD -- Residents who pay for water and sewer services from the city can expect to get a higher bill starting this month.
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Cold weather pushes Fort Smith Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade to February
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity in Action Parade set for Monday has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 10.
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University of the Ozarks nets $700,000 ‘challenge’ grant for new athletic complex
The University of the Ozarks continues to make progress on raising the money it needs to build an approximately $10.75 million athletic complex with the promis…
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Subscriber ExclusiveSebastian County parks and golf director talks management changes at Ben Geren Golf Course
FORT SMITH -- Residents looking to enjoy Sebastian County's Ben Geren Golf Course this year will notice a few changes in how it's run and who's running it.
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Subscriber ExclusiveRiver Valley to rally around unity in upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day events
FORT SMITH -- Unity will be at the forefront of a series of events this holiday weekend honoring the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
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Subscriber ExclusiveU.S. Marshals Museum head: Museum to offer more programming and activities in 2024, ‘25
FORT SMITH -- The U.S. Marshals Museum is preparing to expand both what it has to offer and its investment in advertising this year, its first full year of ope…
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Subscriber ExclusiveSebastian County Election Commission finalizes vote centers for March 5 elections
Residents will have two new places to cast their votes in the upcoming elections in March.
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15-year-old charged in fatal Fort Smith shooting gets May trial date
FORT SMITH -- The jury trial for a teen charged in connection with a shooting that killed one and injured another has been set for the week of May 13 in Sebast…
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Subscriber ExclusiveCrisis Stabilization Unit in Fort Smith offers new mental health recovery recliner program for shorter stays
FORT SMITH -- The Guidance Center instituted a new program intended to make the services of the Five West Crisis Stabilization Unit more widely available earli…
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Subscriber ExclusiveNew Johnson County sheriff vows to do things differently, bring back confidence after forerunner’s messy exit
CLARKSVILLE -- Johnson County's new sheriff aims to restore the public's confidence in the Sheriff's Office after its reputation was damaged in the wake of the…
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Man robs Van Buren bank
VAN BUREN -- A man robbed Generations Bank on Thursday morning, police said.
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Winter jury trial for man beaten in viral Mulberry arrest video pushed back to summer of next year
VAN BUREN -- The jury trial for the man who was recorded being held down and beaten by law enforcement officers outside a convenience store in Mulberry in 2022…
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Subscriber ExclusiveNew store at Fort Smith mall provides selection of preowned clothes for babies and kids, other goods
Two local working mothers joined forces to create a resale store designed to help parents, their children and the environment all at once.
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Subscriber ExclusiveUniversity of the Ozarks to use $966,099 grant to help rural Presbyterian congregations in new program
The University of the Ozarks plans to expand its work with Presbyterian churches throughout the state with help from a nearly $1 million grant.
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Subscriber ExclusiveGreenwood panel to review Bell Park splash pad project, approves inclusive park
The Parks Commission opted to move forward with cutting costs on a planned splash pad project last week.
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Van Buren teacher, wife sentenced on animal cruelty charges following dog’s death
A teacher with the Van Buren School District and his wife were both found guilty of two counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals after police found one dog dea…
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Subscriber ExclusiveCrawford County Library Board carries on with director search with new contender
VAN BUREN -- The Crawford County Library Board decided last week to continue its search for someone to lead its library system despite already interviewing two…
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Subscriber ExclusiveGreenwood City Council moves proposed water, sewer rate increases ahead
GREENWOOD -- The city took the next step in establishing higher rates for water and sewer services for the first time in over a decade.
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Subscriber ExclusiveGreenwood City Council approves buying 27 acres for planned bypass project for $108,000
GREENWOOD -- The city was given the go-ahead to both buy and give property to ensure a new bypass will be built after years of preparation with the state.
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15-year-old charged with first-degree murder, battery, after Fort Smith shooting
FORT SMITH -- A teen arrested in connection with a shooting Wednesday that killed one and injured another now faces murder charges.
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Juvenile arrested after Fort Smith shooting leaves one dead, another injured
FORT SMITH -- Police arrested a juvenile at 11:39 p.m. Wednesday in connection to a shooting that killed one and injured another.
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U.S. Coast Guard: Barge traveling down Arkansas River gets stuck near Fort Smith, frees itself
FORT SMITH -- A vessel was able to free itself after getting stuck on the Arkansas River in the River Valley on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
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Arkansas Colleges of Health Education forges formal affiliation for Arkansas Tech University graduates
FORT SMITH -- Graduates from Arkansas Tech University in Russellville wanting to get a medical degree will have a greater chance of being able to continue thei…
