🌱 Patch AM: Why did Fort Smith’s Board scrap its latest planning session?

Cheers Fort Smith! We're back, helping you stay up to date with what's happening. Let's take on the day together! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• Why did Fort Smith's Board scrap its latest planning session?
• What regulators found after the massive Fort Smith chemical spill
• What's working again after Fort Smith's recent city network disruption?

Today's riddle: What is the difference between a jeweler and a jailer? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny and hot, with a high of 97 and low of 72 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
• Friday: Sunny, hot and less humid, temps: high: 96, low: 70.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 97 and low of 72 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Fort Smith cancels Board study session after falling short of quorum (swtimes.com) — Fort Smith's Board of Directors called off Tuesday's study session after too few members were available to form a quorum. The canceled meeting would have reviewed 2027 service goals, including faster 911 response times, improved police arrival targets, and strategies to reduce the city's rising employee turnover rate.
   

2. C&S operated without required state permit before Fort Smith spill (swtimes.com) — State regulators say C&S Chemicals lacked required stormwater permits before a May tank rupture sent tens of thousands of gallons of acidified aluminum sulfate off its Fort Smith property and into a nearby creek. Multiple agencies responded, neutralized the water, and continue long-term monitoring while Arkansas reviews whether additional safeguards or enforcement changes are needed to prevent similar incidents.
   

3. City of Fort Smith has more digital services working again as probe into network security disruption extends (rivervalleydemocratgazette.com) — Fort Smith residents can once again use credit and debit cards at City Hall to pay utility bills, permits, and other services after a recent network security disruption. Emergency, water, wastewater, payroll, and many online services stayed functional, but technicians and federal cybersecurity experts are still working to fully restore the city's computer systems.
   

4. Congressman reviews pilot training mission at Fort Smith air base (4029tv.com) — Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith hosted House Armed Services Chair Mike Rogers and Rep. Steve Womack as they reviewed the expanding foreign pilot training mission and its hefty federal investment. With hundreds of F-35s to be supported and major construction underway, both congressmen stressed keeping a long-term flying mission and future options rooted in the Fort Smith area.
   

5. Arkansas research vital to national defense, Armed Services Committee chairman says during visit (arkansasonline.com) — A top House Armed Services Committee member toured University of Arkansas research labs and will inspect Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith as part of a broader look at Arkansas' role in national defense. He praised the state's logistics, construction, and semiconductor work while also commenting on future unmanned warfare and ongoing tensions involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
   

📸 Around Fort Smith

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Fort Smith

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Friday August 28
• Ribbon Cutting: Men's Warehouse
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 4165 Phoenix Avenue Fort Smith, AR 72903
  10:00 am
Monday August 31
• Happy Hour every Monday & Wednesday at Le Mesa ALL DAY
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 1217 S Waldron Rd
  11:00 am
• 810 Billiards & Bowling: Bingo
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 810 Billiards & Bowling 5609 Rogers Ave Fort Smith AR
  6:30 pm
Tuesday September 1
• 810 Billiards & Bowling: Ultimate Game Show
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 810 Billiards & Bowling 5609 Rogers Ave Fort Smith AR
  6:30 am
Wednesday September 2
• 2027 JLCA - Business & Finance
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 612 Garrison Ave, Fort Smith, AR 72901
• Happy Hour every Monday & Wednesday at Le Mesa ALL DAY
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 1217 S Waldron Rd
  11:00 am
• 810 Billiards & Bowling Trivia Night
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 810 Billiards & Bowling 5609 Rogers Ave Fort Smith AR
  6:30 pm
Monday September 7
• Happy Hour every Monday & Wednesday at Le Mesa ALL DAY
  Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 1217 S Waldron Rd
  11:00 am

📣 Fort Smith Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday August 27
• Western Arkansas Intermodal Authority Freight Roundtable
  Chamber of Commerce Peak Innovation Center
  8:30 am
• Van Buren Rotary Club Meeting
  Chamber of Commerce 510 Main St, Van Buren, AR 72956
  12:00 pm
• Marketing Your Business to the Government
  Chamber of Commerce 510 Main St, Van Buren, AR 72956
  2:00 pm
• VB @ Trinity
  Alma Middle School Alma, AR 72921
  4:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Checking out the hype.
  Very good tea. I ordered small decaf blueberry w SF coconut. No charge b/c the order was wrong. Go back when the new wears off. (Nextdoor Skyline Estates)
• Please share & repost to help reunite this stray cat!
  Found on August 25, 2026 in Burnaby, BC V5E 2Z7 near Salisbury and Elwell Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact the… (Nextdoor Fort Chaffee)

• Chuy's posted a job opening for Janitor/Busser in Fort Smith. Apply here.
• Woodgrain posted a job opening for PT Merchandise Stocker - Fort Smith, AR in Fort Smith. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fort Smith here.

Ok Fort Smith! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A jeweler sells watches and a jailer watches cells. (Thank you Jean D. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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