Good morning Fort Smith! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Ft Smith Optimist Club and 9 more events.
And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, V C.!
Today's riddle: Why did the burglar wear blue gloves? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. River Valley Restaurant Inspections: Rodent droppings in walk-in cooler, roaches found in kitchen area (rivervalleydemocratgazette.com) — Recent health inspections turned up issues at several Fort Smith restaurants, from temperature problems and poor labeling to roaches, rodent droppings, and blocked handwashing sinks, while others passed with no violations. The report lists specific locations and what inspectors found in both Sebastian and Crawford counties, helping you decide where to eat and what concerns regulators flagged nearby.
2. Prosecutor: Fort Smith officers justified in May 17 shooting (swtimes.com) — Sebastian County prosecutors have ruled that four Fort Smith police officers were justified in the May 17 shooting that critically wounded Officer Kyle Newman and resulted in the death of Joshua Keller. The decision follows an Arkansas State Police investigation into the incident, which began near a Fort Smith amphitheater and ended after a pursuit on Interstate 540, and comes as Newman continues recovering and receiving departmental honors.
3. Community Support Helps Local Food Bank Reach More Neighbors (4029tv.com) — Fort Smith's River Valley Regional Food Bank just received over $52,000 from Walmart and Sam's Club's Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign, boosting support for local pantries including UA–Fort Smith's Lion Pride Pantry. With nearly 70,000 people in western central Arkansas facing food insecurity, residents are urged to volunteer, donate, or advocate during Hunger Action Month.
4. U.S. Marshal thanks emergency responders after Arkansas tractor accident (4029tv.com) — Emergency crews based in Fort Smith are being credited with saving U.S. Marshal Gary Grimes' life after an August 9 tractor accident, highlighting how vital air-evac services are for rural Sebastian County. Grimes recently returned to Fort Smith to personally thank the responders, underscoring the strain on limited local ambulances and how quickly air transport can reach regional hospitals when every minute counts.
5. Former Arkansas National Guardsman recalls Little Rock Nine mission (5newsonline.com) — A former Arkansas National Guardsman who grew up in Fort Smith recalls being called from the local armory to Little Rock during the Little Rock Nine crisis. Now 92, he reflects on serving through segregation, later work at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, and how the mission's impact on civil rights only became clear to him decades later.
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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: So he wouldn't get caught red handed. (Thank you Vicki B. for sending it in!)
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