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Taxes, bonds at issue in vote

Fort Smith polls open March 13

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The ballot for the Fort Smith special election March 13 is long and multititled, but officials say most people understand what they will be voting on. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Feb 12, 2012 at 5:38 a.m.

2 Fort Smith men charged in stabbing

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Two Fort Smith men have been charged with second-degree battery in the stabbing of a Northside High School student on the school grounds Feb. 1. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Feb 11, 2012 at 4:02 a.m.

Fort Smith, Fayetteville chiefs set plan

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The mayors of Fort Smith and Fayetteville announced Wednesday they have formed a partnership to work together on economic development issues such as transportation infrastructure. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Feb 9, 2012 at 4:06 a.m.

Dad, 19, charged in death of baby

Subscriber onlyVAN BUREN — A 19-year-old Alma man was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the death of his 2 1/2-month-old son in January. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Feb 9, 2012 at 3:59 a.m.

Drive-By Shooting Reported

Subscriber onlySPRINGDALE — Police are investigating a drive-by shooting reported on Braxton Drive on Friday night. Continue reading...

By STAFF REPORT Posted: Feb 5, 2012 at 5:49 a.m.

Man ordered held on firearm charges

Judge cites previous psychiatric stay

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A federal court magistrate Thursday ordered a Kentucky man to be held without bond pending his prosecution on charges he possessed loaded guns outside the U.S. attorney’s office in Fort Smith. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Feb 3, 2012 at 4:48 a.m.

Fort Smith commission trims executive list to 3

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission on Thursday pared down a stack of 14 applications for Fort Smith Convention Center chief operating officer to three finalists. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Feb 3, 2012 at 4:46 a.m.

Russellville man held in his mother’s death

Subscriber onlyNORTHWEST ARKANSAS — Authorities held a Russellville man Wednesday on suspicion of first-degree murder in the death of his mother, whose body was found by neighbors Monday at her Hagarville home. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Feb 2, 2012 at 4:26 a.m.

Kentucky man with guns arrested in Fort Smith

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A Kentucky man was being held without bond in the Sebastian County jail Monday after he was found parked outside the U.S. attorney’s office Sunday with three loaded handguns in his car, according to Fort Smith police. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 31, 2012 at 4:20 a.m.

Jurors convict man in shooting

Man guilty of infant’s death

Subscriber onlySALLISAW, Okla. — A Sequoyah County man is in jail awaiting sentencing after a trial jury convicted him Thursday of one count of shooting with intent to kill. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 28, 2012 at 5:43 a.m.

Teen charged as an adult in sister’s death

Officials release few facts as appeal on court expected

Subscriber onlyOZARK — A Franklin County teen was charged as an adult with first-degree murder Wednesday in the Jan. 15 shooting death of his 16-year-old sister. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 26, 2012 at 4:03 a.m.

Vote stalls on Ben Geren pool

Sebastian County Quorum Court had been for aquatics center

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The Sebastian County Quorum Court appeared to switch course Tuesday, raising questions about entering into an agreement with Fort Smith for construction of an $8 million aquatics center at the county’s Ben Geren Regional Park. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 26, 2012 at 3:55 a.m.

Single campus for homeless recommended

Consultant: Fort Smith agencies should buy $2 million building

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Area organizations that help the homeless are making strides to develop a central location where services could be consolidated, an officer with one of the organizations said Friday. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 21, 2012 at 5:50 a.m.

Prosecutor foresees murder count on boy

Subscriber onlyRUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County prosecutor said he plans to file a first-degree murder charge against a 15-year-old boy who told authorities he fatally shot his 16-year-old sister at their home Sunday. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 18, 2012 at 4:09 a.m.

Judge closes hearing for Ozark boy

Circuit Judge William Pearson barred reporters and others from his courtroom for a 2 p.m. Tuesday hearing for a 15-year-old Ozark boy accused of fatally shooting his 16-year-old sister on Sunday morning. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 17, 2012 at 2:23 p.m.

Boy, 15, to be charged as adult in death

The Franklin County prosecuting attorney said Tuesday he plans to pursue an adult charge against a 15-year-old Ozark boy who authorities said shot and killed his 16-year-old sister Sunday morning. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 17, 2012 at 12:53 p.m.

Teen not answering why he shot sibling

Subscriber onlyOZARK — A 15-year-old rural Franklin County boy gave authorities no explanation why he shot and killed his 16-year-old sister Sunday morning, then drove to the sheriff’s office to turn himself in, Sheriff Anthony Boen said. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 17, 2012 at 3:50 a.m.

Updated: Police investigate shooting death of teen girl

Subscriber onlyA 15-year-old rural Franklin County boy gave authorities no explanation why he shot and killed his 16-year-old sister Sunday morning, Sheriff Anthony Boen said Monday. The boy went to the Franklin County sheriff’s office about 9:30 a.m. Sunday and told the dispatcher he had shot and killed his sister, Boen said. The sheriff did not release the names of victim or the boy, who was being held Monday in the Sebastian County Juvenile Detention Center. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Updated: January 16, 2012 12:16 p.m.

Mom accused of taking kids in ’01 sent to Fort Smith

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — An Alabama woman was extradited to Fort Smith on Wednesday to face charges that she illegally kept her two children after a visitation more than a decade ago. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 14, 2012 at 4:44 a.m.

Mom, 21, gets 40-year term in boy’s abuse

Counselor: ‘Saddest case’

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A 21-year-old Fort Smith mother was sentenced to 40 years in prison Wednesday after a Sebastian County Circuit Court jury found her guilty of starvation and abuse that left her infant son brain damaged. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 12, 2012 at 3:50 a.m.

LR doctor details injuries to infant

Physical, brain damage cited in case

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Eli Richard suffered from fractures in both legs and both arms along with two broken ribs, malnutrition, dehydration and permanent brain damage, an Arkansas Children’s Hospital doctor told jurors Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 11, 2012 at 3:50 a.m.

Mom’s abuse trial begins

Pain caused by 2, she says

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Angel Richard was excited about having a baby as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, a friend of Richard’s testified Monday at the start of the Fort Smith woman’s trial on charges she starved and abused the infant. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 10, 2012 at 4:18 a.m.

Judge recalls bonds, orders mental tests

Fraud suspects fail to cooperate at hearing

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A federal judge ordered a couple charged with 15 counts of mail fraud be jailed Friday after they failed to cooperate during a hearing over the withdrawal of their court-appointed attorneys. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 7, 2012 at 5:41 a.m.

Slain man found in alley in Fort Smith

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Police are investigating the shooting death of a man whose body was found Wednesday afternoon in a residential alley. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 5, 2012 at 4:33 a.m.

Space heaters cited in 2 fires; 1 man dies

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Separate fires that damaged two homes in Fort Smith early Wednesday, killing one man and injuring another, are believed to have started from electric space heaters, fire officials said. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 5, 2012 at 4:27 a.m.

2 cities to end water dispute

Van Buren owes no more

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Fort Smith directors have instructed city staff to draft a settlement agreement to end a months-long dispute with Van Buren over money it owes for water it bought from Fort Smith. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 5, 2012 at 4:08 a.m.

Husband held after leading police to body

Wife, 24, found in rural area

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Police arrested the husband of a woman who disappeared Friday after he led them to a spot in rural Crawford County where her body was found Tuesday, police said. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 4, 2012 at 4:16 a.m.

Animals will top Tuesday meeting

Fort Smith panel, task force to talk

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Recommendations in a report by a Fort Smith animal task force that conflict with proposed ordinances by city directors are scheduled to be discussed on Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 2, 2012 at 4:38 a.m.

Officials back events center in Fort Smith

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Officials with the Fort Smith Convention Center are defending the complex against criticism that if it’s not making money it’s not worth keeping open. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Jan 1, 2012 at 5:44 a.m.

Couple contests order to have lawyers in case

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A Crawford County couple charged with federal mail fraud told a magistrate Tuesday they would accept an appointed attorney to represent them only if the attorneys themselves would agree to serve any prison sentence or pay any fine if the two were convicted. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 28, 2011 at 4:22 a.m.

Christmas Eve: Carols, candles inspire over 500

Contemporary gathering at church

Subscriber onlyFAYETTEVILLE — The Rev. J. Anthony Holifield recalled Saturday that he wondered last year whether anyone would show up for the inaugural contemporary Christmas Eve worship service at Central United Methodist Church. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 25, 2011 at 5:37 a.m.

Fort Smith voters asked to reapportion 1% levy

March sales tax election covers $200 million

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — City directors are expected to consider an ordinance Jan. 3 setting an election in March to ask voters to use an existing 1 percent sales tax to finance nearly $200 million in water, wastewater, fire protection and parks improvements. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 22, 2011 at 3:52 a.m.

188th wing’s future unsure

Senators talk about budget

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Arkansas’ congressional delegation must plan for the worst as it prepares to defend the mission of the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, the state’s two U.S. senators said Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 21, 2011 at 4:23 a.m.

Fort Smith chief says semi-automatic rifle matter nearly closed

Feds checked department’s rifles’ purchase

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The Fort Smith police chief said Thursday he expects the U.S. Department of Justice to clear the department of wrongdoing involving semiautomatic rifles the department bought with federal asset forfeiture money and resold to officers. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 9, 2011 at 5:46 a.m.

County panel: 2 aides’ firing was retaliatory

Grievance committee toothless to force clerk to rehire deputies

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A Sebastian County grievance committee ruled Wednesday that Circuit Clerk Ken Blevins fired two of his deputy clerks last month in retaliation for their testimony against him in a sexual harassment grievance hearing in May. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 8, 2011 at 4:30 a.m.

Man, 22, gets 45 years in stabbing

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A Fort Smith man was sentenced to 45 years in prison Tuesday after a Sebastian County Circuit Court jury convicted him of seconddegree murder in the stabbing death of a friend during a fight July 1. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 7, 2011 at 4:47 a.m.

45-year sentence in stabbing death

Eric Mason, 22, of Fort Smith was sentenced Tuesday afternoon to 45 years in prison and fined $10,000 after a Sebastian County Circuit Court jury convicted him of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Joshua Walter, 27, during a fight July 1. The jury of six women and si Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 6, 2011 at 3:01 p.m.

Girlfriend: Kick preceded fight that killed man

Sebastian County trial begins

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — A Sebastian County Circuit jury began hearing evidence Monday in the trial of a Fort Smith man accused of stabbing a friend to death during a fight last summer. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 6, 2011 at 4:24 a.m.

Group to lobby against 188th cuts

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Officials with a Fort Smith community-based organization supporting local military units will brief the state’s congressional and military leaders later this month on plans to defend the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 188th Fighter Wing against possible defense budget cuts. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 3, 2011 at 5:54 a.m.

Man, 48, convicted of shoving mayor

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — FA district court judge convicted former city director candidate Eric Arthur of third-degree battery Friday for shoving Mayor Sandy Sanders after a city directors meeting last summer. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Dec 3, 2011 at 5:48 a.m.

Group to keep running center

Fort Smith mends operation accord

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — City directors passed a resolution Tuesday to negotiate a long-term agreement with its advertising and promotion commission for operation of the Fort Smith Convention Center. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 30, 2011 at 4:30 a.m.

Additions considered for emergency services in Sebastian County

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Sebastian County Emergency Medical Services is in need of upgrades, but the trick will be coming up with enough money. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 24, 2011 at 5:11 a.m.

Fort Smith trims budget after tax loss

City employees to get raise; convention center nets gain

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Fort Smith directors carved up the proposed 2012 general fund budget Tuesday in search of more than $700,000 for Fort Smith Convention Center operating expenses. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 24, 2011 at 4:52 a.m.

Fort Smith to dedicate statue of Bass Reeves

$300,000 project to honor frontier deputy

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The larger-than-life statue of legendary frontier lawman Bass Reeves will be dedicated in Fort Smith on May 26, a member of the statue project committee told city directors Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 23, 2011 at 4:48 a.m.

Group wants to keep hold on city center

Fort Smith, commission work on permanent fix

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission on Tuesday voted its intention to continue operating the Fort Smith Convention Center despite rejection of a 1 percent prepared-food tax that would have been dedicated to funding convention center operations. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 23, 2011 at 4:42 a.m.

23-acre campus for homeless veterans approved

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority approved a request Thursday to reserve about 23 acres at Chaffee Crossing for a group that wants to develop a $23 million campus for homeless veterans. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 18, 2011 at 5:52 a.m.

Fort Smith tables creation of permit system for gatherings

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — City directors shelved a proposed ordinance that would set up a permitting process for use of city park property after a group charged the ordinance would restrict free speech rights. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 17, 2011 at 4:32 a.m.

City directors begin effort to trim Fort Smith budget

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — Following Tuesday’s defeat of a prepared food tax to pay for operating expenses of the Fort Smith Convention Center, city directors began tinkering with the proposed 2012 budget to try to find $800,000 for the center’s operation. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 12, 2011 at 5:35 a.m.

Fort Smith fire improvements hinge on tax renewal

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — The Fort Smith Fire Department needs $8.5 million for a new fire station, replacement of old fire trucks and modernization all of the city’s 10 fire stations to retain its current efficiency rating, the fire chief told city directors Tuesday. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 9, 2011 at 4:05 a.m.

1% tax to fund center defeated in Fort Smith

Subscriber onlyFORT SMITH — After months of sometimes bitter political wrangling over a 1 percent food tax to fund the city’s convention center, voters rejected the tax proposal by a 2-to-1 margin. Continue reading...

By Dave Hughes Posted: Nov 9, 2011 at 3:57 a.m.

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