Good morning, Fort Smith.

The Sebastian County Fair is in progress at the fairgrounds in Greenwood with a week of competitions, carnival rides, and live music.

Today, poultry judging begins at 9 a.m. and the carnival opens at 5 p.m.—tickets cost $7 for adults, $4 for children, and wristbands are $25.

The 5NEWS Weekend Guide outlines events between August 22 and 24 across the River Valley, including the Sebastian County Fair in Greenwood and an Elvis impersonator event at the Chaffee Barbershop Museum in Fort Smith—further highlights feature art programs, a farmers market and a book club meeting.

ACHE and ARCOM announced a linkage agreement—guaranteeing admission or an interview for qualified MSB students—to help them access the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.

The agreement requires students to meet academic standards, including a 3.2 GPA this fall and a 3.0 overall along with recommendations from the program director and a faculty member.

The Fort Smith Board of Directors tabled a resolution on whether the city would take over four cemeteries—Rose Lawn, Holy Cross, Forest Park and Washington—with more than 55,000 graves to avoid a potential state takeover.

Some board members and the mayor support the move to stop neglect despite costs over $900,000 at start and $1 million yearly while others want more community involvement.

The Sebastian County Quorum Court approved a community development incentive agreement with Peregrine Energy Solutions for a planned battery energy storage facility that may cost about $400 million if the company moves forward, agreeing to abate 65% of project taxes for 25 years—an arrangement that also includes an annual $50,000 grant to support local revenue.

Fort Smith Southside quarterback Blake Forsgren threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Wilson Key during Tuesday night's 7-on-7 scrimmage at Citizens Bank Field in Alma — the Mavericks won 17-7.

Hand-lettered Sign Workshop

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Fort Smith Public Library (Main Library) — Free entry — Explore the art of hand-lettering and take home a personalized sign.

LINUX SHELL SCRIPTING Training/Class

Sep 3-4 — Sylvan Learning of Fort Smith — $990 — Dive into hands-on Linux shell scripting training to automate tasks effectively.

Arkansas Apraxia Festival

2-5 p.m. — 3301 S M St Parking — Fundraiser event — Support children with apraxia through fun activities and advocacy.

Save a Life Concert

The second annual Save a Life concert is a free, family-friendly, community event in recognition of National Recovery Month. Hosted at the beautiful Riverfront Amphitheater, with doors opening at 5pm, come enjoy local musicians, free food, and family fun!

Red Hat Enterprise Linux Automation with Ansible Training

Sep 15-18 — Sylvan Learning of Fort Smith — $2735 — Enhance your skills in automating system administration with comprehensive Ansible training.