Daily
Fort Smith
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
Good morning, Fort Smith. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 21st of August.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Sebastian County Fair celebrated 112 years with rides, livestock shows, and food trucks—yesterday’s 'Faith and Family' night featured live music and lower admission, and new rodeo events will run on both Friday and Saturday night to draw families from Fort Smith and nearby areas. 4029 News
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Trane Technologies announced Tuesday that it will expand its Fort Smith manufacturing facility — adding more than 60 full-time jobs and increasing its workforce by about 20% — to boost production of thermal management solutions. River Valley Democrat-Gazette
CRIME NEWS
- ➤ A Fort Smith man charged in connection with the July 2024 Mercy Hospital lockdown pleaded guilty Wednesday and was sentenced to time served + a suspended prison term while he is now banned from Mercy locations. River Valley Democrat-Gazette
- ➤ Fort Smith man Kevin A. Rojas, 33, who was homeless and diagnosed with schizophrenia, pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to drug charges and was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus an additional 28-year suspended sentence, according to Sebastian County Circuit Court records. River Valley Democrat-Gazette
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Grace Andrews will direct the musical Once at the King Opera House in Van Buren, with performances scheduled for Sept. 25-27 at 7 p.m. and a matinee on Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. + The production will blend music and acting to tell a story of love, hope and connection, featuring local talent who auditioned as both musicians and actors +. Southwest Times Record
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Test wells drilled on Aug 1 at the Franklin County site for a planned 3,000-bed prison yielded poor water results as the best well produced only 2 gallons per minute—far below what even one home needs. Fort Smith and Ozark officials have said they cannot supply water, so the state will need to drill deeper to secure an adequate supply for the project. 4029 News
- ➤ Sebastian County Quorum Court is once again offering to lease Parrot Island Waterpark to Fort Smith for $1—a year after its original proposal—and the offer remains open for city review. River Valley Democrat-Gazette
- ➤ The Department of the Air Force plans to expand the FMS Pilot Training Center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base by adding 12 F-35 jets and nearly 600 personnel by 2029—residents can share their support or concerns at public hearings on Sept. 4 via Zoom and Sept. 9 at the Fort Smith Convention Center, with comments due by Sept. 24. 4029 News
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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.
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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.
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Arkansas Apraxia Festival
2-5 p.m. — 3301 S M St Parking — Fundraiser event — Support children with apraxia through fun activities and advocacy.
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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!
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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.
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Gospel Open Mic Night
7-9 p.m. — 1127 Coffee Shop — Free entry — Experience an uplifting evening of worship and local Christian talent at this communal open mic event.
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TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Daily Fort Smith
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