Good morning, Fort Smith.

ARDOT ran a winter preparedness drill Tuesday, Oct.

27, in central Arkansas with driver training, equipment checks, road-testing of snowplows, and Emergency Operations Center communication; Northwest Arkansas crews will run their training Thursday as the department readies more than 600 plows and 80,000 tons of salt statewide.

The City will begin its annual leaf vacuuming program Monday, Nov.

2, running through February 2027; residents should rake leaves to the designated pickup spots and call 479-784-2360 now to schedule (leaves mixed with trash or limbs won't be collected).

CSM Waterworks is requesting a $193,115 change order to finish Parrot Island slides, which would exhaust contingency and force the city to appropriate $61,115, board members heard, auditors reported $230,000 owed to vendors with about $5,000 on hand, and the park's operator is withdrawing.

The Public Works Department will begin its annual leaf vacuuming program Monday, Nov.

2, and it will run through February 2027. Residents can schedule pickup by calling (479) 784-2360 and should place leaves behind roadside ditches or within 10 feet of the curb; leaves mixed with trash, limbs, or placed in drains will not be picked up.

Bentonville (Lady Tigers) upset top-seeded Cabot Tuesday, Oct.

27 at Northside Arena, knocking the No. 1 team out of the 6A volleyball state tournament and advancing to the semifinals.