News

Sanchez Joins Arvest Opportunity Fund

FORT SMITH, Ark. (Feb. 2, 2023) – The Arvest Opportunity Fund is pleased to announce it has hired Alex Sanchez as its education project manager.  The Arvest Opportunity Fund is a wholly owned non-bank subsidiary of Arvest Bank that provides loans and lines of credit to small businesses that fall just below bank loan policy requirements. As part of the Arvest Opportunity Fund program, loan recipients agree to receive financial education coaching for 12 months after funding.   Sanchez has 15 years of

Arvest Bank Announces Caviness Hiring in Fort Smith

FORT SMITH, Ark. (Feb 2, 2023) – Arvest Bank’s credit card division has hired Bryan Caviness as a merchant relationship advisor in Fort Smith. Caviness has 15 years of sales experience and will be responsible for developing new relationships, servicing existing customer relationships and providing general guidance on merchant services products. He most recently worked in advanced sales for LDF Companies.  About ArvestArvest Bank is a community-based financial institution serving more than 110 communities

UAFS Celebrates Children's Dental Health Month with Free Exams, Care

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith will celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month throughout February with free dental exams and cleanings for children 5 to 18 years old.  Appointments will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to noon at the UAFS Dental Hygiene Clinic at 715 North Waldron Road. Appointments may be scheduled by calling 788-7270.  “We are excited to engage families in our community with the primary goal of improving

United Way of Fort Smith Area's 8th Annual Rising in the River Valley

(Fort Smith, AR – February 1, 2023)- United Way of Fort Smith Area invites you to join them, along with the Fort Smith Crisis Intervention Center, Hamilton Center for Child Advocacy, and the Monarch 61 Project for Rising in the River Valley on February 14th at 11:30 at the University of Arkansas- Fort Smith Bell Tower. Information and resources dealing with child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault will be available.   According to information from the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

Methodist Village Senior Living (MVSL) now holding Certified Nursing Assistant Classes

FORT SMITH, AR (January 31, 2023) – Methodist Village Senior Living (MVSL) is now licensed through the state of Arkansas to educate Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs).   “With the national healthcare staffing challenges we are facing, we are so excited that we can now hold our very own CNA classes on the MVSL Campus! We know this is not only a great opportunity for our campus but for the community as well.”, Said Melissa Curry, CEO. MVSL received its licensure from the state of Arkansas in October 2022

REMINDER: Colson Whitehead, Famed Novelist to Appear at UAFS Feb. 7 for FREE Public Talk

Celebrated American novelist Colson Whitehead, known for his unmatched breadth of subject matter and his profound, impactful novels that boldly confront the ills of society, will be the first Winthrop Rockefeller Distinguished Lecturer at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith.  Whitehead, who authored internationally acclaimed novels The Underground Railroad and The Nickel Boys, will present a public lecture at 6 p.m. on February 7 at the UAFS Stubblefield Center in conjunction with the WRDL Series and

Restore Hope: SmartJustice Magazine Fall 2022 Family Issue

Click Here for the Full Digital MagazineClick Here for the YouTube SmartJustice PodcastsClick Here for the smartjustice.org websiteContinue Reading the Full Digital Magazine HereClick Here for the YouTube SmartJustice PodcastsClick Here for the smartjustice.org website 

Angels Wings Testing Center is Moving to New Location

American Indian Center of Arkansas Native Crisis Text Line

  Suicide Prevention ResourcesThe following resources provide trained counselors and information about suicide prevention: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 800-273-8255. The Lifeline Provides 24/7, free confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Chat: The Lifeline Chat connects individuals with counselors for emotional support and other services via web

January News

View this email in your browser   A Special Message from Dr. RoseOur preschool is awesome!  It is like no other. The children love their classes so much, they don't want to go home! You need to register now for the 2023-2024 school year before it's too late!     It's also not too late to join us for the Spring '23 semester!  Call us today at(479) 434-2020.     Download Preschool Registration Packet      Why

UAFS to Host Fort Smith Mayor's State of the City Address

    The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith will host Fort Smith Mayor George McGill's 2023 State of the City Address on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Windgate Art & Design Theater, located at 535 N. Waldron Road. The event is free and open to the public, and will be hosted by the UAFS Democracy Project and the UAFS Political Science program.  During the address, Mayor McGill will share his vision for the city and discuss the current state of Fort Smith. The event is free and open to the

Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club Annnounces Plans for the 2023 Mentoring Program

Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club announced plans for the 2023 mentoring program, Stand With U.Sponsored by United Federal Credit Union, the mentoring program was first established in 1998 at the Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club.  Davin Chitwood and Payton Efurd are in their first year as programcoordinators.  Both Chitwood and Efurd are former FSBGC club mentors and see the value in offering mentorship to the youth in our communities.  Now as adults, they feel compelled to give back to the program that helped them

Fort Smith Public Schools Releases Continuous Improvement Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  January 23, 2023  Media Contact: Shari Cooper, Director of Communicationsscooper@fortsmithschools.org (479) 785-2501 x95198   Fort Smith Public Schools Releases Continuous Improvement Plan    Fort Smith, AR (January 23, 2023). During the FSPS School Board of Education meeting, the school board adopted the organization’s Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP).  The district developed the CIP with input from the staff and the public in the Fall 2022.  The adopted CIP includes an update

FSPS Inclement Winter Weather Academic Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                       January 23, 2023  Media Contact: Shari Cooper, Director of Communicationsscooper@fortsmithschools.org (479) 785-2501 x95198  Fort Smith Public Schools Inclement Winter Weather Academic Update 1.23.2023   Fort Smith, AR (January 23, 2023). Fort Smith Public Schools is closely monitoring the approaching winter weather forecasted for our area. Should the district pivot from on-site to remote learning due to inclement weather, FSPS will notify families via text

UAFS to Host Lunar New Year Celebration Friday at the Bakery

The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith will hosting a Lunar New Year celebration on January 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Fort Smith Bakery District. The event will be a full-scale festival featuring games and activities including tiến lên (thirteen) and bầu cua (a six-figure dice game) from Vietnam, as well as mahjong and poker tables. The Noble 8 Lion Dancers will perform traditional dances and local artists will teach attendees to make lucky knots and red envelopes. The UAFS Vietnamese Student

Arvest Launches New Subsidiary – the Arvest Opportunity Fund – to Provide Alternate Funding for Small Businesses

NEWS                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Arvest Launches New Subsidiary – the Arvest Opportunity Fund – to Provide Alternate Funding for Small Businesses  FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (Jan. 12, 2023) – Arvest Bank is pleased to announce the Arvest Opportunity Fund, a wholly owned non-bank subsidiary currently providing loans and lines of credit to small businesses that fall just below bank loan policy requirements.   As part of the Arvest Opportunity Fund program, loan recipients agree to receive financial

United Federal Credit Union Staff ‘Pay It Forward’ to Help Arkansas Charities and Families in 2022

FORT SMITH, Ark. –United Federal Credit Union (United) was pleased to donate more than $1,500 to 11 local families and organizations in Arkansas as part of its 2022 Pay It Forward initiative. As part of Pay It Forward, United provided $20 to every employee to give to a needy individual, family, or organization of their choice. Many departments and branches combined funds and even added their own financial contributions to create a more substantial donation, further demonstrating the passion Team United

UAFS to Host MLK Slate of Events

Under the theme “Crossing the Bridge over Troubled Waters,” the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith will partner with area agencies to host a slate of events honoring the life and legacy of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  “It is always a humbling experience to be part of the days and weeks spent celebrating Dr. King,” said Dr. Williams Yamkam, associate professor of political science and advisor to the UAFS Democracy Project. “Not only is it enriching to be able to focus on one aspect of

FSPS: January is School Board Member Recognition Month in Arkansas

January is School Board Member Recognition Month in Arkansas  Fort Smith, AR, January 9, 2023 – The Arkansas School Boards Association (ASBA) announced that January is School Board Member Recognition Month in Arkansas. School board members play an essential role in our community. Fort Smith Public Schools will join other districts in Arkansas in celebration of our board by thanking them for the time, talents, and knowledge they bring to our district and for their commitment to the families and children of

Mercy Reaches First Milestone in Hiring Providers to Meet Health Care Need in Northwest Arkansas

Mercy is a third of the way to its goal of hiring 100 new primary, specialty and advanced practice providers  ROGERS, Ark. (Jan. 9, 2023) – Mercy has hired 32 new physicians and advanced practice providers as part of a $500 million investment in the next phase of its expansion in Northwest Arkansas. The second phase was announced in July 2022 with a number of ambitious goals: doubling the current number of primary care physicians and specialists for the region, building out the top floors of the hospital,

Three Mercy-GoHealth Urgent Care Locations Scheduled to Open In Fort Smith

 Three Mercy-GoHealth Urgent Care Locations Scheduled to Open In Fort Smith     New walk-in clinic on Phoenix Avenue to open on Dec. 5  FORT SMITH, Ark. (Nov. 28, 2022) – Mercy has teamed up with GoHealth Urgent Care to create three new walk-in clinics in Fort Smith. The three new Mercy-GoHealth centers will replace two existing Mercy Convenient Care centers in Fort Smith and all three will open in newly renovated locations near major retail and traffic corridors. Below are the addresses of the new

The Gregory Kistler Center: A Night in the Caribbean

$18.7 Million Gift to Double Nursing Grads, Expand Arts Programs

Friday, September 9, 2022, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith announced the largest single gift in its 94-year history – a transformational $18.7 million from the Windgate Foundation that will radically empower the university’s acclaimed nursing and visual arts programs. The gift addresses critical needs in the Arkansas River Valley, creating a pathway to dramatically increase nursing graduates and cultivating an immersive arts experience for students and the public through the expansion of the

Haas Hall Academy Fort Smith: 2023-2024 Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Peak Innovation Center Receives $100,000 Donation from Cox Communications

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2022  Contact: Christina Williams, Coordinator of Public Information cwilliams@fortsmithschools.org or (479) 785-2501, ext. 91202   Peak Innovation Center Receives $100,000 Donation from Cox Communications  Fort Smith, AR, April 29, 2022 – Peak Innovation Center today received a $100,000 donation from COX Communications for a new Career Center and to support three Network Engineering Technology classrooms.   The COX Career Center will connect students to business and

UAFS Hosts Grand Opening for Center for Economic Development

UAFS Hosts Grand Opening for Center for Economic Development  Against a technicolor backdrop of painted grain silos and bright blue skies, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson waxed poetic about the state of workforce development, economic investments, technology, and industry in the River Valley, and he noted the integral role the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Center for Economic Development will play in continuing that legacy for years to come.  “These are incredible times that we’re living in,”

Mercy Breaks Ground on Expansion of ICU, ER in Fort Smith

Mardi L. TaylorSenior Media Relations & Communications SpecialistMercy Fort Smith(479) 462-7289 cellmardi.taylor@mercy.net    Mercy Breaks Ground on Expansion of ICU, ER in Fort Smith Construction underway on $162.5 million project, expected to be complete in 2024 FORT SMITH, Ark. (Feb. 22, 2022) – Fort Smith officials and Mercy co-workers took a step into the area’s health care future on Tuesday as hospital and community leaders broke ground on a $162.5 million ER and ICU expansion at Mercy Hospital Fort

Fort Smith Named Home to Foreign Military Sales Mission

 For Immediate Release Contact Tim Allen, 479-783-3111info@fortsmithchamber.com    Fort Smith Named Home to Foreign Military Sales Mission  FORT SMITH, Ark. (June 3, 2021) — Fort Smith and Ebbing Air National Guard Base, current home to the 188th Wing of the Arkansas Air National Guard, has been named by the United States Air Force as the future location to a long-term pilot training center supporting F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in