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Good morning, Fort Smith! ☀️
Another milestone week in our Arkansas River community, where Chaffee Crossing just welcomed its first full-service grocery and Rocky Horror celebrates 50 years of cult cinema with midnight shadowcasts. Whether you're navigating new Friday night traffic patterns or planning your Halloween weekend, we've got your local pulse covered.
What to expect in today’s newsletter:
🏢 Grocery milestone - Harps opens with 75+ jobs, eliminating 15-minute drives for 4,000+ Chaffee Crossing households
⚖️ Federal lobbying spend - $177K annual investment targets infrastructure grants after securing $12M+ since 2022
🚨 Robbery investigation - Friday night convenience store suspect still at large, FSPD seeking tips
🎭 Fall festival season - Lantern releases, live rodeo action, and farmers-to-artists market takeover
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—Your Neighbour
📅 THIS WEEK IN FORT SMITH
Must-Attend Events
🎨 Water Lantern Release Fall Festival | Oct 25 | Riverfront, Fort Smith | Fall lights, lantern launching, outdoor gathering | Event Info
🎵 Levitt Amp Concert Series | Select Fridays/Saturdays through Fall | Riverfront Amphitheater | Free national/local live music outdoors | Event List
🛍️ Arkansas River Holiday Market | Nov 1 | Fort Smith Riverfront | 130+ craft, food, and shop booths, music, family fun | Market Info
By Category
🎵 Music & Entertainment
Levitt Amp Concert Series | Fall weekends | Live music along the river | Event List
Local Venues Concerts | Weekly | The Majestic, Temple Live, Old Town Grain & Feed | Venue Calendar
Karaoke/DJ Nights | Recurring | Hero’s, Recovery Room, JJ’s Grill | Listings
👪 Family-Friendly
Water Lantern Release Fall Festival | Oct 25 | Lights, vendors, activities | Festival Listing
Fort Smith Public Library Weekly Events | Storytimes, crafts, trick-or-treat in late October | Library Calendar
Missouri-Arkansas Railroad Scenic Excursions | Ongoing (Wed/Sat) | Van Buren Depot | Excursion Schedule
🏃 Sports & Fitness
Border City Roundup | Oct 31–Nov 2 | Fort Smith | Competitive multi-day event, social gathering | Tickets/Info
Several 5K/10K Runs and Races | Select weekends | Ben Geren Park & citywide | Races List
🎨 Arts & Culture
Arts On Main Workshops & Pottery | Weekly | Painting, clay, and arts classes (all ages) | Class Calendar
Regional Art Museum (RAM) Saturdays | Weekly | Drop-in art projects | Event Page
🎓 Education & Business
Chamber Annual Meeting & Tours | Various days in October | Business networking, ABB/Georgia Pacific & industry tours | Chamber Calendar
🏞️ Outdoor & Recreation
Farmers Market | Every Wed/Sat (Year round) | Garrison Ave & N 2nd | Fresh produce & food vendors | Market Info
Holiday Lightings & Black Friday Shopping | Nov 28 | Central Mall | Seasonal kickoff, shopping, activities | Event Calendar
⌚️ Recurring Events
Trivia Nights | Multiple venues, rotating themes | Trivia Listings
Karaoke Nights | Multiple bars weekly | Venue Schedules
Arts On Main Open Studio | Weekly | Arts Listing
Quick Hits
Border City Roundup – Western rodeo & gathering – Oct 31–Nov 2 Tickets/Info
Water Lantern Release – Lantern launch festival – Oct 25 Info
Arkansas River Holiday Market – Craft & vendor fest – Nov 1 Details
Black Friday Shopping Extravaganza – Major mall event – Nov 28 Calendar
Farmers Market – Recurring every Sat & Wed – Market
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📰 NEWS YOU CAN USE
PUBLIC SAFETY
Armed robbery suspect remains at large after Friday night convenience store incident
What this means: Roosters store at 50th Street targeted 9pm Friday—suspect fled scene with undisclosed amount, no injuries reported
Fort Smith Police responded to aggravated armed robbery at Roosters convenience store Friday evening. Suspect description and surveillance footage being reviewed as investigation continues into weekend.
Here's what to know:
Incident occurred approximately 9pm Friday at 50th Street location—suspect fled on foot before officer arrival
No injuries reported to store employees or customers—store remained closed Saturday for investigation
Anyone with information urged to contact Fort Smith PD at 479-709-5100 or Crime Stoppers at 479-78-CRIME
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
City commits $177,000 to federal lobbying and DC advocacy in 2025
What this means: Seven-person delegation's October trip cost $15,000—annual lobbying investment targets infrastructure grants and federal funding opportunities
Fort Smith officials completed recent Washington DC lobbying trip as part of broader $177,000 annual federal advocacy budget. City focuses lobbying efforts on securing infrastructure grants, economic development funding, and maintaining relationships with Arkansas congressional delegation.
Here's what to know:
October delegation included seven city officials and employees—trip cost just under $15,000 for travel, lodging, and meeting expenses
Annual $177,000 budget covers professional lobbying firm retainer plus 3-4 delegation trips throughout year
Strategy targets federal infrastructure grants, economic development programs—past efforts secured $12M+ in federal funding since 2022
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
Fort Smith Regional Airport names new director after five-month search
What this means: Andrew Meyer, 35, starts managing $3M+ operating budget, 16-employee facility, and Air Force pilot training center coordination effective Sept 24
Meyer succeeds Michael Griffin who resigned in April, bringing aviation career experience and existing relationships with Air Force personnel at adjacent National Guard base. Primary challenge: reversing enplanement decline and securing new eastern route to Chicago, St. Louis, or Atlanta after Delta service ended in 2020.
Here's what to know:
Airport currently operates three daily Dallas-Fort Worth flights—August enplanements showed growth but year-to-date numbers remain down from pre-COVID levels
Meyer oversees ongoing Air Force pilot training center development requiring FAA coordination—Finland ambassador emphasized 830-mile Russian border defense significance during recent chamber speech
New director responsible for attracting additional airline routes to reverse passenger traffic decline—previous Atlanta service discontinued 2020, eastern connection remains top priority
Quick updates
Peacemaker Festival returns to riverfront - 11th annual country music festival brings national acts to Fort Smith Riverfront this weekend—free admission, family-friendly atmosphere - See lineup
U.S. Marshals Museum celebrates Founders' Day - Sept 20 patron gathering marked museum milestones including 47,000+ visitors since opening—new exhibits planned for 2026 expansion - Read more
Fort Smith Little Theatre presents 'Exit Laughing' - Comedy production runs through October at Main Street venue—tickets available online, Thursday-Sunday showtimes - View schedule
Murder & Mayhem haunted history event returns - 25-year Fort Smith tradition combines ghost stories, historical walking tour, drinks—annual fundraiser showcasing city's darker past - Get details
🏠 Property Watch
🏢 BUSINESS BEAT
Your neighborhood commerce intel
New This Week
Harps Food Stores Opens 160th Location in Chaffee Crossing
What they do: Full-service grocery with fuel station, curbside pickup, and delivery
After months of construction, Harps officially opened its 39,000-square-foot store at 6400 Veterans Avenue on October 8. The Arkansas-based grocer has been eyeing this location for years, waiting for Chaffee Crossing's population density to support a full-service grocery operation. CEO Kim Eskew, who started his career with Harps in the River Valley, called the opening "coming home."
What this means for the area:
75+ jobs created during hiring fair ahead of opening—mix of full-time and part-time positions across all departments
Eliminates 10-15 minute drives to nearest full-service grocery for 4,000+ Chaffee Crossing households
Harps Express fuel station adds competitive gas pricing directly adjacent to Arkansas College of Health Education campus
The details: 📍 6400 Veterans Avenue (corner of Highway 255 and Veterans) 🕑 Daily 7am-10pm (both grocery and fuel station) 📞 Services: Curbside pickup, home delivery, full-service bakery, meat/seafood counter, pharmacy 💰 Part of $1.5B regional development including I-49 expansion and 1,500 military families relocating to Ebbing Air Force Base
Economic Context
This store represents strategic timing—Harps delayed construction until Chaffee Crossing reached critical mass. The surrounding area now includes:
Arkansas College of Health Education 500-acre campus (2,000+ students/faculty)
180-unit Prairie apartments (opened April 2025)
Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital
4,000+ homes built since 2014
Regional expansion: Harps operates 160 stores across six states and remains Arkansas's largest 100% employee-owned company with 6,800+ workers. The Fort Smith location is their second major opening this year (Conway store opened spring 2025).Spotted a new business opening or construction starting? Reply and let us know what you're seeing around town.
📢 COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
What readers are talking about this week
Reader Recommendations
Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast Returns for 50th Anniversary Halloween Weekend
Submitted by Stephen Martin, Prime Event Productions"Arkansas's longest-running shadowcast celebrates Rocky Horror's 50 years as a cult phenomenon — midnight shows, costumes encouraged, audience participation required."
What's happening: The Arkansas Rocky Horror Picture Show Shadowcast stages its 12th annual Halloween performance at Whippoorwill Restaurant downtown. This year marks the film's 50th anniversary as the longest-running theatrical release in cinema history — Fort Smith's cast has been performing the interactive shadowcast since 2013.
Why this matters to Fort Smith:
Halloween tradition: Two midnight performances (Oct 31 & Nov 1) with full audience participation — costumes, callbacks, and prop bags ($5) encouraged
Local theater longevity: 12-year run across Fort Smith venues from Lost Beach to King Opera House, showcasing consistent arts programming
Regional draw: Past performances at Magic Springs comic cons and NWA venues bring visitors to Fort Smith
The details: 📍 Whippoorwill Restaurant, Downtown Fort Smith 🕑 Friday Oct 31 & Saturday Nov 1 at 11:55pm 💰 $20 presale (September), $25 (October 1-30), $30 door 📞 Get tickets + prop bags | 479-629-5462
Harley's Pottery Painting Studio Opens Walk-In Creative Sessions
Submitted by Harley's Pottery Painting Studio" Paint-your-own pottery studio offering walk-in painting and clay classes for all ages — creative outlet for families and date nights."
What's happening: Fort Smith's pottery painting studio offers walk-in sessions where customers choose from bisque pottery pieces, paint their designs, and pick up finished glazed pieces after kiln firing. Clay classes available for hands-on wheel and hand-building experiences.
Community Calendar Additions
Events our readers wanted to make sure you know about
Scarecrow Trail at Learning Fields - Throughout October, dawn to dusk daily - Chaffee Crossing gardens + seasonal family activity - "Free admission to gardens and trail all month" - Submitted by Dianne Heinrichs, Learning Fields volunteer
Your Submissions
Want to share something happening in Fort Smith?
What we're looking for:
Local events you're organizing or excited about
Businesses with specific upcoming events or workshops
Community activities with dates and details
Neighborhood happenings worth highlighting
How to submit: Reply to this email with:
What it is and when/where it happens
Why other Fort Smith residents would care
Your first name and general area
This week's featured contributors: Stephen Martin (Prime Event Productions), Harley's Pottery Painting Studio, Dianne Heinrichs (Learning Fields)
This section exists because of you. Keep the submissions coming!
👋 UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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See you around town,
Your Neighbor
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