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Good morning, Fort Smith! ☀️
Mostly cloudy skies and upper-70s today, with a warm-up to 90 by midweek before festival weekend cools us back down-perfect timing for a packed run of outdoor events along the riverfront. Another busy week in our Arkansas River gem, where crawfish boils are firing up in Greenwood and the Bakery District is prepping for its biggest street fest yet. Whether you're mapping out your Juneteenth weekend or keeping an eye on the decisions reshaping your tax bill and property values, we've got your local pulse covered.
What to expect in today’s newsletter:
🏥 Baptist Health cuts deepen - 260 jobs gone since March, including all labor and delivery services. What it means for healthcare access and the hospital's $20M investment pledge.
🏛️ Change-of-government petition nears the ballot - Organizers are 800 signatures from putting an elected-mayor vote in front of you in November 2026. The board blocked it twice this spring.
💧 $150M wastewater overhaul moves forward - Your 2025 sales-tax dollars start working: design begins on the project that must stop Arkansas River dumping by 2028.
🎉 Festival weekend hits full stride - Crawfish Festival, Bakery District Street Fest, monster trucks, and Juneteenth celebrations across the River Valley.
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-Your Neighbour
📰 NEWS YOU CAN USE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Baptist Health confirms 260 Fort Smith jobs cut since March amid ongoing restructuring
What this means: Baptist Health-Fort Smith has cut 260 positions-including 10 physicians and all labor/delivery services-in three rounds since late March; hospital says it won't fully close, but no timeline given on pledged $20M investment
Baptist Health confirmed 70 additional cuts June 2, bringing layoffs to 260 since March; losses at Fort Smith total $127 million since 2018.
Here's what to know:
The latest 70 cuts (confirmed June 2) affect clinic admin, pharmacy, radiology, case coordination, facilities maintenance, and sterile processing; earlier rounds ended labor/delivery services and closed nephrology, pulmonary, oncology, and infectious disease inpatient units
Baptist Health lost $127 million at its Fort Smith campus since acquiring the former Sparks Health System in 2018; hospital leadership has pledged $20M in future facility investment but has not set a timeline
Affected employees are receiving severance pay and job placement assistance; those seeking new healthcare positions can view Baptist Health openings at jobs.baptist-health.com or contact the HR department directly at Baptist Health Fort Smith, 1001 Towson Ave., Fort Smith, AR 72901
INFRASTRUCTURE
Fort Smith approves $8.57M design contract for $150M Massard wastewater overhaul
What this means: Design work begins on the $150M Massard facility overhaul funded by the 2025 voter-approved sales tax-project must reach full completion by Dec. 31, 2028 per federal consent decree
Board unanimously approved the $8.57M design contract June 2, part of a $150M overhaul to stop untreated wastewater reaching the Arkansas River by Dec. 2028.
Here's what to know:
The Massard Water Reclamation Facility has released more than 15 million gallons of untreated wastewater into the Arkansas River since February 2022; the city is under a federal consent decree and a 2024 Arkansas environmental order
The $8.57M covers all engineering and architectural design-about 6% of total cost, below the typical 10%-using a Construction Manager at Risk method to lock in pricing and meet the Dec. 31, 2028 completion deadline
Fort Smith voters approved a sales tax reallocation in May 2025 by 64%+ to fund $360 million in consent decree work over 30 years; the current active water leak count has also dropped 97%-from 632 to 18-since adding a third repair team
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
Change-of-government petition reaches 2,600 signatures as board blocks agenda item
What this means: Citizens have until late July/August to collect ~3,400 verified signatures to put a November 2026 vote on replacing city-administrator governance with a directly elected mayor; the board refused referral twice this spring
Board blocked the June 16 agenda vote; organizers report ~2,600 signatures collected-near the 2,608 required-but need 800 more before the August submission deadline.
Here's what to know:
The petition requires at least 2,608 registered Fort Smith voter signatures, submitted to City Clerk Sherri Gard by late July or early August for a November 2026 ballot appearance; organizers are targeting ~3,400 to account for disqualified signatures
Director Christina Catsavis failed June 11 to get the required four-director concurrence to add the ordinance to the June 16 board agenda; the board also did not approve two ordinances at its May 19 meeting
To sign the petition, contact organizer Joey McCutchen (Fort Smith attorney and signature-drive leader); the group is actively collecting signatures through late July 2026
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Quick updates
Fort Smith slashes active water leaks 97% - City reports just 18 active water leaks citywide, down from 632 last year, after adding a third repair team in spring 2026 - Read more
Seattle company acquires Fort Smith and Van Buren port operations - Seattle-based Carrix acquired Five Rivers Distribution's Fort Smith and Van Buren multimodal port terminals-barge, rail, and truck-in June 2026 - Read more
Fort Smith crime fell 10.6% in 2025, down nearly 30% vs. 5-year average - Fort Smith police report overall crime fell 10.6% in 2025-down 29.97% vs. the 5-year average-with aggravated assaults dropping from 614 to 557 - Read more
Bass Reeves Legacy Loop gets revised $29.4M plan - Fort Smith Board reviewed a revised $29.4M Bass Reeves Legacy Loop plan June 9; new route eliminates railroad crossings, with construction starting late 2029 - Read more
Senior water rate discount floated but not advanced - Fort Smith directors discussed but did not advance proposals June 10 to freeze or discount first-tier water rates for residents 65 and older - Read more
📅 THIS WEEK IN FORT SMITH
Must-Attend Events
🎉 3rd Annual River Valley Crawfish Festival | June 18-20 (Thursday-Saturday) | Sebastian County Fairgrounds, 530 E. Knoxville St., Greenwood | Free three-day festival featuring live music, carnival rides, food trucks, crawfish eating contest, and a 5K/10K run on Saturday morning. Crawfish served daily starting at noon. | sebastiancountyfair.com/about-5
🎪 3rd Annual Bakery District Street Fest | Saturday, June 20, 11 AM – 9 PM | Bakery District, 70 S. 7th St., downtown Fort Smith | All-day community street festival with live bands, food trucks, local vendors, a Kids Zone, beer games, and the Kegs & Legs 5K Beer Run starting at 10 AM. | bakeryfs.com/street-fest-2026
🚛 Crush Zone Monster Trucks | Saturday, June 20, Fan Fest 5 PM / Show 7 PM | Kay Rodgers Park (Harper Stadium), 4400 US-64, Fort Smith | Monster trucks including Barbarian, Gunslinger, Night Life, and Bad Decision plus tough truck racing and pro lawn mower racing at 50 mph. Tickets from $15 kids / $30 adults. | crushzone.ticketspice.com/fort-smith-crush-zone-2026
🎨 Last Days: Soul Taking Shape by Longhua Xu | Through Sunday, June 21 | Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM), 1601 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith | Final week to see the exhibition by Arkansas Living Treasure Longhua Xu, featuring stone carvings, relief sculptures, and paintings. Admission is free. | fsram.org/longhua-xu
By Category
🎵 Music & Entertainment
Bottomland w/ Kanton Teen | Friday, June 19, Doors 7 PM / Show 8 PM | Majestic Fort Smith, 817 Garrison Ave., downtown Fort Smith | Fort Smith's beloved Majestic venue hosts Bottomland for a live Juneteenth-weekend show with opening act Kanton Teen. General admission standing-room. | majesticfortsmith.com/shows
Juneteenth Block Party | Friday, June 19, Brunch 10 AM–2 PM / Block Party from 4 PM | 70 S. 7th St., Suite C, downtown Fort Smith | Community Juneteenth celebration featuring Chef Jas brunch, Larry B Soul Experience Band, a gospel choir, DJs, and a performance by Miss K's Dance Bungalow. | allevents.in/fort-smith/juneteenth-block-party
👪 Family-Friendly
Fort Smith Museum of History – Free Summer Thursday | Thursday, June 18, 10–11:30 AM | Fort Smith Museum of History, 320 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith | Free America's 250th anniversary-themed programming for children and families including hands-on crafts, a visit to the National Historic Site with Master Gardeners, Party Goats, and Frito chili pie. | arkansasonline.com
Chaffee Crossing Food & Artisan Market | Saturday, June 20, 8 AM – 1 PM | Chaffee Crossing Historic District, 7300 Ellis St., Fort Smith | Monthly festival-style market featuring homegrown, handmade, and vintage goods from local entrepreneurs, plus food trucks, live music, and a kid zone. Free admission. | public.fortsmithchamber.com
The Hope Spot: Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet Workshop | Thursday, June 18, 1–2:30 PM | Reynolds Cancer Support House (call for address) | Hands-on workshop at the Reynolds Cancer Support House where participants design colorful tissue paper flower bouquets. Open to cancer patients, survivors, and supporters. | unitedwayfortsmith.org/events
🏃 Sports & Fitness
30th Annual Chip In Fore the Kids Golf Tournament | Monday, June 15, 8 AM and 1 PM flights | Eagle Crest Golf Course, Fort Smith | Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club fundraiser golf tournament with two tee-time flights. $500 per team. | unitedwayfortsmith.org/events
River Valley Crawfish Festival 5K & 10K | Saturday, June 20, 8 AM | Sebastian County Fairgrounds, 530 E. Knoxville St., Greenwood | Morning race benefiting the Sebastian County Fair Jr. Livestock Auction, held as part of the Crawfish Festival weekend. $35 entry fee (5K); T-shirts for first 100 registrants. | runsignup.com/Race/AR/Greenwood/RivervalleyValleyCrawfishFestival5K
🎨 Arts & Culture
Soul Taking Shape by Longhua Xu – Last Week | Through Sunday, June 21 | Fort Smith Regional Art Museum (RAM), 1601 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith | Final opportunity to see this celebrated exhibition of paintings, stone carvings, and relief sculptures by Arkansas Living Treasure Longhua Xu before it closes. Free admission. | fsram.org/exhibitions-at-ram
🏞️ Outdoor & Recreation
Bikes at the Bakery – June Riverfront Roll | Friday, June 19, Check-in 5:30 PM / Ride departs 6 PM | The Bakery District, 63 S. 6th St., downtown Fort Smith | Free monthly community bike ride with three trail options: a 4-mile family-friendly riverfront route, a 13-mile paved workout route, and an off-road mountain bike option. No registration required - bring a helmet and bike lights. | bakeryfs.com/events/bikes-at-the-bakery-2
⌚️ Recurring Events
Fort Smith Museum of History – Summer Thursdays | Every Thursday in June, 10–11:30 AM | Fort Smith Museum of History, 320 Rogers Ave., Fort Smith | Free weekly summer programming for children and families celebrating America's 250th anniversary through crafts, walking field trips, and demonstrations. | arkansasonline.com
Quick Hits
Western Arkansas Ballet Summer Dance Camps – Week two of jazz, hip hop, and ballet camps for youth wraps up Friday, June 19. Call Western Arkansas Ballet for registration. – June 15–19
United Way Touch A Truck – Van Buren – Kids get up close with fire trucks, construction vehicles, and more at this free community event. – Wednesday, June 17, 9 AM–1 PM | unitedwayfortsmith.org/events
Fort Smith City Offices Closed – City offices are closed Friday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth National Holiday.
👋 UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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