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Good morning, Fort Smith! 🌤️ Sunday stays mild under a cloudy sky, high near 86 with just a 16% chance of rain, and the week ahead only warms up from there - a fine day to wander downtown on Garrison Ave.
Another busy week in our Arkansas River gem, where fall markets are lining up, the library is packed with free programs, and the news cycle is bringing jets, permits and city contracts to the front page. Whether you're planning your week around a good dinner or keeping an eye on what builds up around Ebbing, we've got your local pulse covered.
Here's what's making waves this week:
✈️ German F-35 - the first jet is due at Ebbing this week, with all eight due by April 2027
🏗️ Building permits - the Fort Smith metro jumps 91% to $28.2 million in September
🚨 SWAT standoff - a man fired at officers on South 18th Street, then faced four assault counts
🍷 Tapas and Tunes - Shaun Munday plays live on Garrison Ave this Sunday evening
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-Your Neighbor
📰 NEWS YOU CAN USE
PUBLIC SAFETY
SWAT standoff on South 18th Street ends with arrest after man fires at officers
What this means: A 52-year-old man is jailed without bond after a 9:53 p.m. Sept. 26 standoff in the 3900 block of South 18th Street.
Police booked Charles Anthony Martin, 52, on four counts of assaulting officers after shots from a bedroom; negotiators ended the standoff before 4:51 a.m. Sunday.
Here's what to know:
Officers answered a domestic disturbance call at 9:53 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; Martin was booked into custody at 4:51 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27.
Police set a perimeter in the 3900 block of South 18th Street and called SWAT; Martin came out after talking with negotiators.
Martin faces one count of aggravated assault on a household member plus four counts on officers, and was held without bond as of Monday, Sept. 28; read the full report below.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
First German F-35 due at Ebbing this week, all eight due by April 2027
What this means: Ebbing Air National Guard Base is scheduled to receive its first German F-35A during the first week of October 2026, with pilots arriving in December and eight jets by April 2027.
Germany's first F-35A is due at Ebbing in early October, with two pilots arriving in December and a five-year training mission ahead.
Here's what to know:
The first German F-35A is scheduled for the first week of October 2026; the first two German pilots arrive in December 2026.
Ebbing already hosts 8 jets each for Poland and Finland, and German pilots will train in Fort Smith for five years.
The Air Force estimates $807 million to finish the foreign pilot training center, with over $600 million already appropriated since 2021; Singapore's jets have no confirmed arrival window.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Fort Smith metro building permits jump 91% to $28.2 million in September
What this means: September permits across Fort Smith, Van Buren and Greenwood hit $28.211 million versus $14.763 million a year ago, though 2026 is still down 7.3% for the year.
Fort Smith issued 279 permits worth $23.09 million, Van Buren hit $4.614 million, and Greenwood logged 33 permits worth $506,521 in September.
Here's what to know:
Fort Smith's $23.09 million includes a $2.5 million repair permit for Sutton Elementary roofing and classroom work.
Van Buren jumped from $126,979 a year ago, led by a $3.65 million remodel of the Allen Canning warehouse facility.
Year to date, the metro has $214.41 million in permits through September, down 7.3% from 2025, so September is a surge, not a trend.
Quick updates
Directors pull $2.474 million sewer consent decree contract from agenda - Director Jarred Rego's Oct. 1 request, backed by four directors, postponed the Arcadis contract; the sewer decree has cost $136 million so far. - Read more
Coca-Cola buys naming rights to Northside and Southside football fields for $400,000 - The 10-year deal pays $40,000 annually toward turf replacement at both Fort Smith high school stadiums, signed Oct. 1. - Read more
Rheem buys Fort Smith property next to its plant for future expansion - The HVAC maker cites limited space at its 50-year-old Fort Smith campus, which employed about 900 workers in 2022; no building plans yet. - Read more
Arvest gives $50,000 to UAFS Center for Mother and Infant Healthcare - The grant supports simulation labs in a 30,000-square-foot health innovation building funded by $15 million in federal money announced February 2026. - Read more
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📅 THIS WEEK IN FORT SMITH
Must-Attend Events
🍷 Tercos Tapas and Tunes with Shaun Munday - Sunday, October 4, reception 5:00pm, music 6:00pm · The Candy Loft, 315 Garrison Ave, Fort Smith (downtown)
Secret Spoon Society pairs a progression of small plates with Tercos and Ricardo Santos wines, then soul vocalist and bassist Shaun Munday performs live. Tickets $60. 📅 Add to calendar
🐾 5th Annual Giving Festival - Sunday, October 4 (start time not posted on the listing) · First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), 3501 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith (midtown)
Animal-rescue fundraiser with food, drinks, vendor booths, raffles, adoptable pets and a blood mobile taking donations. Pet-friendly and family-friendly. 📅 Add to calendar
🧺 A Kiss of Fall Market - Friday, October 9 through Saturday, October 10 (opens 9:00am Friday, closes 3:00pm Saturday) · Fort Smith Convention Center, 55 S 7th St, Fort Smith (downtown)
Kissie Me Markets brings a two-day fall shopping market to the Convention Center. Entry is $5, pre-purchased or at the door; info at 501-722-7476. 📅 Add to calendar
📜 Historic Decisions: Desegregation of Ole' Miss - Tuesday, October 6, 6:00-7:30pm · U.S. Marshals Museum, 789 Riverfront Dr, Fort Smith (riverfront)
A guided civil-dialogue program on the 1962 Ole Miss crisis: weigh the competing priorities, discuss outcomes and deliberate. No prior knowledge needed; the museum lists the series for ages 13+. 📅 Add to calendar
By Category
🎵 Music & Entertainment
🎸 Zac White Band - Friday, October 9, 8:00pm · Lee Creek Tavern at Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland, 105 Cherokee Blvd, Roland, OK
Free 21+ live music just across the state line from Fort Smith. 📅 Add to calendar
🎤 Wyatt Zane - Saturday, October 10, 8:00pm · Lee Creek Tavern at Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland, 105 Cherokee Blvd, Roland, OK
Free 21+ Saturday-night live set at the casino's tavern, minutes from downtown Fort Smith. 📅 Add to calendar
🎷 Jazz Jam at the Bakery District - Thursday, October 8 (start time not posted; check the Bakery calendar) · The Bakery District, 70 S 7th St, Fort Smith (downtown)
Open jazz jam on the Bakery District's October calendar; bring an instrument or come to listen. 📅 Add to calendar
👪 Family-Friendly
📚 Windsor Branch Storytime - Monday, October 5, 10:00-10:45am · Fort Smith Public Library Windsor Branch, 4701 Windsor Drive, Fort Smith
Free books, songs and movement for babies, toddlers, preschoolers and their caregivers. 📅 Add to calendar
🧱 LEGO Club - Monday, October 5, 5:30-6:30pm · Fort Smith Public Library Main Branch, 3201 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith
Free build session for kids, tweens and teens in the Community Room; the library supplies the bricks. 📅 Add to calendar
🍪 Dallas Branch Storytime and Crafts - Wednesday, October 7, 10:00-10:45am and 11:00-11:45am · Fort Smith Public Library Dallas Branch, 8100 Dallas Street, Fort Smith
Free 30-minute storytime with books, music, snacks and a craft for preschool and school-age children and their grown-ups. 📅 Add to calendar
🏃 Sports & Fitness
🧘 Chair Yoga at the Miller Branch - Friday, October 9, 1:30-2:15pm · Fort Smith Public Library Miller Branch, 8701 S 28th St, Fort Smith (south side)
Free gentle chair-yoga class for adults on the second Friday of the month, held in the Anita Paddock Community Room. 📅 Add to calendar
🎨 Arts & Culture
🎬 Community School of the Arts Movie Night - Friday, October 9, 7:00-9:00pm · Arkansas Center for the Creative Arts, 1101 Riverfront Drive, Fort Smith (riverfront)
$5 movie night hosted by the Community School of the Arts; contact the school for the title and tickets. 📅 Add to calendar
🖌️ Glyphosate Dreams - On view through Friday, November 20 · UAFS Art and Design Gallery, UAFS campus, 5210 Grand Avenue, Fort Smith
Katina Bitsicas exhibition on industrial agriculture's environmental and human toll in photography, printmaking and video. 📅 Add to calendar
🎶 One Voice Community Choir Auditions - Sunday, October 4, 1:00-5:00pm · Fort Smith Public Library Main Branch (Davis Meeting Room), 3201 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith
Auditions for a new all-volunteer community choir singing sacred, inspirational, patriotic and spiritual music; open to adults 21+ from Fort Smith and the River Valley. 📅 Add to calendar
🎓 Education & Business
🤝 Mountain Frontier Chapter Meeting - Monday, October 5 (morning; exact time on the listing is not posted) · Wyndham Fort Smith, 700 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith (downtown)
Hospitality-industry networking morning with Arkansas Speaker of the House Brian Evans as featured speaker. 📅 Add to calendar
✍️ ESO Workshop: Words That Work - Monday, October 5, 8:00am-12:00pm · Van Buren Chamber Business Resource Center, 111 North 12th Street, Van Buren
Van Buren Chamber entrepreneur-support workshop on business writing; registration is through the chamber's event page. 📅 Add to calendar
⚔️ Civil War Round Table - Monday, October 5, 6:30-7:30pm · Fort Smith Public Library Main Branch (Davis Meeting Room), 3201 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith
Monthly meeting of the local Civil War history group, held in the library's Davis Meeting Room. 📅 Add to calendar
🏠 Investors Workshop - Thursday, October 8, 5:30-7:30pm · Fort Smith Public Library Main Branch (Community Room), 3201 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith
Community workshop on how to invest in real estate, booked into the Main Library's Community Room. 📅 Add to calendar
⌚️ Recurring Events
🎯 Bags at the Bakery (708 Cornhole) - Every Wednesday, 6:30pm (next: October 7, 6:30-10:30pm) · The Bakery District (Collection Room), 70 S 7th St, Fort Smith
Competitive, Intermediate and Backyard cornhole divisions with cash payouts; Mad Ox Bar & Tap opens at 4pm. 📅 Add to calendar
📖 Bookish StoryTime - Every Saturday, 11:00am-12:00pm (next: October 10) · The Bakery District, 70 S 7th St, Fort Smith
Free Saturday-morning story and craft for kids of all ages. 📅 Add to calendar
🎱 Monday Night Bingo at 810 Billiards & Bowling - Every Monday, 6:30pm · 810 Billiards & Bowling, 5609 Rogers Ave, Suite F, Fort Smith
Five dollars cash per line, with the pot guaranteed; bring friends. 📅 Add to calendar
Looking Ahead
🎭 True Crime Tonight: The River Valley Serial Killer - Friday, October 23, 6:00-8:00pm · U.S. Marshals Museum, 789 Riverfront Dr, Fort Smith
Three retired local officers who worked the 1993-2000 Charles Ray Vines case tell the story. 📅 Add to calendar
🍂 7th Annual Fort Smith Fall Festival - Saturday, October 24, 10:00am-4:00pm · Downtown Fort Smith
Free day of living history, museum open houses, harvest market, kids zone and food trucks across downtown. 📅 Add to calendar
🥂 3rd Annual Founders' Day Celebration - Saturday, October 24, 5:30-8:30pm · U.S. Marshals Museum, 789 Riverfront Dr, Fort Smith
Handheld cuisine and smooth jazz by Pat Becker and the Rex Bell Combo; proceeds benefit the museum. 📅 Add to calendar
Quick Hits
Silver Belles: A Christmas Comedy auditions - Fort Smith Little Theatre, 401 North 6th Street, seeks roles for all ages - Monday, October 5 (fslt.org)
SOCKtober - Fort Smith Public Library branches collect new socks for community partners all month - through Saturday, October 31 (fortsmithlibrary.org)
Pumpkin Decorating Contest - mess-free entries for kids 12 and under, forms at the Main Library, 3201 Rogers Ave - through Tuesday, October 27 (fortsmithlibrary.org)
👋 UNTIL NEXT WEEK
Thanks for spending a few minutes with me exploring what's happening in Fort Smith!
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See you around town,
-Your Neighbor
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