Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: See what’s inside Fort Smith’s new visitor center on Garrison

Happening soon: FREE WEBINAR | "The Golden Age of Florence" on the Fort Smith Patch calendar

Friday December 12th Patch AM
Friday December 12th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good morning Fort Smith! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • See what’s inside Fort Smith’s new visitor center on Garrison
  • Why did a Fort Smith judge alert police after that phone call?
  • What a Fort Smith-linked prosecutor’s promotion could mean for local cases

Also on today's calendar: CountDown to Christmas 2025 and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Fort Smithfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: I once read a book about anti-gravity. 🤔 (Answer below!)


Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Fort Smithfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 67 and low of 38 degrees.
  • Saturday: Low clouds and cooler, temps: high: 58, low: 22.
  • Sunday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 40 and low of 23 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Fort Smith unveils new visitor center on Garrison Avenue (kuaf.com) — A new Fort Smith Visitor Center has opened at 524 Garrison Avenue, giving residents and visitors an accessible downtown hub for trip ideas, maps, and custom itineraries. Discover Fort Smith staff, city leaders, and state tourism officials say the modern space better reflects the community than the previous Miss Laura’s location and is meant to boost pride in local attractions, history, and businesses.
   

2. New documents filed in divorce case for Arkansas woman found shot to death with children (4029tv.com) — Fort Smith police are now linked to the Bonanza triple-death investigation after a judge reported an irate call from the victim’s father blaming her for the killings. Newly filed divorce and estate documents reveal a legal fight over whether the victim’s unfinished divorce should stand, while investigators continue searching for answers with federal agencies’ help.
   

3. Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Fowlkes Nomination for Federal Judgeship (deltaplexnews.com) — Fort Smith residents may soon see a familiar federal prosecutor elevated to the bench, as U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes’ nomination for the Western District of Arkansas has cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee. Fowlkes, who previously led key divisions in the Fort Smith U.S. Attorney’s office, now awaits a full Senate vote after drawing bipartisan support from Arkansas’ senators.
   

4. Arkansas football: Two Razorbacks earn freshman All-SEC nods; trio announces future (arkansasonline.com) — A Fort Smith native, offensive lineman Kobe Branham, capped his breakout season by earning a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team and confirming he’ll return to Arkansas next year. Fellow freshman Scott Starzyk also made the list, while starting center Caden Kitler is coming back and linebacker Tavion Wallace plans to transfer.
   


📸 Around Fort Smith

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Load of dirt delivered in Figure 5 Area Van Buren !
    This was heavy. Let me know if you need dirt delivered! (Nextdoor Fort Smith Fair Grounds)
  • This Topsoil is set to run out tomorrow.
    After tomorrow chances are there will be none left. If you need some topsoil hauled in send me a message or text 4794618983 . Great looking topsoil,… (Nextdoor Fort Smith Fair Grounds)
  • Savers | Value Village posted a job opening for Retail Warehouse & Production Associate in Fort Smith. Apply here.
  • Hut American Group, LLC posted a job opening for Team Member in Fort Smith. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fort Smith here.

Ok Fort Smith! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I couldn’t put it down.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!


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