🌱 Police Department Annual Report + Seeking Parks And Rec Director

Good morning, hello! I'm here with your fresh copy of the Fort Smith Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything that's fit to print about what's happening in town these days.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Partly sunny. High: 85 Low: 59.
• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 84 Low: 58.

Here are the top three stories today in Fort Smith:

1. Chief Baker of The Fort Smith Police Department recently presented the department's 2022 Annual Report to the Mayor and other city leaders. The report shows that the department responded to 63,371 calls for service, overall crime fell almost 11 percent from 2021, and ICAT Training was implemented department-wide, among other highlights. Read the full report here. (Fort Smith Police Department via Facebook)
2. Fort Smith is on the hunt for a Parks and Recreation Director, as current Director Doug Reinert will leave the city on Friday, Jun. 9 to take the position of City Administrator for Fairfield, Iowa. The city is seeking the help of an executive recruiting firm that specializes in placements for local governments in order to fill the position and expects that the search will be ongoing for a minimum of 30 days following the development of recruiting materials and ad placements. (talkbusiness.net)
3. The poster for the 2023 Fort Smith International Film Festival has been unveiled. The poster was designed by Alex Williamson, a graphic artist who did a residency at UAFS and has created work for The Wall Street Journal, Adidas, Time magazine, Fortune, and more. The 2023 film festival in Fort Smith will take place Aug. 25-26 at Temple Live. (Southwest Times Record)

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Today and tomorrow in Fort Smith:

Friday, May 26

• Live Music: Mike Ryan At The Majestic Fort Smith (7:00 PM)
• Paint And Sip Class “Glow In The Dark” At The Gallery On Garrison (7:00 PM)

Saturday, May 27

• Run For The Girls 5K/10K At The Barracks At Chaffee (8:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The Fort Smith Museum of History has opened a new exhibit called Bulls, Broncs, Beauties and Boots. The exhibit looks back at the 90-year history of the Old Fort Days Rodeo, featuring artifacts, images, and a rodeo-themed event for kids every Thursday this summer. (40/29 News)
• Beginning Thursday, Jun. 1, Fort Smith Regional Art Museum will extend its hours, staying open until 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Bonus: Check out the summer schedule of free drop-in art projects for the family here. (Fort Smith Regional Art Museum via Instagram)
• Know someone who has made an impact on their profession and in the Fort Smith community? You can nominate them for the Jack White Community Leadership Award through Wednesday, May 31 here. (Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you soon.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.