🌱 Prime Documentary On Fort Smith Cold Case + 'The Bricks' Opening

Hi all. It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Fort Smith Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: A strong afternoon t-storm. High: 90 Low: 72.
• Tuesday: A stray thunderstorm. High: 88 Low: 73.

Here are the top three stories today in Fort Smith:

1. "Uneven Ground: The Melissa Witt Story," a documentary shedding light on a long-standing Fort Smith cold case, is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film delves into the unsolved murder of Melissa Witt, who was abducted in 1994 from the Bowling World parking lot; despite extensive efforts, her killer has not been found. The documentary gained attention at this year's NWA True Crime Fest, leading to Amazon's decision to feature the story. (KFSM 5Newsonline)
2. Fort Smith's Trade Winds Motor Inn, popular in the 1960s and 1970s, has been revitalized into a new apartment complex known as The Bricks. The complex is now offering 47 leased apartments and various perks, including complimentary internet and access to downtown living. The mixed-use building, featuring residential, office, retail, and restaurant spaces, is set to be fully completed by December. (Southwest Times Record)
3. The Fort Smith International Film Festival gears up for its third year, taking place on Aug. 25-26 at TempleLive. With a staggering 452 film submissions, the festival's programming team and screeners have curated a selection of 148 movies for the event. As the official selection notifications have been sent to the filmmakers, preparations are underway to finalize the jury panel responsible for determining the winners. Tickets for the festival are now available for purchase here. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

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Today and tomorrow in Fort Smith:

Monday, July 10

• Gentle Flow & Release At Santosha Yoga & Wellness (7:30 PM)

Tuesday, July 11

• Ribbon Cutting At Christina Williams LLC (10:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Boondocks Fort Smith is slated to make significant changes to its interior and exterior over the next month or two — including a bar remodel and an outdoor beer garden with dining and concert seating. (Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)
• Go Downtown Fort Smith is seeking vendors for the second annual Oktoberfest scheduled for Oct. 7. Those interested are asked to fill out a vendor application online. (Go Downtown Fort Smith via Facebook)
• The City of Fort Smith's Community Mobility Department will be hosting six public input sessions regarding the Active Transportation Master Plan, designed to improve biking and walking in the city. The first two sessions are scheduled for Aug. 16 and Aug. 17 at 6:00 p.m. (location still to be announced). (City of Fort Smith via Instagram)

Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all soon for another update!

— 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.