Florie Robertson News Today

The fly-in community, which will be centered around a 2,300-foot-long turf runway, is expected to boast more than 200 homes.

"It began as a way to allow entrepreneurs who started home-based businesses during the pandemic an outlet and opportunity to grow," says Lorie Robertson, director of marketing for Chaffee Crossing. "Following the pandemic, people were anxious to get out and socialize again. This has been a good time to start a festival of this nature for the Fort Smith region. [And] Chaffee Crossing is the natural place to do it."

FORT SMITH -- Hopes are high as the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority prepares to launch its next round of monthly outdoor markets.

FORT SMITH -- Submissions for the third Fort Smith International Film Festival start this Friday , with this years theme being [re]Focused.

"Its where the rubber hits the road," Jackie Krutsch says of the Celebration Garden and Wellness Park at 1531 Loretta Parker Lane in Barling. "Its one thing to say, Go be healthy, go get on your bike, go walk, but this is our commitment to that mission. It is our commitment to the community that we believe and practice what we preach, that we believe in health and wellness, that it involves nutrition, mindfulness and movement, not just the treatment of disease.

BARLING -- The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education in Fort Smith will have a grand opening and for its Celebration Garden and Wellness Park at 10 a.m. Saturday.

As the River Valley emerged from covid-19 constraints, one of the new events in Fort Smith starting in May 2021 was the Chaffee Crossing Farmers and Artisans Market. Hosted the second Saturday of every month, May through October, in the Chaffee Crossing Historic District, 7300 Ellis St., the market has grown from its original 15 vendors to an anticipated 160 this weekend, and its not unusual to see 2,000 to 3,000 shoppers on any given Saturday.

New employment opportunities mean more than economic growth for the region – it also requires housing developers to prepare for new residents.

A monthly event in the River Valley designed to support entrepreneurs and artists drew in a large number of participants to start its second season of operation.

FORT SMITH -- A venue for producing feature-length films could be coming to the River Valley.