Officials with the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center announced Thursday (March 30) a fundraising campaign that will help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reimagine the Fort Smith-based center for the next generation.

CALLING ALL ASTRONOMY BUFFS! TONIGHT (March 28, 2023)  7:15 PM
VIEW THE ALIGNMENT OF FIVE PLANETS
MEET UP - CHAFFEE CROSSING SOCCER FIELDS PARKING LOT
Chaffee Crossing - 7301 Fort Chaffee Blvd., Fort Smith

The Department of the Air Force has finalized the selection of Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith as the site for the new home of the Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS) Pilot Training Center, hosting F-16 and F-35 training for participants.

In his annual "State of the City" address, Fort Smith Mayor George McGill said Chaffee Crossing is preparing to be the crossroads for America with the new section of Interstate 49 connecting it to Interstate 40 at Alma and the widening and expansion of Arkansas 255.

Fort Smith Mayor George McGill believes $80 million in Fort Smith consent decree work, a likely new military mission in the city, a strong medical community, and upcoming construction on Interstate 49 that will connect Alma with Barling are part of what is “good” with the city.

The Fort Chaffee Development Authority (FCRA) Board of Trustees approved the sale of two buildings in the Historic District at Chaffee Crossing to Monte Cervino Beverage of Colorado Springs, CO, for use as winery, cidery and coffee roasting business and tasting room during its regular meeting Thursday (Feb. 16, 2023).

Fort Chaffee continued to make improvements to the River Valley in 2022, with Executive Director and CEO Daniel Mann saying the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority is the strongest it's been in its 25-year history.