Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Fort Smith is rallying around an officer after a house fire
Spotted on the Fort Smith calendar: Lunchbox: Navy Bean Fall Festival
Hi there, Fort Smith! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How Fort Smith is rallying around an officer after a house fire
- Which Fort Smith couples just applied for marriage licenses?
- How hydroponic gardens are changing science class in Fort Smith schools
Today's riddle: Why did the fish blush ? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Fort Smith Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's Best Mobile Network in the US according to Ookla Speedtest®. Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data 1H 2026. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Fort Smith Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Fort Smith. 
- Monday: Near-record heat, with a high of 103 and low of 74 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Tuesday: Hot, temps: high: 103, low: 76.
- Wednesday: Hot, with a high of 103 and low of 77 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Law enforcement peers, community show support after Fort Smith police officer's home lost in fire (rivervalleydemocratgazette.com) — A Fort Smith police officer and his family lost their home and nearly all belongings in a recent house fire, and fellow officers have launched a fundraiser to help them rebuild. The Fort Smith Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 39 is collecting donations locally and online to cover immediate needs like clothing, food, and temporary housing while the family starts over. 
2. Couples apply for marriage licenses in Sebastian County Aug. 25-31 (rivervalleydemocratgazette.com) — Sebastian County's latest marriage license filings include several couples from Fort Smith and nearby towns like Greenwood, Hackett, and Mulberry. Recorded between August 25 and 31, the list highlights new unions across the region, giving Fort Smith residents a snapshot of neighbors and friends who recently took out licenses at the county clerk's office.
3. Arkansas Colleges of Health Education brings hands-on learning to area classrooms through hydroponic gardens (rivervalleydemocratgazette.com) — Teachers from Fort Smith and surrounding River Valley schools are getting hydroponic tower gardens and training to bring hands-on science and nutrition lessons directly into their classrooms. Through Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, 42 hydroponic gardens are now in local schools and labs, helping students explore gardening, biodiversity, and potential careers in science, agriculture, and health fields.
4. Gas prices remain high for Labor Day weekend, could set record (4029tv.com) — Fort Smith drivers heading out this Labor Day weekend are paying about $3.75 per gallon for regular gas, unchanged from last week but nearly a dollar higher than a year ago. AAA says Arkansas prices overall are still among the nation's lowest, yet the holiday could still set a record due to global volatility affecting fuel costs.
📸 Around Fort Smith
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Fort Smith
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Lunchbox: Navy Bean Fall Festival →
Riverfront Pavilion, 100 N B St, Fort Smith
6:00 pm
Friday September 18
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- 810 Billiards & Bowling: Bingo
Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 810 Billiards & Bowling 5609 Rogers Ave Fort Smith AR
6:30 pm - 810 Billiards & Bowling: Ultimate Game Show
Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce 810 Billiards & Bowling 5609 Rogers Ave Fort Smith AR
6:30 am - Happy Hour every Monday & Wednesday at Le Mesa ALL DAY
Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, 1217 S Waldron Rd, Fort Smith
11:00 am - Ribbon Cutting: The Forum Barbershop
Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, 3215 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith
12:00 pm - Andy's Frozen Custard Kids Night
Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, 6565 Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith
4:00 pm - 810 Billiards & Bowling Trivia Night
810 Billiards & Bowling, 5609 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith
6:30 pm - 2026 First Friday Breakfast Series: September 11th →
University of Arkansas Fort Smith Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, Reynolds Room, 800 North 49th Street, Fort Smith
7:30 am - Happy Hour every Monday & Wednesday at Le Mesa ALL DAY
Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, 1217 S Waldron Rd, Fort Smith
11:00 am - 810 Billiards & Bowling: Bingo
810 Billiards & Bowling, 5609 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith
6:30 pm - 810 Billiards & Bowling: Ultimate Game Show
810 Billiards & Bowling, 5609 Rogers Ave, Fort Smith
6:30 am
Monday September 7
Tuesday September 8
Wednesday September 9
Friday September 11
Monday September 14
Tuesday September 15
📣 Fort Smith Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Business After Hours hosted by University of Arkansas - Fort Smith
Drennen Scott House
5:15 pm
Tuesday September 8
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Get ready for the holidays!!!
Great for gifts, events, promotional items, business cards, holiday cards, etc! Have an idea? Let me know and I will do my best to make it happen!… (Nextdoor North 6th Street)
- Domino's Pizza posted a job opening for Customer Service Rep(09610) - 8500 Phoenix Ave, Ste B in Fort Smith. Apply here.
- HomeTeam Pest Defense posted a job opening for Pest Control Technician/ Exterminator: AR - Fort Smith 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: It saw the ocean's bottom! (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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