NW Arkansas

Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: Blondin named honorary commander; Greenwood to open new park

Talk Business & Politics·Nov 14, 2026 · 10:36 AM CT
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Dr. Jo Alice Blondin, president of the Fort Smith-based Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, has been named an honorary commander of the 188th Medical Group at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. In Greenwood, Parks & Recreation will open a new inclusive playground at 400 Westwood Ave. at 11 a.m. on Dec. 19, funded in part by a $494,905 Arkansas Department of Outdoor Recreation grant and a $100,000 donation from Farmers Bank.

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More NW Arkansas

Arkansas Razorbacks (official)·

1-2 Razorback finish, team runner-up in NCAA South Central

No. 7 Arkansas finished runner-up at the NCAA South Central Regional men's cross country meet at Texas A&M, scoring 48 points behind Tulane's 44 and punching its 14th straight ticket to the NCAA Championships. Nick Busienei and Ernest Cheruiyot went 1-2 in 28:57.1 and 29:02.5 over 10,000 meters, with James Sankei fifth; Busienei's win was the fifth straight South Central individual title by a Razorback. The NCAA Championships are Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Arkansas Razorbacks (official)·

No. 23 Arkansas claims NCAA South Central team title

No. 23 Arkansas won the NCAA South Central Regional women's cross country title at Texas A&M's Watts course, scoring 51 points to finish well ahead of SMU (109), Stephen F. Austin (113) and Tulane (115). It is the Razorbacks' 29th regional title and their 14th in the past 15 meets; sophomore Isca Chelangat led the team in third in 19:06.2, with five Hogs in the top 17. Arkansas advances to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Northwest Arkansas Council·

Annual Meeting Highlights Regional Collaboration and the Work Ahead

The Northwest Arkansas Council held its annual meeting Nov. 12 at The Record in Bentonville, focusing on infrastructure and workforce needs as the region grows. President and CEO Nelson Peacock cited estimates of about $6 billion in transportation needs through 2050 against roughly $3 billion in anticipated funding, plus about $2.44 billion in regional wastewater investment needs from a draft study nearing completion. Members recognized longtime regional leader Dick Trammel, welcomed Chad Evans as the next presiding co-chair, and heard outgoing co-chair and University of Arkansas Chancellor Charles Robinson thank members for their follow-through.

ARDOT news·

ARDOT to Cut a Ribbon on Interstate 57 Projects in Pulaski and Lonoke Counties

The Arkansas Department of Transportation will hold a public ribbon-cutting at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at City Hope Church in Jacksonville to mark the end of Interstate 57 widening work in Jacksonville and Cabot. The two projects finish the six-lane widening of I-57 from North Little Rock to Cabot. The Jacksonville section, a $145 million contract with Weaver-Bailey Contractors, widened 2.5 miles from two to three lanes in each direction.