Update: Man Confesses To Fatal Shooting

John Paul Suleski, who is accused of a shooting death that occurred Saturday in Ft. Smith, is facing a first degree murder charge.  Suleski, 24, was interviewed and confessed to shoot- ing Brent Allen Morrison of Ft. Smith.  The incident occurred some time before 6:45 a.m. near Wells Lake Road.  Morrison, 44 of Ft. Smith, was training for a marathon, when he was shot multiple times in his body and head.

Suleski was a drill-status Staff Sargent and part-time photojournalist with the 188th Wing, according to a 188th Wing official.  His arraignment is scheduled for July 15 at 8:30 a.m.

The Western Arkansas Runners have organized a memorial run/walk in honor of Morrison.  It will take place Saturday, beginning at 6:30 a.m. at the parking lot of Wells Lake Road.

For more stories visit us at www.kyhnradio.com

Applications Being Taken For New Market

The new Walmart Neighborhood Market at 8600 U. S. Highway 71 S. is scheduled to open in October of 2015.  However, job applications are now being accepted.  A temporary hiring center has been set up at 5900 Painter Lane.  It is open Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The majority of the new associates would begin work this month to help prepare for the grand opening of the new store, according to a release from the company.

For more stories visit us at www.kyhnradio.com

Parks Commission Asked To Increase Funding

The Ft. Smith Parks Commission was told by representatives of the business community that the corporate sector would raise $3 million for trail funding if the City would increase theirs from $3 million to $6 million.

On July 8, it was voted by the Parks panel to recommend a 5-year project plan supporting development of trails with $6 million.  The Parks Commission has been offered a 5-year loan for $3 million, interest-free, from Sam Sicard, President of First National Bank of Ft. Smith.

The $1.5 million Belle Grove Community Center project was taken off the 5-year plan in or- der to help with funding for the trails.  It was pushed to the year 2022.

 For more stories visit us at www.kyhnradio.com

New Coalition In Fort Smith

Earlier last week a group in Ft. Smith, tentatively being called the "community leaders coalition", had their first meeting.  The group consists of law enforcement and influential leaders who were put together by the Sebastian County Sheriff's Office.  The purpose of the coalition is to have someone the public can communicate with regarding sensitive issues that may arise in their community.  One such issue is the replacement of the Southside High School song and mascot.

At the meeting, there were business leaders, representatives from churches, officials from the City and schools, as well as law enforcement.  According to Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck, the topic of having a monthly meeting has been discussed.

For more stories visit us at www.kyhnradio.com

Flood Damage Surveyed In Crawford & Sebastian Counties

River Valley has experienced several bouts of flooding which has caused damage across the area.  Thursday, Emergency Management Agency Teams were in Crawford and Sebastian Counties surveying damage.  Crawford County Judge John Hall met at the Emergency Op- erations Center in Van Buren with city and county leaders to begin the FEMA application process.

Hall said "We estimate the overall county damage to be probably $1.5 million.  The most ex- pensive we had was road slides.  We've had three major road slides.  They are so big, we can't handle them here in Crawford County."

According to Dennis Gilstrap, Crawford County Director of Emergency Management, the county is working to get FEMA assistance for individuals whose property and/or businesses were affected by the flooding.

You can call 1-800-621-3362 if you believe you need to apply for disaster assistance.

For more stories visit us at www.kyhnradio.com 

Greenwood Police Station Behind Schedule

All the rain that the area has received has put the new $2.8 million Greenwood Police Head- quarters project behind schedule.  However, the architect said the inside is 95% complete.  It was set to be completed in July, but has been delayed until the end of August.

The 10,500 sq ft facility is located on Old Hackett Road.  It will contain an evidence process- ing lab, two holding cells, two interview rooms, as well as a state of the art training room.  According to Police Chief Will Dawson, with the passing of a quarter-cent sales tax, they were able to obtain bonds to do the project.  The tax will sunset as soon as it is paid off.

He said after they get moved into the new facility, there will be two open houses held.  One for the general public, with the other for kids to tour the new headquarters.

For more stories visit us at www.kyhnradio.com 

Flooding Prevented In Greenwood

Improvements that were made to Greenwood's creeks and drainage system has helped tremendously to prevent flooding during all the rainfall this spring.  According to Mayor Doug Kinslow, there were several homes in 2004 that received flood water.  In 2007, while the City was working on cleaning up three of its major creeks, Atlanta Street was flooded.  Twenty to thirty homes in Westwood and Indian Hills were pretty heavily affected.  Now, while some flash-flooding is inevitable, residents in the Indian Hills subdivision say the water no longer gets into their homes.

Mayor Kinslow said "It feels great not to have that problem, not to have to worry about your citizens in danger of losing, certainly there belongings, but more importantly their lives or their homes.  There's nothing more important than that."

The three-quarter cent sales tax, part of which goes to the City's Street Department, funded all the work.  The tax is up for renewal in November of 2016.

For more stories visit us at www.kyhnradio.com