Fort Smith Fire Department crews were called to the former Fortis Plastics on Thursday (2) afternoon after a fire broke out.  A contractor apparently was using a blow torch to remove some equipment when the fire broke out.  Fortis Plastics shut down in November, 2011 following the announcement that the Whirlpool Plant in Fort Smith would be shutting down operations by the middle of this year…

     Fort Smith Police say one person was arrested outside Northside High School Thursday (2) following an alleged stabbing.  Two students were waiting outside at the school when another car drove up, and a Hispanic male jumped out of the car, stabbing one of the students.  Police say from what witnesses told police, the incident may be gang related.  After the attack, police were able to track down the license plate and arrested 18-year-old Manuel Ortiz of Fort Smith.  Ortiz is in custody without bond at the Sebastian County Detention Center…

     A Sallisaw man charged in connection with a shooting was extricated to Arkansas Thursday (2).  30-year-old Brandon Clark Fritts is charged in the January 3^rd murder of 36-year-old Jamie Lee Czeck of Kibler.  Fritts pled not guilty in court.  On Wednesday (1), Fritts pled not guilty to unrelated drug charges in Sequoyah County.  Fritts’ arraignment will be held this morning (Friday 3).  He is in custody in the Sebastian County Detention Center on a one-million-dollar bond…

     A Kentucky man who drove up to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fort Smith with a vehicle full of weapons remains in custody in the Sebastian County Detention Center.  72-year-old James S. Curtis of Benton, Kentucky drove up to the office on Sunday (29), asking to speak with someone about government corruption.  Curtis was arrested for possessing the firearm since he was previously committed to a mental institution.  Curtis appeared in court Thursday (2) and was assigned a public defender.  He faces up to ten-years in prison and fines of up to 250-thousand-dollars…

     Several members of the community are rallying to help keep the 188^th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith open.  And now, a website has been established in order to help speed up the process of letter writing.  People can pledge their support of the 188^th by visiting the website at www.savetheflyingrazorbacks.com.  Nearly 200 letters in the last 24 hours have been submitted and the creators of the website are planning on delivering the letters to Representative Steve Womack and Senator Mark Pryor who will then submit the letters to United States Secretary of Defense Leon Panneta….

     The United States Marshall’s Service made a surprise visit to several sex offenders in Sebastian County.  The service conducted the visits to make sure offenders are in compliance with the law.  Level one and two sex offenders can live anywhere, but level three offenders are restricted from living within two-thousand-feet of a school, church or park.  Police say they were unable to locate 34 offenders during the two-day sweep…

     A recycling program is ramping up at                              Arkansas Tech University – Ozark campus.  Recyclemania is an    eight-week recycling competition between A-T-U and other nearby colleges.  The college is accepting old newspapers…