April Baker
5NEWSONLINE
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Past articles by April:
Jury Reaches Verdict In River Valley Sports Complex Lawsuit, Awards Contractors Almost $200,000
FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- A jury has reached a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against the city of Fort Smith over a failed sports complex headed by Lee Webb Jr. and former state senator Jake Files. The plaintiffs include four companies that are suing the city of Fort Smith because they were hired to help construct the River Valley Sports Complex at Chaffee Crossing. → Read More
9/11 Memorial Fire Truck In Fort Smith Preserves Powerful Day In History
FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- September 11th, 2018 marks 17 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. Varying tributes have poured in from across the country, including one unique memorial set up along Rogers Avenue in Fort Smith. The memorial is an older-generation fire truck built in 1969 in New York that now belongs to the local non-profit group 9/11 Memorial Fire Truck. → Read More
Police Release Dash Cam Video And Audio In Van Buren Officer-Involved Shooting
CRAWFORD COUNTY (KFSM) -- Van Buren police released new dash cam audio and video on Thursday(Aug. 30) that shows the moments leading up to a deadly officer-involved shooting from earlier this month. Police responded to a domestic disturbance call on Granite Circle on August 5th. → Read More
Van Buren Truck Company Combats Human Trafficking Through Training
FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- Truck drivers in our area are battling more than just vehicles, they are also fighting the criminal enterprise that flies under the radar in our communities known as human trafficking. → Read More
Police Records Show Violent History Between Murder Suspect And Victim In Pocola
POCOLA (KFSM) -- A man is facing murder among several other charges in the slaying of his girlfriend. On Monday, several law enforcement agencies responded to 505 Fuller Ave. in Pocola for a disturbance. Police say they found Amanda Millar, 27, stabbed to death outside of the home. → Read More
Liability Questions Linger After Golf Ball Smashes Into Moving Vehicle’s Windshield
VAN BUREN (KFSM) -- A car ride for one local couple turns frightening when a golf ball flies through their windshield. “All of a sudden there is a loud noise. The windshield shattered. Glass shrapnel flew all inside the car,” said Tim Garrett. → Read More
Prized Pumpkins Destroyed In Fort Smith By Reported High Driver
FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- A local woman’s annual tradition of growing and giving away pumpkins to the less fortunate is stopped after a freak vehicle wreck in Fort Smith. On Saturday (Aug. → Read More
The City Of Fort Smith Strives To Keep Water And Sewer Rates From Rising
FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- The City of Fort Smith wants to protect its residents from having to pay higher water and sewer bills in the near future. Last Friday (Aug. 10th), city leaders met with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 members in Dallas to request changes to the federal court order they received in 2015. → Read More
Police Need Help Finding Those Responsible For Shooting Man In Head In Fort Smith
Police are now offering a $1,000 reward for tips leading to the arrest of those responsible for shooting a man in the head in Fort Smith. On Tuesday (August 14th), police received two calls to the 600 block of North 18th St. → Read More
Log Truck Driver Risks His Life To Potentially Save Kids On School Bus
HOWARD COUNTY, AR (KFSM) -- A man is being credited for risking his life to potentially save the lives of countless students on their way to school. On Tuesday morning, Ricky Broach said he was driving his log truck on Highway 70 in Dierks when he saw a school bus filled with kids on their way to class. → Read More
Controversy Explained During At-Large Director Race In Fort Smith
FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- Early voting starts Tuesday (Aug. 7)for the upcoming primary race on August 14. In Fort Smith, three candidates are running for the At-Large Director Position 5: Samuel Price, Robyn Dawson, and Libby Piatt. → Read More
188th Wing Talks About Unexplained Lights In Fort Smith Area
FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- On Wednesday (August 1), videos and photos surfaced of unexplained bright lights spotted in the sky by people in our area on Tuesday (July 31) night. “We weren’t sure if it could’ve been a missile. I didn’t think it was fireworks or anything like that. → Read More
5NEWS Investigates Bypass Safety Concerns In Poteau
POTEAU (KFSM) -- Highway 59 Bypass in Poteau has become a point of concern for those who use it each day. Recently, 5NEWS has gotten several messages and a cell phone video shared on Facebook that shows chunks of concrete that had fallen from the bypass onto the road below. → Read More
Van Buren Dedicates Finished Veterans Memorial Plaza
VAN BUREN (KFSM) - What once was a tribute to veterans built in 1975, is now a revitalized memorial in the heart of downtown Van Buren. On Wednesday, the city held a special dedication ceremony for the newly constructed Veterans Memorial Plaza. → Read More
$600 Reward Offered For Tip Leading To Arrest Of Headstone Vandals
BOONEVILLE (KFSM) - The City of Booneville wants to catch those responsible for vandalizing multiple headstones in the Oak Hill Cemetery. On July 10, Booneville police were called there by the cemetery groundskeeper who noticed more than 18 headstones had been toppled over. → Read More
Fort Smith Family Talks About What’s Next After Fire Seriously Damages Restaurant
FORT SMITH (KFSM) - A Fort Smith family who lost a big part of their restaurant to a fire this week allowed 5NEWS inside their business to see the extent of damages done. → Read More
Scammers Posing As Local Officers Target Mountainburg Police Chief
MOUNTAINBURG (KFSM) - Many of us have gotten calls from scammers. It happens daily, and we usually call police to report them. However, it happened on Wednesday (July 19th) to Mountainburg Police Chief Vincent Clamser. → Read More
Ozark Teen Discusses Being A Young Business Owner
OZARK (KFSM) - An Ozark teenager’s entrepreneurial spirit is contributing to the success of her community’s economy, as well as other economies around the country. → Read More
Study Finds People Become Less Intelligent During A Heat Wave
FORT SMITH(KFSM) - Imagine you're outside and the sun is beating down on you. You may have said, "It's too hot to even think!" Well, there may be some truth to that. The summer heat not only affects how you feel physically, but it can affect your intelligence. → Read More
Feral Kittens In Greenwood Need Homes To Avoid Euthanasia
GREENWOOD (KFSM) -- The City of Greenwood is looking to find homes for an abundance of feral kittens recently taken off of the streets. According to Greenwood Animal Control Officer Jerrod Ricketts, they’ve recently gotten several calls from people in the Northern section of the city after kittens started to make their way into peoples’ homes. → Read More