Date: February 3, 2012 Contact: Tracy Winchell, Steering Committee Communications Phone: 479.739.6990 Email: twinchell@fortsmithar.gov JOIN THE FIGHT FOR THE FLYING RAZORBACKS http://www.savetheflyingrazorbacks.com We need your help NOW! Now is the time for supporters of the 188th Fighter Wing to engage in the process to protect the unit from potential Department of Defense recommendations that may jeopardize the unit. The 188th Fighter Wing Steering Committee, a working group of the 188th Fighter Wing / Fort Chaffee Community Council, has worked with the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce to stand up a website. This is a CALL TO ACTION!!!! The website http://www.savetheflyingrazorbacks.com calls the community and supporters of the Flying Razorbacks to write a letter to the Secretary of Defense. The site provides citizens with specific information about the 188th and why keeping aircraft on the ramp is the right decision for our nation, our state, our region, our citizens, and members of the unit. The site makes it easy to write a letter that will be hand-delivered to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. Arkansas Senators Mark Pryor, John Boozman, along with all four Arkansas congressmen, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford (1st District), U.S. Rep. Timothy Griffin (2nd District), U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, (3rd District) and U.S. Rep. Mike Ross (4th District), have all agreed to hand-deliver citizens’ letters to the Secretary of Defense at the appropriate time, along with a jointly-signed endorsement expressing unified support for maintaining a fighter mission at the 188th. Steering Committee Chairman Col. (Ret.) Kevin Wear stated, “This is the time for the community’s voice to be heard. Our mission to save the Flying Razorbacks is fully embraced by our Congressional leaders and their staff members. They are anxiously awaiting the outpouring from the community in the form of letters to the Secretary of Defense. If the future budget cuts are about doing the right things for the right reasons, the 188th Fighter Wing will have a significant role in the Department of Defense (DOD) plans for the future.” According to Wear, the community council has four primary pillars that make an overwhelming compelling argument for the Flying Razorbacks: 1. The 188th Fighter Wing and the Air National Guard own the combination of the best airspace and ranges in the U.S. Air Force. 2. The 188th Fighter Wing and Fort Chaffee have one of the most modernized infrastructures in the U.S. military. 3. The range, airspace, central location, and close air support (CAS) role of the A-10 Warthogs provide unparalleled joint training opportunities at Ft. Chaffee (5 minutes off the end of the runway). 4. The 188th is the most cost-effective fighter unit in the world. Wear says, “These four pillars, along with other key attributes, support the case for Fort Smith to continue the A-10 mission until the Department of Defense chooses the 188th Fighter Wing, Arkansas Air National Guard, to host the first Air National Guard F-35 Joint Strike Fighter squadron in the future. This is the message that must go forward.” President of the Community Council, Dr. Jerry Stewart, says, “Our reasons for fighting for the 188th are all very positive. We feel confident our message will be heard. The possibility that any one of our Arkansas National Guard units might be threatened was a core reason for forming the community council. We intend to defend, protect, and support our local military assets and assure their continued viability in the war on terrorism and defense of this country.” Dr. Stewart continued, “The facts highlighted on the website provide supporters with ample talking points for writing well-informed letters to Secretary Panetta. It will also be helpful when letter-writers include something about their personal relationship to the Flying Razorbacks and the pride our community has for all of our Arkansas National Guard members.” In addition to the feature allowing residents to write letters to Secretary Panetta, there is a place on the website for supporters of the unit to offer support to all members of the 188th – especially those who will be deploying later this year. Facing an uncertain future, the Flying Razorbacks remain committed to the combat mission at hand later this year. It’s important that unit members know the community council, the congressional delegation, the leadership of the Arkansas National Guard, and local community leaders have their backs. It’s even more important for each member to know that their friends and neighbors will continue to support them until the battle is won. Please visit http://www.savetheflyingrazorbacks.com to write your letter of support to Secretary Panetta or offer encouragement to unit members. Also, join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/savetheflyingrazorbacks. We will post news links here that are relevant to the Department of Defense recommendations. Finally, subscribe to our Twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/savethe188th. The 188th Fighter Wing / Fort Chaffee Community Council’s special 188th steering committee is working with the Arkansas National Guard, Governor Mike Beebe and members of the Arkansas congressional delegation to protect the 188th from potential Department of Defense budget cuts in 2013.
Come to hear details about the upcoming 1% sales tax vote. City Directors, Mayor Sanders, Ray Gosack, and representatives from departments being affected (fire, water, parks, etc.) will be on-hand to address the audience as well as answer questions.
Social hour will b…egin at 5:15 – 5:45pm with the panel beginning at 5:45pm.
Info on the upcoming election on March 13th is below:
Directors voted unanimously to ask voters to approve extending a combined 1% sales tax to fund a variety of city needs. Issues before the voters include: • Approval of refinancing current sales tax bonds ($55.3 million total). This issue must be passed in order for the second issue to pass. • Approval of changing the current 1% sales tax to a three-quarter-cent sales tax for fire station improvements, wet weather sanitary sewer improvements, and water transmission system improvements. Voters will decide on whether to use bonds for each of these three areas separately. • Approval of a quarter-cent sales tax to provide operating costs for the fire department and new projects for the Parks and Recreation Department. This tax has a 10-year sunset provision. See More Fort Smith Riverfront Park Fort Smith, AR View Map · Get Directions Share:PostPostLinkLinkPhotoPhotoVideoVideo Write something… This stream is unavailable at this time. Please try again soon.
The Leadership Fort Smith Alumni Association is now accepting nominations for the Jack White and Community Leadership Awards. The Jack White award is given to an individual whose leadership has positively changed a community, neighborhood, institution, organization, business or government entity. They should demonstrate characteristics such as honesty, commitment, compassion and competence as well as having a progressive vision for moving the community forward. Community Leadership awards are also given out to individuals in the areas of business/industry, non-profit, education, religion, government and healthcare. Read the rest of this entry »