Ozarks At Large
The head of the Hatcher Agency, the state's largest independent insurer, says that many of his clients are providing insurance to employees rather than paying penalties associated with the Affordable Care Act. Senator Mark Pryor talks about his push for answers from the Air Force regarding the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith while Senator Boozman says he is concerned about a backlog in disability claims for veterans. And Elton John is coming to Fayetteville in just a few weeks.




Two public meetings were held late yesterday in Jasper to address concerns about the large CAFO in Newton County. Picasolar took home several thousand dollars from an MIT competition earlier this week. Fort Smith has finished automating trash collection, but now the city's sanitation department is turning its eye to automating recyclable collection. And speaking of Fort Smith, Senator Mark Pryor demands answers from the U.S. Air Force regarding the future of the 188th Fighter Wing.

Ozarks at Large's Meredith Martin Moats recently sat in on a conversation with Bud Rector, who will turn 99 later this year and has lived almost all his life in Yell County. We conclude her two-part report on his recollections of an Arkansas that has nearly vanished.

Latest Edition of Ozarks at Large
Remembering Some of the People We Lost in 2013
On this special edition of Ozarks we hear again some of the voices we lost during 2013, including Bill Harrison, Curley Miller, Ivan Denton and Dick Renko.
Early next year, the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, informally called The Fort Smith RAM, will open its new home to the public. The RAM’s history began in the 1940s, incorporating as an arts center in 1968. www.fsram.org.
Katy Henriksen talks with the Welsh singer-songwriter about her latest music. To learn more about this artist, visit http://catelebon.com.
A nearly $1 million grant will allow the Ft. Smith Fire Department to pay nine firefighter positions, 10 current or former University of Arkansas athletes are preparing to compete in the London Olympics, and more.
“Bubblehouse” by Martin/Medeski/Wood
Michael Tilley from www.TheCityWire.com explains how the recent drought is affecting business and how trash collection in Ft. Smith has become a bigger issue than expected.
In addition to serving as Sebastian County Circuit Court Judge, Jim Spears is the author of “Justice Divided: A Judicial History of Sebastian County.”
“Fort Smith Breakdown” by The Freight Hoppers