What ’ s Inside
We are excited to bring you our fourth edition of the Best of River Valley Awards Magazine . This year , the 2024 Best of River Valley contest had over 999,000 votes cast . This is a 163 % increase year-over-year ! We increased our categories up to 236 different options which resulted in 708 awards .
With our large contest area ranging from Sallisaw to Russellville , and from Mountainburg to Waldron , to be named in the top three in any category is an accomplishment . Our goal is to create economic lift and overall promotion of the River Valley , while engaging the community in celebrating the places , restaurants and local businesses that make our area unique . We highlight efforts to discover and celebrate the businesses , people and places we love most , as voted by our local community : You .
Our news staff reports on stories in River Valley communities from Fort Smith to Clarksville , and everything in between . We understand that focusing on local news and events is what matters most to our readers .
Our sports department covers River Valley prep sports from preseason to playoffs , with game stories , previews and features in our weekly Prep Rally – River Valley Report with Leland Barclay .
In August , we also had our fourth annual River Valley Media Day event in Fort Smith at the River Valley Fellowship of Christian Athletes Office , which provided the opportunity to celebrate the River Valley ’ s top coaches and players , and to say thank you for their efforts . These videos and photos were added to our River Valley Report Football Preview which was distributed across the River Valley inside the River Valley Democrat-Gazette and in the digital replica app so that everyone could enjoy them .
Additionally in August , the River Valley Democrat-Gazette was the presenting sponsor of the Fort Smith International Film Festival , our What ’ s Up ! Arts & Entertainment Guide was the official program for the festival , and our Best of River Valley was the awards sponsor with our very own award given to local filmmakers for their submitted film . The program and other stories about the film festival are available in the River Valley Democrat-Gazette digital replica app which is available to non-subscribers as well as River Valley Democrat-Gazette Sunday print subscribers .
You can also find additional publications in the River Valley , including our lifestyle magazine Ozark Living , which is available at over 100 locations and is powered by local home service businesses , local real estate agencies and agents ; La Prensa Libre AR , which is devoted to our growing Hispanic community ; and the Official Kids Mag , which tells the stories of local kid heroes and provides a resource for teachers and parents alike .
This has been a year of expansion for our core product – the River Valley Democrat-Gazette . We have added classifieds , obits and public notices . We also continue to offer daily local journalism and photojournalism by way of our digital replica app . Our readership , both in Sunday print and online , has also steadily increased .
Accurate local journalism is important to every community . We cannot accomplish great things without your support of our local journalists . We encourage you to show your support by subscribing to the River Valley Democrat-Gazette so that we may continue to grow our area of reporting to include more River Valley communities .
Producing a contest this size took a dedicated local team and committed businesses . To our sponsors , marketing partners and readers , and especially the folks who took the time to vote , we would like to thank you for making the Best of River Valley possible .
We appreciate your support .
Brent A . Powers President bpowers @ rivervalleydemocratgazette . com 479-790-8078
Agriculture ..................................................... 7 Eat & Drink .................................................... 12 Education ..................................................... 29
What ’ s Inside
Health & Beauty ......................................... 33 Home & Garden .......................................... 49 Motors ........................................................... 65
Services ........................................................ 70 Shopping ...................................................... 86 Things To Do ................................................ 91