ROGERS — Steve Womack announced the passing of his wife, Terri Lynn Williams Womack, who died Sunday at Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville following a brief illness. She was 68.

In a statement released Sunday, Congressman Womack reflected on their life together and expressed gratitude for the support his family has received.

“Sunday afternoon, Heaven welcomed an angel. My wife of 41 years, Terri Womack, went to live in eternity with Jesus,” Womack said. “My heart is broken and that space remains without her presence. I take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering in pain and is at peace evermore. Her legacy of love will live in the hearts of all who knew her. Our family appreciates the outpouring of prayers and support. You have all honored her in such a special way, and we are eternally grateful.”

Terri Womack was born November 2, 1957, in DeWitt, Arkansas, to H.D. and Deanie Williams. She graduated from DeWitt High School in 1976 and later attended the University of Arkansas. She married Steve Womack on August 4, 1984, and the couple recently marked more than 41 years of marriage.

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She dedicated more than 35 years to public service, working in various court systems across Northwest Arkansas. Her career included serving as Chief Clerk to Rogers Municipal Judge Tom Keith. When Keith was elected Circuit Judge, she became his case coordinator. She later worked for Benton County Prosecutor David Clinger before returning to the Circuit Court, serving under both Judge Keith and Judge Robin Green. She retired from public service in 2019.

Outside of her professional life, Terri Womack was known for her love of landscaping and cooking, often testing new recipes on her family. She was also devoted to her pets, including her miniature schnauzers, Auggie and Cooper.

Family was central to her life. As the mother of three sons, she embraced the active, hands-on lifestyle that came with raising boys and later cherished time with her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Lynda. She is survived by her husband; her children, William Owens of Rogers, Bradley Womack of Rogers, and Phillip Womack of Rogers; and four grandchildren: Liam Owens of Rogers, Kaden Womack of Pea Ridge, Luka Owens of Rogers, and Mazzie Clementine of Rogers. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

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Funeral services will be Tuesday January 27th.

ROGERS – America’s Car-Mart has announced the closure and consolidation of several Arkansas dealership locations as part of a broader cost-control and footprint optimization strategy aimed at improving long-term performance.

The company confirmed that five Arkansas locations were consolidated during Phase 2 of its SG&A Cost Control Strategy, which was completed in January 2026. These closures bring the total number of consolidated stores nationwide to 18 across two phases.

The Arkansas locations affected include:

• Hope, Arkansas – customers will now be served by the Texarkana, Texas dealership

• Malvern, Arkansas – customers redirected to Benton, Arkansas

• Russellville South, Arkansas – customers now served by the Russellville, Arkansas location

• Springdale East, Arkansas – customers redirected to Fayetteville, Arkansas

• Van Buren, Arkansas – customers now served by Fort Smith, Arkansas

Company officials said customers previously served by the consolidated locations will continue to have uninterrupted access to vehicle sales, service, and collections through nearby dealerships.

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Doug Campbell, President and Chief Executive Officer of America’s Car-Mart, said the realignment reflects a focus on operational efficiency and disciplined capital allocation while maintaining customer service standards.

“These decisions are never easy, and we approach them with deep respect for our associates, our customers, and the communities we serve,” Campbell said in a statement. “By realigning our footprint, we can operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the high level of service our customers expect.”

The Arkansas closures are part of a larger regional consolidation that also affected locations in Alabama, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia, and Texas. Car-Mart said it will continue evaluating its store network as it modernizes operations and concentrates resources in higher-performing markets.

The company emphasized that it remains committed to serving Arkansas customers and maintaining a strong presence in the state through its remaining dealership locations.

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LITTLE ROCK — AVAIO Digital Partners has announced a major new data center campus near Little Rock in Pulaski County, marking what company officials say is the largest economic investment in Arkansas history.

Named AVAIO Digital Leo, the 760-acre campus will support cloud computing and artificial intelligence technologies. The first phase of the project includes a $6 billion investment from AVAIO and its customers, with plans to expand to a total of more than $21 billion over time.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with the first phase completed and energized by June 2027. The project will create more than 500 permanent full-time jobs and thousands of construction jobs during development.

“The AVAIO Digital Leo campus will position Arkansas as a technology leader,” said Governor Sarah Sanders. “This announcement confirms that our pro-business environment is attracting major investments that benefit communities across the state.”

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AVAIO has contracted with Entergy Arkansas for 150 megawatts of power for the first phase, with plans to eventually support up to 1 gigawatt as the campus grows. The site was chosen for its robust fiber connections, ample land, and access to power infrastructure.

The campus is designed with sustainability in mind, including water-efficient cooling, rainwater recapture, rooftop solar, and advanced cooling systems. AVAIO says the campus will blend into the local community with landscaped buffers and forested areas.

Mark McComiskey, CEO of AVAIO Digital, said the project is intended to be “both a major pole of data center capacity and an engine of sustained economic and technological momentum for Arkansas.”

Local and state officials praised the investment for its long-term economic benefits and job creation, noting that the project demonstrates Arkansas’ ability to attract major technology companies.

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TEXARKANA — A 22-year-old Texarkana man was killed Friday afternoon when his motorcycle collided with a cable barrier on I-49.

The Arkansas State Police reported that Samuel Gutierrez lost control of his 2004 Yamaha motorcycle around 4:31 p.m. near mile marker 35 on the southbound side of the highway in Miller County. The crash occurred under clear skies on dry roads.

Authorities confirmed that Gutierrez, the driver, died at the scene. No other injuries were reported. His body was taken to the Miller County Coroner, and next of kin have been notified.

Cpl. Josh Broughton of the Arkansas State Police is investigating the crash.

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RUSSELLVILLE — A wrong-way crash on Interstate 40 westbound at mile marker 78 claimed the life of a Dover man and left a Benton man hospitalized Monday night.

According to the Arkansas State Police, the crash occurred at approximately 10:38 p.m. on January 5, 2026. Jason Dotson, 47, of Dover, was driving a 2024 Chevy Malibu eastbound in the westbound lanes of I-40 when he collided with a 2015 Volvo semi traveling west. Dotson’s vehicle then struck a 2025 International truck head-on in the inside lane. Dotson was pronounced dead at the scene.

The injured driver, Anthoney Level Hale, 47, of Benton, was transported to St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The crash occurred under clear skies and dry road conditions. The bodies and scene are being handled by the Pope County Coroner’s Office, and the investigation is ongoing. Next of kin have been notified.

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Cpl. Kyle Johnson of the Arkansas State Police is leading the investigation.