Immigrants helped shape Arkansas. The state shouldn’t forget that history.

By: Andrew DeMillo

Outlets: Arkansas Advocate

Published: August 2, 2026

Words: 657

Last Updated: 1 day, 4 hours ago

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I’ve never been to Tontitown, nor have I had the pleasure of partaking in its storied annual Grape Festival. But the northwest Arkansas community founded by Italian immigrants feels familiar to me.

That’s partly because of Deputy Editor Antoinette Grajeda’s recent article on how the debate over immigration enforcement is playing out in the small northwest Arkansas community.

Reading about Tontitown reminded me of Hibbing, the Minnesota mining town where my …

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