Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.
One Pill Can Kill
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith[1] is set to host One Pill Can Kill Training on Monday, Oct. 6. The initiative is being pushed by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin to educate college students about the deadly risks of fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills.
The training, held in the Reynolds Room inside the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, begins at noon, and will include awareness of the growing threat, education on overdose signs and how to use naloxone, commonly referred to as Narcan, and empowering attendees to protect themselves and others.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the university will also host a press conference with Griffin, allowing students and media members to ask questions about state law and the opioid crisis.
UAFS has amplified its efforts to combat the opioid crisis through educational and training programs led by University Police Chief Ray Ottman. The university has two vending machines on campus that dispense Narcan for free, in addition to having every building equipped with an opioid rescue kit near entrances or elevators.
Those attending will leave with a Fentanyl Harm Prevention Kit, which includes Naloxone (Narcan), fentanyl test strips, gloves for safe handling, safe drug disposal bags, and pill identification cards to identify legitimate medications.
Students, faculty, and staff can register at this link[2] for the event to receive a lunch and a free t-shirt.
Consent Decree Work
The city of Fort Smith recently provided an update on federally mandated sewer system work on sub-basins MC07 (centered near the intersection of Phoenix and Towson Avenues), S006 (centered near the east side of University of Arkansas at Fort Smith), Z001 (centered near the intersection of Zero Street and U.S. 271 South).
The work consists of the replacement or rehabilitation of approximately 8,715 linear feet of sanitary sewer mains by the open-cut method, 1,720 linear feet of sewer service lines, 85 sewer service cleanouts, 130 point repairs, and 95 manholes.
A progress report noted that 5,394 linear feet of sewer pipe remediated by open-cut (62% of the total), 1,346 linear feet of sewer service lines completed (78%), 85 sewer service cleanouts completed (100%), 92 point repairs completed (71%), and 78 manholes removed and replaced (82%).
The total value of work completed was $5.246 million, with the estimated total cost of work in the three sub-basins set at $7.994 million. According to the city, the work schedule in the basins is one time and completion is Jan. 30, 2026. Brothers Construction, which was acquired in May 2024 by Conway, Ark.-based Nabholz, is the project contractor.
After decades of failing to maintain the sewer system, officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a consent decree in 2014 with the City of Fort Smith that required certain improvements to the city’s sewer system.
ATU-Ozark Sonography
The Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus[3] cardiac sonography program has upgraded its training equipment through the HIRED grant in partnership with Arkansas Colleges of Health Education[4], Fort Smith Public Schools[5] and Peak Innovation Center[6].
The collaboration creates new opportunities for shared learning between programs, according to ATU-Ozark. High school students will receive improved instruction in cardiac anatomy and physiology, and ATU-Ozark students will have the ability to view microscopic portions of heart muscles and dissections.
The ATU-Ozark cardiac sonography program, located at the ACHE Research Institute in Fort Smith, received two GE E95 cardiac sonography machines, one Phillips Epiq cardiac sonography machine, one Surgical Science echocardiography simulator and five cardiac sonography electric beds.
“In partnership with ACHE, we are honored to have been awarded the HIRED grant by the state of Arkansas,” said Kristen Wendling, ATU-Ozark cardiac sonography program chair. “This investment is making a significant impact on our program, enhancing instructional resources and expanding opportunities for hands-on learning. These advancements will strengthen the preparation of ATU-Ozark cardiac sonography students and ensure that future graduates enter the workforce with the highest level of expertise to serve their patients.”
According to ATU-Ozark, the upgraded equipment has increased the amount of hands-on practice available, giving students access to a broader range of patient types and echocardiogram procedures.
Witchcraft Lore
The Fort Smith Museum of History[7] is hosting Ozark Mountain Witchcraft: Anthropology of the Supernatural, a program led by cultural anthropologist Justin Minor. The program is set to begin at 6 p.m., Oct. 9, at the museum. The entry fee is $10.
“As the veil thins and October shadows grow long, explore the strange lore, folk remedies, and backwoods witchery that have haunted the hills for generations,” the museum noted in a press release. “Come for the folklore—stay for the chills.”
According to the press release, folk magic has deep roots in the hollers of the Ozark Mountains, stretching back to the earliest European settlers to the region and beyond. It played a role in the lives of pioneers and homesteaders, and shaped Ozark culture in ways that carry into the modern day.
Minor is a seventh generation Ozark descendant, cultural anthropologist, and historian/volunteer park guide at Fort Smith National Historic Site.
Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the Arkansas Department of Health[8] (ADH)
BreastCare program coordinates efforts with a statewide network of providers to offer free breast and cervical cancer screenings and follow-up services.
According to the ADH, nearly 400 women die due to breast cancer, and over 2,690 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Arkansas. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will develop breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Arkansas and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women both in Arkansas and across the United States.
Arkansas ranks 35th lowest for mammography and 43rd lowest for pap tests. While the breast and cervical cancer screening rates among women in Arkansas have improved over the years, more is needed to improve screening rates, according to the ADH.
Since its inception in 1997, the BreastCare Program has enrolled more than 155,972 women for breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. The program also provides educational information to communities about the importance of regular breast exams, and the risks associated with breast cancer.
For more information about BreastCare, call 1-833-693-2942, or visit www.ARBreastCare.com.
Related
References
- ^ University of Arkansas at Fort Smith (uafs.edu)
- ^ at this link (forms.office.com)
- ^ Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus (www.atu.edu)
- ^ Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (achehealth.edu)
- ^ Fort Smith Public Schools (www.fortsmithschools.org)
- ^ Peak Innovation Center (peak.fortsmithschools.org)
- ^ Fort Smith Museum of History (www.fortsmithmuseum.org)
- ^ Arkansas Department of Health (healthy.arkansas.gov)