Fort Smith Metro Daily News Briefs: Election education, firefighter grant, and cancer screens

Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.

Election Information
The Leadership Fort Smith Alumni Association^[1] is partnering with the Sebastian County Election Commission^[2] for a “Ballots & Bites” presentation to explain the election process. ”Ballots & Bites” will take place 3:30 to 5 p.m., Nov. 4 at the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The presentation will include information about who is involved in the process, the ballot style, how elections are prepared and protected through testing, audits, and chain-of-custody procedures, the different voting options, and how people can volunteer as an election official.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided. There is no charge to attend for Leadership Fort Smith Alumni who have paid their annual dues. Tickets are $10 for Leadership Fort Smith Alumni who do not hold a current alumni membership. Tickets are $20 for those who have not gone through Leadership Fort Smith.

Link here^[3] to register and for more information

Also, link here^[4] to the 2026 candidate list compiled by Talk Business & Politics.

The ‘VIP Way’
The Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce^[5] is conducting a three-day training and leadership session 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 22-24, at the chamber building in downtown Fort Smith.

The presentation is led by Jon Harrison using his VIP Way program. For more than 30 years, Harrison has worked with thousands of people to boost their skills in the workplace. The training focuses on the connections between the work environment, leadership and bottom-line results.

Lunch is included. Link here^[6] to register and for more information.

Firefighters Grant
The Fort Smith Fire Department^[7] has been awarded nearly $700,000 through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, marking the second time the department has received this competitive federal grant.

The grant funding will be used to replace the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA/Air Packs), which are reaching the end of their life cycle. These vital pieces of equipment protect firefighters by providing breathable air in hazardous environments.

“Our self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA/Air Packs) are reaching the end of their life cycle, so receiving this grant is a huge savings to the general fund and the citizens of Fort Smith,” said Chief Boyd Waters. “Currently, the cost of one air pack is around $12,000, and all our SCBA are due to be replaced within the next few years. Not only will this grant save the City of Fort Smith money, but it will also keep the fire department equipped with the most up-to-date gear, which will help keep everyone safer.”

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, administered by FEMA, provides direct financial support to fire departments and EMS organizations to help them obtain critical equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

UAFS Student Recruitment
Officials with the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith^[8] (UAFS) will be at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton on Oct. 22 to meet with students interested in transferring to the UAFS.

Attendees will receive a free lunch and the opportunity to explore academic pathways and financial aid options available to future UAFS Lions. UAFS’s Transfer with Pride road show series, which brings university staff, advisors, and academic leaders to regional community colleges to support students pursuing bachelor’s degrees.

In January, the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services reported that 21% of Arkansans have some college, no degree compared to 19% of the US population. In fact, 2 out of every 3 Arkansans have no college degree, which we know significantly increases a person’s lifetime earnings.

“At UAFS, we have made it our mission to empower the social mobility of our students and the economic growth of the River Valley,” said Brooke Magallanes, associate vice chancellor for Enrollment and Director of Admissions. “By creating new programs like our Transfer with Pride road show series, implementing the Transfer Smart Choice Tuition Waiver, and expanding support services through our transfer admissions advisor, we are supporting the needs of our community.”

The university’s Smart Choice Tuition Waiver, a financial aid program designed to make transferring more affordable, launched in 2024. The waiver provides eligible transfer students with up to $9,000 in tuition discounts beginning fall 2025. The waiver applies a $100 discount per credit hour for up to 90 institutional credit hours or until degree completion, whichever comes first.

Lung Cancer Screening
As part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month in November, Baptist Health-Fort Smith^[9] is offering special appointment times for patients who qualify for low-dose computed tomography (CT) screenings.

The Baptist Health Imaging Center-Fort Smith at 1500 Dodson Ave., Ste. 130, will have appointment times between 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., on Nov. 8.

Patients should speak with their primary care provider to receive a referral for the screening. For more information, call (501) 202-1900. Provider referrals should be sent via fax to (501) 850-0488.

The screening is recommended for adults aged 50 to 77 years who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years.

Arkansas is among the worst states for several lung cancer measures, including a higher rate of new lung cancer cases, lower survival rates and lower surgical treatment rates compared to other states, according to the American Lung Association. Lung cancer screening with annual low-dose CT scans for those at high risk can reduce the lung cancer death rate by up to 20%.

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