Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: A toy toss, cancer forum, and Carol Ann Cross park award

Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.

Toy Toss
The return of the UAFS Toy Toss will be 6 p.m., Nov. 18 at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Stubblefield Center. Fans are encouraged to bring new, soft toys to donate in exchange for admission to the UAFS men’s basketball home opener against the University of the Ozarks.

Following the Lions’ first point, fans will toss their toys onto the court to kick off the holiday season in support of local organizations. This year’s Toy Toss will benefit the Salvation Army of Fort Smith and Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs. After all toys make it to the court, kids from the Boys & Girls Clubs will help pick them up.

“This is a fun way to give back to the community as we approach the holidays, and an even better way to start the basketball season here in Fort Smith,” said Dyllan Newell, coordinator of student activities and civic engagement.

The UAFS Toy Toss was established in 2010 and has become a signature event for the university, attracting fans across the state. The event has even landed the Lions on ESPN.

For those unable to attend the game, donations will be collected on campus Nov. 1-14 in the Campus and Community Engagement Office, located in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center. In addition to the on-campus collection site, the United Way of Fort Smith Area will conduct a citywide toy drive with companies like ArcBest, ABB, and BHC Insurance hosting collection boxes.

Pancreatic Cancer Forum
On Nov. 20, World Pancreatic Cancer Day, Mercy Health Foundation Fort Smith, the Whitney Marsh Foundation and the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education will co-host a Pancreatic Cancer Symposium at the ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center in Fort Smith.

The event aims to raise awareness and understanding of pancreatic cancer prevention, early detection and treatment advances. The day will begin with Grand Rounds from noon to 1 p.m., featuring Dr. Marco Del Chiaro, clinical director of the Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Lunch will be provided, and continuing education credit will be available for participants. Registration for the Grand Rounds session is required. Link here to register.

An evening panel discussion is set for 6 p.m. Dr. Del Chiaro, other medical professionals and families will discuss early detection, treatment innovations and patient support. Registration for the evening session is required and can be completed at this link. Dinner will be provided.

Fort Smith Park Award
Carol Ann Cross Greenway and Boardwalk has been selected as the 2025 Hard Surface Trail of the Year by the Arkansas Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA), the city of Fort Smith has announced.

Founded in 1964, ARPA is a non-profit organization that supports parks, recreation, and leisure services in Arkansas. The association works to promote accessible recreation opportunities, strengthen professional leadership, and foster high standards for parks and recreation programs statewide.

“I am proud Fort Smith was recognized by park professionals throughout the state for this year’s award,” said Sara Deuster, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation. “It’s important to thank our private partners, who contributed over $69,000 toward this project, in addition to funding the preliminary design. Receiving this award says a lot about not only this project but also the improvements we are making throughout our parks system.”

Located at 1601 S. 74th St., Carol Ann Cross Park spans more than 30 acres and includes a scenic lake for fishing, picnic areas, restrooms, and an inclusive playground.

The greenway and boardwalk project added approximately 0.45 miles of new concrete trail and 0.15 miles of elevated boardwalk with a river overlook in the park’s northeast corner, creating a 1.2-mile continuous walking path throughout the park. The trail and boardwalk are 8-feet wide and fully ADA-compliant.

ACHE Campus Award
The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) has been recognized as a 2025 Campus Prevention Network (CPN) Seal of Prevention recipient for its ongoing commitment to student and campus safety.

The CPN Seal of Prevention, awarded by Vector Solutions, recognizes higher education institutions that demonstrate excellence in prevention education through comprehensive, evidence-based programs addressing key wellness and safety issues such as sexual assault, alcohol misuse, mental health, and discrimination.

ACHE is one of only two institutions in Arkansas, alongside Arkansas Tech University, to receive this year’s recognition, according to an ACHE statement.

“Our top priority is ensuring a campus environment where every student feels safe, respected, and supported,” said Don Cobb, ACHE chief of police. “Receiving this recognition reflects our team’s daily commitment to proactive education and prevention efforts that help our community thrive.”

Mercy Award
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith and Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas have earned A grades for patient safety from The Leapfrog Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog. They were among two of only eight in the state to earn this distinction for fall 2025.

“At the heart of our healing mission is serving with excellence,” said Ryan Gehrig, Mercy Arkansas Communities president. “Each time we are entrusted with a patient’s care their safety is our highest priority. We’re proud of our caregivers for their dedication to maintaining this consistent level of excellent care.”

Leapfrog rates hospitals on an A-F grading scale after reviewing more than 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.

To be recognized for Straight As, a hospital must get an A rating five consecutive times in Leapfrog’s twice-annual Hospital Safety Grade assessments. Mercy Arkansas hospitals both achieved Straight-A designations. It is Fort Smith’s 19th Straight A and Northwest Arkansas’ 13th.

The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program focused exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections that can lead to harm or even death. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring.