Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: Barr named to Girls Inc. board, Mercy opens retail pharmacies

Following are recent news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.

Barr on Board
Greta Barr, an associate broker with Fort Smith-based Seiter & Wright Commercial Properties, has been appointed to the national Girls Inc. board of directors. Girls Inc. is the nation’s longest-running girls’ leadership organization, serving more than 126,000 girls each year.

According to the press release, Barr brings nearly 25 years of experience in commercial real estate and a decade of volunteer leadership with Girls Inc. She first became involved with Girls Inc. of Fort Smith in 2014 as a basketball coach before serving on the local board of directors from 2015–2017 and as board president from 2018–2020.

Barr, who has two daughters and is married to Michael Barr, president of Fort Smith-based WeatherBarr Windows & Doors, is an emeritus board member and a member of the Girls Inc. Women of Vision group. In 2026, she was recognized as a Women of Vision Award recipient by Girls Inc. of Fort Smith.

“Girls Inc. is strengthened by the support and leadership of dedicated individuals like Greta Barr who believe in the power and potential of girls,” said Dr. Stephanie Hull, president and CEO of Girls Inc. “In addition to her professional expertise, her decades of service to Girls Inc. at the local level and her personal commitment to creating opportunities for girls have given her a valuable perspective that will continue to help us ensure more girls have access to the life-changing Girls Inc. experience.”

Mercy Pharmacy
Mercy plans to open a retail pharmacy in its Fort Smith hospital complex. The operation opens at 8:30 a.m., July 20, in the first floor of the Physicians Building at 7303 Rogers Ave. The St. Louis-based hospital system also opened a pharmacy in Rogers at its Physician Plaza.

The openings are made possible through recent changes in Arkansas law. In 2025, state lawmakers approved Act 52, removing a longstanding prohibition that prevented nonprofit hospitals from holding retail pharmacy permits. According to Mercy, the legislation allows nonprofit hospitals to operate retail pharmacies and expand pharmacy services in underserved communities. The law also permits retail pharmacies to be located within 250 yards of a nonprofit hospital campus, with additional permits allowed based on hospital size.

“Our pharmacy teams have direct access to the same information our providers use, which creates a more connected and safer experience for patients,” said Michael Thames, director of pharmacy at Mercy Fort Smith. “When pharmacists and care teams can collaborate in real time, we can reduce delays, address medication concerns more quickly and help ensure patients leave with a clear path to continuing their treatment.”

The new pharmacies will offer prescription fulfillment and medication counseling. The pharmacies will be available for anyone to use, not just Mercy patients.

AOG Support
Eight Fort Smith metro nonprofits were recently awarded a combined $50,000 from Arkansas Oklahoma Gas (AOG), a subsidiary of Summit Utilities. The funding is part of the 2026 Summit Cares Grant Program.

The 2026 awardees are the Arkansas Family Alliance, Boys & Girls Club of Van Buren, Community Services Clearinghouse, Fort Smith Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc. of Fort Smith, Muldrow Cherokee Community Organization, Reynolds Cancer Support House, and the Sebastian Retired Citizen’s Association.

“Our services extend far beyond our commitment to providing safe, reliable natural gas to our neighbors,” said Stacie Smith, manager of public affairs at Arkansas Oklahoma Gas. “These organizations are making a meaningful difference in the River Valley every day, and we are honored to help fuel their missions through Summit Cares grants.”

To qualify for a Summit Cares grant, applicants must operate within AOG’s service territory and show documentation of 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt status. The program prioritizes organizations focused on basic human needs, STEAM education, community enrichment, and environmental stewardship.

Stroke Support
Baptist Health-Fort Smith is one of 11 Baptist properties to be recognized by the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Get With The Guidelines program for delivering stroke and cardiac care that improves patient outcomes and saves lives.

The following awards were received by Baptist Health-Fort Smith:
• Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus;
• Target HF Optimal Honor Roll;
• Target Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll;
• Get With The Guidelines Stroke Gold Plus; Target: Stroke Honor Roll; and,
• Target Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll.

According to the Baptist Health press release, Arkansas faces severe cardiovascular health challenges, with heart disease ranking as its leading cause of death and stroke standing as a top cause of both mortality and long-term disability. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arkansas ranks fourth in the nation for stroke mortality, losing nearly 1,900 lives annually, while heart disease claims over 8,500 lives each year – meaning an Arkansan dies from a cardiac event roughly every hour. More than 11,000 Arkansans are hospitalized for strokes annually, or about 32 people every day, and 12.5% of adults live with cardiovascular illnesses driven by high rates of obesity, smoking, and diabetes, according to the AHA.