Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: ‘Oceanscape’ playground work begins, Mercy stroke program renewed

Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.

Playground Progress
Officials and students with the Fort Smith Public School District recently held a groundbreaking event for a $3.3 million upgrade of the playgrounds at Barling Elementary School.

“As a district, we are committed to providing a safe, interactive environment that promotes physical activity, group enrichment, and fun,” FSPS Superintendent Martin Mahan said in a statement. “When students have opportunities to engage other students in games and play, they build teamwork and collaboration skills that enhance learning in the classroom.”

The FSPS Playground Committee of more than 20 district staff and leaders conducted more than 75 hours of research and collecting feedback on the playground renovation, according to the district.

The committee worked with architects to develop a rendering of a proposed playground, and after receiving feedback from more than 2,100 respondents, “Oceanscape” was selected as the theme.

The first phase of the multi-year rollout includes the installation of new playgrounds at Ballman, Barling, Euper Lane, Fairview, Park, and Tilles Elementary Schools. The remaining schools will receive new playgrounds over the remaining years.

Stroke Reaccreditation
Mercy Hospital Fort Smith’s stroke program recently earned reaccreditation from the Joint Commission. According to a statement from the hospital, Mercy Fort Smith underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite survey in July.

During the visit, a team of Joint Commission surveyors assessed compliance across key areas such as provision of care, treatment and services, leadership, performance measurement, data collection, quality, education, information management and more.

Joint Commission surveyors conducted on-site observations and interviews to identify performance strengths and opportunities for continued improvement. Mercy Fort Smith’s stroke program achieved its initial accreditation in 2014. According to the Arkansas Department of Health, about 30 Arkansans are hospitalized due to stroke every day. Stroke educators recommend remembering the acronym FAST in addressing a possible stroke:
FACE: Ask for a smile. Does the person’s face droop?
ARMS: Ask them to raise both arms. Does one drift downward?
SPEECH: Is it slurred or strange?
TIME: If any signs are observed, call 9-1-1 immediately.

“I am incredibly proud of our Mercy Fort Smith stroke team and caregivers for earning reaccreditation from Joint Commission,” Ryan Gehrig, president of Mercy Fort Smith Communities, said in a statement. “This recognition underscores the exceptional quality of care we provide day in and day out. It’s a testament to their clinical excellence and shows that we remain committed to the highest standards in stroke prevention, treatment and recovery right here in our community.”

UAFS Grant Awards
The University of Arkansas at Fort Smith recently received two grants to support its medical and bioscience education and research.

A $50,000 faculty recruitment grant will help UAFS build its microbiology program, equip a new shared research lab, and expand hands-on opportunities for undergraduate students through the Arkansas INBRE network.

The Faculty Recruitment Award, funded by Arkansas INBRE (Arkansas IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence), supports recruitment at predominantly undergraduate institutions to strengthen biomedical research across the state. This year’s award to UAFS will provide shared laboratory startup support for two new assistant professors in microbiology, Dr. Radwa Hanafy and Dr. Susie Boles, who joined the biological sciences faculty this semester.

“In larger institutions, new faculty often receive ‘start-up’ packages, financial awards that allow for the initial set up of their laboratory to fulfill an expectation of scholarly work,” said Christopher Pierret, professor of biology and department head. “Because our institution focuses primarily on teaching, such packages are not typically awarded. In cooperation with the Arkansas INBRE, this award bridges these two worlds, allowing these new faculty to engage in meaningful and impactful research with students within our teaching environment.”

The Arkansas INBRE program is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program of the National Institutes of Health.

A grant of more than $44,000 will bring advanced chromatography technology to UAFS. The Competitive Shared Instrumentation Award, funded through Arkansas INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence), will provide $44,031 toward the purchase of an ÄKTA go liquid chromatography system for use in teaching and research. UAFS will contribute an additional $9,214.15 from the College of Arts and Sciences to cover taxes and associated fees for the instrument.

The shared system will be housed in the Math-Science Building and used by faculty in biology and physical science. More than 500 students annually are expected to work with the instrument through biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology courses, along with faculty-mentored undergraduate research.

UAFS will integrate the new instrument into several courses, including biology, biochemistry, biophysical chemistry, analytical chemistry, molecular biology, and medicinal chemistry, according to UAFS.

Consent Decree, Water Work
The city of Fort Smith recently announced completion of infrastructure work related to federal mandated work (consent decree) to improve the city’s sewer system, and relocation of a large water line needed for a highway widening project.

Work in part of sub-basin MC08, located in an area west of the Fort Smith Regional Airport, was recently completed. The work included approximately 2,301 linear feet of 8-inch-diameter and 92 linear feet of 12-inch-diameter sanitary sewer line replacement using open-cut methods; 2,166 linear feet of 8-inch sanitary sewer line replacement using pipe-burst methods; 1,831 linear feet of 8-inch CIPP pipe lining; and the replacement of 23, and lining of 15, 48-inch-diameter manholes.

Krapff-Reynolds was the contractor with the $2.895 million project that was officially completed Oct. 28.

“The project was completed 94 days earlier than expected and at $250,017.15 less than the original contract amount,” the city noted in its report. “The funding for this project was made available through the 5/8% Sales and Use Tax.”

The city also completed in late September the relocation of an 18-inch water line along Highway 255. This work was part of the Arkansas Department of Transportation’s (ArDOT) project to widen the highway and improve traffic flow between Fort Smith and Barling.

Forsgren was the contractor on the work valued at $925,494. The original water line was installed in 1941 and previously crossed Highway 255 near South 92nd St.