Resident News Network

ADH Requirements for Facilities to Expand Visitation, Activities, and Communal Dining

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4:13 am

ADH Requirements for Facilities to Expand Visitation, Activities, and Communal Dining

Governor Asa Hutchinson announced on Wednesday, June 17, that Arkansas will allow visitation at some long-term care facilities to resume effective July 1. The Arkansas Department of Health released the following guidelines:

A nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care facility may expand visitation and other activities covered by the directive issued by the Arkansas Department of Health on March 13, 2020, only as provided by this directive. To be eligible to expand visitation and other activities, a facility must meet the following facility-specific requirements:

Facility-specific Requirements

• The facility has completed baseline testing of all residents and staff at least once and has provided the results and all requested documentation of such to the Arkansas Department of Health. • The facility has complied with these requirements and all other guidelines issued by the Arkansas Department of Health after baseline testing in response to any positive cases identified during baseline testing. • There are adequate hospital beds and ICU services available in the applicable region to serve any new COVID-19 cases, as determined by the Arkansas Department of Health. • The facility is able to staff direct care, housekeeping, and dietary services departments to meet the needs of the residents and existing legal requirements. • The facility has proper PPE and sufficient supply for residents and staff. This will be assessed by documenting sufficient supplies within the mandatory weekly report submitted to the National Healthcare Safety Network Long-Term Care module. Visitors must supply their own face mask or covering. • The facility is prepared to expand visitation and other activities for its residents, including with consideration of any special needs of its residents and other relevant safety factors. The Arkansas Department of Health will provide guidance for facilities. • The facility conducts screening of every visitor, vendor, and employee of the facility prior to entrance.

Once a facility meets these requirements, a facility may expand visitation, activities, and communal dining subject to the further requirements described below. Additional restrictions will be required if residents or staff become positive after baseline testing is complete as described in Table 1 below. Such newly positive cases include cases that were identified in residents after admission to the facility and do not include new or existing residents that are admitted or return to the facility with a known COVID-19 positive status. All new staff cases are considered newly positive.

Visitation

Visitation is recognized as an important part of a resident’s health and well-being. Reopening and progressively expanding visitation in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is encouraged once facilities satisfy the facility-specific criteria above and adhere to the standards identified. Visitation will, therefore, be allowed on a facility-specific basis when the above criteria are met. All visitation is subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. The Arkansas Department of Health is available for consultation and can issue individual guidance regarding limitation of visitation for facilities in unique circumstances.

General requirements for visitation:

• Visitors must participate in and pass the facility’s screening process prior to each visit. • The facility screening process must include a screening questionnaire, which will record the identity of the resident visited, date, name, address and phone number of the visitor and maintain these records so that they can be made available upon request by the Department of Health and the Office of Longterm Care. The questionnaire will also include a declaration regarding signs and symptoms of infection, contact and/or exposure to known COVID-19 positive persons, and any prior testing for COVID-19, as well as a statement that the visitor will inform the facility immediately if they develop symptoms within 72 hours of visiting or test positive for COVID-19 after visiting. • Visitors must not have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 3 days. If any visitor previously tested positive for COVID-19, they must not visit within 14 days of a positive test. • Visitors must wear a mask at all times. • Visitors must sanitize hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or by handwashing with soap and water when entering and exiting. • Visitors cannot eat during the visit. • Visitors must schedule visits in advance. • Visitation will only be allowed during select hours of each day. • Visitation will be limited to two visitors per one resident at a time. • The facility must monitor all visits carefully to ensure that masks are worn and visitation polices are followed. • All visitors will be provided the opportunity to visit according to the number of positive cases, and the length of visits will be subject to these requirements and depend upon overall demand. • Visitation will not be allowed for residents considered to be infectious for COVID-19, which is the period of 14 days after the first positive test. The Arkansas Department of Health will provide additional guidance for visitation of residents that test positive more than 14 days after the first positive test and remain in isolation or quarantine at the facility.

Outdoor Visit Guidance

It is known that congregate settings can amplify the spread of COVID-19. However, recent data show that the risks of transmission are lower in outdoor settings. The reopening process encourages visitation to include outdoor family visitation at long-term care and assisted living facilities. Facilities should establish visitor areas that are protected from weather elements, such as porches, patios and other covered areas, or have a space that is big enough to house a temporary tent.

Requirements:

• The facility must meet general requirements for visitation, as outlined above. • The facility must monitor the temperature in any outdoor visitation areas. • Visits should occur only on days when there are no weather warnings that would put either visitors or residents at risk. • Adequate staff must be present to allow for personnel to help with the outdoor transition of residents, monitoring of visitation, and wiping down visitation areas after each visit. • The visitation area must be wiped down between visitations using an approved antiviral disinfectant. Please reference https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html. The visitation schedule will provide sufficient time in between visits for this process. • Outdoor visitation spaces must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between visitors and loved ones. • Residents should wear a face mask during the visit, if able. • Residents must have the ability to safely transition from their room to an outdoor visitation location. • Residents with a scheduled visit who have had COVID-19 must no longer require transmission-based precautions as outlined by the CDC at the time of the visit. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/hcp/disposition-hospitalized-patients.html. • Visitors must stay in designated outdoor visitation locations. • Visitation should be restricted to children 12 years of age or older. Visitors with children must be able to manage them, and children must be able to wear a face mask during the entire visitation. Special family circumstances warranting children under the age of 12 to visit can be approved by individual facilities. • Visitors may provide food and beverage to the resident consistent with dietary considerations, but food should not be shared between residents and visitors.

Indoor Visit Guidance

In recognition of hot weather and other uncontrollable circumstances, the reopening process includes limited indoor family visitation at long-term care and assisted living facilities. Facilities should establish visitor areas that are outside the resident’s room or private space and easily accessed without unnecessary movement within the building. Visits in a private resident room may be permitted, upon request and in the facility’s discretion, for bedbound residents or those who, for health reasons, cannot leave their room.

Requirements:

• The facility must meet general requirements for visitation, as outlined above. • Adequate staff must be present to allow for personnel to help with the transition of residents from their rooms to the visitation area, monitoring of visitation, and wiping down visitation areas after each visit. • Visitation shall be staggered throughout the day to accommodate the visitation space and appropriately limit the overall number of individuals visiting at one time. • The visitation area must be wiped down between visitations using an approved antiviral disinfectant. Please reference https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html. The visitation schedule will provide sufficient time in between visits for this process. • Visitation spaces must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between visitors and residents.

• Residents should wear a face mask during the visit, if able. • Residents must have the ability to safely transition from their room to the visitation area, if used. • Residents who have had COVID-19 must no longer require transmission-based precautions as outlined by the CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-hospitalized-patients.html. • Visitors must remain in their vehicle until their scheduled visitation time. After entering the facility, visitors must stay in designated visitation locations. Visitors are not permitted to go into resident rooms without express permission granted in advance of the visit. • Visitation should be restricted to children 12 years of age or older. Visitors with children must be able to manage them, and children must be able to wear a face mask during the entire visitation. Special family circumstances warranting children under the age of 12 to visit can be approved by individual facilities. • Visitors may provide food and beverage to the resident consistent with dietary considerations, but food should not be shared between residents and visitors.

Activities

Person-centered activities are important to residents and improve resident quality of life. Progressively expanding group activities in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is encouraged when facilities satisfy the facility criteria above and adhere to the standards identified. Group activities should be allowed, on a facilityspecific basis and, subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. Visitation for activities is subject to the visitation requirements and limitations described above.

• All activities must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between residents and the individual/s leading or participating in the activity. • All residents and other participants must wear a mask. • Activities should be limited to groups of 10 or fewer individuals. • If possible, encourage doorway activities with residents wearing masks. • Residents from COVID-19, non-COVID-19, and 14-day quarantine areas should not be comingled during activities.

Beauty Salons

Beauty salon and barber services are very popular among many residents and are believed to lead to an improvement of these residents’ quality of life. Along with other activities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities can allow salons inside their facilities to reopen subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. Hair salons can resume providing services to residents with the following precautions in place:

• Hairdressers, barbers, and other beauty salon staff should be screened prior to entry just like, any other visitor. • Masks must be worn by residents and beauty salon staff. • Only the beauty salon staff, nursing home staff, and a single client shall be allowed within the salon area at one time. • Appointments shall be scheduled to allow time to transport residents so that none are waiting within the salon for their service. • Appointments should be scheduled to allow proper cleaning and sanitizing of equipment between residents. • Only residents of the facility are allowed in hair salon for services; no services can be provided to outside guests. • COVID-19 positive residents and any residents who are in 14-day observation/isolation unit due to recent admit or pending test results are excluded from these services at this time.

Dining

While communal dining is important to residents’ social needs, it poses a higher risk of exposure to COVID- 19 than visitation and activities. During communal dining, it is not possible for residents to wear a mask, and there is greater air circulation that can potentially transmit the virus. Thus, we recommend implementation of modified communal dining subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. If implemented, modified communal dining includes:

Requirements:

• Tables must be arranged to allow at least 6 feet between residents and 10 feet between tables. • Tables, chairs and other fixed equipment must be sanitized and wiped down following each meal service. Spray disinfectant is not recommended. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant from List N on the EPA website for surfaces. • A hand washing station or alcohol-based hand rub must be available in the dining room for use by residents and staff. • Residents who must be more closely supervised while eating shall be prioritized to use the space available. • COVID-19 positive residents and any residents who are in 14-day observation/isolation unit due to recent admit or pending test results must be excluded from communal dining at this time. • Residents shall be assigned to dine with the same 1 to 2 people. Visitors are not allowed in the dining room

ADH Requirements for Facilities to Expand Visitation, Activities, and Communal Dining

Tammy Teague

-

3:57 am

0

Governor Asa Hutchinson announced on Wednesday, June 17, that Arkansas will allow visitation at some long-term care facilities to resume effective July 1. The Arkansas Department of Health released the following guidelines:

A nursing home, assisted living facility, or residential care facility may expand visitation and other activities covered by the directive issued by the Arkansas Department of Health on March 13, 2020, only as provided by this directive. To be eligible to expand visitation and other activities, a facility must meet the following facility-specific requirements:

Facility-specific Requirements

• The facility has completed baseline testing of all residents and staff at least once and has provided the results and all requested documentation of such to the Arkansas Department of Health. • The facility has complied with these requirements and all other guidelines issued by the Arkansas Department of Health after baseline testing in response to any positive cases identified during baseline testing. • There are adequate hospital beds and ICU services available in the applicable region to serve any new COVID-19 cases, as determined by the Arkansas Department of Health. • The facility is able to staff direct care, housekeeping, and dietary services departments to meet the needs of the residents and existing legal requirements. • The facility has proper PPE and sufficient supply for residents and staff. This will be assessed by documenting sufficient supplies within the mandatory weekly report submitted to the National Healthcare Safety Network Long-Term Care module. Visitors must supply their own face mask or covering. • The facility is prepared to expand visitation and other activities for its residents, including with consideration of any special needs of its residents and other relevant safety factors. The Arkansas Department of Health will provide guidance for facilities. • The facility conducts screening of every visitor, vendor, and employee of the facility prior to entrance.

Once a facility meets these requirements, a facility may expand visitation, activities, and communal dining subject to the further requirements described below. Additional restrictions will be required if residents or staff become positive after baseline testing is complete as described in Table 1 below. Such newly positive cases include cases that were identified in residents after admission to the facility and do not include new or existing residents that are admitted or return to the facility with a known COVID-19 positive status. All new staff cases are considered newly positive.

Visitation

Visitation is recognized as an important part of a resident’s health and well-being. Reopening and progressively expanding visitation in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is encouraged once facilities satisfy the facility-specific criteria above and adhere to the standards identified. Visitation will, therefore, be allowed on a facility-specific basis when the above criteria are met. All visitation is subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. The Arkansas Department of Health is available for consultation and can issue individual guidance regarding limitation of visitation for facilities in unique circumstances.

General requirements for visitation:

• Visitors must participate in and pass the facility’s screening process prior to each visit. • The facility screening process must include a screening questionnaire, which will record the identity of the resident visited, date, name, address and phone number of the visitor and maintain these records so that they can be made available upon request by the Department of Health and the Office of Longterm Care. The questionnaire will also include a declaration regarding signs and symptoms of infection, contact and/or exposure to known COVID-19 positive persons, and any prior testing for COVID-19, as well as a statement that the visitor will inform the facility immediately if they develop symptoms within 72 hours of visiting or test positive for COVID-19 after visiting. • Visitors must not have signs or symptoms of COVID-19 for at least 3 days. If any visitor previously tested positive for COVID-19, they must not visit within 14 days of a positive test. • Visitors must wear a mask at all times. • Visitors must sanitize hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or by handwashing with soap and water when entering and exiting. • Visitors cannot eat during the visit. • Visitors must schedule visits in advance. • Visitation will only be allowed during select hours of each day. • Visitation will be limited to two visitors per one resident at a time. • The facility must monitor all visits carefully to ensure that masks are worn and visitation polices are followed. • All visitors will be provided the opportunity to visit according to the number of positive cases, and the length of visits will be subject to these requirements and depend upon overall demand. • Visitation will not be allowed for residents considered to be infectious for COVID-19, which is the period of 14 days after the first positive test. The Arkansas Department of Health will provide additional guidance for visitation of residents that test positive more than 14 days after the first positive test and remain in isolation or quarantine at the facility.

Outdoor Visit Guidance

It is known that congregate settings can amplify the spread of COVID-19. However, recent data show that the risks of transmission are lower in outdoor settings. The reopening process encourages visitation to include outdoor family visitation at long-term care and assisted living facilities. Facilities should establish visitor areas that are protected from weather elements, such as porches, patios and other covered areas, or have a space that is big enough to house a temporary tent.

Requirements:

• The facility must meet general requirements for visitation, as outlined above. • The facility must monitor the temperature in any outdoor visitation areas. • Visits should occur only on days when there are no weather warnings that would put either visitors or residents at risk. • Adequate staff must be present to allow for personnel to help with the outdoor transition of residents, monitoring of visitation, and wiping down visitation areas after each visit. • The visitation area must be wiped down between visitations using an approved antiviral disinfectant. Please reference https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html. The visitation schedule will provide sufficient time in between visits for this process. • Outdoor visitation spaces must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between visitors and loved ones. • Residents should wear a face mask during the visit, if able. • Residents must have the ability to safely transition from their room to an outdoor visitation location. • Residents with a scheduled visit who have had COVID-19 must no longer require transmission-based precautions as outlined by the CDC at the time of the visit. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/hcp/disposition-hospitalized-patients.html. • Visitors must stay in designated outdoor visitation locations. • Visitation should be restricted to children 12 years of age or older. Visitors with children must be able to manage them, and children must be able to wear a face mask during the entire visitation. Special family circumstances warranting children under the age of 12 to visit can be approved by individual facilities. • Visitors may provide food and beverage to the resident consistent with dietary considerations, but food should not be shared between residents and visitors.

Indoor Visit Guidance

In recognition of hot weather and other uncontrollable circumstances, the reopening process includes limited indoor family visitation at long-term care and assisted living facilities. Facilities should establish visitor areas that are outside the resident’s room or private space and easily accessed without unnecessary movement within the building. Visits in a private resident room may be permitted, upon request and in the facility’s discretion, for bedbound residents or those who, for health reasons, cannot leave their room.

Requirements:

• The facility must meet general requirements for visitation, as outlined above. • Adequate staff must be present to allow for personnel to help with the transition of residents from their rooms to the visitation area, monitoring of visitation, and wiping down visitation areas after each visit. • Visitation shall be staggered throughout the day to accommodate the visitation space and appropriately limit the overall number of individuals visiting at one time. • The visitation area must be wiped down between visitations using an approved antiviral disinfectant. Please reference https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/reopen-guidance.html. The visitation schedule will provide sufficient time in between visits for this process. • Visitation spaces must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between visitors and residents.

• Residents should wear a face mask during the visit, if able. • Residents must have the ability to safely transition from their room to the visitation area, if used. • Residents who have had COVID-19 must no longer require transmission-based precautions as outlined by the CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/disposition-hospitalized-patients.html. • Visitors must remain in their vehicle until their scheduled visitation time. After entering the facility, visitors must stay in designated visitation locations. Visitors are not permitted to go into resident rooms without express permission granted in advance of the visit. • Visitation should be restricted to children 12 years of age or older. Visitors with children must be able to manage them, and children must be able to wear a face mask during the entire visitation. Special family circumstances warranting children under the age of 12 to visit can be approved by individual facilities. • Visitors may provide food and beverage to the resident consistent with dietary considerations, but food should not be shared between residents and visitors.

Activities

Person-centered activities are important to residents and improve resident quality of life. Progressively expanding group activities in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is encouraged when facilities satisfy the facility criteria above and adhere to the standards identified. Group activities should be allowed, on a facilityspecific basis and, subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. Visitation for activities is subject to the visitation requirements and limitations described above.

• All activities must allow appropriate social distancing of at least 6 feet between residents and the individual/s leading or participating in the activity. • All residents and other participants must wear a mask. • Activities should be limited to groups of 10 or fewer individuals. • If possible, encourage doorway activities with residents wearing masks. • Residents from COVID-19, non-COVID-19, and 14-day quarantine areas should not be comingled during activities.

Beauty Salons

Beauty salon and barber services are very popular among many residents and are believed to lead to an improvement of these residents’ quality of life. Along with other activities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities can allow salons inside their facilities to reopen subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. Hair salons can resume providing services to residents with the following precautions in place:

• Hairdressers, barbers, and other beauty salon staff should be screened prior to entry just like, any other visitor. • Masks must be worn by residents and beauty salon staff. • Only the beauty salon staff, nursing home staff, and a single client shall be allowed within the salon area at one time. • Appointments shall be scheduled to allow time to transport residents so that none are waiting within the salon for their service. • Appointments should be scheduled to allow proper cleaning and sanitizing of equipment between residents. • Only residents of the facility are allowed in hair salon for services; no services can be provided to outside guests. • COVID-19 positive residents and any residents who are in 14-day observation/isolation unit due to recent admit or pending test results are excluded from these services at this time.

Dining

While communal dining is important to residents’ social needs, it poses a higher risk of exposure to COVID- 19 than visitation and activities. During communal dining, it is not possible for residents to wear a mask, and there is greater air circulation that can potentially transmit the virus. Thus, we recommend implementation of modified communal dining subject to these requirements and the limitations in Table 1. If implemented, modified communal dining includes:

Requirements:

• Tables must be arranged to allow at least 6 feet between residents and 10 feet between tables. • Tables, chairs and other fixed equipment must be sanitized and wiped down following each meal service. Spray disinfectant is not recommended. Use an EPA-registered disinfectant from List N on the EPA website for surfaces. • A hand washing station or alcohol-based hand rub must be available in the dining room for use by residents and staff. • Residents who must be more closely supervised while eating shall be prioritized to use the space available. • COVID-19 positive residents and any residents who are in 14-day observation/isolation unit due to recent admit or pending test results must be excluded from communal dining at this time. • Residents shall be assigned to dine with the same 1 to 2 people. Visitors are not allowed in the dining room

Governor’s Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas

News

Tammy Teague

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6:50 pm

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Governor’s Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas

The Task Force to Advance the State of Law Enforcement in Arkansas will convene tomorrow, Thursday, June 18 at 10 a.m. in Fort Smith.

The task force meeting will be conducted at the United States Marshals Museum, located at 789 Riverfront Drive, Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Fred Weatherspoon, task force chairman, has stated the meeting will be conducted in a manner consistent with the directives issued by the Arkansas Department of Health, specifically social distancing.

Paris School Resource Officer Mike Haney Highlights the Guests on “The Sports Brew Show”

Sports

Resident News Network

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2:57 pm

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Paris School Resource Officer Mike Haney Highlights the Guests on “The Sports Brew Show”

Paris police officer and school resource officer, Mike Haney, has been working almost everyday for the past ten years safeguarding the children and employees of the Paris School District. Having served as a Paris police officer for an additional ten years prior to that, anyone can easily see that Officer Haney has been and continues to be a valuable part of the entire Paris community. Officer Haney was the special guest on yesterday’s “Sports Brew Show” that included Haney and a group of other guests on the show.

If you have not listened to the show over the past two weeks, you will certainly want to mark your calendars for Tuesdays at 4 p.m. to catch the upcoming shows this summer on the internet at thesportsbrew.net. The show features people from the Paris community who are talking about their town, Eagles athletics, and all other aspects of life in the River Valley. Yesterday’s show included Paris baseball coaches Josh Hart and Joe Devine; Paris head football coach Tyler Clark, Paris community member and show sponsor, Steven Davenport; new Paris High School Class of 2020 graduates Paiton Forbis and Ciara Boswell, and as earlier mentioned, Officer Mike Haney. The show concluded with a final segment that included a round table discussion with the show hosts Tim Johns, Marvin Wiggins, myself, and guest, Steven Davenport on Razorbacks news. The show included a wide variety of interest that all listeners would enjoy, ranging from the most serious of topics, school safety, to the most light-hearted moments when Paiton Forbis and Ciara Boswell sang the Paris High School Alma Mater.

Everyone in the Paris community owes Mike Haney a moment of gratitude to say “thanks” for all he has done to protect the safety of everyone in the Paris school system. In our interview, I asked Officer Haney how much everything has changed with school security over the past ten years. Haney said, “Oh, it’s crazy! People, for instance, when I first started working for the sherriff’s department, I was also a full-time paramedic. I worked on the ambulance. So, we had to go to school to pick up kids who were injured on the football field, or the basketball court, or whatever, and, we would just walk in. You know, they would tell us they are in the gym and we would walk in right through the door without anyone there to let us in. But now, a case in point, down at the hospital, you know we had an incident. We met people standing at the door to let the EMS crew in, making sure that whenever the EMS crew came in, that door was closed. I mean, we can’t have an open door policy because of the current situation. People are just too mean. It’s a heart problem.”

Arkansas law requires school districts to conduct active shooter safety drills with local law enforcement agencies annually. When asked how seriously the employees of the Paris schools take these drills each year, Haney responded, “The very first drill that we did, we opened some eyes. I mean it was very attention-getting at the least. We had some people who actually hyperventilated. They thought it was the real thing. And that’s what we are striving for when we do these things. When we actually do a true live fire drill, we want it to be as life-like as possible. Because this is what we (law enforcement) are going to be rolling into. It’s not a matter anymore of “if” it is going to happen. We have got to be prepared for every single scenario. We have enough officers on duty during the school day that we can roll a three or four man crew from just about anywhere.”

Officer Haney offered words of comfort and security to the parents of students in the Paris schools. With the safeguards and procedures in place in the district, Haney stated that students are often safer at school now than when they are at home. I appreciated his comment. Schools, in my opinion, have been victimized by acts of violence over the past twenty-five years, but have received a negative image in the eyes of media and the general public with the respect to protecting the safety of everyone in school. Haney said, “You (parents) have to remember, these are my kids too.”

So, Officer Mike Haney, on behalf of Resident Press and “The Sports Brew Show”, thank you for your service and commitment to protecting the students and everyone in the Paris schools, as well as throughout our community. In this day of hatred and unfair treatment directed at law enforcement throughout our nation, we in Paris want you to know that we are both thankful and deeply appreciative of you and your fellow officers for all that they do for us.

On a much lighter note, perhaps the highlight of the show was the “2020 Spotlight” segment that included recent Paris High School graduates Paiton Forbis and Ciara Boswell. In a great moment on the show, both girls teamed up to sing the Paris High School Alma Mater.

Both girls were asked what they have been up to since their senior year ended abruptly in March. Paiton said, “It is really sad (the abrupt ending), but I am going to give a shout out to my family for keeping me busy at the house! They really are; anything they need, they know that Paiton has nothing else to do (kiddingly).” When asked if her parents were paying her for the work, Paiton said, “I get to live there.”

Paiton will be a freshman at the University of Arkansas this fall. She has two brothers and a sister that are enrolled there, as well. So, Paiton will be the fourth of the Forbis children who will be walking the Fayetteville campus this coming fall semester. Paiton plans to major in broadcast journalism. So, who knows? Perhaps Paiton will return in the next few years to continue the tradition of broadcasting Paris Eagles sports. But seriously, all of us at the show predict Paiton will be on to much bigger things in the media world.

Ciara and Paiton have been teammates and key players on state championship volleyball teams at Paris High School. Ciara said she had been painting a lot since school has been closed. “I just got a new puppy, a chocolate lab, and he is my baby. I get up at five every morning with him and we go to the park.” When asked about her volleyball career at Paris, Ciara said, “One of my most favorite memories over the past few years has been when we went to Springfield, Missouri, and we spent a week at the Missouri State campus and we played a lot of volleyball. It was so tiring, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Both Ciara and Paiton enjoyed great athletic success at Paris. Paiton said, “I got it (athletic ability) from my dad; that’s what he thinks (joking again), But, my siblings built a path for me, so they have always been there for me to look up to. So, I think I am just following them.”

Ciara spoke about her time at Girls State. “Girls State was amazing. It created so many opportunities and it was so fun to get to go. The people who put it on helped us so much, and all of us that got to go had a great time. It was really competitive too. It’s like a government simulation, a bunch of politics, and it is super competitive.”

Ciara will be a freshman at University of the Ozarks and will major in psychology. Both Ciara and Paiton have bright futures ahead of them, and the town of Paris and all of its alumni can be very proud of both of these outstanding students. We wish Paiton and Ciara the very best of everything as they embark on this new chapter of their lives.

In the coaches segments of the show, Paris head baseball coach Josh Hart and his assistant, Joe Devine, were the first coaches interviewed in yesterday’s show. Both coaches are new to the Paris baseball program, and they have brought a renewed sense of optimism and energy to the program. Both coaches having collegiate baseball experience has brought legitimacy to the program in the eyes of their players. As the spring 2020 season began, the program rushed out to a four game winning streak to start the season. Inclusive in that streak was a big opening day win at Class 4A Dardanelle. When the season came to an abrupt end on March 12, the team had lost a two run game to conference foe Perryville and had an overall record of four wins and two losses. Little did either coach know that the remainder of the season would be cancelled due to COVID-19, and the short season that started with so much promise would come to a screeching halt. And like so many stories of the senior class and athletes in the spring sports, March 12 marked a dark day in which so many hopes, dreams, and hard work that had been invested was suddenly all for nothing.

Coach Hart said at the time of the suspension of the season, you could start to see the development in the team’s performance. “You could really see it in the Two Rivers games. They became harder games than we originally thought they would be, and I think our guys were a little overconfident, and saw that Two Rivers was not going away. So, we were able to come back and sweep them in a double-header. We had some “fireworks” after the game, but I think that spoke a little to the confidence of our players. I thought the confidence was still riding high through the Lamar and Perryville games. There were lessons learned at Lamar, and I think that lesson was still being learned half way through the Perryville game when we got down to a ten run deficit and then decided to start playing some ball.”

In talking about his players, Coach Hart added, “there are several kids on the team that you can put anywhere and they can play there. It was nice to have those kids; you can kind of plug them in. It is nice to have those kids that you can plug into several positions and then just let them roll.”

Assistant coach, Joe Devine commented on the collegiate experience as players that he and Coach Hart have as part of their coaching backgrounds. Coach Devine said, “Well, certainly, in itself, the knowledge of the game that the two of us have between our years of playing the game and as coaching, I try to do everything I can to help Josh run this team. Of course, he has his way of doing things and he is doing a great job with. Only occasionally Josh will ask for a little bit of advice, but he knows what he is doing and he knows how to run a team, and you are seeing the evidence of that.”

So, as disappointing as it was to see the season abbreviated after such a short time, the future of Paris baseball is certainly bright under the leadership of two good, and young coaches. In fact, the Paris athletic coaching staff has decreased in its average age, and the theme of bringing in good, young, energetic coaches seems to be paying off across the entire department. In next week’s show, the crew at the Sports Brew Show will interview athletic director Casey Mainer and we will ask him about the administrative decision to go with a younger coaching staff in the department.

And speaking of young coaches, Paris head football coach Tyler Clark, who will be entering his third year as head football coach, was the final coach interviewed on the day.

Since his arrival from Marion as the former defensive coordinator, Coach Tyler Clark has steadily re-built the Paris football program in his first two years. And now, the Eagles return experience, talent, size, and numbers into the 2020 season. This could be the year when Paris will return to the playoffs.

But as good as all of that seems to Eagles fans, Coach Clark is a believer in “process” and not necessarily in “outcomes” that Eagles fans may tend to focus upon. Certainly, Coach Clark is all about winning, but he knows that he and everyone connected to the program must focus on the process of building a winning program. A winning program will produce wins. As the Eagles begin to win games this year, it will be critical for the team to continue to focus on the process that got them there, and not forget the investment in every aspect of winning that each coach and player must do to be successful.

Coach Clark is excited about this football team. “We are all real excited. That comes from the confidence we have in our kids. They work their tails off everyday and do exactly what we ask them to do. But more than any of that, our kids have a really solid understanding of what we are trying to do. And when that happens, they become very coachable. When they understand the larger concepts, then we can really begin to coach the little things that are very important. They are actively trying to get better and better everyday.”

Considering all of the distractions during the spring off-season, the team has continued to make progress despite the layoff from the dead period. “We were really rolling, which I guess, everyone (other schools’ coaches) would tell you that. Our maxes (maximum weight lifts) were going up, our speed and agility times were going up, and we were just really looking good all across the board. When we got them back (when the restrictions were lessened), we scaled back a little bit. We weren’t as strong as we were when we stopped, and we were not in as good of shape as we were when we stopped. And that’s really what this month has been about. From easing kids back into the grind that is football.”

I asked Coach Clark if he thought this would be the year that the program turns the corner and returns to the playoffs. Coach Clark said, “I think our kids have confidence and I think that sometimes we might be quick to get a little too over-confident. I have no problem reminding our kids that two years ago we were the “kicking dog” for everyone in this state. And even last year we got a lot better. But it was still one of those deals where we still had to play well to compete with folks. So, we still have a lot of work to do ourselves.”

Both football and volleyball seasons could be fast starts for Paris in the fall. The winning feeling produced by both of those programs could easily overflow to the winter program of girls and boys basketball. And with strong spring teams in softball and baseball, Eagles fans could have an entire school year of great teams to cheer for in 2020-21. As the summer nears the start of the fall seasons, Resident Press will publish special preseason editions for Paris volleyball and football. You will not want to miss these special editions. And that’s not all! “The Sports Brew Show” will also begin to focus on preseason shows for volleyball and football as the calendar turns to August. So, Eagles fans, all of this is just about six weeks away!

The final guest on yesterday’s show was Steven Davenport of Paris. He and his wife Darla, own Eagle Pride Realty in Paris, and are staunch supporters and sponsors of the “Sports Brew Show.” In the final segment entitled, “Hog Talk”, Davenport joined the Sports Brew crew in a round table discussion of Razorbacks sports. In a discussion lasting more than twenty minutes, the group took listeners down memory lane with stories from 1969 to the present. Razorbacks football and basketball recruiting was discussed, as well as the lawsuit filed by former football coach Bret Bielema against the Razorback Foundation. Davenport, a huge supporter of both Eagles and Razorbacks sports, did very well in the interview and ensuing discussion. It was a segment that, in all honesty, went longer than was planned. But in the end, everyone had a lot of fun talking about the Razorbacks and sharing their memories and recent news with Sports Brew Show listeners.

The number of listeners to the show continues to climb with yesterday’s show producing another big gain from the first two weeks. More and more Paris and Razorbacks fans seem to be listening each week, and it is anticipated that as time moves closer to football and volleyball season, the number of listeners will continue to climb at an even faster rate. If you have not heard this show, you need to check out what you have been missing.

“The Sports Brew Show” is streamed live on the internet each Tuesday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Click on the link, thesportsbrew.net , to listen to the show. Next Tuesday’s featured guest will be Paris High School athletic director Casey Mainer, who will speak about the recent coaching hires in the basketball program, as well as the state of all sports within the department. And if you are a Razorbacks fan, you will not want to miss Hogs / Eagles Talk in the final segment of each show!

So, with Luke Trusty working the production board, Tim, Marvin and myself will see you next week on “The Sports Brew Show”.

And stay with Resident Press as we bring you not only the recap of each week’s show, but all things Eagles to the fans of the great community of Paris.

“

Obituary- Jenna Marie Singleton (2001-2020)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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1:02 pm

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Obituary- Jenna Marie Singleton (2001-2020)

Jenna Marie Singleton of Y-City, Arkansas passed from this life, Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Dardanelle, Arkansas. She was born July 23, 2001, in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Vernal Carl Singleton and Teresa (Claunts) Singleton. She was 18 years old.

Jenna was a Waldron High School graduate “Class of 2019”. She loved to sing in the choir, hang out with her friends but most of all she enjoyed having fun surrounded by her family. Jenna’s kind heart and loving spirit made her a natural at being a care giver. She enjoyed her work and always had a smile for everyone.

Jenna was so much more than any individual piece in this family. She was the glue that brought all of us together. Her love made us stronger as a family. Without her, none of us would have been so close. She is the pride and joy of our family and that will never change. As young as she was, her empathy and wisdom surpassed us all. If you ever needed someone to talk to she was always there.

Jenna leaves behind to cherish her memory, her parents, Carl and Teresa Singleton, two sisters, Stacia Davis and husband David of Florida, and Destiny Singleton of the home, one brother, Devin Dvorak and wife Morgan of Fayetteville, Arkansas and one beautiful niece RaeLynn Davis. Jenna is survived by her paternal grandparents, Vernal and Alice Singleton of Y-City, Arkansas and her maternal grandparents, Marie Lord of Heavener, Oklahoma and Nancy Claunts of Booneville, Arkansas. Jenna will forever be missed by an extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends classmates and co-workers she loved dearly.

Jenna was preceded in death by her grandfather Jerry Claunts.

Jenna’s graveside life celebration will be at 9:00 a.m., Thursday, June 18, 2020, at the Chant Cemetery in Y-City, Arkansas with Rev. Keith Elmore officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Jenna’s pallbearers will be Ryan Davis, Steven Sexton, Chase Plowman, Jake Laird, and Ira Banta. Honorary pallbearer will be Eli Plowman.

During these trying and difficult times, we must follow the guidelines we have been given to do our part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. We must limit public gatherings. Family and friends are welcome to attend the service but everyone must wear a mask and maintain a social distance of 6 feet apart. For those who want to attend the service but wish to remain in your vehicles, the funeral service can be heard from the comfort of your vehicle at 87.9 FM.

Please feel free to bring a lawn chair.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jenna Marie Singleton, please visit our floral store.

Obituary- Lois Jean Vincent (1944-2020)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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10:04 am

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Lois Jean Vincent, better known as Jean, of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Monday, June 15, 2020, in Ft. Smith, Arkansas with loved ones by her side. She was born May 16, 1944, in Tiptonville, Tennessee to Frank Sweat and Ethel Mae (Jordan) Sweat. She was 76 years old.

Jean was a LPN at the Waldron Nursing Center for many years. She was a member of the Waldron Assembly of God Church. She was strong in her faith and shared her faith with her family. She enjoyed spending time with her family. She loved family get togethers and being surrounded by the grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jean leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving husband Roy of the home, two daughters, Cheryl Lee of Waldron, Arkansas and Shannon Hattabaugh and husband Chase of Greenwood, Arkansas. Nana will forever remain in the hearts of her 9 grandchldren and 17 great grandchildren. Jean is also survived by one sister, Jerry Helton of Siloam Springs and one brother Ray Sweat of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ethel Sweat and two daughters, Angela Hunt and Seanna Martin.

Jean’s life celebration will at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2020, at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Konnor McKay officiating. Interment will follow in the Lamb Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Jean’s pallbearer’s will be Justin Sweat, Brandon Sweat, Hylan Sweat, Stacey Adams, Jeremy Hunt and Christopher Thornsberry.

Jean’s visitation will be Thursday, June 18, 2020, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lois Jean Vincent, please visit our floral store.

Food Bank Provides More Than 19,000 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer Through Distribution Program

News

Tammy Teague

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9:42 am

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Food Bank Provides More Than 19,000 Bottles of Hand Sanitizer Through Distribution Program

FORT SMITH (June 16, 2020) — The River Valley Regional Food Bank, in a partnership with Feeding America and Rath Auto Resources in Fort Smith, began a hand sanitizer distribution program this week.
The program began Monday with the food bank distributing 1.75 liter bottles to local community partners. This program will continue on Tuesday with the food bank providing sanitizer to clients during the USDA commodities distribution program. The food bank will continue the hand sanitizer distribution program in a similar fashion to clients and community partners across the River Valley while supplies last.
The food bank recently received over 19,000 bottles of hand sanitizer from Feeding America. The project was underwritten by Rath Auto Resources in Fort Smith.

We thank Feeding America and Rath Auto Resources for the opportunity to give back to those we serve and are thankful to our community partners for the work they do for families in our area.

Mayor Comments on Changes to Freedom Fest

Resident News Network

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6:26 pm

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Mayor Comments on Changes to Freedom Fest

By Lindsay LaChapelle
City of Greenwood Mayor Doug Kinslow provided an update today, Monday, June 15, on the upcoming annual Freedom Fest.

A test run of the fireworks was performed at Greenwood’s Bell Park, but after careful consideration, the decision was made to continue having the show in the same spot as in previous years, behind the Fire Department on Bell Road.

While Bell Park is quite a picturesque location, the visibility is problematic to Greenwood residents who are staying at home this Independence Day. Officials involved with the planning were stationed at various locations around town during the test run to assess how many homes would be able to see the show. It was decided, however, that more homes would be able to view the fireworks if they remained with the usual location. Another deciding factor in the decision was the safety of surrounding homes and wildlife. If any problems were to arise, the fire department can access the original location much easier than Bell Park because of its surrounding rugged terrain.

Parking will be available off of Bell Road, Main Street and all surrounding residential streets, however residents are asked not to park along 10 Spur. Parking Lots in front of City Hall, Post Office and Courthouse will be open as well. Social Distancing guidelines are still in effect and while the parks are not closed, it is still suggested that residents enjoy the show from inside of their vehicles, or truck beds.

Obituary- Chase Kennedy Hale (2001-2020)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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4:58 pm

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Obituary- Chase Kennedy Hale (2001-2020)

Chase Kennedy Hale of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday, June 13, 2020, in Dardanelle, Arkansas. He was born October 5, 2001, in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Russell K. Hale and Heather (Oliver) Hale. He was 18 years old.

During his time at Waldron High School, Chase spent much of his time in FFA, Auto Mechanics, on the Arrow Dogs Archery Team, and with the Water Dogs Fishing Team. He was an active member of the Scott County 4H, competing at both state and county fairs showing his prize winning goats, taking top prize of Grand Champion on more than one occasion. He was proud to be a Class of 2020 Graduate and was looking forward to many new adventures.

To know Chase was to love him. He lived life to the fullest and had a huge heart, willing to help whenever and wherever he could.Chase was an avid hunter and outdoorsman and loved to hunt and fish. But he was never happier than when he was spending time with his girlfriend Jenna.

Chase leaves behind to cherish his memory, his parents, Russell and Heather Hale of Waldron, Arkansas, paternal grandmother, Jeanette K. Hale of Russellville, Arkansas, maternal grandmother, Shirley (Soderling) VanDeWiele, of Waldron, Arkansas, uncle Todd VanDeWiele and wife Toni, of Waldron, Arkansas and cousins, Kynlea Rhodes, of Russellville, Arkansas, and Tristan VanDeWiele and Taylor VanDeWiele both of Waldron, Arkansas. Chase will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family, classmates and dear friends.

Chase’s life celebration will be 9:00 a.m.Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at Lake Hinkle Recreation Area Pavillion with Rev. Jack Smith officiating. You are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Interment will follow in the Square Rock Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Chase was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather Roy(Jr.) Hale, maternal grandfathers, Bill Oliver and Curtis VanDeWiele and his aunt Melanie Rhodes.

Chase’s pallbearers will be Bladyn Mays, Paul Davis, Trenton Settle, Nathan Settle, Bradley Smith, Mitchell Wright. Honorary pallbearers will be graduating “Class of 2020”.

Chase’s visitation will be Tuesday, June 16, 2020, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

During these trying and difficult times, we must follow the guidelines we have been given to do our part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. We must limit public gatherings. Family and friends are welcome to attend the service but everyone must wear a mask and maintain a social distance of 6 feet apart. For those who want to attend the service but wish to remain in your vehicles, the funeral service can be heard from the comfort of your vehicle at 87.9 FM.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Chase Kennedy Hale, please visit our floral store.

Mansfield Native Promoted to FSPD Deputy Chief for the Non-Uniform Bureau

News

Tammy Teague

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1:48 pm

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Mansfield Native Promoted to FSPD Deputy Chief for the Non-Uniform Bureau

The Fort Smith Police Department announced on Monday, June 15, the promotion of Mansfield native, Officer Jason Thompson.

The FSPD released the following on their Facebook page:

The Fort Smith Police Department is honored to announce the promotion of Jason Thompson to the rank of Deputy Chief for the Non-Uniform Bureau. Deputy Chief Thompson started his career with the Fort Smith Police Department on May 8, 2006, as a Patrol Officer. His commitment to the vision of FSPD — to improve the lives of everyone we encounter — emerged early in his career when, in 2009, he earned the FSPD Life-Saving Award for brave actions taken in the line of duty. In 2012, he was named the FSPD Officer of the Year. “Jason has spent all of his 14 years as a public servant working to improve the culture of this Department. He has already demonstrated the leadership skills necessary to this position serving as acting Deputy Chief for the last year, and his strong community policing mindset has been crucial in guiding me in moving the department forward with 21st Century policing,” said Fort Smith Chief of Police Danny Baker. “I look forward to continuing to serve the citizens of Fort Smith as Deputy Chief,” said Deputy Chief Thompson. “The Fort Smith Police Department has made great strides in forming partnerships with our community, and I look forward to continuing those relationships and building new ones. I am proud to be a member of the Fort Smith Police Department and look forward to leading the men and women of the department into the future.” Deputy Chief Thompson was selected for the position after input from a diverse, experienced interview board of citizens and community leaders. He is married to his wonderful wife Christy and has three children: Blair, Braylee, and Brinley. As Deputy Chief for the Non-Uniformed Bureau, Thompson will oversee operations for CID and Support Services. Congratulations, Deputy Chief!

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