Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Second Annual Health Fair Saturday In Park

It's time for the Second Annual Health-A-Rama.

Last year's event was so successful it has been brought back to the Prescott City Park. This year, the Health-A-Rama will be from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.,Saturday, Sept. 12.

As with the first event, there will be plenty of different health-related screens, including blood sugar for diabetes, blood pressure checks, cholesterol checks, cataract and glaucoma exams, oxygen saturation screens, anemia screening and child development screens.

In addition, those interested can have their body mass measured, and strength flexibility assessed.

St. Joseph's Regional Health Center, out of Hot Springs, will have its mobile mammogram unit on hand. The mammograms will be $75 which includes the doctor's fee for reading the test. St. Joseph's will also file the test on a person's insurance.

The Health-A-Rama will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with a health walk around the park. Streets circling the park will be blocked off for the walkers' protection.

Children haven't been forgotten about for the screening. There will be a visit from McGruff the Crime Dog, Miska the Clown, bingo games, a children's fun run at 10 a.m., karaoke singing, Beanie Baby swapping and a wheel of health game.

While the youngsters are having fun, mom and dad can visit the many health education booths on display, gathering information on a plethora of topics, including: drug/alcohol prevention; physical fitness; organ donor recovery; hospice care; and child development milestones.

The Health-A-Rama is sponsored by the Nevada County Health Alliance. This is a core group of health-care professionals representing the health-care providers in the area.

The alliance was formed after the Nevada County Hospital closed. The idea was to see health services were still available to the residents of Prescott and Nevada County.

However, along with the medical professionals involved, other civic leaders pitched in on the health-care effort .

According to Prissy Tracewitz and Mary Alice Blevins, who are spearheading the event, groups helping with the second Health-A-Rama include Medical Park Hospital of Hope, the Prescott-Nevada County Chamber of Commerce, Holly's Health Mart, the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service, Dr. Charles Vermont, the Nevada County Health Unit, Nevada County Day Service Center, Beverly Health Care, Fred's Pharmacy, Southern Clinic PA, Arkansas Eye Surgery, Dr. Frank Teed, Arkansas Clinic for Children, Prevention Resource Center, Columbia Homecare, Howard County Memorial Hospital, St. Michael Clinic, Arkansas Blue Cross-Blue Shield, Alliance Home Health, Haynes Sports Therapy, Teague and Pearson Eye Clinic, Southwest Arkansas Development Council, Hillcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Baptist Medical Center.

Other groups and businesses have also contributed toward the event, including the Tri- Service Club, Rotary, Potlatch, Firestone, the Prescott Lions Club and Boys II Men, who have agreed to set up the tables and chairs.

A poster contest will be held in area schools and is open to students in the third and fourth grades. Prizes will be given to the winners.

Part of the funding for the Health-A-Rama has come from arrest warrants given out to area officials and community leaders. Those who don't respond to the warrants could be jailed

on-site at the park.