Dental Centers welcome new PB dentist
Dr. Dixie Lozano will succeed the retiring Dr. Maxwell Fleming at Arkansas Dental Centers Pine Bluff, 3721 S. Olive St., Suites A and B.
Lozano joins Dr. Cody Sanders at their newly relocated clinic, according to a news release.
“I am excited to return to my roots and serve the community where I grew up,” said Lozano. “Joining Arkansas Dental Centers Pine Bluff allows me to combine my professional skills with a personal commitment to improving oral health.”
A resident of Jefferson, Lozano graduated from White Hall High School and earned bachelor’s degrees in biology and biochemistry at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Lozano earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry in Memphis.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“She is fluent in Spanish, enhancing the clinic’s ability to serve the diverse community of Pine Bluff and the surrounding areas,” according to the release.
The clinic serves the Pine Bluff, White Hall, Sheridan, Star City and Monticello communities.
“Dr. Lozano brings a wealth of knowledge and a genuine commitment to patient well-being,” said Sanders. “Her addition strengthens our ability to deliver comprehensive dental services with a focus on quality and compassion.”
Details: (870) 541-0136 or https://arkansasdentalcenters.com/locations/pine-bluff-ar/.
JCCSI offers free back-to-school shots
Jefferson Comprehensive Care System Inc., 1101 Tennessee St., will host a free back-to-school immunization clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
The first 50 students who get immunizations at the Pine Bluff clinic will receive a free backpack and school supplies, according to a news release.
No appointment is necessary for this event. Students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. All are asked to bring shot records with them.
JCCSI operates nine clinics in Jefferson and Pulaski counties. The mission of JCCSI is to provide high quality, accessible primary healthcare and social services to all patients, especially to vulnerable and special populations, such as the homeless and individuals living with HIV/AIDS, according to the release.
Pleasant Grove to open pantry
Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church Soup kitchen and Food Pantry and First Ward Living Grace Food Pantry will host a food giveaway. The event will be held at Pleasant Grove church, 1801 Indiana St., Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or while supplies last.
“Let’s feed those who are in need,” according to the flier.
State police tells drivers to drive sober
From Friday through Sept. 2, which includes the Labor Day holiday weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will team up with Arkansas law enforcement for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign.
The goal is to deter impaired driving and prevent the tragedies seen in previous Labor Day weekends from happening again, according to a news release.
During the 2022 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. Sept. 2 to 5:59 a.m. Sept. 6), there were 490 traffic crash fatalities nationwide. Of these, 490 traffic fatalities, 39% (190) involved a drunk driver, and a quarter (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC (blood alchohol content) almost twice the legal limit (.15-plus BAC). Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday in 2022, 47% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.
Drivers should be safe during this Labor Day holiday by planning ahead if they intend to drink. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get home. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment. Drivers should secure a designated sober driver or call a taxi or rideshare for a sober ride home.
If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive and help them get a sober ride home.
The Arkansas Highway Safety Office recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:
Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.
If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 9-1-1.
If you know someone who is about to drive while impaired, help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.
Always buckle up. Your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.
Details: www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.