Time To Work Out 1 DAY OPENS WITH SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

PRAIRIE GROVE — Members of 1 Day Strength and Conditioning have been chomping at the bit to return, and the center opened for classes May 11, the first day allowed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson because of the covid- 19 pandemic, said Stan Karber, who owns the facility along with Tony Murphy.

Karber, who will be Lincoln High School principal next year, opened 1 Day about eight years ago at Lincoln Middle School. It then moved to a building on Cactus Jack Road in Prairie Grove and is in the second year at its new location on Heritage Parkway in Prairie Grove.

Hutchinson closed down all exercise and fitness centers in March, along with many other businesses, to help slow down the spread of covid-19. Hutchinson now is opening up the state with restrictions in place.

Karber said 1 Day is following those restrictions and continuing to remind its members to abide by them.

The facility has about 200 members, adults and kids, but it is not scheduling any classes for children at this time. Adult classes are held Monday-Friday during the morning, at noon, and again in the afternoon. Karber said many members are coming in for classes, but others are waiting.

“The gym guidelines are trickier for sure,” Karber said.

Members are being asked health questions as they come in about any symptoms they are having. They are supposed to stay 12 feet apart while exercising and are helping to wipe down equipment. The center is being thoroughly cleaned three times each week.

In addition, Karber said, the doors are kept open to circulate fresh air, and classes are being held outside, along with stations going on inside in three different rooms.

“While these are group fitness classes, it’s very much based on individual efforts,” Karber said. “We’re using isolation and the outdoors to meet the guidelines.”

Karber said members are asked to wear a mask, except when they are exercising.

“During warmup or if the clock is running, they don’t have to have a mask on,” Karber said. “I’m running the morning classes and am telling them to wear their masks until you’re uncomfortable with it. There’s definitely a group wearing their masks all the time.”

Karber said he has a mask and wears it in the gym when he’s walking around. He and Murphy also are spending time spraying and cleaning off equipment during the classes.

Another change, Karber said, is that he’s discourag

Normally, members would hang out and visit with each other. Each class is an hour slot and members are asked to leave after that.

“That was a tough part,” Karber said. “It’s social time for them.”

He’s also had to remind his members about social distancing.

“It’s a catch-22,” he noted. “First of all, you’re friends with these people, but we have to be compliant and socially responsible.”

The past six weeks or so have been tough for his members, he said. Many have done their own home workouts. There have been social posts to help with workouts and the facility has rented out equipment for members to use. In some instances, people have met in small groups to work out together in an outside environment.

“They’ve been going stir

This is their routines.”

Karber said he and Murphy were glad to be able to open and the plan is to stay as compliant and as safe as possible.

“We want to keep people healthy and happy,” Karber said.

LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Prairie Grove and Farmington police departments have new officers who are having to attend Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy virtually because of covid-19. (Above) Prairie Grove’s officers, Angelina Russell of Goshen and Kyle White of Prairie Grove, are in the department’s administrative office. Farmington’s officers, Joshuah Howerton and James Covin, are set up at Farmington High School. The officers start the day with physical training and then attend virtual classes from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. They will go to the academy in Springdale when restrictions are lifted.