GENTRY -- Police officers, firefighters and city employees in Gentry have lost an excuse not to work out and stay in peak condition because they now have their own gym and exercise equipment on Gentry's Main Street.
What began as the brainchild of the police and fire departments grew into a full-fledged gym for city employees, located in the city building that once housed the library and then the court clerk's office.
Det. Jake Cifuentes, a former employee of Planet Fitness, contacted the fitness company about the possibility of obtaining an equipment donation, and it so happened that the company was upgrading equipment at its Siloam Springs and Bentonville locations and donated approximately $20,000 in used equipment to the city of Gentry for use by city employees.
In addition to the equipment, Gates Rubber Company in Siloam Springs donated the rubber material for floor mats in the new facility. Police officers and firefighters donated time to clean up the building and paint the walls. New lights and ceiling fans were installed. Haley Christie, a local artist, painted logos for the city, police and fire departments on the wall. Double doors were installed to make it possible for the equipment to be moved in.
Clay Stewart, Gentry's police chief, said it took three to four months to put it all together, but it has come together.
The high-quality exercise machines now line the walls of the old library space, and city employees can obtain a key code to access the facility and work out when they please and without leaving Gentry.
They've lost their excuse to not stay in peak physical condition.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer Detective Jake Cifuentes lifts weights on equipment in the new gym facility set up for Gentry city employees.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer Donated exercise equipment from Planet Fitness lines the walls of the new gym facility set up for Gentry city employees.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer Donated exercise equipment from Planet Fitness lines the walls of the new gym facility set up for Gentry city employees.
Randy Moll/Westside Eagle Observer Exercise weights from Planet Fitness set on racks in the new gym facility set up for Gentry city employees.