Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.
U.S. Attorney Nomination
Crawford County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Holmes has been nominated to the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas. If the nomination is approved by the U.S. Senate, Holmes would succeed Duane Kees who resigned in January 2020.
“I am limited to what I can say right now other than I appreciate President Trump considering me for the position and I look forward to the confirmation process,” Holmes said.
Holmes was elected in November 2022 as the Crawford County prosecuting attorney. Prior to that he was a former deputy city prosecutor for Van Buren and is a founding member of Van Buren-based Hopkins & Holmes law firm.
The Western District of Arkansas includes 34 counties stretching from Texarkana and El Dorado to Fayetteville and Fort Smith. It is responsible for representing the federal government in virtually all litigation for this district. This includes criminal prosecutions for violations of federal law, civil lawsuits by and against the government, and actions to collect judgments and restitution on behalf of victims and taxpayers.
David Clay Fowlkes has served as the U.S. Attorney for the district since the Kees resignation.
Bank Chairman
Sam Sicard, president and CEO of First National Bank of Fort Smith, has been appointed chairman of First Bank Corp., the holding company for First National Bank of Fort Smith, Central National Bank of Poteau, National Bank of Sallisaw, First National Bank of NWA, and Citizens Bank and Trust.
Sicard, a fifth-generation banker, was named First National president and CEO in 2011. Founded in 1872, First National Bank of Fort Smith is the oldest national bank in Arkansas. As of June 2025, the bank has $2.291 billion in assets and $1.968 billion in deposits, according to federal data.
“I’m honored and blessed for the opportunity to serve First Bank Corp and First National Bank as Chairman,” Sicard said in a statement. “I’ve been fortunate to learn from the wisdom of Mont Echols and my father, both of whom have served as Chairmen over the past 55 years and whose leadership has guided our organization’s growth and success. I’m equally grateful for an outstanding team of Directors whose belief in our mission will continue to guide First National Bank and First Bank Corp into the future.”
UAFS Reaccreditation
Four University of Arkansas at Fort Smith degree programs have earned reaccreditation from the Association of Technology, Management, and Applied Engineering (ATMAE), reflecting the university’s commitment to academic quality and workforce readiness.
The reaccredited programs include the associate of applied science in electronics technology, associate of applied science in general technology-welding, bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering technology, and bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership.
“UAFS is committed to ATMAE’s themes of leadership, innovation, and collaboration,” said Dr. Latisha Settlage, dean of the College of Business and Industry.
ATMAE accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, ensuring that accredited programs meet rigorous standards in quality, transparency and continuous improvement. Reaccreditation signifies that UAFS programs continue to meet or exceed those standards, enhancing credibility and competitiveness.
Accreditation applies to programs delivered at nationally and regionally accredited institutions in the United States and globally, provided they meet equivalent standards.
Mercy ‘Experience’ Award
For the fourth consecutive year, St. Louis-based Mercy has earned the Excellence in Patient Experience Award as the top large health system in the country for patient experience. The distinction was awarded by NRC Health.
NRC Health’s Excellence in Patient Experience Award recognizes health systems and hospitals that have demonstrated a commitment to improving patient care. Mercy, which operates and hospital and clinics in the Fort Smith metro, was one of only three U.S. health systems to earn the designation in 2025.
Award winners are selected based on real-time ratings from patients indicating whether they would recommend Mercy. Mercy was selected as one of the top large health systems based on patient feedback collected from April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025.
Mercy works with NRC Health to collect and respond to feedback from patients about their care, whether they are in the hospital or seen on an outpatient basis.
Latino Trailblazer Award
Dr. Wilson Cruz-Leal, a family medicine physician at Baptist Health La Clínica del Pueblo in Fort Smith, recently received the Latino Trailblazer Award at the Arkansas Latino Awards Ceremony in Bentonville.
The event recognized Latino entrepreneurs and individuals for their dedication and tireless advocacy in uplifting and empowering the Latino community in Arkansas. The Latino Trailblazer Award is given to individuals with 10 or more years of significant contributions to the Latino community, demonstrating exceptional leadership and advocacy in supporting and uplifting the community through health and education.
“Receiving this recognition is deeply humbling,” Dr. Cruz said. “It highlights not just years of service, but the importance of communication and cultural understanding in health care. Language barriers don’t just affect words—they can affect trust, comprehension, and even health outcomes. By fostering an environment where every patient feels understood, we can deliver care that truly meets their needs and honors their culture.”
While Baptist Health La Clínica del Pueblo is open to anyone, Dr. Cruz, and his staff are all able to speak English and Spanish. Dr. Cruz has practiced medicine in the Fort Smith metro since 2012 and can treat patients of all ages for a wide variety of health concerns.
Film Festival Impact
The 2025 Fort Smith International Film Festival generated an economic impact of $260,000 and an estimated 689 hotel room nights, according to the Fort Smith Advertising and Promotion Commission. Attendance also reached a record 1,083 guests, up from 800 the previous year.
“Our goal this year was 1,000, and we were cautiously optimistic, but we did better than expected,” said Brandon Chase Goldsmith, executive director of the Fort Smith International Film Festival. “I believe our screenings at the Bakery District, Club Kinkeads, Hero’s, and the Fort Smith Museum of History along with pairing movies with pottery classes and blues music put us over the top. Partnerships with other nonprofits and organizations are the key to success.”
The festival has received film submissions from more than 80 countries, and this year showcased 160 films representing over 30 countries and 17 Indigenous nations and tribes. Nearly 45% of all the 2025 films featured were produced in Arkansas and Oklahoma, underscoring the region’s growing creative presence.
“The film society is hoping to expand on our economic and cultural successes with Border Town Live,” said Lynn Wasson, president of the River Valley Film Society. “We plan to use our marketing experience, but most importantly, our community connections to bring family-focused Broadway shows and more to Fort Smith.”