Fort Smith Metro News Briefs: Choctaw Art to be displayed, Golden Deeds recipient announced
by April 4, 2026 1:27 pm 448 views
Following are news brief items from the Fort Smith metro.
Choctaw Art and Culture
The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) has announced an opening reception for its “Spring Art Exhibition: A Celebration of Choctaw Art and Culture” from 5 to 7 p.m., April 9, at the ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center (RIHWC).
Presented in collaboration with Choctaw Nation Public Arts, the exhibition features more than 70 works of art and cultural objects created by Choctaw artists. The collection highlights traditional and contemporary pieces that reflect ancestral knowledge, lived experience, and modern artistic expression, according to ACHE.
The exhibition is part of a broader collaboration between the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and ACHE. ACHE staff worked with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Public Arts team on gathering works for the exhibition.
“The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Public Arts team is honored to see this collaboration with ACHE come to life through an exhibition that highlights both contemporary and traditional Choctaw art,” said Claire Green Young, public arts manager for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work closely with our partners in Fort Smith to ensure a respectful and meaningful representation of Choctaw culture and creativity.”
The exhibition will remain on display for the public through May 22 in the Brenda and Anthony Altman Gallery at the ACHE RIHWC.
ACHE Open House
The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) is holding a community open house between 2 and 4 p.m., April 11, at 7000 Chad Colley Blvd.
Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), the College of Health Sciences, and the ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center at 1000 Fianna Way.
According to ACHE, visitors will experience a variety of interactive demonstrations and activities, including simulation labs where faculty and students demonstrate adult and pediatric medical scenarios using high-fidelity manikins. Visitors may also observe osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) demonstrations, and walk through the anatomy lab to learn about the role of donor programs in medical education. Hands-on science activities will also be available, including microscope demonstrations and interactive exercises that explore how the body works.
The ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center will also feature tours and classroom activities, as well as the Altman Gallery Exhibition: A Celebration of Choctaw Art and Culture, giving visitors the chance to experience the intersection of research, wellness, and the arts.
“At ACHE, our vision has always been rooted in service to the community,” said Kyle Parker, ACHE president and CEO. “Everything we do, from our programs and partnerships to our facilities, is designed with people in mind. We’re proud to be a place where education and community come together to build a healthier future for the region.”
Golden Deeds Award
Fort Smith businessman Bill Engles received the Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club’s prestigious Book of Golden Deeds Award during the organization’s recent 83rd annual Book of Golden Deeds Award Banquet.
The award recognizes a person or group that continuously donates time, talent, and energy to help those in need, the award honors local citizens for their good deeds and contributions to the community.
The organization names an honoree each year, based on nominations sent in by its membership and from the community. The Book of Golden Deeds is the longest running National Exchange Club program, having begun in Indiana in 1919. The Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club presented its first award in 1942.
“Bill was inspired by his experiences in his youth to recognize and extend help to others who found themselves in need,” said Fort Smith Noon Exchange Club President Tracy Hudson. “Whether giving money to young single mothers trying to care for their children, helping senior citizens, assisting families who needed heat in their homes, or just people down on their luck and needing a helping hand, he refused to look the other way.”
Steel Horse Rally
The Steel Horse Rally, dedicated to “honor all who serve,” will be back in downtown Fort Smith May 1 and 2. The motorcycle rally, which draws more than 200,000 riders and visitors annually, with most activities in downtown Fort Smith, began in 2015.
The Steel Horse Rally Inc. is a non-profit charity created to benefit local charities. In 2014, the charity was established with the mission is to “Honor All Who Serve” including military, veterans, law enforcement and first responders, and to help local charities and the community, especially charitable organizations that help local veterans and children.
Link here for the 2026 Steel Horse Rally event schedule.