🌱 4th Of July Celebration + State Loans Approved For Water Projects

Hey, everybody! I'm here with your Wednesday edition of the Bentonville Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about what's happening locally.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Hot with a strong t-storm. High: 102 Low: 78.
• Thursday: Hot; breezy in the morning. High: 102 Low: 78.

From our sponsor:

Today’s Bentonville Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Bentonville Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top three stories in Bentonville today:

1. Bentonville's 4th of July celebration is almost here! The event will be held at Orchards Park, located at 1100 NE John DeShields Boulevard. Festivities will begin at 7:00 p.m. and will include food trucks and live music from Jukebox Confessions and Arkansas Winds. The firework show will begin at 9:30 p.m. and be launched in a new location this year by the intersection of Moberly Lane and John DeShields. (The City of Bentonville, Arkansas Government via Facebook)
   
2. The cities of Bentonville and Fayetteville have been made eligible for $182 million through state loans for water projects. If Bentonville council approves the loan amount, it would give the city $97.7 million which would be used to upgrade and expand the Downtown Water Resource Recovery Facility. The expansion of the facility has been in the works for a few years now and will help the city continue to provide high-quality water to residents. The city plans to look at all financing options before making a decision about the loan. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
3. Nearby in Pea Ridge, the community held a candlelight vigil to honor a fallen officer. Monday marked the two-year anniversary of Kevin Apples' death after he was struck trying to stop a driver at a gas station. The candlelight vigil is to honor and remember the officer after the tragic event. The city also revealed the memorial that was placed at the West Oak gas station where the incident occurred. The city expects the memorial will become a place to go honor and remember the officer for years to come. (4029tv)

Interested in reaching our local readers with targeted messaging that drives traffic to your business? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Today and tomorrow in Bentonville:

Wednesday, June 28

• Summer Food Truck At Beau Terre Office Park (11:30 AM)

Thursday, June 29

• Outlaw Music Festival 2023 At Walmart AMP (6:00 PM)
• Bentonville Farmers Market At Downtown Bentonville (5:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Two Bentonville electric crews have left to help restore power in North Little Rock and Conway. There are currently 22,000 people without power in the two cities and the city of Bentonville would like to thank these two crews for their service and support to fellow Arkansas communities. (The City of Bentonville, Arkansas Government via Facebook)
• A new piece of public artwork has been installed at Ledger Bentonville. “Lakes & Rivers,” created by New York-based artist Stefan Sagmeister, represents the increased usage of waterways in the U.S. The smaller fish shows the number of paddlers on waterways in 2006, while the larger one shows that same number in 2018. When fully complete, the art installation will have used 20,000 shimmer disks! (Visit Bentonville via Facebook)
• The Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce is holding the July "Off the Clock" event on Jul. 13. This after-hours networking event allows people to meet and speak with other local business owners and members. There will also be door prizes, so be sure to bring your business cards to be entered for a chance to win! The event will run from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce via Facebook)

You're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early soon with a new update.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.