🌱 Drag Show Cancellation Protest + Gala Raises 100K For Hope Cancer

Hello again, friends! It's me, Sean Peek, your host of the Bentonville Patch newsletter. Here's all the local news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Monday: Partly sunny and nice. High: 78 Low: 56.
• Tuesday: Mostly cloudy. High: 81 Low: 60.

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Here are the top three stories in Bentonville today:

1. A protest was held on Saturday in response to Walton Arts Center drag show cancellation. Protesters gathered on Saturday outside the Walton Arts Center unhappy with the cancellation of a drag show. The Art Center stated that their decision was due to the Nationwide political conversations happening in the country and asked NWA Pride if there was a way to achieve its Pride goals without drag performances for minors. (4029tv)
2. A Bentonville Baseball team made it to the state championships in the wake of a teammate's death. The moment was bittersweet as the team played an emotional game in the state championship. Teammate and friend Stephon Gryskiewicz, died after falling off a cliff earlier in the month. (KNWA)
3. Suits & Sneakers Gala raised $100,000 for Hope Cancer Resources. The check was presented by Eric Musselman and his wife, Danyelle Sargent who are co-chairs of the event. Sargent says that the work Hope Cancer Resources helps local patients in need with travel expenses, counseling, financial assistance, and even housing. (4029tv)

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Today and tomorrow in Bentonville:

Monday, May 22

• Best Friends Book Club at Best Friends Pet Resource Center (4 PM)

Tuesday, May 23

• Chefs In The Garden at Botanical Garden Of The Ozarks (5:00 PM)
• Dave Matthews Band at Walmart Amphitheater (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• According to a recent study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Benton County is the healthiest county in Arkansas. Rankings were calculated from data collected on health factors and associated outcomes between 2014-2022. (Becker's ASC Review)
• Tony the Tiger stopped by the softball and baseball fields at Memorial Park on Saturday! The visit from Tony is always a highlight for the youth playing sports on the field. The visit from the tiger is part of Kellog's support of youth sports programs in Bentonville. (The City of Bentonville, Arkansas Government via Facebook)
• The Bentonville Bike Fest Returns May 25 through 28. The festival is expected to be even bigger this year and will receive a lot of visitors. Don't miss out on this great event happening this upcoming weekend! (Visit Bentonville via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be in your inbox 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.