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🌱 Patch AM: How will Bentonville West’s $949,000 field upgrade affect student athletes?

Happening soon: Makerspace 101 on the Bentonville Patch calendar

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Friday December 19th Patch AM
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Good morning to you Bentonville! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will Bentonville West’s $949,000 field upgrade affect student athletes?
  • Which new AP classes are coming to Bentonville students next year?
  • Why Bentonville’s Salvation Army is overflowing as temperatures drop

Also on today's calendar: Holiday Porch Light Sessions at The Compton and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in Bentonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Bentonvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 52 and low of 43 degrees.
  • Saturday: Windy in the morning; sunny, temps: high: 63, low: 34.
  • Sunday: Times of sun and clouds, with a high of 56 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Bentonville School Board OKs turf, track upgrades (nwahomepage.com) — Bentonville West High School’s football, soccer, and track facilities are getting nearly $949,000 in upgrades after the Bentonville Schools board approved a combined turf replacement and track resurfacing plan. Work is set to begin in May 2026 and should wrap within seven weeks, improving safety and field quality while coming in under original cost projections.
   

2. Northwest Arkansas schools adding new courses for next school year (nwahomepage.com) — Bentonville families can expect two new AP options next school year: Cybersecurity and Business and Finance for high school students. Alongside similar career-focused additions in Fayetteville and Rogers, these courses aim to better prepare local teens for college, careers, or military service with more practical, skills-based learning opportunities.
   

3. Arkansas homeless shelters over capacity as winter begins (4029tv.com) — Bentonville’s Salvation Army shelter is already 16 beds over capacity as winter weather settles in, forcing people to sleep on floors while still receiving meals and showers. Alongside similar strain in Fayetteville, local providers are urgently asking for volunteers and donations to keep vulnerable residents safe from the cold.
   

4. Suspect accused of shooting Missouri deputy arrested in Arkansas (ozarksfirst.com) — Law enforcement recently arrested a Missouri shooting suspect in Bella Vista after he left a Springfield hospital, and authorities note he’d previously been a suspect in an arson investigation in Bentonville. The man, who has an extensive criminal history, now faces multiple charges in Missouri and Arkansas as the November officer-involved shooting remains under investigation.
   

5. XNA breaks passenger traffic record before end of year (nwahomepage.com) — Northwest Arkansas National Airport in Bentonville has already set a new annual passenger record, topping 1.16 million travelers with a month still left in 2025. Recent terminal upgrades, parking improvements, and new nonstop flights from major airlines are credited with driving the surge, meaning more travel options and convenience for Bentonville-area flyers.
   

📸 Around Bentonville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Bentonville

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★ Featured events ★

    Saturday December 20
  • Makerspace 101
    Bentonville Public Library, 405 S Main St, Bentonville
    10:00 am

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📣 Bentonville Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Found cat!
    In Centerton behind the Maverik on Regional Airport. Looks like a brown/black striped tabby with white patches and is pretty small. Has been around… (Nextdoor Riverwalk Farms Estates)
  • RML Auto posted a job opening for Svc Porter/Safety Sensitive in Bentonville. Apply here.
  • RB American Group posted a job opening for Assistant Manager in Bentonville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bentonville here.

Ok Bentonville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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