Friday roundup - 2/21/25

Hi there,

We did a website migration this week, and as a result, some old post URLs are going to an error page.

Don’t worry! Our IT manager, who is also our bookkeeper, who is also our editor, who is also our advertising clerk, who is also me, is working on it.

As always, if you see something in this newsletter that you appreciate, please consider supporting our work.

Become a member

Much love,

— Sam

In this edition…

Investigating school bus stop sign violations
Homes too pricey for downpayment aid
The Momentary turns 5
Neighbor reactions to new medical campus
Bentonville Schools safety protocols
Things to do this weekend

Investigating school bus stop sign violations

A few months back, Bentonville Schools’ transportation director expressed concern with the number of people running school bus stop signs.

These incidents are reported to local authorities, but we learned that the majority of incidents reported to the Bentonville Police Department in 2024 did not result in a ticket being issued.

Bentonville police investigated 86 reports of drivers passing school bus stop signs in 2024. Out of those reports, only 14 citations were issued.

Homes too pricey for downpayment aid

At a public meeting last week, city staff shared something that is undeniably interesting to anyone concerned about housing prices in the area:

The city’s homeownership assistance program for low-income households wasn’t able to help a single family buy a home.

The Momentary turns 5

The Momentary in Bentonville is turning 5, and the staff is hosting a party to celebrate the occasion with food, art and music on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

There will be an all-day family dance party in the RØDE House, followed by concerts at night that spotlight local talent. Vertical performance artists BANDALOOP will perform in the evening, and there will be a Tastemakers pop-up culinary experience with Rabbit Hole.

From 1947 to 2013, the site was a cheese factory for Kraft Foods. Rather than tearing the factory down, architects took an adaptive reuse approach, preserving much of the original structure. The transformed space opened to the public in February 2020 as a hub for contemporary art and performance.

Neighbor reactions to new medical campus

A $350 million investment will create a new medical campus in our city.

We spoke with several neighbors in the area, including the owners of CoolWag, a dog boarding facility that plans to stay put.

Bentonville Schools safety protocols

At the most recent school board meeting, Steve Vera, the director of security and safety and Aaron Nickles, executive director of technology, presented a report that outlined the procedures and technology used by the district to be proactive with student safety.

All school buildings have a single entry, requiring visitors to be buzzed in through a video/audio system at the main office. All exterior doors and classroom doors are kept locked throughout the school day.
Bentonville Schools also requires staff training in emergency preparedness. All teachers receive active shooter training, provided by the Bentonville Police Department. Staff are also offered training in CPR and first aid.
On school buses, a tracking system allows parents to monitor when their children board and exit, with notifications sent when the bus is three stops away from a student’s destination. There is also video surveillance on the buses for added security.
An AI tool scans students’ document files for concerning language, reporting any instances to school officials.
Drug detection dogs are brought in monthly at the high schools, sweeping randomly selected classrooms and parking lots.
Each school has a customized Emergency Response Plan, and security audits are conducted regularly. The district encourages students to report concerns through a “See Something, Say Something” campaign, which includes a confidential tip line.