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Local Events
Wednesday, Mar. 8 from 9 - 11 a.m. - Celebrate Women’s Day with the launch of a new program of courses geared to help with he growth and development of Latina women in NWA at “Entre Latinas-Kick off” with Conexion de Negocios Latinos at 2250 W. Sunset Ave suite #7,8, Springdale - Spanish speaking program
Friday, Mar. 10 at 10 a.m. - Join the Democratic Rural Caucus of Arkansas on Twitter Spaces for a Democrats with Coffee conversation on local and state politics with special guest Chris Jones - Event Link
Friday, Mar. 10 from 3 - 7 p.m. - In honor of National Women in Construction Week (March 6-10), NWACC Workforce Division & Sleep in Heavenly Peace Bentonville are inviting women and the general public to roll up their sleeves and volunteer their time to help build beds for children in need - Facebook Event Info
Saturday, Mar. 25 from 7 - 8:30 p.m. - Women’s History Month Celebration and Fundraiser for Emerge Arkansas - featuring Bentonville City Council Member Gayatri Agnew; at Two Friends Books in Bentonville - Tickets required
Community Involvement Opportunities/Updates
Are you interested in joining a state-level board? The Executive Director of Keep Arkansas Beautiful is actively working on re-establishing a board for the foundation. The board will primarily focus on fundraising. If interested, or for additional information, please email the Executive Director Colbie Jones.
Congratulations to the 21 future political leaders pictured above who will be participating in Emerge Arkansas Class of 2023! This year’s class includes 4 from Benton County alone!
Support their training costs by donating here.
Your advocacy must be sustainable if it is to be effective.
Municipal Government Awareness
Bella Vista
Next Council Mtng: Working Session - Monday, Mar. 20th at 5:30 p.m. (612 W. Lancashire)
Bentonville
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 14th at 6 p.m. (Community Development Building)
Items of Note:
City Council approved mayor’s recommendation to establish a short-term rental (STR) work group which will collect feedback on the impact of STRs in the community, study solutions to address negative impacts, and prepare recommendations for the city to manage STRs in Bentonville
Cave Springs
Next Council Mtng: Working Session - Tuesday, Mar. 14th at 6:30 p.m. (134 N. Main St.)
Items of Note:
Video of Feb. 28th Council Meeting: YouTube
Centerton
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 14th at 6 p.m. (210 Municipal Dr.)
Items of Note:
Mayor Bill is looking for citizens interested in serving on community boards or commissions; openings on the Water and Sewer, and some other newly formed committees: Facebook Post
Gravette
Next Council Mtng: Committee of the Whole - Tuesday, Mar. 14th at 5:30 p.m. (202 Main St. NE)
Items of Note:
Planning Commission looking for new member; applications due by Friday, March 10th at 4 p.m.: Facebook Post
Lowell
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, March 28th at 6:30 p.m.
Pea Ridge
Next Council Mtng: Committee of the Whole - Tuesday, March 14th at 5:30 p.m. (977 Weston St.)
Items of Note:
City is accepting letters of interest to serve on the City Council representing Ward 1 (must be registered voter from the ward): Email letter to the Mayor ([email protected])
Rogers
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 14th at 6:30 p.m. (301 W. Chestnut)
Items of Note:
Watch Mayor Hines 2023 State of the City presentation: Facebook Video
Siloam Springs
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 7th at 6:30 pm. (City Admin Building)
Springdale
Next Council Mtng: Tuesday, Mar. 14th at 6 pm. (201 Spring St.)
Items of Note:
City residents can download a new app to keep up to date with the city; search for City of Springdale, AR in your Apple or Google Play stores
County Government Awareness
Benton County Quorum Court
Next Quorum Court Meeting: Committee of the Whole - Thursday, Mar. 16th at 6 p.m. (215 E. Central Ave., Bentonville)
NWA Online has an update from last week’s Detention and Facilities subcommittee jail tour and first meeting
The Quorum Court approved a special election for voters to approve an increase of the annual fee for the Beaver Lake Fire Department - election will be held May 9th (more info to come closer to election)
Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission (NWARPC)
Next Technical Advisory Meeting - Thursday, Mar. 16 at 10:30 a.m. (1311 Clayton, Springdale)
Active Transportation Group - Thursday, Mar. 16 at 1:30 p.m. (virtual only option - email Elizabeth Bowen for link)
State Government Awareness
94th General Legislative Assembly:
All Things LEARNS:
Bill Kopsky, Exec. Dir. Arkansas Public Policy Panel, “Arkansas’s education system: You broke it, you bought it”
Tess Vrbin, Arkansas Advocate, “Little Rock Central High students protest alumna Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ legislative agenda”
Keith Ingram, former Senate Democrat, “LEARNS Act Likely to Pass Despite Major Flaws”
Baker Kurrus, former LRSD Superintendent, “Arkansas LEARNS builds a wall of ignorance and fear”
CALL YOUR SENATOR TUESDAY (3/7) - the final vote on LEARNS will be by the Senate early Tuesday afternoon. Leave a message for your State Senator via the In-Session Senate number (501-682-2902) from 9 - 1 p.m. to send a pink slip of paper to your senator. Remember to be kind and patient with the message taker and keep the message brief!
Legislative weekly recaps:
Bills to keep an eye on:
Bad: HB1419 - significantly adds signature requirements for ballot initiatives brought by Arkansans (will make ballot access almost impossible); HB1410 - read Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families statement on passage of this bill about Arkansas Youth: “New Law Will Make Arkansas Youth More Vulnerable To Exploitation”
SB197 - Legislature will limit local government’s rule/ordinance making ability for Short-Term Rentals
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Governor Sanders indicates she will sign HB1410 into law (read Arkansas Advocate article).
Other items of note:
Election Information
The races are set for the spring school board elections on May 9th. Only three districts within Benton County have opponents:
Pea Ridge Zone 1: Ryan Heckman vs. Adam Yager (incumbent)
Siloam Springs Zone 3: Aric Bergthold vs. Gary Wheat
Springdale At-Large: Michelle Cook (incumbent) vs. Donald Tippett
The incumbents for Decatur Zone 5, Gentry Zones 2 & 4, Gravette Zone 5 and At-Large Position 2, and Rogers Zone 2 will all be reappointed without challengers. No one filed for Decatur Zone 1. When no one files for a position, the school board will appoint someone to serve until the next election (Spring 2024).
Political Training Opportunities
National Democratic Training Committee:
3 Steps to Establishing Your Campaign - Mar. 8, noon
Calculating Your Vote Goal - Mar. 16, 5 p.m.
How to Build and Use Your Campaign Plan - Mar. 17, noon
Odds & Ends
Subscribe to Joyce Elliot’s Get Loud Arkansas YouTube channel
TheatreSquared announced “What the Constitution Means to Me” will be part of the 2023/24 season…. I may buy tickets to every showing (don’t tell my husband)