🌱 Former Shelter Employee Arrested + Drive-Thru Test Site Closes

Good day, people of Bentonville! Sean Peek here with your Saturday copy of the Bentonville Daily.

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First, today's weather:

A heavy afternoon shower. High: 67 Low: 51.

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Here are the top 3 stories in Bentonville today:

1. A former employee at the Northwest Arkansas Children's Shelter in Bentonville has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor who was a resident at the facility while on a trip to the mall. Officers with the Rogers Police Department began investigating the case after State Police first received a child abuse hotline call on April 9, 2021. 23-year-old Hunter De La Garza was taken into custody at the Benton County Jail late last month with a bond of $250,000. (KNWA)
2. Mercy closed its drive-thru COVID-19 testing site Friday afternoon. The site at 3101 Southeast 14th Street opted to discontinue its services due to a sharp decline in demand for tests. In a press release shared Friday, Mercy expressed gratitude to the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Arkansas National Guard for helping make the project possible. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
3. Three Bentonville restaurants have been recognized as semifinalists in the James Beard Foundation's 2022 Restaurant and Chef Awards. The Preacher's Son was nominated in the category of Outstanding Hospitality, and Rafael Rios of Yeyo's and Matthew McClure of The Hive were both recognized in the Best Chef: South category. The final winners will be announced on June 13 in a ceremony at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. (Arkansas Online)

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Today in Bentonville:

• Clark Gibson Quintet At Walton Arts Center (7:30 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Do you desire to make a difference in your community? The Bentonville Police Department is now accepting applications for the position of Telecommunicator for the Bentonville Emergency Communications Center. (Facebook)
• Even your shoes can be Irish for a day! Join Bentonville Parks & Recreation on March 12 for the "Kiss Me I'm Irish" 5k/10k. (Facebook)
• Stop by Meteor Guitar Gallery today, March 5, for a free show featuring Graham Wilkinson, Kalu James, and Sydney Wright with support from NWA's Auralai! This series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation in partnership with The House of Songs." (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all Monday morning for another 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.