🌱 Man Admits To Sex Crimes Involving Children + School Zone Changes

Good morning, Bentonville! I'm Sean Peek, and I'll be your new host of the Bentonville Patch newsletter. Now, here's what's happening in town these days, in five minutes or less.

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But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Humid with a t-storm in spots. High: 81 Low: 64.
• Saturday: Cloudy and humid. High: 78 Low: 64.

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Here are the top three stories in Bentonville today:

1. A Bentonville man has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after admitting to sex crimes involving several children. Matthew Russell was arrested on Mar. 8 after Bentonville police received a report from a school counselor concerning the sexual abuse of a 12-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl. Police found numerous images and videos depicting child sexual abuse on Russell's cellphone. He has pleaded guilty to three counts of rape, sexual assault, and engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print medium. (Arkansas Online)
2. Five Bentonville schools are reaching full capacity and the district is considering adjusting attendance zones as a resolution. There are two zone adjustment concepts under consideration; both avoid changing the current high school boundaries and aim to keep neighborhoods in the same zones. The plans were drafted by a company based out of Kansas City and were presented during the May 2 school board meeting. Board members say they want to continue editing each concept map after receiving feedback from parents before voting in July. (KNWA)
3. The Benton County justices of the peace are supporting measures to help improve the Benton County Jail. Bo Reynolds with Trane, a manufacturer of HVAC systems, said that improving ventilation in the jail was a focus; he also recommends replacing two sets of boilers, as well as replacing the jail's exhaust fans and bringing the electrical system up to code. The $550,000 to address the air quality would come out of the county's American Rescue Plan funds, while the $360,000 for the boilers would come from money dedicated to capital projects. With those fixes, every major component of the jail will have been replaced and should last 15 to 25 years. (Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

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Today and tomorrow in and around Bentonville:

Friday, May 12

• Alice's Adventures In Wonderland At Trike Theatre (6:00 PM)
• Indie Films Artosphere Curated by Fayetteville Film Fest At Walton Arts Center, Fayetteville (8:00 PM)

Saturday, May 13

• Race To Hydrate and Youth Run At Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall, Rogers (7:00 AM)
• Personal Financial Education Workshop At Bentonville Public Library (10:00 AM)

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From my notebook:

• Congratulations to all of the Bentonville Teachers of the Year! The 2023 winners are Debbie Pschierer from Vaughn Elementary, Christine Hancock from Creekside Middle School, and Tara Nutt from Fulbright Jr. High. (Bentonville Schools via Facebook)
• Local casting call: Visit Bentonville is looking for people who love Bentonville and will volunteer as models for some promotional shoots. Fill out the form here to be considered. (Visit Bentonville via Facebook)
• Bentonville Public Library is hosting Bikes! Bikes! Bikes! on May 13 at 11 a.m. Learn about different types of biking, equipment, safety information, and more. Registration is not required. (The City of Bentonville, Arkansas Government via Facebook)
• According to recent data, the state of Arkansas had the fifth-highest rate of U.S. teen driver fatalities in 2022. Bumper.com reports that "young drivers are statistically more likely than other age groups to be involved in fatal accidents." (Bumper.com)

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That's it for today! See you all soon for your next 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.