Good morning, Bentonville.

ArkSkyViews owner Chris Estoker left insurance to launch his full-time drone business in May 2025; he now films local construction sites, hotels, and retail shops with projects including Magnolia Ridge renovations + the Tempo Hotel building.

Meredith Lowry, a Rogers-based patent attorney at Wright Lindsey Jennings and leader of Woman-Run, champions women and minority-owned businesses in the region — using networking and education to boost local entrepreneurs while adapting her practice to rapid tech changes.

A study presented last Thursday to the legislature’s Joint Energy Committee found that southwest and central Arkansas sites — including one near Camden — are best suited to support new small modular reactors due to strong water and transmission access and potential capacity of up to 1,003 megawatts.

The fourth annual Bentonville Community Blood Drive will be hosted on August 13 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at two locations—Bentonville Fire Station No. 1 and Freeman Health System (Bentonville Medical Center), where donors can receive a premium towel and a chance to win a $10,000 dream vacation.

At fall camp, Arkansas football is evaluating nine receivers including Bentonville native CJ Brown as they battle for playing time ahead of the Sept.

5 opener against North Alabama. Coaches plan 30 days of live game-like practices to reveal who will earn a spot on the field.

Arkansas men’s basketball won four exhibition games in Nassau, averaging a 46.3-point margin and now heads into the regular season.

Coach Calipari said Miikka Muurinen will likely join once eligible + the team looks to refine its frontcourt rotation.

Former Bentonville diver Katie Parker won two gold medals at the AAU Championships in Fort Lauderdale and earned silver at the USA Diving Junior Nationals in Morgantown in July, and she will begin her collegiate diving career at Iowa next week—she is set to compete in Germany Nov.

5-8.

Three former Razorback volleyball players — now returning as assistant coaches — are set to assist coach Jason Watson this fall after Maggie Cartwright, who suffered an ankle injury in Switzerland, opted to return for rehab at Barnhill Arena.

Hannah Hogue and Courtney Jackson join her to guide the team before the season begins Aug. 15.

On Thursday, Aug. 6, the Razorback Foundation reported raising nearly $25 million toward a new $50 million goal for Arkansas football—boosting funds after Coach Silverfield’s hire to improve recruiting and development.