Good morning, Bentonville.

Bentonville will host a busy weekend of events from October 17 to 19—featuring craft fairs, live music shows, and local festivals including the Life Time Big Sugar Festival closing and Turnbuckle Farm’s Fall Hootenanny—providing a range of activities for all ages at various community venues.

Bentonville-based nonprofit Heartland Forward announced new leadership appointments to expand its reach and impact.

Krista Cupp was named executive vice president of partnerships and events and executive director of the Heartland Summit—while J.T. Geren was promoted to vice president of communications to lead branding and media outreach as the organization works toward generating $500 million in economic impact by 2030.

Ash Bhumbia, Tyson Foods CFO for chicken and international segments, was named to the St. Louis Fed's Agribusiness Industry Council that meets twice a year with support from the Little Rock office.

He stated on LinkedIn that he is honored to add his insight to help build a strong economy.

Walmart has announced a service that lets customers shop by chatting with ChatGPT, with orders handled by Walmart.

The new feature, called Instant Checkout, will launch this fall — a step that shows Walmart is using more AI in its business.

Inspections in Benton County from Sept.

29 to Oct. 3 found several restaurants, schools and food stores with food safety violations—issues ranged from improper temperature control and labeling to sanitation problems. Some establishments, including Casa Castillo and Auntie Anne's, showed no violations.

Blue Wave Hearing has launched its HEARING AID TEST DRIVE™—a program that lets patients try hearing aids free for one month with no deposit or commitment.

Dr. Molly Dillon said the test drive helps users decide on the best device for everyday life at 1501 SE Walton Blvd, Ste 119 in Bentonville.

Carson Jones set a record as he engineered West Fork's final drive on Friday night to secure the team's first win under new coach Sheldon McKinzie — his play sparked a rally among players — marking a turning point for the season.

Rex Nelson said Arkansas nearly beat Tennessee last Saturday and noted the Razorbacks played hard under coach Bobby Petrino.

He shared his Week 8 picks and said Arkansas State and other teams will have close games while the Hogs may not win against 6-0 Texas A&M — his view points out a trend of one-score road losses.

Blues Traveler Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — The Momentary — Tickets starting at $56 — Enjoy a night of live blues music with Blues Traveler in Bentonville.

Wagoneer LYXE and Buckshot Princess Concert

7-11:59 p.m. — Meteor Guitar Gallery — Check event page for details — Come have some fun with Wagoneer LYXE and Buckshot Princess rocking the Meteor.

Arkansas Bioinformatics Consortium Conference

10 AM – 1 PM — Embassy Suites Northwest Arkansas - Hotel, Spa & Convention Center — Registration required — Explore transformative technologies shaping the future of bioinformatics.

Gramps Morgan Country Reggae Concert

8-11:30 p.m. — Meteor Guitar Gallery — Ticket prices vary — Experience a vibrant blend of reggae and country music featuring Gramps Morgan and friends.

Ozark Society Fall Meeting

6 PM-10 PM — Courtyard by Marriott Bentonville — Attendees can explore the Ozark region with recreational activities and a chance to honor the society's founder.

The Rise Challenge Series

7-10 a.m. — Coler Mountain Bike Preserve — $50 — Tackle Coler’s legendary 185-step climb in a thrilling race to the top and bottom.

An Evening with Ree Drummond

6-7:30 p.m. — Arend Arts Center — Ticket purchase includes a signed cookbook — Engage in culinary conversation with The Pioneer Woman and explore her essential recipes.