Speaking of Arkansas Greg Harton

Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins says it’s time to look into the potential benefits of a regional jail for Northwest Arkansas. Deakins, a former Quorum Court member who took office as county judge in January 2023, discusses that idea as well as his proposal for a new form of zoning in Washington County. In this edition of Speaking of Arkansas, host Greg Harton speaks with Deakins about his desire to explore the regional jail concept that has, over the course of many years, generally been treated as a nonstarter among county and law enforcement leaders.
Washington County’s detention center population summary data cited by Deakins can be seen here and there’s also a story from the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette when the county first posted those details.
Also, the latest new development involving the former Washington County jail’s use by the state and the pending closure of the Northwest Arkansas Crisis Stabilization Unit can be found here.

March is observed as Arkansas Archeology Month. In this episode of Speaking of Arkansas, host Greg Harton speaks with Dr. Mel Zabecki, the state archeologist in Arkansas since 2021. She’s only the third person to hold that position since it was created in 1967. The interview covers how Zabecki went from archeological digs in Egypt to promotion of preservation in Arkansas. We discuss her views on threats to historical preservation arising from development, the harm posed by amateur treasure hunters scouring lands for souvenirs or private collections and the kind of people who might want to consider careers in archeology.
 
Additional links for information include:
 
• Arkansas Archeological Survey calendar of events — https://archeology.uark.edu/learn-discover/eventscalendar/
 
• Arkansas Archeological Society — https://www.arkarch.org/
 
• Read more about Arkansas Archeology Month here.
 
In the podcast, Zabecki mentions the archeological dig for the Arkansas Highway 112 project at Greathouse Springs. Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Fran Alexander wrote a column about the project in August 2023 at https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2023/aug/15/opinion-fran-alexander-arkansas-112-project/

Sept. 22-Oct. 23, 2023, is recognized by advocates of electric vehicles as National Drive Electric Week. Perhaps there’s no better time to visit with someone who has chosen to drive an electric car.
Gary Berger of Bentonville is the founder and a board member of the Tesla Owners Club of Arkansas, a group that advocates for electric vehicles overall and doesn’t require members to own a Tesla or any electric vehicle.
In this edition of the Speaking of Arkansas podcast, host Greg Harton discusses Berger’s experience owning an electric vehicle and many of the comments heard from skeptics, some of whom declare they will never own one as they question their viability.
For additional information about the club and an event mentioned in the podcast, visit https://teslaownersarkansas.com/ and https://nwacouncil.org/drive-electric/

On this episode of Speaking of Arkansas:
 
A new police headquarters in Fayetteville
 
Fayetteville Police Chief Mike Reynolds, in a tour of Fayetteville's new $37 million police headquarters, describes some of the building's key features and how they apply to the law enforcement demands and expectations of the 21st century.
 
Join host Greg Harton to discover more about a building Reynolds says will give Fayetteville a boost in recruiting new officers and training their entire force.
 
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     Just how much do you love where you live? To what extent does that love extend to fellow residents who profess to love the same place you do? Does it affect the way you interact with people who hold different perspectives than you?
 
     Questions like that have inspired Main Street Eureka Springs to devote the month of August to what it's calling "civic love," with a series of events examining what love of where one lives looks like and whether people can take steps to grow the love and pride they feel for the place they call home.
 
     On this episode of Speaking of Arkansas, Jacqueline Wolven, who has served as executive director of Main Street Eureka Springs for 15 years, joins host Greg Harton of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Wolven discusses a series of events scheduled in February to explore the concept of civic love, which she suggests is needed in communities across Arkansas.
 
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Benton County proposes an expansion of its jail to deal with crowding. Benton County Judge Barry Moehring, Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway and Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith are advocating for voters to approve a temporary sales tax for construction and a permanent sales tax for operation.