BENTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Benton County has created a new website containing all information about reporting damage, removing debris, volunteering, community resources, or facility closures— click here for more details.
After Benton County residents assessed the damage to their businesses, offices, schools, and homes after Sunday's storms, many announced closures this week.
Bentonville and Rogers schools decided to close their doors for the year while government buildings are only planning to be closed for the day.
Many nature sites like trails and campsites have also announced closures until debris can be cleared.
Here are the reported closures so far:
City and county facilities
Benton County
The following county government facilities are closed until further notice:
- Benton County Rogers Office at W Walnut St in Rogers
- Circuit Court Division V at 102 NE A St.
- Assessor and Collector Offices
- 2401 SW D St in Bentonville
- 901 1st Avenue SW in Gravette
- 707 Lincoln St in Siloam Springs
Circuit Court Division V will reopen on Monday, June 3.
Rogers
The Rogers Public Library will be closed on May 31.
Little Flock
Mayor Jeff Van Sickler announced the Little Flock City Hall will be closed for the rest of this week.
"With the destruction of City Hall, we will be closed the remainder of this week as we set up makeshift work areas and salvage what we can," he said.
Schools
Rogers Public Schools
Rogers Public Schools announced they will be closed for the week of May 27 to May 31 "due to extensive storm damage." Students' last day was scheduled for May 30.
"This will effectively conclude the 2023-2024 school year," Jason Ivester with RPS said.
Bentonville Schools
Bentonville Schools announced the cancellation of kindergarten through 8th grade classes for the rest of the year due to "significant storm damage."
For high school students, officials ask that they "review their testing options" while checking their emails for details.
Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center
The Helen R. Walton Children's Enrichment Center said it will be closed the week of May 27 due to roof damage, a power outage, and a server being down.
"We will not be charging tuition this week, as we understand many families have been affected by the storm," the center said. "Your well-being is our priority, and we want to support you during this difficult time. However, as a nonprofit organization, we may need to resume charging tuition in the near future to ensure we can continue to support our dedicated staff."
Campsites
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Beaver Lake Project Office announced they closed Rocky Branch, Horseshoe Bend, and Prairie Creek campgrounds after the storms created extensive damage.
"Excessive amounts of debris, downed trees, and exposed powerlines are major factors contributing to the decision to close the parks," according to a press release.
The Prairie Creek and Horseshoe Bend campgrounds and day use areas are closed until further notice. Officials anticipate repairs at Prairie Creek and Horseshoe Bend will take several months.
The Rocky Branch campground is closed, but Rocky Branch's day use area and boat ramp will remain open. It is expected to reopen in a week.
While these campsites are closed, USACE said they will assess the damage, clear debris, and remove any damaged vehicles or campers.
"Those parks are closed indefinitely — beyond capacity of staff we have out there," Murken said. "It'll be a while until we get those parks back in working order
According to the press release, the Beaver Lake Project Office staff notified and refunded visitors with reservations.
For visitors who still have undamaged campers and vehicles at the damaged sites, they can pick them up and remove them. The Beaver Lake Project will call campers with damaged campers or vehicles to develop a plan for the vehicles' removal.
Other campgrounds are open but have limited services. The campgrounds of Starkey, Lost Bridge, and Lost Bridge South are open but have no electricity, water, or restrooms.
Businesses
The Momentary
The Momentary will be open to the public starting Thursday, May 30, when the Kristine Potter: Dark Waters will be on view.
Unfortunately, the Awol Erizku: Mystic Parallax exhibit and the Tower Bar will both be closed until further notice.
Additionally, most of its events scheduled for this weekend have been canceled or rescheduled. Momentary officials are still assessing whether or not they will hold the John Legend concert scheduled for June 1.
"The Momentary has modified scheduled programming this week while cleanup efforts continue," Claybrook said.
Events:
- Canceled
- Rescheduled
- MoPros | In Conversation with Danielle Hatch has been moved to Wednesday, July 31.
Crystal Bridges
Crystal Bridges is open to the public during regular business hours on Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Although the building and interior spaces were left unscathed, Crystal Bridges' trails and other outdoor areas will be closed until debris and damage can be cleared.
Events:
- Ongoing events
- Exquisite Creatures will be free for the Northwest Arkansas community until Monday, June 3.
- Expanded, free, drop-in artmaking activities for people of all ages will be available.
- Canceled
- The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel
- Guests who purchased tickets will receive a refund. Call (479) 657-2335 for questions.
- Cocktail Tours
- Tower Bar Sessions with DJ Oplex
- All Frank Lloyd Wright Bachman-Wilson House tours until further notice.
- Garden Week and Garden Week Kickoff
- The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel
- Changed
- Sculpture and Nature drop-in tours have been moved indoors until further notice.
Nonprofits
Dress for Success NWA's office will be closed after sustaining significant damage from this week's tornado.
"We are deeply saddened to share that our Dress for Success NWA office at the Center for Nonprofits sustained damage from the tornado this weekend," they said.
They will remain closed until repairs are made and power is restored.
"We understand this may be an inconvenience, and we sincerely appreciate your patience and support during this challenging time," the nonprofit said. "Our commitment to our community remains strong, and we will be offering virtual appointments to continue assisting our clients."
Did we miss something? Send us an email at news@KFSM.com to report a closure.
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