TRANSPARENCY CORNER AND FOLLOW THE MONEY This week brought several important developments in Washington County government—from questions surrounding next week's Quorum Court meeting (Will there be one?), to new developments in the Building & Grounds facilities plan, to the letting of bids for a portion of that "plan." As I always do, I've included the supporting documents so you can review the information yourself and draw your own conclusions. ↪ Quorum Court Meeting It bega

TRANSPARENCY CORNER AND FOLLOW THE MONEY Old Jail Expenses 1/1/2025 to 6/30/2026: $520,276.10 spent on renovations and improvements to the “Old Jail” formerly known as the women’s prison which Judge Deakins closed in 2024. The county judge wants to expand his Community Rebuilding Initiative (CRI) to that building which will, in fact, be a jail bed expansion. Over half a million dollars spent already. Building & Grounds Unveils Multi-Year Facilities Plan (See The Plan HERE)

WC Judge Patrick Deakins' Refusal to Accept Grant - This is not leadership! WHEN PROCESS BECOMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN PEOPLE One of the most disappointing decisions I have seen this year was Washington County Judge Patrick Deakins’ refusal to accept an $81,000 grant from the Arkansas Access to Justice Foundation that would have funded a Social Work Coordinator in the Public Defender's Office. This grant would not have increased local taxes. It would have provided services to p

🏛️ This Week in Washington County, Arkansas 6/21/26 ________________________________ 🏆 Washington County Road Department Receives National Achievement Award Before diving into this week's county business, I want to recognize an accomplishment that deserves attention. Our Washington County employees are the ones who keep our doors open and the county running everyday. Our own Washington County Road Department has received a 2026 Achievement Award from the National Associa

THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON COUNTY: Thank you to Washington County Assessor Russell Hill for this property tax estimator. 📅 Washington County Quorum Court Regular Monthly MeetingThursday, June 18, 2026 • 6:00 PM - Read agenda HERE. This meeting will be live-streamed on the County’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar Agenda Highlights: Item 5: Citizens’ Comments A fifteen-minute period with a three-minute limit for each individual to comment on items on th

THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON COUNTY: 📅 Finance & Budget Committee meets Tuesday, June 9, 2026 • 6:00 PM - Read agenda HERE. This meeting will be live-streamed on the County’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/washcoar If you can, please attend. Agenda Highlights: Item 4: Treasurer’s Report - Bobby Hill The General Fund ended May with $18.7 million on hand, while the Road Fund held $4.2 million and the Jail Operations & Maintenance Fund held $7.4 million. Property

🏛️ This Week in Washington County 5/31/26 _____________________________________________________________ This week's newsletter highlights several issues that deserve close public attention, including a proposed pretrial services program, significant courthouse renovation contracts, upcoming planning and election matters, and new data from the Washington County Detention Center. As always, my goal is to provide information that helps you stay informed about how your county go

🏛️ This Week in Washington County 5/24/26 🔴⚪🔵 Memorial Day & County Schedule🔴⚪🔵 The Washington County Courthouse will be closed Monday, May 25, 2026, in observance of Memorial Day. At the time of this publication, no county governmental meetings are listed on the county’s website for this week. The next meeting is County Services Committee scheduled for 6/1/2026, 6:00 PM, Washington County Courthouse. This Memorial Day, we pause to honor the men and women who gave thei

🏛️ This Week in Washington County Government - Includes One (1) Conditional Use Permit Ordinance - Genesis Ranch Project - read more below. 🏗️ Washington County Quorum Court, Regular Monthly Quorum Court Meeting – Thursday, 5/21/2026, 6:00 pm, Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College, Fayetteville, Arkansas. Read Complete Agenda HERE. Some Agenda Highlights: Item 7: County Judge Report - Patrick Deakins Item 8: Property Assessed Capital Expenditure Act Ordinance - He

Opening Thoughts: What is happening in Pulaski County should be a warning sign for every county government in Arkansas. Recent reports described serious financial problems there, including emergency measures needed to stabilize county operations and payroll. That should cause all of us to think carefully about the long-term financial decisions being made here in Washington County. To be clear, I am not suggesting Washington County is in that position. We are not. But responsi

🔍 TRANSPARENCY CORNER Washington County Building & Grounds is currently working with an architectural firm to assess county property, including—how it is being used---what maintenance needs exist, and how space can be better utilized. This includes early discussions about the potential addition of a “spare courtroom” to help address space needs. This effort is still in the planning stage, and community input and feedback will be important as ideas begin to take shape. 🧭 W

____________________________________________________________ I needed a photo for this week’s newsletter—and this one felt too good not to share. This is my dog, Louie, who discovered a very real strawberry cake sitting in the street during our morning walk. He was quite determined… but ultimately unsuccessful. Before someone points out that this is unprofessional to share in my newsletter, I do not care. ______________________________________________________________________

📅 Week of: April 19, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas 🏛️ This Week in Washington County No county meetings are currently scheduled for the week of April 19, 2026. 📅 Coming Up Next Week Washington County Planning Board 🗓️ Thursday, April 30, 2026 ⏰ 5:00 PM 📍 Quorum Court Room, 280 N. College Ave., Fayetteville In Two Weeks County Services Committee (Quorum Court) 🗓️ Monday, May 4, 2026 ⏰ 6:00 PM 📍 Quorum Court Room, 280 N. College Ave., Fayetteville...

📅 Week of: April 12, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas If you are on my subscriber list, you will receive two newsletters this week. That’s by design—some issues require more focused attention and transparency. I want to continue to keep updates clear and focused so you can stay informed without being overwhelmed. Sometimes there's just too much going on for one update. ____________________________________________________________ Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition (AJR

Former Crisis Stabilization Unit Building I have prepared this “Special Report” separate from my regular newsletter because what I am covering here warrants focused attention. The community—and particularly those with expertise in criminal justice reform—should be aware of what the county has applied for and evidently plans to do. That includes incarcerated and previously incarcerated individuals. What is the Community Rebuilding Initiative? a/k/a CRI: The CRI is a jail-ba

📅 Week of: April 5, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY This week’s County Services meeting made something clear: when processes are unclear or inconsistently applied, it creates real consequences—for businesses, for residents, and for the county as a whole. Some agenda items highlighted gaps in enforcement, communication, and transparency. I’ve outlined the key takeaways below so you can see exactly what’s happening and why it

📅 Week of: March 29, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas Last week, I sat down with Conduit News to discuss key issues facing Washington County — including transparency, accountability, and the direction of county leadership. ▶️ I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16ncRkYH83/ In this interview, I discuss: ✔️ The importance of open and transparent government ✔️ Concerns about decisions being made without full public discussion ✔

📅 Week of: March 22, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas _________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement 🗳 Republican Primary Runoff – March 31 Secretary of State: Hammer • Norris County Judge: Shepard • Deakins ✔ Eligible voters: Republican ballot • Nonpartisan ballot • Did not vote March 3 📍 Early Voting: Washington County Clerk’S Office March 24– March 30 | 8:00–4:30 (No Saturday voting) Citizen Complaint Raises Question

📅 Week of: March 15, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas _________________________________________________________ 🏛️ Community & Civic Engagement 🗳 Republican Primary Runoff – March 31 Secretary of State: Hammer • Norris County Judge: Shepard • Deakins ✔ Eligible voters: Republican ballot • Nonpartisan ballot • Did not vote March 3 📍 Early Voting: Washington County Clerk Mar 24–30 | 8:00–4:30 (No Saturday voting) ______________________________________________________

📅 Week of: March 8, 2026 📍 Washington County, Arkansas 🗳️ Thank You to Voters ✨ 2,190 Votes of Confidence Although I was unopposed in this year’s primary election, 2,190 voters took the time to cast their vote for my continued service as your Justice of the Peace. I am deeply grateful for your support and trust. It is an honor to serve Washington County, and I remain committed to transparency, accountability, and thoughtful leadership on behalf of our community. — Beth