Arkansas Business articles from August 2003

Arkansas Business archives from August 2003

Furniture sales don't follow housing boom.
August 4, 2003... LOW INTEREST RATES HAVE translated into boom times for mortgage bankers, home sellers and contractors who specialize in home renovations. But new and bigger homes have not necessarily been followed by big-time spending on new furnishings,...

Liability premiums hit contractors hard: consumers pay price for rising insurance rates.(Construction)(Oaks Brothers Inc.)
August 4, 2003... JUST THREE YEARS AGO, Larry Oaks paid about $5,000 for general liability insurance for his Little Rock construction company. Today he's paying $90,000--a 1,700 percent increase. In Arkansas and across the country, contractors have seen...

Revenue decline for contractors lessens in 2002: Nabholz rebounds to no. 2 in State.(Construction)(Nabholz Construction Co.)
August 4, 2003... OVERALL REVENUE AMONG Arkansas commercial contractors remained down for a third consecutive year, according to a survey of 23 firms. But the decrease was smaller than in previous years. The combined 2002 revenue of the construction...

Another loss for golf.(Whispers)(judge throws out Golf Entertainment Inc.'s case against the Arkansas Securities Department)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The folks at Golf Entertainment Inc. of Springdale, aka Sienna Broadcasting Corp., suffered another blow on June 24, when a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge threw out its case against the Arkansas Securities Department. Golf, you may...

Would-be deal.(Whispers)(Hotel Pines in downtown Pine Bluff, Arkansas, may be redeveloped)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Did you hear a new player has shown interest in redeveloping a landmark property in downtown Pine Bluff? We can't share any names yet, but local boosters are hopeful the latest proposal to breathe new life into the Hotel Pines will become...

Pleasant transaction.(Whispers)(Pleasant Woods Apartment Associates)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... 220-unit apartment complex in west Little Rock shifted ownership in an $8 million deal. Pleasant Woods Apartment Associates LLC bought its namesake 18.3-acre development at 11800 Pleasant Ridge Road. The seller? Pleasant Woods/DEC...

Stiffing, the state.(Whispers)(Dubisson Funeral Home)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Dubisson Funeral Home of Little Rock is in grave trouble with the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration. In 1997, the department revoked the funeral home's retailer's permit because it had refused to pay sales taxes since 1992,...

Billing query.(Whispers)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock has been sued by former shareholders of Total eData Corp., a Nevada corporation, for improperly billing $150,000. In a suit filed July 11 in Pulaski County Circuit Court, Joseph Blankenship, trustee for the...

Leaving a void.(Jim Pickens plans retirement from the Arkansas Department of Economic Development)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 4, 2003... WE HATE TO HEAR THAT Jim Pickens, director of the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, plans to retire in the "near future." Named to the post in February 2001 by Gov. Mike Huckabee, Pickens, 66, was the right choice for the job....

Thank God for ... California.(recall election)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 4, 2003... AS MUDDLED AND EXASPERATING as Arkansas politics can get, we have to say we're glad we don't live in the beautiful state of California. Republicans in the Golden State have succeeded in forcing an Oct. 7 recall election on Gov. Gray Davis,...

The old neighborhood.(changing retail establishments in Little Rock)
August 4, 2003... IT'S A WORKING MOM'S WORST nightmare: They rearranged my grocery store. I used to know the Kroger at McCain and North Hills boulevards in North Little Rock like it was my own pantry, but a $250,000 interior update has even the employees...

Making direct-mail work.(On Marketing)
August 4, 2003... SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I WAS invited to a workshop run by the Direct Marketing Association. During a session on direct mail, the presenter was blunt in assessing the direct-mail business: "Over the past decade, we've succeeded in persuading...

Complex structure.( Capitol Hills Apartments under construction)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... COMPLEX STRUCTURE: The $7 million Capitol Hills Apartments project is moving toward a June 2004 completion. The 156-unit complex is at 15501-15515 Capitol Hill Blvd. in west Little Rock. May Construction Co. of Little Rock is the general...

Terminal deal.(truck terminal sold)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The sale of a North Little Rock truck terminal tipped the scales at $1.1 million. McNeill Express Inc., an affiliate of P.A.M. Transportation Inc. of Tontitown, bought the 15-acre project at 1401 McNeill Road. The seller is McNeill...

Burger buy.(Real deals: a look at important real estate transactions)(USRP Funding 2001-A Ltd. acquires Burger King from US Restaurant Properties Operating Ltd. )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... A fast-food project in North Little Rock is under new ownership after a $673,000 deal. USRP Funding 2001-A Ltd. of Dallas acquired the Burger King at 403 E. Broadway. The seller is US Restaurant Properties Operating Ltd. of Dallas. ...

WLR land.(west Little Rock land sold)(Public Notice)
August 4, 2003... A near five-acre tract in west Little Rock drew a $650,000 purchase price. George and Terry Rothwell bought the property on the south side of Cantrell Road, a quarter mile west of Taylor Loop Road. The sellers are Cheryl and Calvin...

Otter Creek Land.(Real deals: a look at important real estate transactions)(HL Land Development LLC purchased land from Otter Creek Land Co.; other deals)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... More than 16 acres in southwest Little Rock changed hands in a $443,000 deal. HL Land Development LLC, led by C. Douglass Hunnicutt and Michael Lasiter, purchased the land, most of which is on the south side of Baseline Road two miles west...

Heights home.(Real deals: a look at important real estate transactions)(home near Country Club of Little Rock sells for $655,000 )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... A 3,607-SF home near the Country Club of Little Rock rang up a $655,000 deal. William and Katherine Gwatney acquired the house from Roland and Rose Willshire. The deal is backed with a 2.5-year loan of $755,999 from First Arkansas Bank &...

Chenal sale.(Public Notice)
August 4, 2003... A 4,500-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood sold for $512,000. Michael and Pamela Speraw purchased the house from Billy Hartness Construction Co. The deal is funded With a 30-year loan of $300,000 from Merrill...

Orthopedic funding.(Real deals: at look at important real estate transactions )(Williams USO Building LLC received five-year loan from Pulaski Bank & Trust)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The owner of a medical office building in west Little Rock picked up a $5.25 million financial package. Williams USO Building LLC, led by Dr. Alonzo Williams, received the five-year loan from Pulaski Bank & Trust. The U.S. Orthopedic...

Westpark mortgage.(for Standard Properties )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The owner of a 13,800-SF office building in west Little Rock secured a $890,000 mortgage. Standard Properties LLC, led by David Gulley and James Gulley, secured the three-year loan from BancorpSouth Bank of Tupelo, Miss. The Westpark...

Virgil Miller, senior vice president for community development at Metropolitan National Bank.(Business Briefs)(has been elected president of Arkansas Capital Corp.)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * Virgil Miller, senior vice president for community development at Metropolitan National Bank, has been elected president of Arkansas Capital, Corp., a private, nonprofit business development corporation. Formed in 1957, Arkansas Capital...

Murphy Oil Corp.(Business Briefs)(says drilling in its Cool Papa well was unsuccessful)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Murphy Oil Corp. said drilling in its Cool Papa well in Green Canyon Block 380 of the Gulf of Mexico was unsuccessful. The oil company drilled to a depth of 27,835 feet. It has temporarily abandoned it. Murphy owned a 37.5 percent working...

American Greetings Corp. has put up for sale or lease its 770,925-SF building on 160 acres at McCrory.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... American Greetings Corp. has put up for sale or lease its 770,925-SF building on 160 acres at McCrory. Binswanger/CBB is the agent for the one-story building with reinforced concrete floors and ceiling heights to 32 feet. There's 12,000 SF of...

Easter Seals Arkansas will present Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., with the National Easter Seals 2002 Outstanding Advocate Award on Monday.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * Easter Seals Arkansas will present Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., with the National Easter Seals 2002 Outstanding Advocate Award on Monday. Through her efforts, the Senate has provided nearly $4 million to help Easter Seals' efforts to...

The Arkansas Venture Forum said Jim Smith of Friday Eldredge & Clark and Watt Gregory of Kutak Rock LLP will serve as co-chairs of the 2004 Arkansas Venture Capital Conference.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * The Arkansas Venture Forum said Jim Smith of Friday Eldredge & Clark and Watt Gregory of Kutak Rock LLP will serve as co-chairs of the 2004 Arkansas Venture Capital Conference. Both attorneys and their firms are active in venture law practice...

Eagle Bank of Little Rock will open a new branch at Maumelle by November.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * Eagle Bank of Little Rock will open a new branch at Maumelle by November. The new branch will be in a new shopping development on Maumelle Boulevard called Eagle Plaza. The 3,000-SE full-service branch will be the bank's seventh location in...

Plantation Realty Co. GMAC Real Estate of Cabot recently doubled its base with the acquisition of Nancy Myer's real estate firm that had been a Coldwell Banker franchise.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * Plantation Realty Co. GMAC Real Estate of Cabot recently doubled its base with the acquisition of Nancy Myer's real estate firm that had been a Coldwell Banker franchise. Plantation-GMAC is owned by Lloyd Freidman and Jay Wise. The real...

Merchants & Planters Bank of Newport has opened a new full-service banking office at Tuckerman, according to Jim S. Gowen Jr., president.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * Merchants & Planters Bank of Newport has Opened a new full-service banking office at Tuckerman, according to Jim S. Gowen Jr., president. The Tuckerman bank offers drive-through banking, 24-hour ATM service, safe deposit boxes and a complete...

The Arkansas Farm Bureau is co-sponsoring four seminars to help Delta farmers better market their crops.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... * The Arkansas Farm Bureau is co-sponsoring four seminars to help Delta farmers better market their crops. The seminar dates are Aug, 11 at the Dreams Community Center, Aug. 12 at the Brinkley Convention Center, Aug. 14 at the Crittenden County...

Federal Reserve Bank to stop LR cash services.(Inside Business)(Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is eliminating its cash processing services at its Little Rock branch)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis is shutting down its cash processing services at its Little Rock branch by the end of 2004. The Little Rock branch, which currently employs about 120 workers, will have only a small staff left by the...

Conway, NLR banks buy Cabot's Community Bank.(Inside Business)(Home Bancshares and TC Bancorp are buying Community Financial Group Inc.)
August 4, 2003... HOME BANCSHARES OF Conway and TC Bancorp of North Little Rock are buying Community Financial Group Inc. of Cabot in a deal valued at $40 million-$50 million. The agreement will involve a combination of 49 percent cash and 51 percent...

Tyson to buy poultry partner for $74 million.(Inside Business)(Tyson Foods Inc. acquiring assets of Choctaw Maid Farms)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Tyson Foods Inc. is buying the assets of its longtime poultry partner, Choctaw Maid Farms Inc. of Carthage, Miss., for $74 million. The meat processor made the announcement during a conference call about its most recent quarterly report....

'Hunting for Bambi' turns out to be hoax.(Las Vegas )
August 4, 2003... The mayor of Las Vegas says the "Hunting for Bambi" games allegedly being played in the desert near that city were nothing more than a hoax to sell video tapes. On July 10, a Las Vegas television station reported that men were paying...

Average auto rate low, Pickens says.(auto insurance )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Arkansas has a lower auto insurance rate than every surrounding state except Tennessee, said Mike Pickens, state insurance commissioner. Pickens said Arkansas ranked 33rd in 2001 for average cost of auto insurance, with an average premium...

Murphy Oil profits rise in 2nd quarter.(Public Company Reports)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Murphy Oil Corp. said its second-quarter earnings rose to 86 cents a share from 15 cents a share during the same quarter last year. Second-quarter net income was $79.7 million, up from $13.9 million during the same quarter last year. ...

Deltic Timber reports 2Q gains.(Public Company Reports)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Deltic Timber Corp. of El Dorado reported second-quarter net income of $2.4 million, or 20 cents a share, compared with a loss of $10,000, or 5 cents a share, a year ago. The improvement was due primarily to increased commercial sales in...

First Federal records earnings increase.(Public Company Reports)(First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. of Harrison said its second-quarter net income was $1.89 million, or 71 cents a share, compared with $1.83 million, or 64 cents a share, for the same period in 2002. The holding company for First...

Tyson earnings lower in 3Q.(Public Company Reports)(Tyson Foods Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Tyson Foods Inc. reported lower earnings and operating income in its third quarter, compared with the same quarter last year, but sales at $6.3 billion surpassed 2002 sales of $5.9 billion. Third-quarter earnings were 23 cents a share,...

Cannon Express extends financing agreement.(Public Company Reports)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Cannon Express Inc. has reached an agreement with CitiCapital Commercial Corp. to extend a funding agreement until Aug. 30. The company also said it is in negotiations with various lenders to replace the funding relationship in the near...

Pocahontas Bancorp announces 3Q earnings.(Public Company Reports)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Pocahontas Bancorp Inc. said third-quarter earnings per share decreased 3 cents per share or 10.3 percent to 26 cents a share, compared with earnings per share of 29 cents for the same period last year. Net income was $1.15 million for the...

P.A.M. Transportation earnings disappoint.(Public Company Reports)(P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc. said second-quarter net income was $4 million, or 36 cents a share, and $6.8 million, or 61 cents a share for the six-month period. Although earnings increased from first-quarter 2003, the tallies...

Simmons First changes its ticker symbol.(Simmons First National )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff has changed its ticker symbol from SFNCA to SFNC. "The change in the Simmons First ticker symbol is being made to more accurately align our identity on Wall Street with the company's name and make...

AERT reports 2Q gross sales.(Public Company Reports)(Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. of Springdale said unaudited gross sales for the quarter ended June 30 were $10.5 million, down from the $10.6 million in sales for the same quarter last year. Unaudited gross sales for...

Arkansas tort reform and the new liability math.(A Public Service Of Davidson Law Firm)
August 4, 2003... Like hurricane winds, tort reform has rolled through the nations legislative bodies, most recently blowing into the chambers of the Arkansas General Assembly. The General Assembly passed Act 649 of this year, termed The Civil Justice Reform Act...

Small banks fare well among equity performers.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Four of the top 10 northwest Arkansas banks in terms of return on equity during the first quarter of 2003 were small to mid-sized shops with less than $90 million in deposits. The best of that group, Huntsville's First State Bank with...

Great Southern plans first office in market.(Great Southern Bancorp )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Publicly traded Great Southern Bancorp Inc. announced in July that it plans to open a Rogers loan production office by early September. It will be located in a 1,500-SF office at Village on the Creeks. It is the Springfield, Mo., firm's...

Retailers look to the East.(furniture imports from China)
August 4, 2003... THIRTY PER CENT OF ALL FURNITURE BEING sold in the United States has been imported, and 35 percent of that comes from China, according to Stefan Willi, an analyst with the Aktrin Furniture Information Center. China has grown into the United...

Arkansas business list: largest commercial contractors.(Construction)(ranked by 2002 revenue)(Directory)(Illustration)
August 4, 2003... Ranked by 2002 revenue 2002 2001 General Contractor Revenue Revenue Address (millions) (millions) President/Ceo Phone, Fax 1 Vratsinas Construction Co. $285.0 ...

Hugg & Hall's growth steady in downturn.(Construction)(Hugg & Hall Equipment Co.)(Company Profile)
August 4, 2003... DESPITE THE PROLONGED economic slowdown and increased competition from much larger players, Hugg & Hall Equipment Co. of Little Rock has continued to see steady growth. The company sells and rents new and used earth-moving, light...

New businesses: a listing of business start-ups in Arkansas.
August 4, 2003... MARK MATHEWS PHOTOGRAPHY INC. Owner: Mark Mathews Address: 335 Goshen Ave., North Little Rock 72116 Phone: (501) 258-7468 Hours: Vary by assignment Startup: May 1 E-mail: markmathewsphoto@sbcglobal.net Chances...

Calendar.(listing of various business events)(Calendar)
August 4, 2003... AUGUST * 9--Second Saturday Suiting Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Location: Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church, 21 Lakeshore Drive, Little Rock For more information, call (501)455-8901. * 12--Powerful presentations With PowerPoint ...

BKD LLP.(Accounting)(Carley Long and Stephanie Newman join staff)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Carley Long and Stephanie Newman have joined BKD LLP in Little Rock as staff accountants. Long graduated recently from Hendrix College with a bachelor's degree in economics and business and a master's in accounting. Newman recently graduated...

Nabholz Construction Corp.(Construction)(Richard Johnson has been promoted to project coordinator)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Richard Johnson has been promoted to project coordinator at Nabholz Construction Corp. in Conway.

University of Arkansas.(Education)(named Dawn Medley director of admissions)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Dawn Medley has joined ,the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville as the director of admissions. Medley previously served as associate director of admissions at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

DeWitt Bank & Trust Co.(Financial Services)(Gary Oltmann and Tricia Bull join staff)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Gary Oltmann of Stuttgart has joined DeWitt Bank &Trust Co. as chief lending officer. Tricia Bull has joined the bank as an agriculture lending officer.

Regions Bank.(Financial Services)(named Matt Reddin assistant vice president of commercial lending)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Matt Reddin has joined Regions Bank in Little Rock as assistant vice president of commercial lending. Reddin previously served as a commercial lender at U.S. Bank. Melissa Howell has been promoted to mortgage loan originator. Howell previously...

Department of Veterans Affairs.(George H. Gray Jr. receives Presidential Rank Award )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... George H. "Buzz" Gray Jr. has won the Presidential Rank Award from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs for his leadership and achievement in the VA system. Gray is director of the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.

Arkansas Bar Association.(Legal)(presented Howard Brill with the James H. McKenzie Professionalism Award )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Howard Brill received the James H. McKenzie Professionalism Award from the Arkansas Bar Association in Little Rock. Morton Gitelman received the Maurice Cathey Award from the Bar Association. Brill and Gitelman are professors of law at the UA...

Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods.(Marketing/Media)(promoted Simon Lee to vice president and director of digital services )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Simon Lee has been promoted to vice president and director of digital services for Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods in Little Rock. Lee has been with the firm for three years.

Mangan Holcomb Rainwater Culpepper.(Marketing/Media)(named Paige Scott an account services manager)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Paige Scott has joined Mangan Holcomb Rainwater Culpepper in Little Rock as an account services manager. Scott is a 2002 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in public relations.

Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty.(Real Estate)(Rachel Furrer and Rita Rogers have joined firm's west Little Rock office)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Rachel Furrer and Rita Rogers have joined the west Little Rock office of Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty. Ducy Brown, Lee Evans, Shirley Roberts, Nancy Daniels, C.D. Padgett and Jim Ingram have joined the North Little Rock office. Karen Dill...

Stock summary.(stock prices)(Illustration)
August 4, 2003... STOCK SUMMARY 7/30/03 Weekly YTD Arkansas Public Company Stocks Close Change Change Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) 15.79 -6.79% 3.14% A.E.R.T. (AERTA) ...

Land transfer.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... Ownership of nearly 22 acres in west Little Rock shifted in a transaction valued at $2 million (about $2.10 per SF). Capitol Lakes Management LLC, led by John "Jay" DeHaven, transferred the property to Transcontinental Realty Investors Inc....

Rental agreement.(Yellow Dog Co. lawsuit)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... A lingering financial dispute involving Justin Tackett and his Yellow Dog Co. reached a conclusion, courtesy of a $27,000 consent judgment. The monetary award largely represents unpaid rent owed to Clay and Jane Gring. The wrangling...

Pizza troubles.(Whispers)(Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission wants to shut down Pizza For Less until it pays fine)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission wants to shut down Pizza For Less of Forrest City until it coughs up the dough for a fine. The commission said in a lawsuit filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court that Pizza For Less owner Joe...

Reality nation strikes again.(reality shows in Arkansas)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... They came. They saw. They were filmed. They were reality? Arkansas must be doing something right--or wrong, if you believe "reality TV" is a harbinger of our society's decline and fall--to attract reality-TV show honchos and producers. ...

Press awards.(Arkansas Press Association )(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... The Arkansas Press Association handed out its 2003 awards at its annual conference in Eureka Springs on July 26. For general excellence for large dailies, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, of course, took first place, followed by the Southwest...

Jonesboro magazine launch.(Outtakes: an inside look into Arkansas media)(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... A new monthly magazine serving the Jonesboro area hit delivery sites last Friday. Jonesboro Occasion, owned by Herald Haven Media LLC of Jonesboro, will cover philanthropic, social and cultural events and people who contribute to the city,...

KTHV goes bilingual.(Brief Article)
August 4, 2003... With a burgeoning state Hispanic population, RTHV-TV, Channel 11, launched July 28 a live Spanish-language version of its 10 p.m. news broadcast. It will broadcast Monday through Friday as a second audio program, which is available on most...

Scandals remind business schools to teach ethics.(Business Education)
August 11, 2003... TODAY'S BUSINESS school student may never have to decide whether to recall an explosion-prone car model or to clear the shelves of a tainted medication. But they probably will be faced with more routine ethical challenges that leave them...

RiverBlades may lose league membership: decision next month could limit marketability of franchise.(Business Education)
August 11, 2003... THE IDLE ARKANSAS RIVERBlades franchise could lose its membership in the East Coast Hockey League as a result of unexpectedly backing out of the upcoming season. The RiverBlades' situation will be discussed at the ECHL board of governors...

Colleges keep growing during economic slump.(Business Education)(Directory)
August 11, 2003... WHEN THE ECONOMY IS DOWN, people go back to school. This theory is shared by many college and university administrators who have seen overall enrollment continue to rise during the last few years. A larger course selection and tailored...

Pension property.(Whispers)(Arkansas Teacher Retirement System to end contract with Alan Kilgore for management of rehabilitation center)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... The tension seems to be growing between Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and Alan Kilgore, president of Cornerstone Health Care of Rogers. Officials at the state's largest pension fund have indicated there will be a new manager for the...

Independence monitoring.(Whispers)(Teachers College at Columbia University not participating in Project Independence)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Two weeks ago we told you that the Teachers College at Columbia University in New York had disclaimed any part in Project Independence, the pilot program that is to give nearly 6,500 students in Independence County and Cave City a wireless...

Costly default.(Whispers )(Boen Enterprises LLC sues Capitol Healthcare LLC for breaking lease)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... The landlord of the Bowman Plaza II in west Little Rock has sued one of its former tenants, Capitol Healthcare PLLC, for nearly $400,000 for breaking a five-year lease agreement. Boen Enterprises LLC, which owns the property, said Don and...

Blooming lawsuit.(Whispers )(Arkansas goes after Torrence Flower Shoppe Inc. for back taxes)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... The state of Arkansas is trying to uproot Torrence Flower Shoppe Inc. of Little Rock for not paying $421,000 worth of back taxes. The state Department of Finance and Administration has asked a Pulaski County Circuit Court judge to prevent...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
August 11, 2003... An article on the performance of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System's real estate portfolio in the July 28 issue of Arkansas Business contained three errors. First, the actual return on investment (ROI) for 1 & 2 American Center in...

School stalemate.(Editorial)
August 11, 2003... THERE WAS A TIME, BASED ON talks with legislators and insiders, that a compromise plan appeared to be near to fix the inadequacy and inequity problems with the state's public schools. All that would be needed would be to call a special...

Thanks.(Letter)(Letter to the Editor)
August 11, 2003... Thank you again for the editorial support you gave our effort to try and do something positive for the city of Little Rock. Even though the results fell way short of our expectations, we take pride in the fact that we were able to achieve many...

Direct to you.(Editor's Note)(Editorial)
August 11, 2003... I ONCE HEARD A CONSERVAtive columnist, one of Gov. Mike Huckabee's staunchest supporters, say, "I can't stand direct democracy." I was surprised to hear his words, especially since a couple of Gov. Huckabee's proudest accomplishments--the...

Mortgage lending.(statistics)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... Mortgage Lending January-April 2003 Mtg./ Mtg. value Mortgage dep. * (millions) Volume BancorpSouth Bank ([dagger]) 84.42% ...

Blue buy.(Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield purchases building)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... A 6.4-acre commercial project in downtown North Little Rock changed hands in a $3.4 million deal. Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield bought the 93,000-SF building at 515 W. Pershing Blvd. from Southwestern Bell Telephone Ltd. ...

Office land.(office site sold)(Brief Article)
August 11, 2003... A four-acre office site in west Little Rock rang up a $610,000 deal ($3.50 per SF). Jerald M. Barnett Revocable Trust purchased the land near the southeast corner of Interstate 430 and Col. Glenn Road from Boen Enterprises LLC, led by...