Arkansas Business articles from December 2005

Arkansas Business archives from December 2005

University Mall dispute gets heated; mall landowners blame Simon; Simon blames market conditions.
December 5, 2005... IN 2004, SIMON PROPERTY Group Inc. thought one way to save University Mall in Little Rock was to turn it into an open-air mall. Simon executives in Indianapolis considered luring a Target to the location and had made some sketches of the...

Bryant enters new growth phase; $50 million retail development coming to Saline County community.
December 5, 2005... BRYANT HAS SEEN A swirl of commercial and residential development during the past 10 years. More and more retailers and service providers have set up shop as more and more rooftops dot the landscape of the growing bedroom community (population...

Murphy expects to weather Meraux spill.
December 5, 2005... LIKE MANY WHO WENT through Hurricane Katrina, Murphy Oil Corp. has proven to be a survivor. But no one really knows what ill winds may still blow in for the company or the folks in south Louisiana. Murphy's Meraux refinery is not expected...

Tax troubles.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... We made some interesting finds in the 2004 Pulaski County delinquent tax roll--after making sure we were in good standing ourselves, of course. Plenty of businesses that owe money had gone under--like the now defunct MedPlus Leasing Co. of...

Office space.(Whispers)
December 5, 2005... Have you heard that the Regions Building in downtown Little Rock will be getting a new tenant? Pinnacle Business Solutions Inc. of North Little Rock, a wholly owned subsidiary of Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield, will be leasing four...

Going west.(Whispers)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Those west Little Rock residents who have garnered an appreciation for a favorite local pizza joint at one of its three current locations have gotten their own fix at the corner of Sam Peck and Highway 10. Larry's Pizza, the buffet-style...

Food bankruptcy.(Whispers)
December 5, 2005... A Springdale businessman recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, listing $1.4 million in debt and $565,000 in assets. Carlos R. Rodriguez owned 2.1 percent of MarketFoods Ltd. LLC of Rogers, which had its own financial problems....

Home land.(Whispers)
December 5, 2005... More than 140 residential acres in Maumelle is under new ownership after a $2.3 million deal. Cypress Bay Development LLC, led by Jack Wilson, purchased the land along the western reaches of Odom Drive and Millwood Circle. The seller...

Something fishy.(Whispers)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A Sebastian County photographer said there was something too familiar about the "Arkansas Bugling Bull" photo on the cover of the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation's Arkansas Hunting Guidebook. The photographer, Ed Porter, said it was his...

Deux manors.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A 5,000-SF home in Little Rock's East Palisades neighborhood tipped the scales at nearly $1.7 million. Michael and Beth Coulson bought the house from Diane Bray. Meanwhile, a 5,100-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley...

Risk tolerance.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... SINCE LAST WE ADDRESSED editorially the question of whether the highway bond proposal scheduled for a statewide vote on Dec. 13 is a good idea, a raft of aginners--led by the Arkansas Truckers Association--has floated up. That a proposal...

PR for PB.(Editorial)
December 5, 2005... PINE BLUFF HAS LONG BEEN the object of ridicule or derision, some perhaps justified, most probably not. It's neither the worst city in the state nor is it the best. Now the city has hunched a PR campaign in an attempt to turn its negative...

Don't blame Wal-Mart.(Letter)(Letter to the Editor)
December 5, 2005... I expect Northwest Arkansas Business Journal Editor Bill Bowden will be jumped on big time over his commentary "The Two Faces of Wal-Mart": 1) he really looked at the "two faces," and 2) he is from northwest Arkansas. I came to Little Rock...

The Washerina.(Editor's Note)
December 5, 2005... A BUDDY OF MINE AT HARDING University in Searcy, Betsy Walkup, had grown up in Smyrna, Tenn., a town of about 9,000 south of Nashville. She called the coin laundry on campus the Washerina because that was the name of the only coin laundry in...

Congress offers Katrina relief.(Commentary)
December 5, 2005... AS A RESULT OF THE MASSIVE disaster in the Gulf Coast, Congress passed the $6.1 billion Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act that was promptly signed by President Bush on Sept. 23. The act is designed to encourage contributions to the Gulf's...

Retail sale.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A Walgreens project in Jacksonville is under new ownership after a $4.6 million transaction. CGibbs Jacksonville LLC of San Francisco bought the 1.6-acre development at 819 W. Main St. from Cole WG Jacksonville AR LLC of Phoenix. ...

Agri land.(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... More than 170 acres in west Pulaski County tipped the scales at $2 million. Pinnacle Valley Consulting Inc., led by Kristian Nelson, purchased the farmland a mile north of Natural Steps. The seller is JK Holdings, led by Joseph...

Downtown purchase.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Middleton Realty LLC)(H and M Realty Co)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... More than 5 acres in downtown Little Rock changed hands in a $1.6 million deal. Middleton Realty LLC, led by Gary and Kent Middleton, acquired the industrial property at and near 2505 Commercial Drive. The seller is H&M Realty Co., led by...

WLR locale.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Rodney Parham LLC)(Galbreck Properties LLC)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... An office building in west Little Rock sold for $850,000. 10121 Rodney Parham LLC, led by Gene Cauley, bought the near 1-acre project at 10121 Rodney Parham Road from Galbreck Properties LLC. The limited liability company is composed of...

Meeks acquisition.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Meeks Development LLC)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Commercial property in North Little Rock drew a $765,900 sale. Meeks Development LLC, led by Darrin Meeks, purchased nearly 20 acres on Counts Massie Road from O.L. and Dorothy Holland. The deal is financed with an $857,171 loan from...

Rescue property.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
December 5, 2005... A retail property in south Little Rock rang up a $757,000 deal. Union Rescue Mission Inc. acquired the project at 5401 S. University Ave. from Haverty Furniture Cos. Inc. of Atlanta. The furniture company purchased the location for...

Hill House buy.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A 30-unit apartment project in Jacksonville changed hands in a $745,000 transaction. Phoebe and William Harris bought the Hill House Apartments at 901 Marshall Road from Joe M. Clay. The deal is funded with a five-year loan of $745,000...

KFC transaction.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
December 5, 2005... A Little Rock eatery is under new ownership after a $579,000 deal. The Lee Wong Marital Trust of San Francisco purchased the KFC at 6606 Asher Ave. from Sovereign RF LLC of Palo Alto, Calif. The 0.38-acre development previously was used...

Civil acquisition.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Civil Design Inc)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A commercial property in west Little Rock drew a $405,000 deal. Civil Design Inc., led by Carylon Dean and James Dreher, acquired its home at 15104 Cantrell Road from Charles Miller and Keith Holland. The deal is backed with a two-year...

Chenal sale I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A 7,800-SF mansion in west Little Rock's Chenal Downs neighborhood sold for $1.3 million. Peter and Ruth Hart bought the home from Kevin and Judith Forte. The deal is financed with a 30-year loan of $1 million from Bank of America in...

River Bend condo.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
December 5, 2005... A 3,000-SF condo in Little Rock's River Bend project rang up an $870,000 transaction. The Betty M. Brown Revocable Trust purchased the condo from the Raymond Rauch Living Trust. The property previously was linked with an April 2005...

Chenal sale II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A 6,000-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood changed hands in a $758,000 deal. Brady Chambers acquired the house from Coburn Construction LLC, led by Roger Coburn Jr. The deal is funded with a 30-year loan of $508,000...

Terrace abode.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Carrie R. Dickinson Revocable Trust)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A 4,100-SF home in Little Rock's Broadview Terrace neighborhood is under new ownership after a $700,000 deal. Cloud and Nancy Keyes bought the house from the Carrie R. Dickinson Revocable Trust. The deal is backed with a one-year loan of...

Chenal sale III.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
December 5, 2005... A 3,134-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood drew a $529,000 deal. Mansfield Properties LLC, led by Gerald and Judith Stolz, acquired the house from Cecelia Hallman. Hallman purchased the property for $507,000 in...

Pleasant funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Pleasant Woods Apartment Associates LLC)(GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... The owner of a 220-unit apartment complex in west Little Rock landed an $8.6 million funding agreement. Pleasant Woods Apartment Associates LLC of Yardley, Pa., obtained a $6.3 bond issue through Little Rock's Residential Housing & Public...

Retail refinance.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... The owner of a Little Rock retail project picked up a $1.45 million financial package. Danny Thomas Properties V Ltd., led by Danny Thomas Jr., received the three-year loan from Bank of the Ozarks of Little Rock. The 4.9-acre...

Richards mortgage.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
December 5, 2005... A Little Rock industrial project is backed with a $550,000 mortgage. Richards Finance Co., led by Betty Richards, got the two-year loan from Community Bank of Cabot. The funding is secured by the 5-acre Rich Logistics/Rich Warehousing...

New travs home named Dickey-Stephens Park.(SPORTS BUSINESS)
December 5, 2005... The future home of the Arkansas Travelers on the North Little Rock riverfront will bear the name of a pair of baseball-loving brothers with deep ties to central Arkansas. The taxpayer-funded stadium that will open on April 5, 2007, will be...

Junction Bridge Project gets another $3 million.(Inside Business)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... The Transportation Department has appropriated another $3 million for the Junction Bridge Project in downtown Little Rock and North Little Rock, bringing the total amount available for the project to $5.4 million, according to Billie Ann Myers,...

Report: Alltel nears wireline deal.(COMMUNICATIONS)
December 5, 2005... Alltel Corp. of Little Rock is reportedly closing in on a deal to dispose of its wireline business, which could fetch as much as $10 billion. The Financial Times, in its Nov. 25 issue, citing unnamed sources, reported that three companies...

Weyerhaeuser to sell its Malvern plant.(FORESTRY)
December 5, 2005... Weyerhaeuser Co. of Federal Way, Wash., said it will sell its composite panels business, including its plant at Malvern, as it continues to cut costs in the face of weak demand. About 1,000 workers across six plants will be affected. Other...

ThermoEnergy sees first operational revenue in 3Q.(Public Company Reports)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... ThermoEnergy Corp. of Little Rock has reported its first operational revenue and stockholder equity in the black. The publicly traded wastewater technology company reported operational revenue of $97,572 compared with no revenue during the...

Wal-Mart same-store sales up 4.3% in November.(Public Company Reports)
December 5, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said sales for the November reporting period increased 4.3 percent at its U.S. stores open at least a year, but the Bentonville company said it probably couldn't continue that pace through December. Wal-Mart said...

Dillard's November sales up 1 percent.(Public Company Reports)
December 5, 2005... Dillard's Inc. said sales for the four weeks ended Nov. 26 were $561 million compared to sales for the same four weeks in 2004 of $558.3 million. Sales were unchanged on a percentage basis in total stores. Sales in comparable stores...

Domtar makes deep cuts, but not at Ashdown Mill.(Inside Business)
December 5, 2005... Domtar Inc. of Montreal, a forest products company with major operations in Arkansas, said it will cut 1,800 jobs and close or sell paper mills in Canada. But the company's plant in Ashdown, which employs 1,187, will stay open and remain...

States get $5.9 million to train workers.(Industry)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao presented a $5.9 million grant to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services last week to prepare Arkansas workers for automotive and advanced manufacturing careers. "This $5.9 million grant under President...

Northwest Arkansas takes tech nods from magazine.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
December 5, 2005... The University of Arkansas and J.B. Hunt Transport Services of Lowell were recently named "Enterprise All-Stars" by Network World, a networking and IT industry magazine. NW named 50 entities for "demonstrating exceptional use of...

Fayetteville BOA office to close.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
December 5, 2005... The Bank of America office on the downtown Fayetteville square at 1 E. Center St. will close in early February. BOA spokesman George Owen said bank customers were notified in a letter that was mailed in early November. The office will be...

Boi de Ouro opens in CMN.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Ping Chen of Fort Smith said she spent more than $3 million to build, furnish and open the 8,600-SF Boi de Ouro, a Brazilian restaurant, in Fayetteville's CMN Business Park. Ping Chen and her husband, Steve Chen, own two restaurants in Fort...

Business center opens in Newport.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)(Newport Economic Development Commission)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... The Newport Economic Development Commission recently opened the Newport Business Resource Center, where entrepreneurs can stay rent-free for up to nine months as they establish their businesses. The commission bought the 12,000-SF building...

ABC again grants permit in Batesville.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)
December 5, 2005... For the second time, the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board voted to award Josie's at the Lockhouse of Batesville a permit to serve alcohol in a dry county. Attorney Jay Shell of Batesville had appealed the original ruling in 2004...

American Railcar completes project.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)
December 5, 2005... American Railcar Industries recently completed a $13 million expansion that added another paint shop at its Paragould facility and will employ about 90 new workers. Project Manager Jon Meyer said the new workers should be hired by January....

Alltel Corp. of Little Rock has completed the sale of its Irish business, Meteor Mobile Communications Ltd.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Alltel Corp. of Little Rock has completed the sale of its Irish business, Meteor Mobile Communications Ltd., to a subsidiary of Eircom Group PLC, the Irish fixed-line telecommunications operator, for approximately $500 million.

Southern Financial Partners, a nonprofit affiliate of Southern Bancorp of Arkadelphia, presented Henderson State University's Small Business Development Center in Arkadelphia with a $30,000 contribution to provide Business Advantage training to entrepreneurs from 2006-08.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Southern Financial Partners, a nonprofit affiliate of Southern Bancorp of Arkadelphia, presented Henderson State University's Small Business Development Center in Arkadelphia with a $30,000 contribution to provide Business Advantage training to...

Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Little Rock has been named to the InformationWeek 500 list of leading users of business technology.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Little Rock has been named to the InformationWeek 500 list of leading users of business technology. The insurance company's support of the emerging consumer-directed health market and its secure electronic...

ABF Freight System Inc. of Fort Smith has been named as one of the top six U.S. companies to sell for in the service sector by Selling Power magazine.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... ABF Freight System Inc. of Fort Smith has been named as one of the top six U.S. companies to sell for in the service sector by Selling Power magazine. This is the fourth consecutive year ABF has placed among the top 10 each year. ABF is the...

End Needless Death on Our Roadways.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Arkansas ranks 23rd among the 50 states and Puerto Rico in its percentage of alcohol-related traffic deaths. End Needless Death on Our Roadways said 39.2 percent of the traffic accident deaths in the state last year were alcohol-related. ...

Starting with the new year, motorists will be required to have a temporary cardboard license plate that will be good for about 30 days.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Starting with the new year, motorists will be required to have a temporary cardboard license plate that will be good for about 30 days. Arkansas motorists now have a month to register a car they just bought. Legislators changed the law to curb...

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Institute for Economic Advancement and the Economic Development Information Coalition will host a local viewing of the satellite broadcast titled "Gulf Coast Business Reinvestment Forum: Lessons Learned".(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... The University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Institute for Economic Advancement and the Economic Development Information Coalition will host a local viewing of the satellite broadcast titled "Gulf Coast Business Reinvestment Forum: Lessons...

Arkansas Children's Hospital.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Dr. Robert D.B. "Jake" Jaquiss has joined Arkansas Children's Hospital as chief of its pediatric cardiovascular surgery program and as professor of surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine in Little Rock....

The Hot Springs Convention Center has received the 2006 Readers' Choice Award for excellence from ConventionSouth magazine, a trade publication that has covered meetings and conventions in the South for 22 years.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... The Hot Springs Convention Center has received the 2006 Readers' Choice Award for excellence from ConventionSouth magazine, a trade publication that has covered meetings and conventions in the South for 22 years. The award is based on...

President Bush has signed into law Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor's legislation mandating the Federal Trade Commission begin an investigation on nationwide gas prices in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to determine if and where there was gas price gouging.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... President Bush has signed into law Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor's legislation mandating the Federal Trade Commission begin an investigation on nationwide gas prices in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to determine if and where there was...

Former Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Okla., will visit Arkansas Dec. 9 for a fundraising banquet for Asa Hutchinson, Republican candidate for governor.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Former Rep. J.C. Watts, R-Okla., will visit Arkansas Dec. 9 for a fundraising banquet for Asa Hutchinson, Republican candidate for governor. The event will be held at The Peabody Little Rock, with a private reception from 5-6 p.m. Dinner will...

Bill Halter.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Bill Halter, a potential Democratic candidate for Arkansas governor, has announced his opposition to a $575 million highway bond program that will be voted on in a Dec. 13 special election. Halter supports a bond program for construction and...

Commerce Department.(Business Briefs)
December 5, 2005... Sales of new single-family homes jumped 13 percent to a record seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.424 million units in October--a sales pace that was 9 percent above a year ago, according to the Commerce Department.

Arkansas Women's Forum boasts influential executives.(Panel Discussion)
December 5, 2005... ONE OF THE STATE'S LEAST-known corridors of power is made up of some of Arkansas' best-known business minds. The Arkansas Women's Forum, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, is a statewide executive leadership and networking...

Stitt sees Green in energy savings.
December 5, 2005... ORLO STITT IS GREEN WITH energy. He sees green in everything he does, drives and lives in. From his house to his hybrid car, Stitt believes there are a multitude of things that can be done to use energy wisely. During the 1973 oil crisis,...

Pleasant Ridge opening Oct. 1.
December 5, 2005... PLEASANT RIDGE TOWN Center, a 300,000-SF retail center in west Little Rock, is expected to open Oct. 1, 2006. The center at Cantrell Road between Pleasant Ridge and Woodland Heights roads will feature a 120,000-SF Parisian department store,...

Rogers' shopping centers enter the building race.
December 5, 2005... WITH TWO MAJOR SHOPping centers slated to open in the fall, the race to the building permit office in Rogers is on. So far, it seems the Pinnacle Promenade might be rounding the curve faster than Pleasant Crossing, at least in terms of...

New businesses: a listing of business start-ups in Arkansas.
December 5, 2005... DIXIE TECHNOLOGIES LLC Owners: Gregory Culp and Ben Israel Address: 908 E. Rolling Hills Drive, Suite J, Fayetteville 72703 Phone: (479) 695-1650 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday Startup: May 2005 Web site:...

Calendar.(Calendar)
December 5, 2005... DECEMBER * 7--Little Rock Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting Sponsors: Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, Arrest Bank, BKD LLP, Crafton Tull & Associates, Legacy Capital Group Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Location: Statehouse...

May Construction Co.(CONSTRUCTION)
December 5, 2005... Rick McReynolds has joined the Fayetteville office of May Construction Co. of Little Rock as project manager in the multifamily business unit. Dana Kimble and Robin Moore have joined the company as site managers. Kimble is currently working at...

Jason Emmert and Jerry Wooley, faculty members in the poultry science department in the division of agriculture at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, were each awarded honorary American Future Farmers of America degrees.(EDUCATION)
December 5, 2005... Jason Emmert and Jerry Wooley, faculty members in the poultry science department in the division of agriculture at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, were each awarded honorary American Future Farmers of America degrees at the...

Scott Roulier, associate professor of political science at Lyon College at Batesville, has been named State Professor of the Year.(EDUCATION)
December 5, 2005... Scott Roulier, associate professor of political science at Lyon College at Batesville, has been named State Professor of the Year jointly by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching of Stanford, Calif., and the Council for...

Simmons First National Corp.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
December 5, 2005... Alberta McKinney has been promoted to assistant vice president in the finance group in the main office of Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff. McKinney has been with the company for 20 years, most recently serving as corporate accounting...

TruService Community Federal Credit Union.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
December 5, 2005... Scott Sparks has been promoted to vice president of lending at the main office of TruService Community Federal Credit Union of Little Rock. Sparks joined the company's management team in 2003 as the marketing and business development director.

Summit Bank.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
December 5, 2005... David Scruggs has joined the Little Rock office of Summit Bank of Arkadelphia as executive vice president/senior lender. Austin Brightop has joined the Little Rock office of the bank as vice president of private banking. Sue Kennemer has been...

Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield.(HEALTH CARE)
December 5, 2005... Sherman Tate was elected to the board of directors of Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Little Rock. Tate is currently the vice president of external affairs for Alltel Corp. of Little Rock.

American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association.(HEALTH CARE)
December 5, 2005... Rick Fleetwood, general manager of Snell Prosthetic & Orthotic Laboratory of Little Rock, was elected to a seat on the board of directors of the American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association of Alexandria, Va.

Arkansas Hospital Association.(HEALTH CARE)
December 5, 2005... Robert Atkinson, president and CEO of Jefferson Regional Medical Center of Pine Bluff, was installed as the 72nd chairman of the board of directors for the Arkansas Hospital Association of Little Rock. Atkinson has been CEO for JRMC since 1992....

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.(HEALTH CARE)(Dr. Larry Johnson appointed)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Dr. Larry Johnson has joined the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock as director of the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine in the department of internal medicine of the College of Medicine. Johnson comes to...

Mangan Holcomb Partners.(MEDIA/MARKETING)
December 5, 2005... Ross Darby has joined Mangan Holcomb Partners of Little Rock as an account services assistant. Darby previously interned for the media department of the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation of Little Rock.

Jones Center for Families.(NONPROFIT)
December 5, 2005... Kathryn Birkhead has joined the Jones Center for Families of Springdale as director of diversity and inclusion. Patrick Swope, executive vice president of Legacy National Bank of Springdale, has been appointed to the Jones Center's development...

Heifer International.(NONPROFIT)
December 5, 2005... James Neal was hired as chief financial officer for Heifer International of Little Rock. Neal previously served as global operations consultant to Boston Scientific Corp. of Boston.

Stock summary.
December 5, 2005... STOCK SUMMARY 12/8/05 Weekly YTD Arkansas Public Company Stocks Close Close Change Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) 22.96 4.36% -16.67% A.E.R.T. (AERTA)...

Patio home project.(Whispers)(Chandler-Johnson Homes Inc)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... A pair of Little Rock developers, Rodney Chandler and Gary Johnson, that we featured in June for their new upscale patio home development in west Little Rock, Chardeaux Court, have a second project in the works near the Leawood neighborhood....

Chenal site.(Whispers)
December 5, 2005... A 1.2-acre commercial property in west Little Rock drew a $1.2 million transaction. R&RT Properties LLC, led by Robert and Rhonda Tillman, acquired part of the former home of OrthoArkansas at 13100 Chenal Parkway. The seller? M.C....

New new traditions.(Whispers)(Carol Smith)(New Traditions)(Brief Article)
December 5, 2005... Gayle Rule bought out her partner, Carol Smith, last week to become sole proprietor of New Traditions, the boutique at 1920 N. Grant St. in the Heights neighborhood of Little Rock. Rule has been at the store for more than 20 years, dating...

Noon pitch.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
December 5, 2005... With the close of the latest Nielsen television ratings period on Nov. 31, a few stations eagerly await feedback on a new idea tried out this quarter Perhaps the trendiest idea to hit the local airwaves last period was a move by KTHV-TV,...