Arkansas Business articles from February 2002

Arkansas Business archives from February 2002

Walgreens continues statewide expansion.
February 4, 2002... THE VENERABLE Walgreen Co. of Deerfield, Ill., left Arkansas in 1977, taking its lunch counter and retreating from the state for 18 years. When the company returned in 1995, it had a brand new plan. The new Walgreens stores -- free-standing...

Mansfield gets credit for hospital's turnaround: But contract with nurses' union still elusive.(Stephen L. Mansfield)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... AFTER LOSING $8 MILLION in fiscal 1999 and $25 million in the year that ended June 30, 2000, and watching a steady stream of top executives walk (or be escorted) Out the door, St. Vincent Health System seems to have turned the corner. In...

Higher rates stanch nursing homes' red ink.(in Arkansas)(Statistical Data Included)(Illustration)
February 4, 2002... FIFTY-SEVEN PERCENT OF Arkansas nursing homes lost money in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2001, and losses exceeded profits by more than $13 million. And that's the good news. The combination of improved Medicaid rates and a new...

Salogne Soiree. (Whispers).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Remember the big sale of home sites out at the new Chenal Valley golf course? Well, the names of buyers are beginning to crop up. Wayne Moore Construction Co. was the single largest buyer of lots, four for a total of $590,000. ...

Million dollar manor. (Whispers).(high-end residential real estate sale)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Speaking of high-end residential real estate... A home in the Pinnacle Point neighborhood of Cammack Village drew a $1.35 million purchase price. Randy and Marisa Ensminger acquired the 4,291-SF house. The seller? Frank Lyon...

The ultimate cubicle. (Whispers).(Stephens Group Inc. to divest stake in Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The company created to give UK animal research firm Huntingdon Life Sciences Group plc a U.S. home has its headquarters in a mail box at a Baltimore Mail Boxes Etc. location. Life Sciences Research Inc. is supposed to be an intermediate...

State's credit card rejected? (Whispers).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Apparently the state's credit card company has reached its limit with Arkansas. First we heard that the Attorney General's office tried to book an out-of-town trip, but the state's American Express card was rejected. (So much for the...

No risk. (Whispers).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Terrorism exclusions are being written into all kinds of commercial lines of coverage, but we think it's worth noting that a couple of insurance carriers are trying to get terrorism exclusions on personal lines of insurance. That's right:...

Social insecurity. (Whispers).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... There are a gazillion legal details in any business merger, but the merger last year of the Little Rock and North Little Rock water systems to form Central Arkansas Water has one that even the expert hasn't seen before. The newly merged...

What if? (Whispers).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Nisbet said he doubted a majority of the water employees would vote to opt out of Social Security, but there are some "paycheck-to-paycheck" types who might be tempted by an immediate increase of 7.65 percent in their paychecks. (Employers...

Big dollars. (Whispers).(Governor's Award for Entrepreneurial Development)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Last year, the winners of the first Governor's Award for Entrepreneurial Development -- the business plan competition for Arkansas college students sponsored by Arkansas Capital Corp. -- split $63,000 in prize money. This year's prize pool...

Walgreens sale. (Whispers).(Maxsam Capital Corp. purchases property from BCD Arkansas Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A Walgreens store in Little Rock changed hands in a $3.7 million deal. Maxsam Capital Corp. of San Francisco bought the 1.8-acre development at 3710 S. University Ave. The seller? BCD Arkansas Ltd. of Baytown, Texas, led by James...

Correction.(Correction Notice)
February 4, 2002... The name of Datamax of Arkansas was listed incorrectly in Arkansas Business' Jan. 21 list of largest information technology companies. Also, the company was founded in Little Rock in 1983. The phone number is (501) 603-3000. Micro Computer...

Stonewall Cheney.(Vice President Dick Cheney claims executive privilege in Enron investigation)(Editorial)
February 4, 2002... VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY claims his stonewalling the General Accounting Office on records of his meetings to develop the Bush administration's energy policies is needed to protect the balance of power among the three branches of government....

Letter.
February 4, 2002... Veteran Praises Hutchinson, Snyder I would like to publicly express appreciation to the stalwart effort of Sen. Tim Hutchinson, Congressman Vic Snyder and perhaps others within the Arkansas delegation who braved the odds and pushed through...

Justify this. (Editor's Note).(examination of Arkansas's educational cooperative system)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... IRAN INTO THE DIRECTOR OF one of the state's 15 "educational cooperatives" and, in my ever-tactful way, told him the cooperatives should be shut down because they are just bureaucracies that enable too-small school districts to survive. ...

Managing 'word-of-mouth'. (On Marketing).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... "I GET BUSINESS THROUGH word-of-mouth." I used to hear that all the time, especially back when I was selling radio advertising. Certainly, word-of-mouth and referrals can be powerful for your business, especially when consumers either feel...

Bank buy. (Real Deals).(BancorpSouth Bank purchases land from Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... An undeveloped four-acre commercial site in west Little Rock sold for more than $1.4 million ($8.30 per SF). BancorpSouth Bank of Tupelo, Miss., bought the land near the southeast corner of Kanis and Shackleford roads from Arkansas Farm...

Trailer transaction. (Real Deals).(Snikpoh Investments Ltd. acquires Southern Pines Mobile Home Park from R.W. Butler Family Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A 36-acre trailer park in southwest Little Rock changed hands in a $1 million deal. Snikpoh Investments Ltd., led by namesake revocable living trusts of Donald and Sandra Hopkins, purchased the Southern Pines Mobile Home Park at 9500 S....

Industrial sale. (Real Deals).(HCI Acquisitions Inc. acquires property from Harcross Chemicals Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A two-acre industrial project is under new ownership after a $350,000 deal. HCI Acquisitions Inc., led by Robert Chaney, acquired the Harcros Chemicals property at 3100 W. 65th St. from its namesake corporation, led by Walker Allen. ...

Convenient purchase. (Real Deals).
February 4, 2002... A convenience store property in North Little Rock rang up a $310,000 deal. Young and Chong Kim bought the 2511 Old Jacksonville Hwy. location from CDW Investments LLC, led by Michael Coulson. The deal is financed with a $248,000...

Belle river abode. (Real Deals).
February 4, 2002... A 3,164-SF home in Maumelle's Belle River neighborhood drew a $570,000 sales price. James and Melanie Christopher purchased the house from Steven and Jennifer Clausen. The deal is backed with a 15-year loan of $393,300 from Community Home...

Jacuzzi loan. (Real Deals).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A southwest Little Rock industrial facility is used to help secure a $1.6 billion funding agreement. Jacuzzi Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. Industries Inc. of South Iselin, N.J., obtained the financing from Wilmington Trust Co. of Delaware. The...

Baptist funding. (Real Deals).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A west Little Rock congregation picked up a $1.5. million financial package. Second Baptist Church at 1709 Barrow Road received the eight-year loan from Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock. The 4.6-acre property previously was linked...

North Park Mortgage. (Real Deals).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The owner of an 11.7-acre retail development in North Little Rock landed a $1 million mortgage. Lilac LLC, led by Andy Collins, secured the three-year loan from Regions Bank. North Park Mall at 4701 John F. Kennedy Blvd. previously was...

Timberwood note. (Real Deals).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A 56-unit Jacksonville apartment complex is financed with an $835,483 funding agreement. Zimmerman Properties LLC, led by Vaughn C. Zimmerman, obtained the 11-month loan from Great Southern Bank of Springfield, Mo. The 4.63-acre...

Investor financing. (Real Deals).
February 4, 2002... A pair of investment groups with common ownership picked up a $776,736 mortgage. Cantrell View Partnership and Valley View Apartments, both led by Willis Smith and Bek Kaiser, received the five-year loan from Bank of the Ozarks. The...

Dillard's files suit against insurance carriers. (Inside Business).
February 4, 2002... Dillard's Inc. is suing its insurance carriers over a $1.16 million judgment they refuse to pay. Dillard's wants a judge to order Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. of Ohio, based in Cincinnati, and Gulf Insurance Co. of New York to pay damages...

Anthony-Domtar plant open for business. (Inside Business).
February 4, 2002... Anthony-Domtar Inc., the joint venture between Anthony Forest Products Co. and Domtar Inc., is in business and taking orders after completion and testing of its new $15 million joist manufacturing plant at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The...

Superior Industries expands at Heber Springs. (Inside Business).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Superior Industries International Inc. of Van Nuys, Calif., expects to have about 300 people working at its renovated and expanded automobile parts manufacturing plant at Heber Springs. The plant produces suspension and other underbody...

Champion announces 100 jobs for Hope. (Inside Business).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Champion Parts Inc. of Hope is expanding its production capacity, which will create more than 100 jobs. Jterry Bragiel, CEO of Champion, said the company will renovate its manufacturing plant to accommodate the consolidation of the...

Arkansas Bio Ventures, Leslie Lane honored. (Inside Business).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The Arkansas Technology Transfer Society has recognized Leslie Lane III and Arkansas Bio Ventures for their innovative programs supporting technology development in the state. Lane, vice president of finance for the Arkansas Science and...

Latest investment fund launches in Fayetteville. (Inside Business).(Alpha Fund)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A $2 million-$5 million investment fund for developing technology companies has been launched at Fayetteville. The Alpha Fund, created by local investment bankers David Lewis and John Nock, will make investments between $50,000 and $500,000...

Tyson Foods Inc. (Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Despite current legal battles, Tyson Foods Inc. reported significant improvements during, its fiscal first quarter. Tyson CFO Steve Hankins announced first-quarter net income of $126.9 million, or 36 cents a share, compared to last year's...

Murphy Oil Corp. (Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Murphy Oil Corp. reported a drop in fourth-quarter earnings and said falling oil and natural gas prices cut into the company's revenue. Net income for the final quarter was $28.8 million, or 63 cents a share, compared with earnings of...

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. said fourth-quarter earnings fell from the same time last year, though they still beat Wall Street estimates. The full-truckload carrier reported income before items of $8 million or 22 cents as share,...

USA Truck Inc. (Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... USA Truck Inc. of Van Buren has named Jerry D. Orler to replace Robert M. Powell as president. Orler moves from his current position as vice president of finance and chief financial officer. Orler has been vice president since 1989. Powell...

Employee productivity highest on Tuesdays. (NW Journal).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Executives think Monday and Tuesday are employees' most productive business days, according to a recent survey released by Accountemps Inc. of Fayetteville. Conducted by Accountemps' parent company Robert Half International Inc. of Menlo...

Arvest Banks raked profits in 2001's 3Q. (NW Journal).
February 4, 2002... Four of the five northwest Arkansas banks that showed the best profits in 2001's third quarter were properties of Arvest Bank Group Inc. in Bentonville. The bulk compilation of the banks' income statistics taken from individual call...

Blytheville incinerator will save city $450,000. (NW Journal).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A contract to dispose of all of Blytheville's garbage will save the city about $450,000. Blytheville Mayor Barrett Harrison said the city recently signed a 10-year contract with Blytheville Waste to Energy, a subsidiary of Arkansas Waste...

Dell asks Blytheville for lower water rates. (NW Journal).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The city of Dell said its growth is being hampered by the water rates Blytheville Water Works is charging. Dell Mayor Kenneth Jackson has asked the Blytheville Water Commission to charge a flat 94 cents per thousand gallons instead of the...

Highland hopes to install new sewer system. (NW Journal).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The city of Highland is hoping voters pass a half-cent sales tax at the end of the month so it can go ahead with plans for a $5 million sewer system. With the tax revenue, the city would be able to pay off a $1 million loan from the U.S....

The Oyster Bar. (Business Lunch).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Address: 3003 W. Markham St., Little Rock 72205 Phone: (501) 666-7100 Hours: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday 2001 Revenue: $597,505 5 Waiters-Perfection; 4-Excellent; 3-Good;...

Customers help check out new technology: Wal-Mart testing competing self-checkout systems in U.S. stores.
February 4, 2002... FOR THE PAST YEAR, WAL-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville has been testing four different self-checkout scanning systems in stores across the United States, said Tom Williams, a spokesman for the world's largest retailer. The machines allow...

Arkansas business litt: What profitable nursing homes. Ranked by net income for fiscal year ending June 30, 2001.(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... ARKANSAS BUSINESS LIST: MOST PROFITABLE NURSING HOMES Ranked by net income for fiscal year ending June 30, 2001 Net No. of Net Income Facility, Location Income...

Beverly creates procurement subsidiary. (Health Care Notes).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Beverly Enterprises Inc. of Fort Smith has created a new subsidiary, Ceres Strategies Inc., that will operate a Web-based procurement management system for long-term care facilities outside the Beverly network. Lisa Huckelbury, senior...

Siloam springs hospital intends to fire Quorum. (Health Care Notes).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The board of directors at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital recently announced the hospital's intent to end its management relationship with Quorum Health Resources of Brentwood, Tenn. In a Jan. 17 meeting, the board unanimously voted to...

UAMS psychiatry department awarded accreditation. (Health Care Notes).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The Department of Psychiatry of the College of Medicine within the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock has achieved accreditation for its outpatient clinical program from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of...

Baptist health adds 43 beds. (Health Care Notes).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Baptist Health, the largest health care provider in the state, is redesigning space at Baptist Medical Center in Little Rock so that 43 patient beds can be added. The project involves converting space that has been called Pyxis rooms --...

Study: 400,000 have no insurance. (Health Care Notes).(study by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... A study by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement has disclosed that 400,000 Arkansans have no health insurance. Among working-age adults (19-64 years old), 20 percent are uninsured. And in some regions of the state, up to 28 percent...

New hospital planned at Blytheville. (Health Care Notes).(by Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Baptist Memorial Health Care Corp. of Memphis is making long-range plans to construct a new hospital at Blytheville, according to Brandt Wright, administrator of Baptist Memorial Hospital-Blytheville. Within the next 30 days, Baptist...

Dibbler Golf Systems. (New Businesses).(golf equipment business started by Dale Schimmel)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Owner: Dale Schimmel Address: 423 Collins, Little Rock 72202 Phone: (501) 681-3321 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday Startup: Sept. 13 Web site: www.dibbler.com Dale Schimmel is taking a year off from his job as a...

Faulkner Lake Farms. (New Businesses).(created by Jim and Kristen Taylor to provide fresh vegetables to local restaurants)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Owners: Jim and Kristen Taylor Address: 5312 Park Village Drive, Little Rock 72209 Phone: (501) 568-5225 Hours: By appointment Startup: Nov. 1 Jim and Kristen Taylor were eating out one night last year when they agreed...

Finality LLC. (New Businesses).(created as wholesale casket operation)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Partner: Stephanie Webb Address: 3310 E. Broadway Ave., North Little Rock 72114 Phone: (501) 955-0506 Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, Saturday by appointment only Startup: Jan. 2 E-mail: finalityllc@aol.com It's...

Calendar.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... FEBRUARY * 5 -- University of Arkansas Spring Career Fair Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Location: Arkansas Union, Fayetteville For more information, call (501) 764-1654. * 5 -- Executive Forum on Information Security Sponsor:...

Movers & Shakers.(personnel hirings and promotions)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ACCOUNTING Corey Jennings, Jamie Garner, Suzanne Williams and Clint Holt have been added to the tax and audit departments of Hudson Cisne Thessing & Co. LLP, certified public accountants, in Little Rock. Jennings, Garner and Williams will...

Stock summary.(for Arkansas public companies)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... STOCK SUMMARY Arkansas Public Company Stocks 01/31/02 Weekly YTD 52-Week Close Change Change High Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) ...

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (Business Briefs).(hires Tom Mars)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Tom Mars, a Fayetteville trial lawyer and former director of the Arkansas State Police, has been named a vice president and assistant general counsel by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Mars, 43, became a partner in the Fayetteville office of Kutak Rock...

The Federal Reserve. (Business Briefs).(interest rates)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The Federal Reserve decided last week to leave short-term interest rates unchanged, ending a historic streak of 11 rate cuts in 2001. The Fed left the federal funds rate, an overnight bank lending rate, at 1.75 percent. It left the discount...

Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. (Business Briefs).(National Association of Homebuilders-International Builders' Show)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. of Springdale will exhibit its line of composite building materials at the 2002. National Association of Homebuilders-International Builders' Show, Feb. 8-11 at the Georgia World Congress...

North Point Auto Group. (Business Briefs).(Golden Web Award, International Association of Webmasters and Designers)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... North Point Auto Group has been honored with the Golden Web Award from the International Association of Webmasters and Designers for the outstanding design, content and originality of its Web site, www.northpointcars.com. North Point is part of...

Entergy Corp. (Business Briefs).(Claiborne P. Deming)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Entergy Corp. has named Claiborne P. Deming, president and chief executive officer of Murphy Oil Corp., to its board of directors. Deming, 47, has headed Murphy Oil since October 1994. He's a member of the board of directors of Murphy Oil and...

Arkansas Federal Credit Union. (Business Briefs).(Conway branch)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Arkansas Federal Credit Union of Jacksonville, the state's largest credit union with $320 million in total assets and more than 56,000 members, will open its new Conway branch at 9 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 4. The credit union bought the building...

Foundation Resources Management Inc. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Foundation Resources Management Inc., a Little Rock investment adviser, has a new co-owner and a new location. Mark Milsap, the former managing principal of Meridian Management Co., has joined Greg Hartz, founder of the company, as equal...

Acxiom Corp. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Acxiom Corp. is offering some $150 million of convertible subordinated notes due 2009 and says it will use the proceeds to repay existing debt. The notes will be convertible into Acxiom common stock at the option of the holder at a price still...

The Cobalt Group. (Business Briefs).(AutoMarket In.Sight software)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The Cobalt Group, a Seattle-based software provider to the automotive retail marker, and Acxiom unveiled AutoMarket In.Sight, an electronic customer relationship management software, at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention at...

Potlatch Corp. (Business Briefs).(earnings report)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Potlatch Corp. of Spokane, Wash., posted a loss of $31.7 million, or $1.12 a share, last year, compared with a loss of $15.7 million, or 55 cents per share, a year earlier. Sales slipped to $394.9 million from $419.7 million last year.

Compaq Computer Corp. (Business Briefs).(wins contract from Beverly Enterprises Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Compaq Computer Corp. of Houston has signed a $10 million agreement with Beverly Enterprises Inc. naming Compaq the company's preferred IT personal computer vendor. The first project under this agreement involves the roll out of more than 8,000...

Delta Connection. (Business Briefs).(adds nonstop service between Texarkana, Dallas-Fort Worth)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Delta Connection will offer daily nonstop jet service between Texarkana and Dallas-Fort Worth beginning April 7. The new flight, to be operated by Delta Connection carrier Atlantic Southeast Airlines, will replace a turboprop one flight, giving...

Charlie Daniels. (Business Briefs).(reports on turnback funds to county governments)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... State Land Commissioner Charlie Daniels said nearly $8 million in turnback funds were released to county governments last year. Those are funds that come from the redemption and sale of tax delinquent property. Pulaski County got the lion's...

Plum Creek Timber Co. (Business Briefs).(reports fourth quarter, full year financial results)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Plum Creek Timber Co. of Seattle posted fourth-quarter earnings of $226 million, or $1.25 per diluted share, after its merger with The Timber Co. on Oct. 6. For the full year 2001, Plum Creek reported earnings of $338 million, or $2.58 per...

Entergy Corp. (Business Briefs).(reports financial figures for 2001)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Entergy Corp. says it earned $726.2 million, or $3.23 a share, in 2001, compared with $679.3 million, or $2.97 a share, in 2000. "Based on the fundamental strength of our company, we are raising our 2002 guidance to $3.40 to $3.60, exclusive of...

Sharpe Dunaway. (Outtakes).(is laid off by Clear Channel Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Corporate cutbacks at Clear Channel Broadcasting of San Antonio have struck again, this time claiming one of drive time's most listened-to deejays. Sharpe Dunaway said he was laid off from KMJX-FM, 105.1 (Magic 105). Listeners have noted...

In the news. (Outtakes).(Clear Channel unit is acquiring Ackerley Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Speaking of Clear Channel, the communications giant has been in the news a lot lately. Among the highlights: * Shareholders of The Ackerley Group Inc. of Seattle last week approved and adopted a plan to merge with a wholly owned subsidiary...

Off the hook. (Outtakes).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... A missing computer and an unruly phone systems made it an odd couple of weeks for employees of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. On Jan. 21, workers began the week with the phone system malfunctioning, sending reporters and salespeople to...

Thompson Resigns. (Outtakes).(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Mike Thompson, one of the two founders of ThompsonMurray of Springdale, announced Jan. 28 that he will resign to "pursue family priorities and business interests." Thompson served as chief development officer. His resignation was effective...

Arkansongs. (Outtakes).
February 4, 2002... The Central Arkansas Library System and the Butler Center are underwriting a series of 5-8 minute segments KABF-FM, 88.3, focusing on Arkansas-related artists and songs. The segments, called "Arkansongs," began airing two weeks ago at 6:40...

Tyson foods' buyout of IBP tops 2001's biggest deals. (Biggest Deals 2001).(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... THE REALLY BIG DEAL of 2001 didn't happen, and the deal that was the largest almost didn't. In August, Alltel Corp. surprised Pearly everyone by making an unsolicited bid to buy Century Tel Inc. of Monroe, La., for $6.1 billion, plus...

State seen as haven for national class-action lawsuits.(Arkansas)
February 11, 2002... THE ACKERSON GROUP of Washington, D.C., filed a lawsuit on Dec. 19 in Franklin County Circuit Court seeking national class-action certification for a claim against Union Pacific Railroad Co. of Omaha, Neb. In Grant County Circuit Court, an...

Property tax appeal raises questions: Pattison gave one value in appraisal, much lower one for property tax appeal.(Dwight Pattison)
February 11, 2002... THE HAGGLING OVER property taxes on a sprawling Little Rock industrial project ended two months ago, but questions linger about how the appeal was handled by an appraisal firm and whether professional conduct standards were broken. Dwight...

St. Vincent's money. (Whispers).(differing financial reports from St. Vincent Health System)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... While St. Vincent Health System is crying poor to its nurses, it is telling us its financial status is nothing to be alarmed about. St. Vincent wouldn't give Arkansas Business its year-to-date numbers for fiscal 2002, which began in July,...

Still onboard? (Whispers).(Global Crossing donation to Bill Clinton library)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... Add Global Crossing, a high-speed communications network operator, to the growing list of bankrupt companies under the glare for questionable accounting practices. But what might be a concern to Clinton Presidential Library organizers is...

Line up change. (Whispers).(Tom Reed joins the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... A new face is joining the real estate advisory committee for Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. That would be Tom Reed, owner of the Springdale appraisal firm of Reed & Associates. Reed is in essence a replacement for another...

Possible pavilion purchase. (Whispers).(Little Rock's Pavilion In the Park)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... Did you know a would-be buyer is kicking the tires on Little Rock's Pavilion In the Park? No word - yet - on the identity of the potential purchaser. Cooper Communities Inc. of Bella Vista owns the 82,000-SF, mixed office/retail...