Arkansas Business articles from February 2003

Arkansas Business archives from February 2003

Alltel sells AIS, prepares to go buying.(Alltel Information Services)
February 3, 2003... THE $1.05 BILLION SALE OF ITS information services subsidiary is positioning Little Rock's Alltel Corp. to return to the acquisition trail and expand its core business. The $775 million cash portion of the deal will build a corporate war...

Hospitals close psychiatric units.
February 3, 2003... ONE BY ONE, CASH-strapped hospitals across Arkansas are closing their psychiatric wards, choking off the few remaining avenues of care for the severely mentally ill. Because the majority of those hospitalized for psychiatric treatment are...

Nursing homes try again to limit court evidence: insurance bill also includes far-reaching tort reform provision.
February 3, 2003... IN THE 2001 LEGISLATIVE SESSION, the nursing home industry had two primary goals: improved reimbursement for caring for Medicaid patients and tort reform. It succeeded in the first (see sidebar, Page 21) and failed in the second. This...

Two lumps of Kohl. (Whispers).(Kohl's Department Store looks to open new locations)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... We hear Kohl's Department Store of Menomonee Falls, Wis., has been nosing around West Little Rock recently. Reports have it that the retailer is looking at places along Chenal Parkway, though an exact location couldn't be confirmed. ...

Kinco on the move. (Whispers).(Kinco Constructors to relocate corporate office)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A leading general contracting firm in Arkansas will be moving to new digs in the coming weeks. Kinco Constructors of Little Rock is relocating its corporate office from 15617 Chenal Parkway to 13001 Col. Glenn Road. The property at the...

Sarah's Antiques closes. (Whispers).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... It seems the closure bug is going around and Sarah Morris, owner of Sarah's Antiques in Little Rock, has also fallen victim. The antiques and knick-knacks store at 5623 Kavanaugh Blvd. in The Heights neighborhood will be closing at the end...

Phil's packs up. (Whispers).(Phil's in The Heights closes)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... More doom and gloom. Friday was the last day of business for Phil's in The Heights, a 7-year-old restaurant. Owned by Jamie Parham, Phil's served up casseroles, lunch specials, entrees and a variety of desserts as well as cheese...

Franchise trouble. (Whispers).(Stephen Walker and Cynthia Walker file law suit against Meineke Discount Muffler Shops Inc. )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A Russellville couple who wanted to expand their business said they got a raw deal with Meineke Discount Muffler Shops Inc. of Charlotte, N.C. Stephen and Cynthia Walker said they saw an Internet ad for franchise opportunities with Meineke...

Baby blues. (Whispers).(Vickie Taylor files law suit against W&W Ford Sales Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A Searcy woman is suing her former employer, W & W Ford. Sales Inc. of Searcy, saying she was fired for refusing to get an abortion after she became pregnant by a manager. W & W Ford Sales said Vickie Taylor was filed for cause, not...

Committee formed. (Whispers).(Conway Boosters form Committee of 100)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Have you heard that Conway boosters have formed a new group to promote economic development? The Committee of 100 is its name. We understand the group is halfway to recruiting its namesake number of top executives in Faulkner County....

Hauling dirt. (Whispers).(Saline County Regional Airport runway construction)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Construction has begun on the Saline County Regional Airport. "They're hauling in dirt now for the runway, but it's slow going because the dirt won't compact when the temperature is below freezing," said Rae Ann Fields, executive director...

Make the case. (Editorial).(George W. Bush State of the Union address)(Editorial)
February 3, 2003... WE WERE HOPING THAT President Bush would use his us State of the Union address to tell something we didn't already know about the reasons he wants to invade Iraq. Instead, the president said he would release more damaging evidence this...

On the attack. (Editorial).(Mike Huckabee proposes education reform)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 3, 2003... GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE HAS A strategic plan for leading an apparently reluctant state toward radical education reform. It's a good thing, too. Although we believe it's a minority, there's a very vocal segment of Arkansans who fear better...

Letter.(Letter to the Editor)
February 3, 2003... Thoughtful Editorial Your editorial, "Reform for the Right Reason," is perhaps the most thoughtful one that's been written on this subject. You are correct: The system needs to be reformed simply for the sake of doing the right thing. ...

Time for bed. (Editor's Note).(Mike Huckabee proposes school district mergers)(Editorial)
February 3, 2003... HOUSE DEMOCRATS, HOPING to appease the rural interests up in arms against Gov. Mike Huckabee's historic proposal to merge school districts with fewer than 1,500 students, say consolidation should be "based on performance standards and...

Protect access to health care. (Commentary).(tort reform proposal )(Column)
February 3, 2003... LIKE MANY ARKANSANS, I'VE been reading the anti-tort-reform "letters to the editor" being orchestrated by out-of-state trial lawyers. If history holds true, there's even more deception and sophistry on the way. In other states where tort...

Mobile transaction. (Real Deals).(Cross Street Services Inc. acquires mobile home park from Lochridge Mobile Homes Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A Sherwood mobile borne property changed hands in a $750,000 deal. Cross Street Services Inc., led by Tom Salmon, bought the Lochridge Mobile Homes location at 8550 Landers Road. The seller is Lochridge Mobile Homes Inc., led by William...

Apartment sale. (Real Deals).(M&S Apartments L.L.C. acquires building from Wes Crank and Dennis Cooper)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Ownership of a 12-unit apartment project in downtown Little Rock shifted in a $493,000 deal. M&S Apartments LLC, led by Mark and Susan Reynolds, purchased the project at 500 E. Sixth St. from Wes Crank and Dennis Cooper. The deal is...

Automotive site. (Real Deals).(O'Reilly Automotive Inc. acquires property)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A near 0.7-acre commercial site in North Little Rock drew a $250,000 sale (about $8.40 per SF). O'Reilly Automotive Inc. of Springfield, Mo., acquired the property on the east side of Camp Robinson Road about a mile north of Interstate 40....

Medical space. (Real Deals).(Bressinck Gibson Partnership acquires building space from Baptist Health of Little Rock)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Medical office space in west Little Rock changed hands in a $235,000 deal. Bressinck Gibson Partnership, led by Renie Bressinck, Michael Sangster and Gunner Gibson, purchased the space on the sixth floor of the Medical Towers Building at...

Edgehill home. (Real Deals).(Charles H. Murphy III Revocable Trust buys home from the Geoffrey J. Tirman Revocable Trust)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A 5,789-SF home in Little Rock's prestigious Edgehill neighborhood tipped the scales at $1.85 million. The Charles H. Murphy III Revocable Trust bought the residence from the Geoffrey J. Tirman Revocable Trust. The house previously was...

PV abode. (Real Deals).(Thomas and Charliene Gilder sell house to Wayne and Shawnee Bruffett )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A 5,050-SF home in west Little Rock's Pleasant Valley neighborhood sold for $585,000. Wayne and Shawnee Bruffett purchased the house from Thomas and Charliene Gilder. The deal is backed with a 15-year loan of $468,000 from First Financial...

Prospect house. (Real Deals).(Thomas and Ginger Blackmon acquire house from Carolyn Barnett)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A 3,318-SF home in Little Rock's Prospect Terrace neighborhood rang up a $550,000 deal. Thomas and Ginger Blackmon acquired the house from Carolyn Barnett. The residence previously was tied to a November 1993 mortgage of $230,000 held...

National home loan. (Real Deals).(Newman Family LLC, owner of Newman's National Home Center, lands funding)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The owner of a home improvement center in Sherwood landed an $11 million funding agreement. Newman Family LLC, led by. Dwain Newman, obtained the loan from Arvest Bank of Little Rock. The 13.3-acre National Home Center. development at...

Multifamily mortgage. (Real Deals).(Lilac L.L.C. gets loan from Metropolitan National Bank)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The owner of a 320-unit North Little Rock apartment project picked up a $3 million financial package. Lilac LLC, led by Andy Collins, received the five-year loan from Metropolitan National Bank. The 20-acre McCain Park development at...

Retail refinance. (Real Deals).(Matthews Management Co. LLC secures five-year loan)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The owner of three adjoining retail projects in Sherwood snagged a $2.68 million mortgage. Matthews Management Co. LLC, led by David Matthews, secured the five-year loan from Metropolitan National Bank. The funding is secured by the...

Church funding. (Real Deals).(Greater Second Baptist Church Inc. obtains three-year loan)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A south Little Rock congregation got a $1.58 million funding agreement. Greater Second Baptist Church Inc. obtained the three-year loan from Bank of America in Charlotte, N.C. The eight-acre development at 5615 Geyer Springs Road...

Office financing. (Real Deals).(Arkansas Land Group Inc. receives five-year loan)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The owner of a North Little Rock office building landed a $1.05 million financial package. Arkansas Land Group Inc. led by William Alfonso, received the five-year loan from Bank of the Ozarks. The 1.8-acre 2501 Crestwood Road Building...

Industrial land. (Real Deals).(EBAC LIC gets loan from Arvest Bank)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A North Little Rock industrial site is backing a $664,000 note. EBAC LIC, led by Charles Brooks, secured the six-month loan from Arvest Bank. The near 2.8-acre location at 7801 Industry Drive was bought for $80,000 in July 2000 from...

Otter Creek parcel. (Real Deals).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A 12.5-acre parcel in southwest Little Rock was used to secure a $697,000 mortgage. Otter Creek Land Co. LLC, led by Tommy Hodges, obtained the one-year loan from Allied Bank of Mulberry. The land previously was tied to a January 2002...

Harb mortgage. (Real Deals).(HF Enterprises LLC receives loan)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... A west Little Rock office project is refinanced with a $500,000 mortgage. HF Enterprises LLC, led by Ron and Joyce Harb, received the five-year loan from Regions Bank of Birmingham, Ala. The 1.2-acre development at 1719 Merrill Drive...

Consolidation foes can be converted. (Education).(survey results regarding Mike Huckabee school consolidation program)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The Next Step Foundation Inc. and the Next Step Council Inc. released results last week from a statewide poll that said Arkansans oppose Gov. Mike Huckabee's school consolidation plan by 48 percent to 42 percent. The survey, conducted Jan....

Former Bank commissioner Ford dies in St. Louis. (Banking & Finance).(Bill J. Ford, 79, served as Arkansas bank commissioner)(Brief Article)(Obituary)
February 3, 2003... Bill J. Ford, 79, who served as state bank commissioner from 1987 to 1998, died Jan. 23 in St. Louis, where he had moved after his retirement. Ford was 63 when then-Gov. Bill Clinton appointed him to replace Marlin Jackson as commissioner...

Ross bill would aid lumber industry. (Forestry).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Fourth District Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark., last week joined Rep. Chip Pickering, R-Miss., in introducing legislation to protect the U.S. lumber industry. The Pickering-Ross Duty Parity Act of 2003 would have the effect of mandating higher...

J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. (Public Company Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. said net earnings rose 57 percent, hitting a record of $51.8 mil- lion for 2002, or earnings per share of $1.33, also a record number, compared with 2001 full-year earnings of $32.9 million, or 91 cents a...

USA Truck Inc. (Public Company Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... USA Truck Inc. said operating revenue, before a fuel surcharge, rose 9.7 percent to $67.3 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with $61.4 million for the same quarter of 2001. Net income, however, fell 15.6 percent to $526,746...

International Paper Co. (Public Company Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... International Paper Co. reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $130 million, or 27 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $572 million, or $1.19 a share, a year ago after cost cuts helped offset charges for restructuring and legal reserves....

First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. (Public Company Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. reported fourth-quarter net income of $1.96 million or, 74 cents a share. For the same period last year, the company reported net income of $1.6 million, or 55 cents a share. For the year, the...

Murphy Oil Corp. (Public Company Earnings Reports).(reported net income of $57.6 million)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Murphy Oil Corp. reported net income of $57.6 million, or 62 cents a share, up from net income of $28.8 million, or 31 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter. The company reported earnings per share from continued operations of 49 cents....

Tyson Foods Inc. (Public Company Earnings Reports).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Tyson Foods Inc. said earnings for the first quarter were $39 million, compared with $127 million for the same period last year. Tyson Foods' operating income was $145 million on revenue of $5.8 billion in the first quarter, down from $273...

Stubblefield retires from ABF Freight. (Trucking & Transportation).(ABF Freight System Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... David Stubblefield, president and CEO of ABF Freight System Inc., retired Friday after 43 years with the Fort Smith trucking company. ABF is the largest subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corp. "ABF is the company that it is today in large...

El Dorado Power company in service. (Energy).(Union Power Station at El Dorado)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Teco Power Services and Panda Energy said the first phase of their joint venture, Union Power Station at El Dorado, is fully tested and in service. Teco Panda Generating Co. began operating the plant's first 550-megawatt power block on...

Little rock national airport passenger enplanements.(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Little Rock National Airport Passenger Enplanements December 2002 2002 2001 America 11,354 208,174 96,694 Delta 17,020 203,156...

Copeland's claims $4.1 million in sales. (NW Journal).(Copeland's Famous New Orleans Restaurant and Bar)
February 3, 2003... Although it has been open only since mid-April, Copeland's Famous New Orleans Restaurant and Bar in Rogers had sales of $4.1 million for 2002, said Paul Nelson, general manager of the restaurant. That number appears to make Copeland's the...

Bank of Arkansas makes private banking a priority. (NW Journal).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Jeff Dunn, president and CEO of Bank of Arkansas, sounded like a determined sports manager in December when he vowed the bank would build its personal financial services business in 2003. On Jan. 24, he made Jeffrey Cude his No. 1 draft pick....

Gosnell wants city sales tax. (NE Journal).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The city of Gosnell will ask its residents to approve a 1.5 cent sales tax to offset the loss of revenue from the state. As a result of the city's falling population, the state has reduced its funding to the city, said Mayor Dick Reams. ...

Paragould wants ads on police cars. (NE Journal).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The city of Paragould has applied to receive corporate sponsored police cars. In its application to Government Acquisition Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., the city has agreed to take two police cars with a company's logo on its hood and side...

ASU spends $2 million to furnish student center. (NE Journal).(Arkansas State University at Jonesboro)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Arkansas State University at Jonesboro will spend $2 million to furnish the new Student Union, which is expected to open in August. The school will borrow the money to pay for the furnishings "because we've got to have the furniture here as...

Stephens, Smiley founded AIS.(Jack Stephens, Walter Smiley, Alltel Information Services)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... ALLTEL CORP ACQUIRED Systematics Information $528. Services Inc. in a 1990 stock swap: valued at $528 million and changed its name to Alltel Information Services in 1995 to growing Alltel name. At that time, AIS accounted for nearly 30...

Consumers can see signs of HIPAA privacy rules. (Health Care Update).(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)
February 3, 2003... MOST ARKANSAS HEALTH care organizations are ready for the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 deadline set for April 14, which will deal with how to keep patients' medical information confidential. Consumers may already...

NW Especially vulnerable. (Health Care Update).(mental health care in Arkansas)
February 3, 2003... NORTHWEST ARKANSAS has no state-funded mental health facility; and without state support, a 24-bed mental health facility would lose $950,000 per year, according to a recent task force study. That's because of the disparity in mental health...

Nursing home reimbursements up 52%. (Health Care Update).
February 3, 2003... THE "QUALITY ASSURANCE FEE" -- AKA bed tax -- that Gov. Huckabee signed into law in 2001 has had its intended effect: Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing homes in Arkansas have increased by an average of 52 percent in the past two years....

Arkansas business list: most profitable nursing homes. (Health Care Update).(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... ARKANSAS BUSINESS LIST: MOST PROFITABLE NURSING HOMES Ranked by net income in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 Facility Net Income Beds Location Net Income Per...

Arkansas business list: least profitable nursing homes. (Health Care Update).(Illustration)
February 3, 2003... ARKANSAS BUSINESS LIST: LEAST PROFITABLE NURSING HOMES Ranked by net loss in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 Facility Net Loss Beds Location Net Loss per Bed...

Nursing homes use scorecard to measure improvements. (Health Care Update).
February 3, 2003... THE ARKANSAS HEALTH CARE Association initiated the Quality Care Improvement Program in July to improve the quality of care offered at nursing homes and retirement facilities across the state by using a scorecard to regulate quality among its...

S.O.S. campaign hitting target. (Health Care Notes).(Stamp Out Smoking )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... During the first six months of the Arkansas Department of Health's "Stamp Out Smoking" campaign, nine out of 10 Arkansas youths recently surveyed reported they had seen, heard or read a message against smoking. "We started the program by...

UAMS to offer seminars on Alzheimer's. (Health Care Notes).(University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will present free seminars about Alzheimer's disease and dementia on Feb. 11, April 8 and May 13. The seminars will take place from noon - 1 p.m. in the Sam Walton Auditorium of the Arkansas...

Arkansas Children's Hospital receives $213,000 grant. (Health Care Notes).(from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Arkansas Children's hospital has received a $213,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to establish an injury prevention program in Little Rock. The four-year grant will create the "Injury Free Coalition for Kids" community...

UA Clinic offers counseling on sliding scale. (Health Care Notes).(University of Arkansas Psychological Clinic)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... At a time when fees continue to climb for mental health services, the University of Arkansas Psychological Clinic offers affordable professional counseling in northwest Arkansas. "One of the benefits of running a training clinic is that we...

Environmental Safeguards Inc. of Houston has signed a contact to process various wastes at Rineco Chemical Industries Inc. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Environmental Safeguards Inc. of Houston has signed a contact to process various wastes at Rineco Chemical Industries Inc. of Benton. Environmental Safeguards said it is using its Indirect Thermal Desorption technology and equipment to...

Preston Bynum and Eric Munson have been named to the Arkansas Independent Automobile Dealers Association. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Preston Bynum and Eric Munson have been named to the Arkansas Independent Automobile Dealers Association's governmental affairs team. Bynum has been a contract lobbyist since 1997. Munson previously served as the economic development and...

FleetNet America LLC of Cherryville, N.C., a subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corp. (Business Briefs).(is developing a national towing and recovery certification program)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * FleetNet America LLC of Cherryville, N.C., a subsidiary of Arkansas Best Corp., is developing a national towing and recovery certification program to be launched later this year. FleetNet is developing a database of certified towing and...

Lisa Smittcamp Goeas, deputy chief of staff to former Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., has been named chief of staff for the U.S. Small Business Administration. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Lisa Smittcamp Goeas, deputy chief of staff to former Sen. Tim Hutchinson, R-Ark., has been named chief of staff for the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Fresno, Calif., native came from several generations of successful small-business...

Mitchell Lowe, 32, who served as Sen. Tim Hutchinson. (Business Briefs).(has been named executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Mitchell Lowe, 32, who served as Sen. Tim Hutchinson's regional representative for northwest Arkansas, has been named executive director of the Republican Party of Arkansas. The Little Rock native had previously served as political...

Entergy Nuclear's 10-unit fleet generated more than 70 million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2002. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Entergy Nuclear's 10-unit fleet generated more than 70 million megawatt-hours of electricity in 2002, an 8 percent increase over the previous year's generation. Fleet capacity factor averaged more than 96 percent in a year that included seven...

Dillard's Inc. will contribute $223,985 to Ronald McDonald House Charities. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Dillard's Inc. will contribute $223,985 to Ronald McDonald House Charities as a result of their Christmas Collection 2002 CD sales. The company has donated more than $3 million to Ronald McDonald Houses over the past nine years.

Venture capital last year fell to barely half of what it was in 2001. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Venture capital last year fell to barely half of what it was in 2001. Nationally, 692 companies raised $4.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2002 and $21.2 billion for the entire year, according to the MoneyTree Survey of venture capital...

Murphy Oil Corp. has formed two new exploration and production companies. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Murphy Oil Corp. has formed two new exploration and production companies and named presidents to oversee them. John C. Higgins has been named president of the Murphy Exploration and Production Co.-USA. David M. Wood has been named president...

A 95.5-ton steel beam that will support one third of the 70,000-SF Clinton Presidential Library. (Business Briefs).(put in place)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * A 95.5-ton steel beam that will support one third of the 70,000-SF Clinton Presidential Library was put in place last week. The 50-feet long, 15-feet deep piece of steel is a main support for the remaining 90 feet of raised portion of the...

The Empress of little Rock, a bed and breakfast, has received the American Automobile Association. (Business Briefs).(Four Diamond Award)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * The Empress of little Rock, a bed and breakfast, has received the American Automobile Association's Four Diamond Award for 2003. It is the sixth year that the Empress has won the AAA recognition that's published in travel books. It's given to...

Joe T. Ford, chairman of Alltel Corp., and William "Hootie" Johnson. (Business Briefs).(were added to the board of Stephens Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Joe T. Ford, chairman of Alltel Corp., and William "Hootie" Johnson, who retired in 2001 as the chairman of the executive committee of Bank of America, were recently added to the board of Stephens Group Inc.

The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. (Business Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * The University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is co-hosting the "Arkansas Remote Sensing Symposium -- Precision Agriculture and Forestry Applications" on Feb. 18 at the Extension Service's Little Rock office. Co-sponsors are the...

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. has awarded CAE USA. (Business Briefs).(a contract to design additional C-130J training devices and provide training support services for the U.S. Air Force)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... * Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. has awarded CAE USA a $15.6 million contract to design additional C-130J training devices and provide training support services for the U.S. Air Force. CAE also will provide training support services at Little...

Padgett Business Services. (New Businesses).(offers business and accounting solutions for small businesses)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Owners: Ryman and Linda Johnson Address: 6929 JFK Blvd., Suite 20-114, North Little Rock 72116 Phone: (501) 835-0090 Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Startup: Jan. 1 Web site: www.smallbizpros.com For more than 35 years, Padgett...

Hancock & Lane. (New Businesses).(new law practice opens)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Owners: Dan Hancock and Jonathan Lane Address: 300 Spring St., Suite 508, Little Rock 72201 Phone: (501) 372-6400 Hours: 8 a.m.-5p.m. Startup: Feb. 3 E-mail: jtlane@justice.com Dan Hancock and Jonathan Lane, two young...

Crazy Hibachi. (New Businesses).(new Asian restaurant opens)
February 3, 2003... Owner: Bill Chi Address: 2907 Lakewood Village Drive, North Little Rock 72116 Phone: (501) 812-9888 Hours: 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-10 p.m. (Open until 11 p.m. on weekends) Startup: Nov. 29 After Thanksgiving, Little Rock...

Calendar.(Calendar)
February 3, 2003... FEBRUARY * 4 -- Schedule C Corporation Sponsor: IRS Time: 9 a.m. - noon Location: Federal Building, Little Rock For more information, call (501) 324-9043 * 4 -- Schedule C Corporation Sponsor: US Bank Time:...

Accounting. (Movers & Shakers).(Allison Thomas joins Little Rock office of Ernst & Young LLP as a manager in the Business Risk Services practice)
February 3, 2003... Allison Thomas has joined the Little Rock office of Ernst & Young LLP as a manager in the Business Risk Services practice. Thomas previously worked for Ernst & Young offices in Tulsa and Memphis.

Agriculture. (Movers & Shakers).(various news briefs)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Ladd and Kasey Sims of Mountain View were named winners of the 2002 Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Achievement Award. Skip Armes of Leslie won the 2002 Arkansas Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Discussion Meet Competition....

Education. (Movers & Shakers).(Todd Shields appointed director of the Diane D. Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society at the University of Arkansas)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Todd Shields has been named director of the Diane D. Blair Center of Southern Politics and Society at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Shields is an associate professor and chair of the political science department at the university....

Financial services. (Movers & Shakers).(announces promotions, appointments and awards)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Timothy Anderson and Jay Davidson of Little Rock have been promoted to assistant vice presidents for U.S. Bank in Little Rock. Charles B. Whiteside III is the recipient of Merrill Lynch's Lifetime Community Achievement Award. Whiteside is...

Health care. (Movers & Shakers).(personnel changes at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging )(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Barbara Hoover, Robert Lanford, Sherman Tate and Bruce Wesson of Little Rock and Charles Thomas of Calion have been added to the Community Advisory Board for the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging at the University of Arkansas for Medical...

Legal. (Movers & Shakers).(announces appointments and awards)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Scott Lauck and Nina Samuel have joined Wilson & Associates PLLC as attorneys. Skipper Ray has been promoted to supervising attorney in the eviction department for the firm. Penny Collins Choate has been nominated for the American Bar...

Marketing. (Movers & Shakers).(The Communications Group appoints Melissa Wilcoxson media planner/buyer)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2003... Melissa Wilcoxson has joined The Communications Group of Little Rock as a media planner/buyer. Wilcoxson most recently served as a media planner and buyer for an advertising agency in Colorado Springs, Cob.