Arkansas Business articles from January 2006

Arkansas Business archives from January 2006

PA set to buy Fellowship Bible's nearby campus.
January 9, 2006... TALK WAS BUZZING BEFORE Christmas of a multimillion-dollar expansion by Little Rock's Pulaski Academy. But instead of building on undeveloped land on Denny Road in west Little Rock, as had long been expected, the private school will buy the...

High-pressure sales challenged: scores of angry customers take Nissan dealer Jim Ray to court.
January 9, 2006... FORT SMITH ATTORNEY C. Brian Meadors says the nearly 60 angry customers who are suing Jim Ray Nissan are an indication of just how bad the dealership's business practices have been. But the Fort Smith dealership's attorney believes Meadors...

Health insurance premiums up slightly.
January 9, 2006... EMPLOYERS WHOSE group health insurance policies came up for renewal at the end of December have something to celebrate--if a cost increase can be good news. Local insurance agents say--and Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield confirms--that...

Closing the books.(Metropolitan Trust Co.'s acquisitions)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... The last assets of the venerable Metropolitan Trust Co. are finally in play. Only two properties, now held in the name of Metropolitan Land Co., remain undivided among the various Metropolitan Trust heirs. The biggest is about 2,300...

4-warned.(KARK-TV and Channel 4 Television Co. accused for tax evasion)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... It looks as if the retransmission consent fees KARK-TV, Channel 4 recently secured from Comcast could go toward paying off some nagging tax bills. The Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration has a total of eight liens filed against...

Shopping spree.(Stephens Insurance Services opens a facility and president Marty Rhodes's management)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... The reinvigorated Stephens Insurance Services opened an office in Dallas a few months back, and President Marty Rhodes confirms that he's negotiating to buy an existing agency in the Big D to pump up that operation. He's also in talks with...

Efficient advertising.(Whispers)
January 9, 2006... Apparently Arkansas is finally jumping on the growing popularity of alternative fuels as the state's only independent producer of biodiesel has hired an advertising firm to help get the word out. Mangan Holcomb Partners, a full-service firm...

Splattered.(Mr. Speedy Car Care Center's Michael A. Porter and John F. Huffer Jr. filed for bankruptcy)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... There's been a string of bad news lately for the owners of Mr. Speedy Car Care Center in Hot Springs. First, in September, the car wash owners, CEO and President Michael A. Porter and Chief Operating Officer John F. Huffer Jr., both of Hot...

Downtown sale.(Madison Guaranty Savings and Loan acquired by Leverett & Watts Properties LLC.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... The one-time Little Rock home of Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan is under new ownership after a $1.3 million deal. Leverett & Watts Properties LLC, led by Mark Leverett and Rosalyn Watts, purchased the 14,000-SF building at 1501 Main St....

Serene purchase.(Whispers)
January 9, 2006... A pair of apartment properties added up to a near $1.3 million transaction. Serene Rock Ventures LLC, led by Jason Mathis, bought the 52-unit project at 619 and 719 Brookside Drive. The seller of the 1.4-acre development? ...

2020 foresight.(state services to minorities)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
January 9, 2006... IN A RARE BIT OF FORESIGHT--at least for the General Assembly--a legislative study of Arkansas' changing population and its future effects on state services could prove to be a great benefit. State Sen. Shane Broadway, D-Bryant, proposed...

A novel idea.(public education improvement in Arkansas)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
January 9, 2006... LOOKING FOR WAYS TO improve public education in Arkansas--an endless problem--Gov. Mike Huckabee has proposed appointing a special panel of award-winning teachers to advise him and state legislators. The idea is so obvious it makes us...

Equitable water rates.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 9, 2006... One question being asked is why Central Arkansas Water (CAW), in order to make rates the same north and south of the Arkansas River, needs to raise rates for customers in Little Rock. Why can't the utility lower North Little Rock's rates or...

Trends for 2006.(On Marketing)(Column)
January 9, 2006... IT'S THE TIME FOR RESOLUtions and trend spotting, and as I am pretty lousy at resolutions, perhaps a look at the likely marketing trends for 2006 is in order. Let's stipulate that even experts' predictions can sometimes be laughably wrong...

Universal care may be answer.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
January 9, 2006... I noticed in Editor Gwen Moritz's column (Dec. 12) an expression of support for universal health care. I have been a financial conservative for all of my 50-plus years, but have recently been challenged by the loss of American manufacturing...

Grocery acquisition.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
January 9, 2006... A west Little Rock Kroger project changed hands in a $3.4 million deal. The grocery chain's Kroger Ltd. I of Memphis bought the 61,200-SF store at 8415 W. Markham St. from the Diajeff Trust and Laurie Industries Trust. The 4-acre...

ATA HQ.(American Taekwondo Association acquired its headquarters)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A martial arts headquarters in southwest Little Rock tipped the scales at $2.5 million. The World Traditional Taekwondo Union Inc., parent company of the American Taekwondo Association, acquired its 37,326-SF headquarters at 6210 Baseline...

Land purchase.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... About 155 acres in north Pulaski County sold in a $1.25 million deal. The land about 1.5 miles north of the North Little Rock Airport was purchased by Randy Wiggins Development Co. (50 percent) and DJA Inc. and Marlar Development Inc. (50...

Downtown property.(Hamilton Real Estate LLC. acquired Jones Television Production Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A piece of downtown Little Rock rang up a $1 million transaction. Hamilton Real Estate LLC, led by Charles Hamilton, bought the Jones Television Production Inc. project at 517 Chester St. and 900-924 W. Sixth St. from Gary Jones and Marlene...

Brandy transaction.(Brandy Station Inc. acquired commercial property from Moore Real Estate Co.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A commercial property in North Little Rock drew a $901,000 sale. Brandy Station Inc., led by Wallace Gietinger Jr., acquired the Keathley-Patterson Electric project at 4310 Landers Road. The seller is Moore Real Estate Co. LLP, led by...

Mini project.(M&L Investments Ltd. acquired Tisdale Properties & Development LLC's property)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A southwest Little Rock ministorage project attracted an $860,000 sales price. M&L Investments Ltd., led by F. Lee Beasley, purchased the Seeartity U-Stor-Lock at 7201 Interstate 30. The seller is Tisdale Properties & Development LLC, led...

Foreclosure sale.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
January 9, 2006... A trucking project in east Little Rock is under new ownership after a $776,000 foreclosure sale. STT Inc., led by Shirley and Tammy Heatherly, bought the Pro Transportation project at 7821 Zeuber Road. The deal is funded with a two-year...

Apartment deal I.(Bailey & Thompson Properties LLC acquired the property from Miles Reeder)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A small apartment project in southwest Little Rock is in the works after a $400,000 transaction. Bailey & Thompson Properties LLC, led by A.W. Bailey and Brian Thompson, acquired the 1.2-acre property at 8124 Flint Ridge Road from Miles...

Apartment deal II.(Martino & Carrasquillo Investments LLC acquired apartment building from B2 Properties LLC)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A small apartment project in Jacksonville changed hands in a $315,000 deal. Martino & Carrasquillo Investments LLC, led by Ronald Martino and Samuel Carrasquillo, purchased the 803 Redmond Road project. The seller is B2 Properties LLC, led...

Boulevard buy.(Lilac LLC acquired store from Boulevard Properties LLC)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A liquor store in North Little Rock sold for $250,000. Lilac LLC, led by Andy Collins, bought Boulevard Wine & Spirits at 11905 Maumelle Blvd. The seller is Boulevard Properties LLC, led by Charles Compton. The 0.6-acre property was...

Chenal abode.(David and Sarah Wengel purchase the house from Doug and Brooke Malmstrom)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A 5,200-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood rang up a $745,000 transaction. David and Sarah Wengel acquired the house from Doug and Brooke Malmstrom. The deal is financed with a 30-year loan of $696,000 held by...

Robinwood residence.(Peter and Kristen Panagopoulos purchased the house from Benjamin Selman and Shawn Smith.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A 4,900-SF home in Little Rock's Robinwood neighborhood drew a $580,000 sale. Peter and Kristen Panagopoulos purchased the house from Benjamin Selman and Shawn Smith. The transaction is funded with a 30-year loan of $585,595 from...

Hickory home.(Michael and Harriett Fuller purchased the house from Cendant Mobility Financial Corp.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A 5,000-SF home in west Little Rock's Hickory Creek neighborhood is under new ownership after a $560,000 deal. Michael and Harriett Fuller bought the house from Cendant Mobility Financial Corp. of Danbury, Corm. The deal is backed with...

Riverpointe loan.(Riverpointe Development LLC got loan from U.S. Bank of Arkansas)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Construction of a 168-unit apartment project is in motion with an $8.1 million funding agreement. Riverpointe Development LLC, led by Keith Richardson, obtained the 3 1/2-year loan from U.S. Bank. The 5-acre phase III site at 7325...

Covenant funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
January 9, 2006... A west Little Rock congregation picked up a $1.2 million financial package. Covenant Presbyterian Church received the four-year loan from Pulaski Bank & Trust of Little Rock. The 10.3-acre location was assembled in two transactions...

Serenity mortgage.(Serenity House Inc secured loan from Bank of Little Rock)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... A nonprofit property in south Little Rock is securing a $700,000 mortgage. Serenity House Inc., led by Joseph McQuary, picked up the 3 1/2-year loan from Bank of Little Rock. The 10-acre 2801 W. Roosevelt Road development previously...

Bird & bear financing.(Bird & Bear Enterprises Inc. secured loan from Twin City Bank)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... The owner of a commercial project in southwest Little Rock landed a $600,000 funding agreement. Bird & Bear Enterprises Inc., led by Jay and Marc Heflin, got the three-year loan from Twin City. Bank. The loan is secured by the 1.3-acre...

Camden parts plant to lose 300 jobs.(ARC Automotive)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Sequa Corp. of New York said its ARC Automotive unit, which makes components for airbag inflators at its East Camden plant, will move production to plants at Reynosa, Mexico, and Xi'an, China, leaving 300 Arkansas workers jobless. About 40...

Acxiom finds partner to distribute grid software.(EMC Corp.)
January 9, 2006... Acxiom Corp. will allow another company to sell its grid computing technology, some of the world's fastest and most advanced data processing software, in a deal that will help Acxiom better sell its other products. EMC Corp. of Hop kinton,...

Ron Russell to leave State Chamber post.(ECONOMIC)
January 9, 2006... Ron Russell will leave his position as president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/ Associated Industries of Arkansas. Russell has been president and CEO since Dec. 1, 1989. Russell said he will give the chamber's board...

State revenue up 7 percent in December.(Inside Business)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... December net available general revenue reached $380.8 million, $27.3 million, or 7.7 percent, above revenue during the same month last year, according to a report by the state Department of Finance & Administration. The monthly figure was...

Tyson CEO, other execs see smaller bonuses.(AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS)
January 9, 2006... John Tyson, the chairman and CEO of Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale, received a smaller bonus in 2005 than in 2004, according to the meat processor's proxy filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission. According to the proxy, John Tyson...

Deltic extends promenade deal with RED Develop.(Agricultural Business)
January 9, 2006... Deltic Timber Corp. of El Dorado has extended its sales contract with an affiliate of RED Development LLC of Kansas City, Mo., for the sale of a 48-acre commercial land site in Chenal Valley in Little Rock. The deal had been expected to...

A.E.R.T. sales up 55% in fourth quarter.(Public Company Reports)
January 9, 2006... Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. said unaudited gross sales for the quarter ended Dec. 31 were $24 million, up 55 percent over gross sales of $15.5 million for the same quarter of 2004. For the year, unaudited gross sales...

Dillard's December sales up 1 percent.(Public Company Reports)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Dillard's Inc. said December sales were $1.27 billion, compared with sales of $1.26 billion for the same period a year ago. Sales were up 1 percent for both total and comparable stores. Analysts had predicted a 0.2 percent gain. For the...

Wal-Mart sales up 2.2% in December.(Public Company Reports)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said December sales rose 2.2 percent at its U.S. stores open at least a year. Total sales rose 6.3 percent to $40.8 billion. The company said that with the disappointing December, its fourth-quarter profit would likely...

BEI notes still eligible for conversion.(Beverly Enterprises Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Beverly Enterprises Inc. said its 2.75 percent convertible subordinated notes due 2033 continue to be eligible for conversion into BEI's common stock at a conversion rate of 134.1922 per $1,000 principal amount of notes, or $7.45 a share. ...

Vestcom sells division to focus on retail clients.(Inside Business)(Vestcom International Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Vestcom International Inc. of Little Rock has sold its marketing and business communications division to Bowne & Co. of New York. Vestcom, which creates shelf pricing labels and related materials for retail giants such as Target, Kroger,...

Two hotels planned for Benton County.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
January 9, 2006... According to filings with building permit offices, new hotels are planned for Rogers and Bentonville. Flintco Inc. of Springdale recently bought a building permit valued at about $8 million to start construction on a 92,000-SF Homewood...

CDI begins construction on Dillard's in Rogers.(CDI Contractors LLC)(Dillard Department Stores Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... CDI Contractors LLC of Little Rock recently bought a building permit valued at $5.58 million to start building the 155,000-SF Dillard's store in Rogers' Pinnacle Hills Promenade shopping center. The permit does not include interior finish-out...

U.S. Beef Corp. plans Taco Buenos, Arby's.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
January 9, 2006... United States Beef Corp. of Tulsa opened its first Taco Bueno restaurant on Nov. 21 in Fayetteville's CMN Business Park. The 2,600-SF restaurant is on a 3.8-acre site on Joyce Boulevard, east of McAlister's restaurant. John Davis,...

Jonesboro rebounded better than neighbors.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis reported that the Jonesboro statistical area rebounded from the 2001 recession better than Memphis or Jackson, Tenn. Jonesboro lost about 460 jobs during the 2001 recession, or about 1 percent of the...

Burrow announces another shopping center in Jonesboro.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)
January 9, 2006... Bruce Burrow of MBC Holdings LLC of Jonesboro last week said the firm's latest development--Fairpark, a $15 million, 100,000-SF retail center--will be anchored by a 70,000-SF Kohl's Department Store. The development is at Fairpark...

Retail sales climb in Craighead County.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Craighead County saw another rise in its sales tax receipts in 2005. Craighead County collected $13.25 million from the 1 percent sales tax receipts in 2005, up 5.2 percent from 2004 when it collected $12.6 million. It was the fourth...

Arkansas Realtors Association.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... The number of houses sold in Arkansas in the first 11 months of 2005 was 9 percent higher than in the same period of 2004, according to the Arkansas Realtors Association. The market has begun to cool, however, with new and existing home sales...

Bill Halter.(got the finance from governor)(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Bill Halter, the Democrat who is considering a run for governor, said he will announce sometime this month his decision on entering the race. So far, the Halter for Arkansas Exploratory Committee for Governor has raised more than $1.25 million,...

Arkansas Department of Labor.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... The Arkansas Department of Labor reported a drop in nonfatal work-related illnesses and injuries for the 12th consecutive year The rate of work-related illnesses or injuries fell from 5.1 cases for every 100 workers in private industry in 2003...

The Arkansas Soil & Water Education Conference will be held Jan. 12 at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... The Arkansas Soil & Water Education Conference will be held Jan. 12 at Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark., will be the featured speaker for the luncheon. The cost is $20, which includes the luncheon. Sessions will...

Schlumberger, a drilling equipment and technology company that provides drilling technology for Seeco Inc., a subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Co., is building a regional office at Conway.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... Schlumberger, a drilling equipment and technology company that provides drilling technology for Seeco Inc., a subsidiary of Southwestern Energy Co., is building a regional office at Conway. By the middle of next year, the firm plans to open an...

Acxiom Corp. says it won't pursue a lawsuit against former employee Gary Parisi, who the firm says took confidential documents with him when he went to work for a competitor.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... Acxiom Corp. says it won't pursue a lawsuit against former employee Gary Parisi, who the firm says took confidential documents with him when he went to work for a competitor. Parisi was penalized $350,000 by a Pulaski County Circuit Court jury...

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' College of Nursing has received national accreditation for the next 10 years.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences' College of Nursing has received national accreditation for the next 10 years. Both the college's baccalaureate and master's degree programs were granted the accreditation by the Commission on...

Syniverse Technologies of Tampa, Fla., a provider of technology services to wireless telecommunications firms, has renewed a multiyear contract with Alltel Corp. to provide wireless clearing and settlement services.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... Syniverse Technologies of Tampa, Fla., a provider of technology services to wireless telecommunications firms, has renewed a multiyear contract with Alltel Corp. to provide wireless clearing and settlement services. No terms of the deal were...

Beverly Enterprises Inc. said shareholders will vote Feb. 14 on the nursing home company's pending acquisition by Pearl Senior Care.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... Beverly Enterprises Inc. said shareholders will vote Feb. 14 on the nursing home company's pending acquisition by Pearl Senior Care. Fillmore Capital Partners LLC, a San Francisco-based investor group affiliated with Pearl Senior Care, plans to...

Food Processing magazine has named Tyson Foods Inc. its first-ever Processor of the Year.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... Food Processing magazine has named Tyson Foods Inc. its first-ever Processor of the Year. Criteria for its selection included sound financial performance, innovative product development, leading manufacturing technology, managerial excellence,...

Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Endowment Campaign.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Endowment Campaign has raised $5.99 million to date.

The latest updates of the "Arkansas State & County Economic Data 2005" and "Arkansas Personal Income Handbook" are available.(Business Briefs)
January 9, 2006... The latest updates of the "Arkansas State & County Economic Data 2005" and "Arkansas Personal Income Handbook" are available. The economic data publication contains data for Arkansas and counties in these areas: population, covered employment...

Local affiliates' air time not affected by New Year's deadline.
January 9, 2006... THE FAMED LIGHTED BALL AT Times Square in New York City wasn't the only thing expected to be dropped when the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve. A handful of retransmission consent agreements between Arkansas television stations and...

Rogers jelly maker sold to Oklahoma-based Griffin Foods.
January 9, 2006... HOUSE OF WEBSTER, THE Rogers gourmet jelly maker that dates back to 1934, was sold Jan. 1 to Griffin Foods Co. of Muskogee, Okla. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the companies have said operations will be unchanged. At peak...

SBA lending in Arkansas up 13 percent in 2005.(List Overview)
January 9, 2006... EIGHTY-ONE FINANCIAL INstitutions made 581 Small Business Administration-guaranteed loans worth almost $125 million to borrowers in Arkansas during fiscal 2005, according to data from the SBA. Those totals include 528 loans made under the...

Arkansas business list: largest SBA lenders.(small business)(Illustration)
January 9, 2006... Arkansas Business List: Largest SBA Lenders Ranked by total value of loans made to Arkansas borrowers in FY 2005 Total ...

Petite Pierre Fine Jewelry.(New Businesses: A Listing of Business Start-Ups in Arkansas)
January 9, 2006... PETITE PIERRE FINE JEWELRY Owner: Alexandra Palombi-Long Address: 2611 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock 72205 Phone: (501) 664-0999 Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday Startup: Dec. 10, 2005 Web site:...

Linda Roster White Real Estate Co.(Linda Roster White launched her own real estate company)
January 9, 2006... LINDA ROSTER WHITE REAL ESTATE CO. Owner: Linda Roster White Address: 2405 Prince St., Conway, 72034 Phone: (501) 327-1103 or cell (501) 730-1100 Hours: available anytime Startup: December 2005 E-mail:...

Calendar.
January 9, 2006... JANUARY * 10--Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Arkansas Sponsor: Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty Time: 5:30-8 p.m. Location: Wyndham Riverfront, 2 Riverfront Drive, North Little Rock Fee: $20 For more...

Regions Bank.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
January 9, 2006... Chad May was promoted to vice president of commercial and real estate lending in the Little Rock offices of Regions Bank of Birmingham, Ala. May has been with the bank since 1999.

Pine Bluff National Bank.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
January 9, 2006... Janice Jennings-Acosta was promoted to senior vice president of wealth management and investments at Pine Bluff National Bank. She has been with the bank since 1997.

Bank of America.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
January 9, 2006... Bill Rogers joined the Little Rock offices of Bank of America of Charlotte, N.C., as a mortgage account executive. Rogers previously worked for Pinnacle Mortgage Investments of Little Rock.

First Federal Bank.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
January 9, 2006... Tommy Richardson was promoted to president and chief operating officer for First Federal Bank of Harrison. Ross Mallioux was promoted to president of the bank's western division, which includes Washington and Benton counties. Jeff Brandt, son...

Anthony Forest Products Co.(FORESTRY)
January 9, 2006... Phillip Pesek was elected general counsel and corporate secretary of Anthony Forest Products Co. of El Dorado. Pesek previously worked as senior director international of Home Depot of Atlanta.

Terry DuBose, director of the diagnostic medical sonography program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock, received the Distinguished Educator Award from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography of Piano, Texas.(HEALTH CARE)
January 9, 2006... Terry DuBose, director of the diagnostic medical sonography program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences at Little Rock, received the Distinguished Educator Award from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography of Piano, Texas....

Dr. Greg Kendrick, an internal medicine specialist with Conway Medical Group of Conway.(HEALTH CARE)
January 9, 2006... Dr. Greg Kendrick, an internal medicine specialist with Conway Medical Group of Conway, is the first ever recipient of Conway Regional Health System's Physician of the Year Award.

Jim Young was named Employee of the Year by the Arkansas Educational Television Network.(MEDIA/MARKETING)
January 9, 2006... Jim Young was named Employee of the Year by the Arkansas Educational Television Network. Young is a systems administrator at AETN. Kathy Atkinson, programming director at the station, received the Executive Director's Award.

Stone Ward.(appointed Charles Crowson )(Brief Article)
January 9, 2006... Charles Crowson joined Stone Ward of Little Rock as account executive in the public relations division. Crowson previously served as manager of media relations for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Brandi Childress joined the company...

Arkansas Farm Bureau.(NONPROFIT)
January 9, 2006... Jeffery Hall was promoted to associate director of governmental affairs at Arkansas Farm Bureau of Little Rock. Hall previously served as area coordinator for the organization's southwest district. Dustin Hill took over as area coordinator for...

Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts.(NONPROFIT)
January 9, 2006... R.D. Jones of Monticello was elected president of the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts of Little Rock. James Mitchell of Danville was elected first vice president. Andrew Wargo of Watson was elected second vice president. Roy...

r. Ricardo Sotomora, pediatric cardiologist-neonatologist, will receive the Worthen-Cornett Award presented by the American Heart Association of Dallas at the association's annual Heart Ball in Little Rock on Feb. 25.(NONPROFIT)
January 9, 2006... Dr. Ricardo Sotomora, pediatric cardiologist-neonatologist, will receive the Worthen-Cornett Award presented by the American Heart Association of Dallas at the association's annual Heart Ball in Little Rock on Feb. 25. Bob Shell, president of...

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(RETAIL)
January 9, 2006... Charles Holley was named senior vice president of finance of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville.

Stock summary.
January 9, 2006... STOCK SUMMARY 1/5/06 Weekly YTD Arkansas Public Company Stocks Close Change Change Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) 23.34 1.48% 0.17% A.E.R.T....

Restaurant farewell.(Whispers)
January 9, 2006... By now you may have heard that Vermillion Italian Bistro in west Little Rock shut its doors last week. Owner Mike Selig, a 2005 Arkansas Business 40 Under 40 honoree, said he just couldn't juggle both the Bistro and his Vermillion Water...

New restaurant.(Whispers)
January 9, 2006... Speaking of restaurants, ever wonder what happened to that Hillcrest hipster hangout The Living Room, which shut its doors several months ago? Turns out the place has been retooled for upscale seafood dining as So Restaurant & Bar. A...