Arkansas Business articles from July 2005

Arkansas Business archives from July 2005

USA Truck's strategic plan starts to show.(USA Truck Inc)
July 4, 2005... WITH A RECORD SLUMP STILL visible in the rearview mirror, USA Truck Inc. is coming off its best year ever in 2004 and a record first quarter in 2005. Company officials said the mid-haul carrier used strategic planning in 2001 to tune up...

NLR voters step up to plate: negotiations came down to small details, city attorney says.
July 4, 2005... THE BASES ARE LOADED, and it's now up to the North Little Rock voters to step up to the plate to decide whether a new downtown minor league baseball stadium will be a grand slam or just a field of dreams. With a financial agreement reached...

Workplace philanthropy programs grow, change.
July 4, 2005... AMERICANS GAVE A record $248.5 billion to charitable causes in 2004, up 5 percent over the previous year, according to the Giving USA Foundation. Of that amount, individual giving reached $187.9 billion, the foundation report said, adding...

Now boarding?(Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield plans to build a call center)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A deal is pending that might put more than 500 workers back in the Southwest Airlines reservation center in Little Rock. Max Heuer, a spokeswoman for Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield, confirmed that the state's dominant health insurance...

Nursing center sale.(Quapaw Quarter Nursing Center LLC)(Quapaw Associates LLC)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Ownership of a 120-bed nursing home in Little Rock shifted in a $1.1 million transaction. Quapaw Associates LLC, led by Jimmy Taylor, acquired the Quapaw Quarter Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at 1516 Cumberland St. The seller? ...

Evolving transaction.(Whispers)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... You want more details about a would-be bank buy we told you about two weeks ago? Sure you do. Evolve Financial Group of Memphis, led by B. Scot Lenoir, intends to pay about $2.96 million net for Parkin Bancorp Inc. (Cross County). ...

Roll call.(Parkway Bankshares Inc stockholders)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Remember Parkway Bankshares Inc.'s effort to expand stock ownership beyond its historical south Arkansas base? Some of the newer names to join the roster of shareholders include Dean and Nancy Eisma of Rogers, 4.3 percent; Crossland...

Maumelle commercial.(Golden Group Inc. purchases property from Holcombe-Wilson Partnership)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 14,000-SF commercial project in Maumelle rang up a $1 million deal. Golden Group Inc., led by Jim and Helen Im, are the new owners of the Maumelle Corners development at 301 Millwood Circle. The property was sold by Holcombe-Wilson...

Cantrell road work.(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Traffic on Little Rock's Cantrell Road (aka Highway 10) should become less congested. That's the good news. The bad news is that it won't be for another year, and congestion will actually get a little worse before it gets better. The...

Moser update.(Keith Moser appointed by the Federal Correction Institution)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Former Little Rock lawyer Keith Moser has been assigned to the low-security Federal Correction Institution at Forrest City. It was his second choice; he would have preferred the federal prison camp near Memphis at Millington, Tenn. ...

Big lots.(sign deal with Metro Shops Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... North Little Rock is getting a Big Lots. The closeout retailer just inked a lease with Metro Shops Inc., an affiliate of Little Rock's Cypress Properties, for 30,000 SF in the Idlewild Center at 4135 JFK Blvd. in the Park Hill area. No...

Correction.(Whispers)(Correction Notice)
July 4, 2005... A "Real Deals" item in the June 20 issue incorrectly reported the sale of the Sticky Fingerz property at 107 Commerce St. The transaction actually involved the neighboring Flying Fish location at 507-511 President Clinton Ave.

Property wrongs.(private property right)(Editorial)
July 4, 2005... PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF property, one of the very foundations of our American way of life, took a big hit last week as the U.S. Supreme Court decided that local governments have the right to condemn private property against the owner's will to...

Big loss.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
July 4, 2005... JOHN WALTON'S DEATH LAST week in a plane crash near his Wyoming home is a big loss not only to the company his father founded and his family, but to the entire nation. The second son of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton was the key...

Jesus sells.(religion and business)(Editorial)
July 4, 2005... I BELIEVE IN THE SEPARATION of church and state. I believe it is a basic constitutional concept even though the words do not appear in the Constitution--just as I believe in the Trinity as a basic Christian concept even though the word doesn't...

TIF update.(Tax increment financing law)(Column)
July 4, 2005... BY PASSING ACT 2231 DURING its 2005 regular session, the Arkansas General Assembly made significant changes to Arkansas' tax increment financing law and the use of tax increment financing ("TIF") districts. Since the state adopted a...

Fractional purchase.(3 1/2 LLC)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 3.38-acre commercial property in west Little Rock drew a $1.25 million transaction. 3 1/2 LLC, led by Sam Hilburn, bought the 17801 Cantrell Road property from Eugene Pfeifer 111 and his wife, Linda. The property previously was tied...

Church land.(KALM LLC)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A future church site in west Little Rock changed hands in a $1.1 million deal. St. Andrew's Church of Little Rock purchased the 13.7-acre location on the north side of Kanis Road, about a half-mile west of Rodney Parham Road. The seller is...

Apartment deal I.(Tisdale Properties & Development LLC, Jack McCoy Dowdy Revocable Living Trust)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 30-unit apartment project and a multifamily house in west Little Rock are under new ownership after a $1.1 million transaction. Tisdale Properties & Development LLC, led by Tracy and Terre Tisdale, acquired the 0.8-acre apartment...

Apartment deal II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Peeples Investments LLLP)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A small apartment complex in west Little Rock tipped the scales at $998,000. Peeples Investments LLLP, led by Raymond Peeples Jr., bought the project at 800-818 Green Mountain Drive from Michael Hancock, Brad Duke and Larry Goodwin. ...

Apartment deal III.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Car Holdings LLC)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Five townhouse properties in west Little Rock sold for a combined $866,667. Car Holdings LLC, led by Andrew Adkins, purchased the projects at 1706 and 1720 Sanford Drive, 12 and 15 Meredith Court, and 1817 Reservoir Road. The sellers are a...

Bank site.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A near 1-acre bank branch location rang up a $627,000 deal. Bank of Little Rock acquired the site at the southeast corner of Rahling Road and Rahling Circle from Deltic Timber Corp. of El Dorado. Deltic Timber entered the Pulaski County...

Hotel dirt.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 2.2-acre piece of the Embassy Suites development in west Little Rock changed hands for $500,000. John Q. Hammons Hotels Two Ltd. of Springfield, Mo., bought the land beneath the south portion of the project from Melvin and Oberta Turpin....

Units online.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(ERC Construction Group LLC)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... UNITS ONLINE: The $18.1 million Highland Pointe Apartments project in west Little Rock is moving toward completion in April 2006. The 216-unit project is at 5900 Highland Drive. The general contractor is ERC Construction Group LLC of Barling....

Baseline acquisition.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Burcham Family Revocable Trust)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... An 11.26-acre property in southwest Little Rock drew a $500,000 sale. Edward and Bernice Smith purchased the property at 3818-3924 Baseline Road from the Burcham Family Revocable Trust, led by Ralph and Gwendolyn Burcham. The deal was...

Genuine transaction.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A commercial property in Jacksonville changed hands in a $410,000 deal. Genuine Parts Co. of Atlanta acquired the 0.6-acre site at the northeast corner of James Street and John Harden Drive from William and Patsy Roetzel. The Roetzels...

Downtown buy I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(WRS Holdings LLC)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A small commercial project in downtown Little Rock is under new ownership after a $295,000 deal. WRS Holdings LLC, led by Willis Smith and Bek and Terri Kaiser, bought the 614 Center St. building (home to Lam Garden Chinese Restaurant)...

Downtown buy II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Another small commercial building in downtown Little Rock rang up a $253,000 sale. Rainwater Properties LLC, led by Bryan Hosto, purchased the Tedford Building at 416-420 W. Seventh St. from Barbara Davenport. The deal is backed with a...

Industrial sale.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Osborne Leasing Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... An industrial project in Sherwood sold for $225,000. Osborne Leasing Inc., led by Bobby Osborne, acquired the Blanco Fabricators project at 6190 Getty Drive from Johnny and Lee Goff. The deal is financed with a 15-year loan of $225,000 from...

Edgehill manor I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(E. Sheffield Nelson Revocable Trust)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 6,200-SF home in Little Rock's Edgehill neighborhood tipped the scales at $1.45 million. Bill and lane Hardin bought the house from the E. Sheffield Nelson Revocable Trust. The residence previously was tied to a July 2004 mortgage of...

Edgehill manor II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Wayne Moore Construction Co.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 5,056-SF home in Little Rock's Edgehill neighborhood is under new ownership after a $1.06 million deal. Wayne Moore Construction Co. purchased the house from Robert M. Goff & Associates, led by Wallis Allen. Robert and Marian Goff...

Chenal abode I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 4,723-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood sold for a reported $695,000. Frances Catenacci acquired the house from John and Timothy Olaimey. The deal is funded with a one-year loan of $95,000 from Metropolitan...

Chenal abode II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Seven Gables Construction Co.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 4,490-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood changed hands in a $675,000 deal. Vicki King bought the house from Seven Gables Construction Co. of Central Arkansas LLC, led by Wayne Martin. The deal is backed with a...

Chenal abode III.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Richard Harp Homes Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 4,873-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood drew a $590,000 sale. Oman and Cynthia Hill purchased the house from Richard Harp Homes Inc. The deal is financed with a 30-year loan of $472,000 from Merrill Lynch Credit...

Roland residence.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 4,000-SF home in Roland rang up a $535,000 transaction. John and Kimberly Shaughnessy acquired the house from Jett Ricks. The deal is backed with a 30-year loan of $535,000 from Bank of America in Charlotte, N.C. The residence...

Chenal abode IV.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(TLC Builders & Developers Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 5,000-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood is under new ownership after a $530,000 deal. Jodi and Raymond Barboza bought the house from TLC Builders & Developers Inc., led by Perry Black. The deal is funded with a...

Robinwood home.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Riverside Mortgage Co., Riverside Bank of Sparkman )(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 3,876-SF home in Little Rock's Robinwood neighborhood sold for $530,000. Kyle and Terri Patton purchased the house from William and Donna Stover. The deal is backed with a 30-year loan of $432,000 from Riverside Mortgage Co. of Little...

Ferncrest estate.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 4,850-SF home in the Ferncrest Estates neighborhood of west Little Rock changed hands in a $525,000 deal. Stephen and Julie Waltens acquired the house from Scott and Barbara Turner. The deal is financed with a 30-year loan of $359,650...

Chenal abode V.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 5,680-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood drew a $510,000 sale. Charles and Kendra Vondran bought the house from the Albert and Arlene Visconti Family Trust. The deal is financed with a 30-year loan of $433,500 from...

Raney refinance.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(T.J. Raney Building Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The owner of an office building in the Riverdale area of Little Rock picked up a $3 million financial package. T.J. Raney Building Inc., led by Thomas Raney, received the two-year loan from First Community Bank of Jonesboro. The...

Development loan.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(HL Land Development LLC.,)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Residential property in west Little Rock was used to a secure a near $2.5 million funding agreement. HL Land Development LLC, led by Charles Hunnicutt and Michael Lasiter, obtained the one-year loan from Metropolitan National Bank. The...

Financial fireworks.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A leased commercial property in Sherwood is helping back a $1.6 million mortgage. Phillip and April Pulley and Robert and Rebecca Foster got the funding from First Community Bank of Batesville. The 3.6-acre Fireworks World development...

Card funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Card Investments LLC., )(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... An 83-lot residential development in west Little Rock is financed with a $1 million agreement. Card Investments LLC, led by Clint Wilson, Andrew Adkins, Richard Harp and Daniels Bynum, received the three-year loan from Simmons First...

Downtown mortgage.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A 0.8-acre redevelopment property in downtown Little Rock is funded with a $1 million mortgage. Moses Tucker Investments LLC, led by Jimmy Moses and Rett Tucker, obtained the three-month loan from Metropolitan National Bank. The...

Baseline loan.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(BBTS LLC receives loan from Twin City Bank.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The owner of a south Little Rock commercial property picked up a $675,000 financial package. BBTS LLC, led by Richard Hutson and Scott Davis, secured the 18-month loan from Twin City Bank. The 6.4-acre property at 11409 Baseline Road...

Providence funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A North Little Rock commercial property is backed with a $653,000 mortgage. The Providence at Maumelle LLC, led by Mark Ferguson, John Adams and Gary Jiles, landed the six-month loan from Arvest Bank. The 9.9-acre property on Maumelle...

Express loan.(Stephen L. LaFrance Pharmacy Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A USA Drug Express project in Sherwood is financed with a $600,000 funding agreement. Stephen L. LaFrance Pharmacy Inc. of Pine Bluff got the loan from First State Bank of Union City, Tenn. The parent company of the USA Drug store...

'Any willing provider' now law in Arkansas.(HEALTH CARE)
July 4, 2005... The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week upheld most of Arkansas' Patient Protection Act of 1995, the so-called "any willing provider" law that had been blocked for 10 years by a federal court injunction and a subsequent appeal. ...

John Walton dies in plane crash.(RETAIL)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... John Walton, the second son of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. founder Sam Walton and member of the retail giant's board of directors, died in a plane crash in Wyoming on June 27. Walton, 58, was killed when the ultralight aircraft he was piloting...

Union Bankshares to buy First Paris Holding Co.(First Paris Holding Co.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Union Bankshares Inc. of Mena said its subsidiary, Union Bankshares, has entered into an agreement to buy all the outstanding common stock of First Paris Holding Co. of Little Rock and its subsidiary, First National Bank at Paris. The bank...

State's reserve ratio ranks third in region.(INSIDE BUSINESS)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... In first quarter of 2005, Arkansas banks collectively had a loan-loss-reserve ratio of 1.53 percent, down from 1.65 percent for the same period in 2004. Banks maintain a reserve adequate to absorb estimated credit losses associated with...

Chuck Cook to lead Regions Bank in Region.(appointments at Regions Financial Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... A pair of Arkansas bankers was promoted last week by Regions Financial Corp. of Birmingham, Ala., as part of a management restructuring in the bank's western region. Charles "Chuck" Cook Jr., group president and CEO of Regions Bank in...

Benton Co. man ordered to stop brokering securities.(INSIDE BUSINESS)
July 4, 2005... A Benton County man who claimed to combine prayer and a nearly foolproof investing system has been ordered to stop brokering securities trades without a license. Arkansas Securities Commissioner Michael B. Johnson issued a cease-and-desist...

Delta upgrades Atlanta flight as boardings increase.(Delta Air Lines Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Effective Sept. 1, Atlanta's Delta Air Lines will upgrade one of its flights from Little Rock National Airport to Atlanta now being operated with a 70-seat regional jet to a 142-seat MD 88 mainline aircraft. The upgrade comes just days...

Hammons announces addition to Rogers Hotel.(John Q. Hammons Hotels Inc.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... John Q. Hammons Hotels LLC of Springfield, Mo., announced plans to expand the current 248-room Embassy Suites facility in Rogers by adding a 152-room tower, making it the largest all-suites property in Arkansas, a news release stated. John...

Winrock Grass Farm sells for $4.55 million.(RETAIL ESTATE)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Little Rock businessman Frank B. Whitbeck's Winrock Grass Farm Inc. sold last week for $4.55 million at an auction at the Pulaski County Courthouse. Real estate investor John W. "Jay" DeHaven, president of the DeHaven Group LLC of...

No criminal wrongdoing found in Marmaduke School District.(In Full View)
July 4, 2005... SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT PROSECUTING Attorney Brent Davis said last week that he found no criminal wrongdoing at the Marmaduke School District after reviewing an audit that found violations of state law. The Legislative Joint Auditing...

MarketFoods files Chapter 7, closes Rogers store.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
July 4, 2005... MarketFoods Ltd. of Rogers filed a motion on June 20 asking the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Fayetteville to convert its Chapter 11 bankruptcy to Chapter 7. Three days after the Chapter 7 filing, MarketFoods began a liquidation sale at its...

Minotaur awarded SBTT Grant.(Minotaur Technologies LLC., Small Business Technology Transfer.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Another Virtual Incubation Corp. client will be awarded a grant soon. Minotaur Technologies LLC of Fayetteville is waiting for a check worth $150,000 for a Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer grant for its work on an instrument used...

Ozarks Electric Co-op hits 60,000 meter mark.(Ozarks Electric Cooperative Corp.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Ozarks Electric Cooperative of Fayetteville reached a milestone June 15 by issuing its 60,000th meter to a resident in west Fayetteville. The company ranks third in size among 17 electric cooperatives in the state, providing 60,000 customers...

Jonesboro farmers file $11 million bankruptcy.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Two Jonesboro farmers recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, listing total debt of $10.9 million and only $5.2 million in assets. Adam and Keith Nichols, who own Nichols Farm Partnership, Hogan & Nichols Farm Partnership,...

Cattle farmers look for rain.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The recent drought in Independence County has cost cattle farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars, an Independence County Cooperative Extension Office agent said. Since most of the grass the cattle farmers grow to feed their cattle hasn't...

Jonesboro collector taps new revenue.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The Jonesboro city collector said she is now going after telecommunication companies that have escaped their franchise fees. City Collector Becky Sharp said the franchise fee is a flat rate, but the city of Jonesboro wants to change it to a...

Alan White Co.(facility closure.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The Alan White Co., the largest employer at Stamps, has shut down, putting more than 200 employees out of work. The furniture company has been in operation for some 50 years. Officials blamed the closing on increased costs from shipping and...

Toyota Motor Corp.(builds auto assembly plant.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... It's official: Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. will build its next auto assembly plant at Woodstock, Ontario. The $600-million factory will hire 1,300 to begin with, with more than double that amount of jobs expected to be created through...

George Dunklin Jr., 48, an Arkansas County farmer, has been appointed to a seven-year term on the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission by Gov. Mike Huckabee.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... George Dunklin Jr., 48, an Arkansas County farmer; has been appointed to a seven-year term on the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission by Gov. Mike Huckabee. Dunklin replaces Forrest Wood of Flippin. He manages several family-owned companies and has...

Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock has been named one of the "Best Places to Work in Information Technology" by IDG's ComputerWorld magazine, the fourth time the company has been ranked in the top 100 work environments for technology professionals.(Business Briefs)
July 4, 2005... Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock has been named one of the "Best Places to Work in Information Technology" by IDG's Computerworld magazine, the fourth time the company has been ranked in the top 100 work environments for technology professionals....

Southern Financial Partners, a Southern Bancorp nonprofit affiliate based in Helena, and Winrock International, based in Little Rock, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on future rural economic and human development projects in Arkansas and Mississippi.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Southern Financial Partners, a Southern Bancorp nonprofit affiliate based in Helena, and Winrock International, based in Little Rock, have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on future rural economic and human development...

St. Bernards Medical Center at Jonesboro has received a Volunteer Hospitals of America 2005 Best Practices Award.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... St. Bernards Medical Center at Jonesboro has received a Volunteer Hospitals of America 2005 Best Practices Award. The recognition acknowledges clinical quality improvement for the Women's HeartAdvantage program, which was launched to reduce...

Saline Memorial Hospital.(50 years birthday celebrations.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Saline Memorial Hospital at Benton held a "50 Year Birthday Celebration" last week. In addition to recognizing individuals born at the hospital during its first year; there were presentations and acknowledgements of those instrumental in the...

Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty, the Little Rock real estate agency, and Bank of Little Rock Mortgage have selected Warrantech Home Service Co. of Bedford, Texas, as an approved provider of home warranties.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty, the Little Rock real estate agency, and Bank of Little Rock Mortgage have selected Warrantech Home Service Co. of Bedford, Texas, as an approved provider of home warranties. According to Realty Times, Coldwell...

Superior Industries Inc.'s Heber Springs plant, which makes auto suspension components, has earned membership in the "Star" Voluntary Protection Program of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Superior Industries Inc.'s Heber Springs plant, which makes auto suspension components, has earned membership in the "Star" Voluntary Protection Program of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration. The plant...

The Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce has obtained a four-star accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce has obtained a four-star accreditation with the United States Chamber of Commerce. The Jonesboro chamber received the rating based on its performance in areas such as accountability, financial...

Arkansas Tech University.(offers Spanish course.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Arkansas Tech University at Russellville is offering a beginners' Spanish course for adults starting July 5. It will meet each Tuesday from 6:30-8 p.m. for six weeks. The cost is $60. Online registration is at http://commed.atu.edu/...

Sensible brave new lunches worth the wait: restaurant's deck a tranquil setting.(Brave New Restaurant.)(Restaurant Review)
July 4, 2005... THE BEST MEALS NEED TIME to be savored. Brave New Restaurant's cuisine is no exception. A lunch there will take more than an hour-long bite out of the day's schedule. But for a dreamy day on the deck, it's worth every minute. On the second...

Wal-Mart's success based on simple principals.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc.)
July 4, 2005... SOME PEOPLE WHO READ Don Soderquist's new book ask him if the Wal-Mart corporate lawyers got hold of it and whacked out all the secrets. "It couldn't be that simple," they say after reading "The Wal-Mart Way." "That's absolutely...

Former A.G. Clark preaches fraud prevention.(Biography)
July 4, 2005... STEVE CLARK HAS SEEN LIFE from both sides of the glass. After losing his job as Arkansas' attorney general in 1990 and being convicted of felony fraud, Clark applied--unsuccessfully--for a job as a limousine driver making $20,000 per year. He...

Sturgis trust awards grant to Ouachita Research Lab.(Ouachita Baptist University., Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable & Educational Trust.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Officials of the Roy and Christine Sturgis Charitable & Educational Trust of Little Rock have awarded a $64,211 grant to Ouachita Baptist University at Arkadelphia. The grant will be used to fund the Lewis Lavell Cole Computer & Research Lab...

Youth and families receive $50k for parent resource outer.(Centers for Youth & Families.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... The Centers for Youth & Families has received more than $50,000 to establish and support its Parent Resource Center, scheduled to open in the fall. Emma Jane Sellers of Little Rock, a descendent of the Elizabeth Mitchell family that began...

Arkansas Community Foundation names new member, officers.(Nonprofit Notes)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Glenn Freeman, an Entergy Arkansas plant manager based in Lake Village, is the newest member of the state board of the Arkansas Community Foundation. Bill Haught of Little Rock was elected chairman of the board. Other officers elected to...

Kumpe elected chairman of World Services Foundation.(Peter Kumpe., World Services for the Blind Foundation.)(Brief Article)
July 4, 2005... Peter Kumpe, a partner at the Williams & Anderson law firm in Little Rock, has been elected chairman of the board of the World Services for the Blind Foundation. Kumpe is the son of Roy Kumpe, who founded Lions World Services for the Blind...

Walton gift to UA adds name to nonprofit list.(University of Arkansas Foundation., Walton Family Foundation.)
July 4, 2005... THIS YEAR'S OR ANY YEAR'S list of Arkansas' largest nonprofit organizations proves the Walton family is nearly as good at giving away money as it is at making it. The Walton clan, whose patriarch Sam Walton started the Bentonville retail...

Arkansas business list: largest nonprofit organizations.(Directory)(Illustration)
July 4, 2005... ARKANSAS BUSINESS LIST: LARGEST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS Ranked by total assets Organization Address Total Assets Annual Revenue Phone, Fax, Web site (in millions) (in...

Import Gallery.(New Businesses: A Listing of Business Start-Ups in Arkansas)(Company Profile)
July 4, 2005... IMPORT GALLERY Owner: Mary and Bill Coggins Address: 5300 Asher Ave., Little Rock 72203 Phone: (501) 565-7444 Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Startup: March 2005 E-mail: lostparrot@aol.com Web site:...