Arkansas Business articles from November 2005

Arkansas Business archives from November 2005

ValueAct boss prepares for new Acxiom.
November 7, 2005... EVEN JEFFREY UBBEN, MANAGING partner of ValueAct Capital Partners, admits that right now the likelihood his company will take over Acxiom Corp. is low. "The prospects of us getting this company are still quite low, the way the board is...

Conger opens her own firm: only wealth adviser in state to make Worth top 100 list.(Cynthia Conger)
November 7, 2005... CYNTHIA CONGER, A FOUNDING partner who disappeared from Arkansas Financial Group back in July, is back. She's in business for herself this time, and she's on a mission. But it's not a mission one normally associates with someone who...

Future of federal estate tax up in heir: hurricanes, court vacancies delay congressional decisionmaking.(Wealth Management)
November 7, 2005... WHEN ELDON REED died on July 22, the 79-year-old man left his son 1,000 acres of farmland in Lee County and nearly $600,000 in cash. "It will take all the cash that he had to pay the estate taxes," said Stanley Reed of Marianna. "It's just...

Quickie divorce questioned.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... Remember we told you about the quick divorce Little Rock businessman Bob Fewell got from his wife of nearly 46 years? It was filed March 16 and finalized May 5, even though it involved the transfer of several business assets to his wife,...

More Fayetteville condos.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... We hear a group of local real estate all stars plans to build 33 condo units adjacent to the west side of Reindl Warehouse in Fayetteville. The project, called Spring Street Lofts, is the brainchild of Brandon Barber, John Nock, Mitchell...

Truck transaction.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... A near 23-acre truck center development in North Little Rock is under new ownership after a $6.6 million deal. Mathias Shopping Centers Inc. of Springdale, led by Sam Mathias bought the Barloworld project at 11700 Valentine Road. The...

Pig pizza.(Keith Hardin plans to open new pizza restaurant)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Fans of northwest Arkansas' beloved Ji's Razorback Pizza rejoice. Restaurateur and contractor Keith Hardin and a silent partner bought the franchise rights to the pizza place for the southern haft of the state, "pretty much south of...

Uncle Sam site.(Sherwood GSA LLC buy property from Standridge And Jackson Development LLC)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A 1.4-acre government office development in Sherwood has sold for $1.6 million. The property in question at 1020 Lantrip Road houses an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture: the Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service. The new...

Sportsman's woes.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... The owner of the defunct Outdoor Advantage LLC of Jonesboro recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy listing $1.3 million in debt and only $101,000 in assets. Most of the money Rodney Alexander of Jonesboro owed was as a result of debts...

Hickory home.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... A 6,169-SF home in west Little Rock's Hickory Creek neighborhood tipped the scales at $1.6 million. Syed Samad acquired the house from Jim English.

Fast-food buy.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... A fast-food project in southwest Little Rock changed hands in a reported $1.5 million transaction. Donna Webben of Long Beach, Calif., purchased the KFC at 8220 Geyer Springs Road The seller is Sovereign RF LLC of Palo Alto, Calif.

Right guard.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... "Activist judges are erasing God from our public square," warns a new 30-second television ad. "If they succeed, where will we find justice?" Arkansas' standing as a "conservative state with blue leadership" makes it one of only five...

Need to know, Part II.(Editorial)
November 7, 2005... HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED to know when deciding whether to vote yes on the higher education bond proposal on Dec. 13: * Unlike the highway bond proposal on the same ballot, this is a straight-up, one-time bond issue to pay for improved...

Nexstar plays hardball.(Letter)(Letter to the Editor)
November 7, 2005... In reading the article (Arkansas Business, Oct. 31 issue) about the Nexstar retransmission negotiations with Comcast for KARK in Little Rock, the author of the piece left out several points that are worth making on both sides. Nexstar...

Change is hard.(Editor's Note)
November 7, 2005... AT THE BEGINNING OF THE year, I told you that a third of Arkansas Business Publishing Group's employees had volunteered to be guinea pigs for a new high-deductible, lower-premium health insurance plan with an optional health savings account...

New Life land.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(New Life Church of Conway purchases land from John Q. Hammons Revocable Trust)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A 17.6-acre future church site in North Little Rock rang up a $3.8 million deal. New Life Church of Conway bought the location at the northeast corner of Interstate 430 and Crystal Hill Road from John Q. Hammons Revocable Trust. The...

U-Haul purchase.(Arec 8 LLC acquired property from Amerco Real Estate Co.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A 4-acre moving center development in Sherwood shifted ownership in a transaction valued at $2.25 million. Arec 8 LLC of Phoenix acquired the U-Haul facility at 8621 Warden Road from Amerco Real Estate Co., led by Carlos Vizcarra. The...

Apartment project.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
November 7, 2005... A 260-unit apartment project is in motion after a $1.6 million deal in downtown North Little Rock. Rock Enclave Apartments Ltd. of Houston purchased the 2.5-acre Jackson Cookie development to be known as 201 Riverfront Drive. The...

Office land.(Williams USO Building LLC acquires from Pulaski Bank & Trust )(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A 10.6-acre office property changed hands in a $786,000 deal. Williams USO Building LLC, led by Dr. Alonzo Williams, bought the land on Kanis Park Drive from Baptist Health. The deal is backed with a one-year loan of $565,000 from Pulaski...

Bank branch.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
November 7, 2005... A bank branch in Little Rock tipped the scales at $725,000. Regions Bank of Birmingham, Ala., acquired its 4224 W. Markham St. facility from Central Properties Inc., led by John Flake. The half-acre property was bought for $340,000 in...

Future bank site.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
November 7, 2005... A 1.5-acre future bank branch location drew a $590,000 sale. First Security Bank of Conway purchased the location on Maumelle Boulevard near Crystal Hill Road from JLB LLC, led by James and Lynda Bowers. The deal previously was linked...

Mid South buy.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Mid South Properties LLC buys commercial properties)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A pair of 5-acre commercial properties in north Pulaski County changed hands in a $475,000 combo deal. Mid South Properties LLC, led by Minor Booth, bought the 6716 and 6814 TP White Drive projects from the George Washington Patterson and...

Masoud acquisition.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Masoud Investments Inc. led by Jalal Masoud)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A pair of southwest Little Rock properties combined for a $225,000 transaction. Masoud Investments Inc., led by Jalal Masoud, acquired the 10.4-acre property at 5404 Baseline Road from Church at Rock Creek Inc., $175,000; and Ginger Yates,...

Wild West sale.(Goodsell Family Ltd. bought property from Wild West Investments)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A commercial property in Jacksonville sold for $225,000. Goodsell Family Ltd., led by Odes Goodsell, bought the former Mattress Express location at 1811 N. First St. The seller is Wild West Investments, led by Charles and Sherry Cloud. ...

Office condos.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
November 7, 2005... Four office condos in west Little Rock are under new ownership after a $220,000 deal. TJS Properties LLC, led by Timothy Ridge, Stephen I. Milliken and James Scruggs, purchased the units at 2024 Arkansas Valley Drive from Bob and Lorraine...

Redevelopment land.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(University Avenue Development Co.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Land for a commercial project in midtown Little Rock rang up a $170,000 deal. University Avenue Development Co., led by John Flake, acquired the property at the northwest corner of Grant and F Street from Stephen Maxwell and Douglas...

PV home.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(home in Pleasant Valley sold out)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A 4,352-SF home in west Little Rock's Pleasant Valley neighborhood is under new ownership after a $670,000 deal. Moore Family Trust, led by Thomas and Scarier Moore, bought the house from Richard and Mary Zemann. The deal is funded...

Wellington abode.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Randy and Elizabeth Taylor buys house)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A 5,300-SF home in west Little Rock's Villages at Wellington neighborhood drew a $508,000 sale. Randy and Elizabeth Taylor purchased the house from Billy Hartness Construction Co. The deal is backed with a 30-year loan of $298,000 from...

Auto financing.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
November 7, 2005... The owner of a Sherwood Kia dealership secured a $3.9 million funding agreement. Crain Investments Ltd., led by Larry Crain Sr., obtained the five-year loan from Metropolitan National Bank. Crain assembled the 6.4-acre property at 5830...

Church mortgage.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Westover Hills Presbyterian Church)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A Little Rock church landed a $2.5 million financial package. Westover Hills Presbyterian Church picked up the loan from Bank of the Ozarks. The 2.4-acre development previously was linked with a June 1980 refunding bond issue of $80,000...

Victory loan.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Victory Lane Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A Jacksonville convenience store is under construction with the aid of a $921,000 mortgage. Victory Lane Inc., led by Majid Abineh-Kharat, received the two-year loan from First Arkansas Bank & Trust of Jacksonville. The 1.8-acre...

WSJ: Hino to build trucks at Marion by '07.(INDUSTRY)
November 7, 2005... The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Hino Motors Ltd. plans to build an assembly plant at Marion that will build 3,000 to 4,000 trucks a year. The plant, which would produce trucks by 2007, would help double U.S. production and...

Beebe files complaint against Oklahoma.(AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS)(Mike Beebe)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Arkansas Attorney General Mike Beebe filed a petition last week urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take action against the state of Oklahoma. The petition claims Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson is spoiling the cooperative terms...

Dillard's October sales up 7 percent.(Public Company Reports)
November 7, 2005... Dillard's Inc. of Little Rock said sales for the four weeks ended Oct. 29 were $488.3 million, up 7 percent over sales of $456.7 million for the same period of 2004. Sales in comparable stores increased 8 percent for the four-week period. ...

Wal-Mart same-store sales up 4.3 percent.(Public Company Reports)
November 7, 2005... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville said same-store sales for October were up 4.3 percent and that same-store sales for November are expected to increase by 3 percent to 5 percent. Same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least one...

Fuel costs weigh on P.A.M. earnings.(Public Company Reports)(P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... A rise in fuel costs and seasonal plant shutdowns weighed on P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc.'s third-quarter earnings, as net income for the Tontitown trucking company fell to $2.2 million, or 20 cents a share, from $3.1 million, or 28...

First Federal Bancshares sees flat 3q earnings.(Public Company Reports)
November 7, 2005... First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. of Harrison, the holding company for First Federal Bank of Arkansas, said third-quarter net income reached $2.04 million, or 39 cents a share, down slightly from $2.09 million, or 39 cents a share,...

Entergy sees 3q earnings up 24%.(Public Company Reports)
November 7, 2005... Entergy Corp. of New Orleans reported a 24 percent increase in third-quarter earnings, despite damage from Gulf Coast hurricanes that caused its New Orleans subsidiary to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. The utility holding...

J. B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.(Public Company Reports)
November 7, 2005... * J. B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. of Lowell has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 6 cents a share, payable Nov. 28 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 7.

Acxiom Corp.(Public Company Reports)
November 7, 2005... * Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 5 cents a share payable on Dec. 5 to shareholders of record as of Nov. 14.

Warren Overton indicted on bank fraud charges.(BANKING & FINANCE)
November 7, 2005... A federal grand jury in Little Rock last week indicted Warren Overton on eight counts of bank fraud and one count of check-kiting. The eight counts of bank fraud involve a meandering trail of transactions involving Overton and One Bank of...

Deming to speak at Forecast Conference.(ECONOMIC)
November 7, 2005... Murphy Oil Corp. President and CEO Claiborne Denting will speak Thursday at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Economic Forecast Conference at the Double Tree Hotel in Little Rock. Deming is scheduled to talk about energy and its...

Fayetteville company converts to biodiesel.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
November 7, 2005... Fleet operators, farmers and everyday drivers tired of paying more than $3 a gallon for diesel might consider a conversion that will allow those vehicles to run on vegetable oil. Clay Belknap and Carter Malloy started Green Circle Biofuels,...

Arkansas ranks No. 3 in 2004 bankruptcies.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
November 7, 2005... In 2004, Arkansas was the third-highest regional state in personal bankruptcies, with a total of 8.6 bankruptcies per 1,000 people. The Federal Reserve System published the numbers in the October issue of The Regional Economist, a banking...

Fitch ratings drops funds.(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Fitch Ratings of New York announced on Oct. 31 that it will no longer rate the Arkansas Development Finance Authority's $7.4 million hospital revenue bonds on Washington Regional Medical Center. John Wells, senior director at Fitch Ratings,...

Bankruptcy rates.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
November 7, 2005... Bankruptcy Rates Personal bankruptcies per 1,000 people and demographic data. Area unemployment 2004 1980-2004 Per capita 2004 rate average income Eight Distric...

Robert A. Young III, chairman and CEO of Arkansas Best Corp., will retire from the CEO position on Jan. 31, 2006.(Business Briefs)
November 7, 2005... Robert A. Young HI, chairman and CEO of Arkansas Best Corp., will retire from the CEO position on Jan. 31, 2006. He will continue as chairman. Robert A. Davidson, president and chief operating officer, will become president and CEO on Feb. 1....

U.S. Census Bureau.(Business Briefs)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana have the lowest rate of Internet access in the nation, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The rate is 40 percent in Mississippi, 42 percent in Arkansas and 44 percent in Louisiana. Alaska, New Hampshire and...

State Sen. Tim Wooldridge, D-Paragould, has been awarded the Arkansas Hospital Association's Statesmanship Award for his contributions to and leadership on hospital and health care issues in the state.(Business Briefs)
November 7, 2005... State Sen. Tim Wooldridge, D-Paragould, has been awarded the Arkansas Hospital Association's Statesmanship Award for his contributions to and leadership on hospital and health care issues in the state. Wooldridge is a candidate for lieutenant...

The Arkansas Small Business Development Center and the Arkansas Minority Business Development Roundtable are co-sponsoring the Act Now!(Business Briefs)(Panel Discussion)
November 7, 2005... The Arkansas Small Business Development Center and the Arkansas Minority Business Development Roundtable are co-sponsoring the Act Now! Disaster Preparedness for Small Business seminar in Little Rock from 6-9 p.m. on Nov. 15 at the Neighborhood...

Maverick Oil & Gas Inc.(acquires oil fields Woodruff and St. Francis counties)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Maverick Oil & Gas Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., says it has obtained commitments to lease a total of 82,000 net leasehold acres in the Fayetteville Shale play, the majority of that total in Woodruff and St. Francis counties. The company is...

OGE Energy Corp. says its Enogex Inc. subsidiary has completed the sale of Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Co. to Atlas Pipeline Partners.(Business Briefs)
November 7, 2005... OGE Energy Corp. says its Enogex Inc. subsidiary has completed the sale of Enogex Arkansas Pipeline Co. to Atlas Pipeline Partners. EAPC was the wholly owned subsidiary of Enogex that held a 75 percent interest in the 565-mile Noark interstate...

Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock has signed a long-term agreement with Yellow Book USA, the nation's oldest and largest independent Yellow Pages publisher.(Business Briefs)
November 7, 2005... Acxiom Corp. of Little Rock has signed a long-term agreement with Yellow Book USA, the nation's oldest and largest independent Yellow Pages publisher. The value of the deal was not announced. Yellow Book has made a number of strategic...

Associated Country Women of the World.(Business Briefs)
November 7, 2005... Hot Springs will host the 2010 convention of the Associated Country Women of the World, an international organization of rural women and homemakers. About 1,000 women from around the world are expected in the city for the event. Hot...

Cytomedix Inc. of Rockville, Md., the biotechnology company founded in Little Rock, has been ranked in the 2005 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America.(Business Briefs)
November 7, 2005... Cytomedix Inc. of Rockville, Md., the biotechnology company founded in Little Rock, has been ranked in the 2005 Deloitte Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America. Rankings are based on...

Columbia Sewing Co. of Magnolia has received a $2.9 million contract to make uniforms for the Iraqi National Guard.(Business Briefs)
November 7, 2005... Columbia Sewing Co. of Magnolia has received a $2.9 million contract to make uniforms for the Iraqi National Guard. The company will produce 120,000 uniforms for the Defense Supply Center at Philadelphia.

Lackluster lunch leaves crew less than satisfied: service is top notch; specials disappointing.(Loca Luna)(Restaurant Review)
November 7, 2005... THERE ARE DEFINITELY QUIETER, quicker and tastier lunches to be had in Little Rock--or even just in the Riverdale area--but at least the service at Loca Luna makes patrons feel like they are getting the best. The stylish bistro's festive...

Fayetteville, Hot Springs lead job recovery.(Reprint)
November 7, 2005... AMONG THE FIVE METROPOLITAN statistical areas (MSAs) outside Little Rock-North Little Rock, only Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers experienced job increases (3.2 percent annual on average) both during and after the 2001 recession. Employment in...

There's still time to minimize tax liabilities.(Wealth Management)
November 7, 2005... IT'S GETTING CLOSE TO THE end of the year, but by accelerating deductions, deferring income and adjusting investment portfolios, people can relieve part of their tax burden when April rolls around. Tony Uth (pronounced "youth"), a partner...

Roth 401ks can benefit wealthy baby boomers.(Wealth Management)
November 7, 2005... WEALTHY BABY BOOMERS now have a chance at a Roth investment, too. And they can put more money into it with the same tax benefits. That's the gist of the new Roth 401k that will become available in 2006, thanks to the Economic Growth & Tax...

Largest brokerages get smaller, annual list shows.(List Overview)
November 7, 2005... THE MOST STRIKING THING about this year's Arkansas Business list of the largest broker dealers ranked by registered representatives is the number of firms that reported losing stockbrokers. The top six firms reported losing stockbrokers...

Arkansas business list: largest broker dealers.(WEALTH MANAGEMENT)(Illustration)
November 7, 2005... Arkansas Business List: Largest Broker Dealers Ranked by number of licensed agents in Arkansas Firm No. of Registered Net Worth Address Representatives Fiscal Year End ...

Arkansas business list: money managers.(WEALTH MANAGEMENT)
November 7, 2005... Arkansas Business List: Money Managers Ranked by assets under management Assets Under Assets Management in Private Firm ...

By invitation only caters to you.(New Businesses: A Listing Of Business Start-Ups In Arkansas)
November 7, 2005... BY INVITATION ONLY CATERS TO YOU Owners: Erin Brady, Amy Bush and Judy Adams Address: 5600 R St., Little Rock 72207 Phone: (501) 975-8902 Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday Startup: Oct. 24 ...

A/V Connections Inc.(New Businesses: A Listing Of Business Start-Ups In Arkansas)(Company Profile)
November 7, 2005... A/V CONNECTIONS INC. Owner: David Crook Address: 5 Forest Brook Court, Little Rock 72211 Phone: (501) 954-8282 Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday Startup: October 2004 E-mail: davidcrook@sbcglobal.net The motto...

Calendar.(Calendar)
November 7, 2005... NOVEMBER * 8--Family Enterprise Center Fall Conference Sponsor: University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Time: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Location: Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center, UAFS Fee:, $45 for nonmembers of FEC For more...

Community Bank.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
November 7, 2005... Kyle Proctor has joined Community Bank of Cabot as marketing director. Proctor previously worked for Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods of Little Rock. Amanda O'Brien-Elizandro has joined the bank as marketing/public relations associate.

Arvest Bank.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
November 7, 2005... David Bacon joined the downtown Little Rock office of Arvest Bank of Fayetteville as senior vice president/ commercial lending officer. Bacon previously worked as a credit products officer for Bank of America of Charlotte, N.C.

Lonnie Jackson has been recognized as a State Star by the National Association of Small Business Development Centers of Burke, Va.(BUSINESS SERVICES)
November 7, 2005... Lonnie Jackson has been recognized as a State Star by the National Association of Small Business Development Centers of Burke, Va. Jackson is the director of the Henderson State University Small Business Development Center in Arkadelphia.

Stephen Mansfield has received the Arkansas Health Executives Forum's A. Allen Weitraub Award.(HEALTH CARE)(Panel Discussion)
November 7, 2005... Stephen Mansfield has received the Arkansas Health Executives Forum's A. Allen Weitraub Award. Mansfield is president and CEO of St. Vincent Health System of Little Rock, a position he has filled for the past five years. Jonathan Davis also was...

SeaArk Boats.(MANUFACTURING)
November 7, 2005... Steve Henderson has been promoted to vice president of sales by SeaArk Boats of Monticello. Henderson has been with the company for three years, most recently serving as national sales manager. Angela Naron has been promoted to coordinator of...

Advantage Communications Inc.(MEDIA/MARKETING)
November 7, 2005... Nigel Hall has been hired as senior account executive with Advantage Communications Inc. of Little Rock. Hall previously worked for Urban Sports of Cornelius, N.C., as a national account manager Ra Hearne also has joined Advantage as an account...

Arkansas Forestry Association.(NONPROFIT)
November 7, 2005... Randy Crowder of Crowder Forestry Service in Camden was elected president of the Arkansas Forestry Association. Glenn Gray of the Crossett office of Georgia-Pacific Corp. of Atlanta was elected vice president. Miles Lacy of the Morrilton office...

Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty.(REAL ESTATE)
November 7, 2005... Melissa Thompson, Elizabeth Frawley and Abby Midkiff have all joined the advantage team at the North Little Rock office of Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty of Little Rock. Matthew Riordan and Jason Cherven have joined the company as sales...

Bradford & Udouj/Fianna Realty LLC.(REAL ESTATE)
November 7, 2005... Tom Cannava has been promoted by Bradford & Udouj/Fianna Realty LLC of Fort Smith to principal broker/managing partner in charge of the company's day-to-day operations. Bob Bradford, executive broker for the company, has been elected to the...

Ryan Kye has been recognized as Territory Manager of the Year by Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings of Milwaukee, Wis.(RETAIL)
November 7, 2005... Ryan Kye has been recognized as Territory Manager of the Year by Nationwide Floor & Window Coverings of Milwaukee, Wis. Kye manages one of the franchise's stores in Little Rock.

Optus Inc.(TECHNOLOGY TELECOMMUNICATIONS)
November 7, 2005... David Sluder has been hired as the new vice president of technical operations at Optus Inc. of Jonesboro. Sluder previously worked in the Paragould office of Teleflora of Los Angles.

Stock summary.
November 7, 2005... STOCK SUMMARY 10/3/05 Weekly YTD Arkansas Public Company Stocks Close Change Change Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) 21.12 0.28% -20.23% A.E.R.T....

Branching out.(Parkway Bank of Rogers)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... Parkway Bank of Rogers will be adding even more to the bevy of Benton County bank branches soon--at least that's the plan. Parkway closed on a piece of property in the Pleasant Crossing addition of Rogers on Oct. 12, and an office will go...

Franchising Bueno.(Whispers)
November 7, 2005... The Mexican fast food eatery Taco Bueno will open its first Arkansas location on Nov. 21 in Fayetteville. It will be followed by five more northwest Arkansas locations and five Little Rock locations by 2010, a spokeswoman for the company said....

System swap.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
November 7, 2005... Cebridge Connections became the eighth-largest cable operator in the country after picking up about 940,000 subscribers from Cox Communications Inc. last week. Cequel III LLC of St. Louis, a telecommunications management firm, runs the...

Name game.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)(Lloyd Schuh Co.)(Brief Article)
November 7, 2005... The Lloyd Schuh Co., a Little Rock staple on Cantrell Road for more than half a century, announced last week that it has changed its name to LSC Marketing. What began as primarily a direct mail outfit has now grown to include more...

Bears on parade.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
November 7, 2005... With last week's start to the National Basketball Association 2005-06 season, fans of the Memphis Grizzlies might be a little disappointed with the amount of televised games on the air in the Little Rock market. During the 2003-04 season,...

A salute to the past, a vision for the future.(PLANTERS COTTON OIL MILL, INC.)
November 7, 2005... Integrity, Commitment, Leadership--all of these adjectives describe George H. Dunklin, Sr. After over 60 years in the cotton seed crushing industry, Mr. Dunklin, who served as president since 1977, has announced his retirement from Planters...