Arkansas Business back issues from January 2007:
Lobbyists, agencies list goals industry wish lists shorter this year.(Legislative Preview)
Jan 08, 2007 ... THE 86TH GENERAL Assembly that gets under way this week faces a number of problems it has rarely had to deal with in the past--most coming from an expected $843 million surplus in revenue and how to divvy it up and make everyone happy. So many choices. Special interest ...
The survivors: Beebe keeps bureaucrats.(John Ahlen, Randy Young and Richard Davies)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Of the 19 state agency and department heads appointed by Gov.-elect Mike Beebe, 17 served under the previous administration of Gov. Mike Huckabee. And of those reappointed, eight served governors prior to Huckabee: Jim Guy Tucker or, even, Bill Clinton. What's more, ...
Grocery tax not alone on chopping block.(Legislative Preview)
Jan 08, 2007; ... LAST WEEK'S NEWS THAT STATE REVENUE collections actually lagged behind revised projections may give lawmakers pause, but the 86th General Assembly is still looking at a likely surplus of more than $840 million when the fiscal year ends June 30. The most publicized proposal for ...
Oil slick.(Whispers)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Here's news that flew completely under our radar: Cross Oil Refining & Marketing Inc. of Smackover has been acquired by a do-it-all Texas company that it has done business with in the past. Martin Resource Management Corp. of Kilgore, Texas, in September acquired the 83-year-old ...
McKay Troubles.(Whispers)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Think back to late 2005. John McKay Jr. sued former NBA and University of Arkansas basketball star Sidney Moncrief over his former Pine Bluff Hyundai dealership. Now it seems McKay has shot an air ball in dealing with the dealership. The Hyundai Motor Finance Co. has ...
Accounted for?(Whispers)(Correction notice)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Former Little Rock Advertising & Promotion Commission member Bruce Bennett points out an error in our recent report on the contentious Dec. 20 commission meeting at which he called on chairman Mary Beth Ringgold to resign. We reported that Ringgold had accused him of attending ...
Relaxed crush.(Crush bar moves downtown)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... And while we're correcting: Whispers previously broke the news that Crush, a wine and cheese bar, would be moving into Block 2 downtown, where a Firehouse Subs used to be. But our information about it's mandatory coat-and-tie policy was incorrect. In fact, co-owner ...
Pets project.(Whispers)
Jan 08, 2007 ... A 32,800-SF commercial project in North Little Rock tipped the scales at $4.25 million. Who bought the three-acre Petsmart and Concentra Med Center development at ...
Office sale.(Whispers)
Jan 08, 2007 ... A nearly two-acre office development in Little Rock is under new ownership after a $1.47 million transaction. LAP Holdings LLC, ...
Fresh air.(SC Johnson & Son Inc. sued over fire caused from its Glade air freshener)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... A Fort Smith man who said his home burned because of a Glade air freshener is now suing the manufacturer of the fragrance maker, SC Johnson & Son Inc. of Racine, Wis. Billy Quick said his house caught fire in March 2003 and an investigation into it revealed that the Glade ...
Alltel buyout?(Editorial)
Jan 08, 2007 ... BUT OF COURSE PRIVATE equity firms are exploring a leveraged buyout of Alltel Corp. The Wall Street Journal's recent report merely confirmed what any thinking person would have assumed. After all, Alltel is an excellent and well-run company--the nation's fifth-largest wireless ...
Movin' on up.(report, "From Cradle to Career," ranks Arkansas at 39th for education quality)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... WE'VE BECOME SO USED TO seeing Arkansas ranked only above Mississippi (and occasionally West Virginia) in the field of education (etc.) that it comes as a pleasant surprise to see the state ranked 39th (not 49th) in the 2007 "Quality Counts" report from Education Week. The ...
Huckabee fatigue.(Editor's Note)
Jan 08, 2007; ... REMEMBER CLINTON FATIGUE? was particularly acute among Arkansans, who had been exposed to him for 15 years longer than the rest of the country. But now when I see the former president on television, I get a wave of nostalgia that I never expected. I wouldn't put an "I Miss Bill" sticker on ...
The power of the plan.(Commentary)
Jan 08, 2007; ... MOST BUSINESS OWNERS have a good idea of what it takes to be successful. What they don't have is the extra "band-width" to unlock the plan, quantify it, document it and execute it. That's why business planning gets de-prioritized. I spent over 14 years working for companies ...
Own to rent.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A west Little Rock clinic is under new ownership after a $3.66 million sale-leaseback transaction. 10201 Kanis Road LLC, led by Kevin Huchingson, acquired the Arkansas Otolaryngology Center at 10201 Kanis Road. The seller is AOC Realty LLC, led by John Dickins. The ...
Industrial buy.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(I&M Foods Inc)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... An industrial project in east Little Rock changed hands in a $925,000 deal. I&M Foods Inc., led by Jamie Parham, bought the 9100 Frazier Pike property from Wes-Pak Inc., led by Frank Westerman Sr. J&M assumed a May 2002 ...
Church transaction.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A 3.9-acre property in west Little Rock rang up a $500,000 sale. Disciples Church of Christ Inc. purchased the 600 Kirby Road location from Parkway Place Presbyterian Church. ...
Digital deal.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A one-acre property in downtown Little Rock drew a $432,000 transaction. Digital Endavors Inc., led by Phillip McColey, acquired the 807 W. Seventh St. location from Arkansas Blue Cross & Blue Shield ....
Paper land.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A 1.1-acre commercial site in west Little Rock sold for $275,000. Little Rock Paper Co., led by Lawrence Moffett, bought the land on the south side of Cantrell Road between East and West Taylor Loop Road. The seller is Miracle ...
Multifamily location.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A four-acre apartment site in North Little Rock is under new ownership after a $200,000 deal. Arrington Apartments II Ltd., led by Deming Henry, purchased the land at the southwest corner of Camp Robinson Road and Donovan Briley Boulevard. The seller ...
Storage acquisition.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(AA Storage Development LLC acquisitions)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... More land was assembled for a mini-storage project in midtown Little Rock in a $160,000 deal. AA Storage Development LLC, led by Scott Richburg, acquired the 0.3-acre property at 810-812 Fairpark Blvd. from the Yelenich Family Trust, led by R.J. Yelenich. The ...
Estates sale.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Freedom Oaks II LLC)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A 4,800-SF home in west Pulaski County's Iron Horse Estates neighborhood tipped the scales at $1.5 million. Patrick and Deanna Hatfield bought the 12.3-acre spread from Freedom Oaks II LLC, led by Harold Tenenbaum. The deal is financed with a 15-year loan of ...
Prospect Home.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A 4,900-SF home in Little Rock's Prospect Terrace neighborhood changed hands in a $990,000 deal. Jeffrey and Cara Nolan purchased the house from Wayne Moore Construction Co. The residence ...
Chenal Abode I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A 5,000-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood rang up a nearly $600,000 sale. Gerald Volpe Jr. acquired the house from Coburn Construction LLC, led by Roger Coburn. The deal is funded with a 30-year loan of $479,200 from Homecomings ...
Chenal Abode II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A 4,500-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood drew a $535,000 transaction. James and Stephanie Petray bought the house from Peters Realty Inc., led by George Peters. The deal is backed with a 10-year loan of $380,000 from Amegy ...
Arby's note.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A fast food eatery in North Little Rock is helping back a $10 million mortgage. United States Beef Corp. of Tulsa got the financing from Bank of America in ...
Continental funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Construction of a trucking project in east Little Rock is in motion with a $1.78 million mortgage. Continental Express Inc., led by Ralph Bradbury, obtained the three-year loan from Metropolitan National Bank. The 110-acre industrial spread at ...
JES mortgage.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(JES Properties LLC)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Mobile home property in Jacksonville was used to secure a $1.7 million funding agreement. JES Properties LLC, led by James and Paul Spellman, received the four-year loan from Arvest Bank of Fayetteville. The 11.4-acre Sunset Mobile Home Park at 8041 Highway 161 ...
Dealership financing.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Jan 08, 2007; ... An auto dealership in Sherwood picked up a $1.5 million financial package. Russell Chevrolet Co., led by Bob Russell, secured the 10-year loan from Twin City Bank. The dealership's 10.6-acre ...
Church Loan.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A Maumelle congregation landed a $1.28 million funding agreement. Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church got the 25-year loan from the Lutheran Church Extension Fund-Missouri Synod in St. Louis. The one-acre property at 449 Millwood Circle was bought for $400,000 in ...
WSJ: Marion on final list for Toyota plant.(INDUSTRY)
Jan 08, 2007; ... The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the northeast Arkansas city of Marion is among five cities that are finalists for a Toyota automobile plant. In the story, reporter Norihiko Shirouzu writes that Toyota Motor Corp. is looking to turn up the heat on its U.S ....
Polymer to close Rogers Plant; 120 to lose jobs.(Inside Business)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Polymer Group Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., said it would consolidate several U.S. manufacturing plants, which will result in the closure of its plant at Rogers. The Rogers plant, which handles thermal and adhesive bonding and was started by Scott Paper Co. in 1974, has 120 ...
Deluxe plant in NLR sold to German firm.(Deluxe Media Services' plant at North Little Rock sold to ODS Optical Disc Service Inc)
Jan 08, 2007; ... The company that owns the Deluxe Media Services plant in North Little Rock has sold its entire DVD manufacturing and distribution operation to ODS Optical Disc Service Inc. of Germany, but the future of the North Little Rock plant remains cloudy. The sale includes the assets of ...
Population changes.(Inside Business)(Table)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... <Pre> Population Changes July 1, 2005 to July 1, 2006 TOP 10 FASTEST-GROWINGTOP 10 GAINERS Percent Number State ChangeState Change 1 Arizona 3.6 1 Texas579,275 2 ...
Bank of the Ozarks' Gleason gets pay hike.(Policy Company Reports)
Jan 08, 2007 ... George G. Gleason II, chairman and chief executive officer of Bank of the Ozarks Inc., has entered into a new two-year employment agreement, according to documents filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Gleason's base salary will be $575,000 a year through March 24 ...
Dillard's December sales off 3 percent.(Policy Company Reports)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Dillard's Inc. reported December sales of $1.23 billion, compared with sales of $1.27 billion for the same period of 2005. Total sales declined 3 percent for the five-week period while same-store sales declined 5 percent. The 5 percent drop in sales at stores open at least a ...
Wal-Mart: electronics, food drove December sales.(Policy Company Reports)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said electronics and grocery sales drove December sales, which were up 1.6 percent on a same-store basis. Overall December sales of $43.9 billion were up 8.8 percent. Wal-Mart had projected I December same-store sales would come with no more than a 1 percent ...
Rove among speakers set for Clinton School.(EDUCATION)
Jan 08, 2007; ... The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service in Little Rock said speakers for its spring public program include Bush presidential adviser Karl Rove; Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.; University of Miami President Donna Shalala; National Geographic Editor Chris Johns; and America's ...
Report: housing sales drop 6.6% in November.(REAL ESTATE)
Jan 08, 2007; ... The Arkansas Realtors Association's monthly housing report shows that the total number of homes sold in November fell about 6.6 percent from the same month last year. The average price statewide was up about 3 percent year over year. The report said 2,332 homes were ...
Partnership buy includes Northwest Arkansas Mall.(REAL ESTATE)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Midwest Mall Properties, a partnership among Doyle Rogers and John Flake of Little Rock and Sam Mathias of Springdale, is buying three malls, including the Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville. The price for the three malls is in the "$400 million range." The deal closed on ...
State revenue growth falls below forecast.(ECONOMIC)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... While fiscal 2007 revenue continues to outpace what the state took in last year, the rate of growth has slowed, and the December report by the Arkansas Department of Finance & Administration showed it came in below the general revenue forecast of Nov. 9. For last month, net ...
Calendar.(Calendar)
Jan 08, 2007 ... * 8--Peace and Here to Hold Meeting Time: 6-8:30 p.m. Location: ACH South Campus Room B, Marshall Street, Little Rock Fee: Free For more information, call (501) 852-8448 * 8--Designing Your Own Web Page: The Basics Time: ...
State's reserve highest in region.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... In the third quarter of 2006, Arkansas banks collectively had a loan-loss reserve ratio of 1.38 percent, down from 1.47 percent for the same period in 2005. Banks maintain a reserve adequate to absorb estimated credit losses associated with their loan and lease portfolios. The ...
New Baum skyboxes add 'suite' revenue.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... All 20 skyboxes being added to Baum Stadium, the University of Arkansas' baseball facility, have been spoken for, leading to the creation of a waiting list for the newly constructed suites. Companies often split the cost of a skybox--$22,500 per tenant per season --with others ....
Fort Smith landfill selling methane gas.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
Jan 08, 2007; ... The Fort Smith Landfill has started selling high-grade methane gas to generate a source of revenue outside the usual collections from recycling and waste disposal. South-Tex Treaters Inc. of Odessa, Texas, in partnership with Cambrian Energy Development LLC of Los Angeles, ...
Nucor offers $1.07 billion for Harris Steel Group.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)
Jan 08, 2007; ... Nucor Corp. of Charlotte, N.C., which has a plant in Blytheville, said it had made an offer to buy Harris Steel Group Inc. of Canada for $1.07 billion. Both companies' boards of directors support the move, according to a Nucor news release. "The acquisition of Harris ...
Crop duster fights with insurance carrier.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)
Jan 08, 2007; ... A Monette crop duster whose airplane sustained more than $280,000 in damage wants his insurance carrier to pay the plane's repair bill. Roy Whited, who owns Whited Flying Service, said he was flying his 1982 Thrush Turbine in June 2004 when it hit a power line. As a ...
DeWitt firm loses Jonesboro Contract.(NE Journal: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)(Clarke Mosquito Control Inc.; Vector Disease Control Inc.)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007; ... The city of Jonesboro last week awarded a contract to kill mosquitoes to an Illinois firm, ending a more than 10-year relationship with a DeWitt company. The city of Jonesboro awarded the contract to the low bidder, Clarke Mosquito Control Inc. of Roselle, Ill., said Alderman ...
Whirlpool Corp. has sold several Maytag Corp. properties, including a plant at Searcy, to Industrial Realty Group of Los Angeles.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Whirlpool Corp. has sold several Maytag Corp. properties, including a plant at Searcy, to Industrial Realty Group of Los Angeles. The Searcy plant had employed 700 people until production was halted last month. The ...
ABF Freight System Inc.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... ABF Freight System Inc. has expanded its regional transportation network, called the Regional Performance Model, to include the central and southern ...
USA Truck Inc.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... USA Truck Inc. has opened its newest regional operations center in Spartanburg, S.C. The new facility will provide an operational base for the company's short- to medium-haul dry van truckload services in the ...
CSH Inc., a convenience store retailer and wholesaler at Jefferson City, Mo., has bought two convenience stores in Arkansas.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... CSH Inc., a convenience store retailer and wholesaler at Jefferson City, Mo., has bought two convenience stores in Arkansas. One location, PJ's Country Store, is a 2.25-acre ...
Arkansas, along with 12 other states, has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a case against the insurance industry's use of credit scoring to determine auto insurance rates.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Arkansas, along with 12 other states, has filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a case against the insurance industry's use of credit scoring to determine auto insurance rates. The brief asks the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold rulings that sided with ...
A Quality Asphalt Conference will be held Jan. 11-12 at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... A Quality Asphalt Conference will be held Jan. 11-12 at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock. Quality asphalt pavement processes will be the featured topic. Jerry Goodson, chairman of the Arkansas Asphalt Pavement Association, said all aspects of asphalt ...
Plant Board.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... The state Plant Board said all rice seed planted in Arkansas this year must be tested by April 1, a decision ...
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. said Tracy Black, vice president of information systems, had been recognized by IDG's Computerworld as one of the business world's Premier 100 IT Leaders.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. said Tracy Black, vice president of information systems, had been recognized by IDG's Computerworld as one of the business world's ...
BNSF Logistics LLC of Springdale has bought Pro-Am Transportation Services Inc. of Jamestown, N.D. ProAm is a third-party logistics company with approximately $25 million in revenue in 2006.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... BNSF Logistics LLC of Springdale has bought Pro-Am Transportation Services Inc. of Jamestown, N.D. ProAm is a third-party logistics company with approximately $25 million in ...
Windsor Health Plan Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., has signed an agreement with St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center at Hot Springs, making the hospital the newest member of Windsor's provider network.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Windsor Health Plan Inc. of Nashville, Tenn., has signed an agreement with St. Joseph's Mercy Health Center at Hot Springs, ...
The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. plans to build a $30 million, 60-megawatt power plant fueled by natural gas near Elkins, southeast of Fayetteville, to meet growing electricity demands in northwest Arkansas, according to documents filed with the state Public Service Commission.(Business Briefs)
Jan 08, 2007 ... The Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. plans to build a $30 million, 60-megawatt power plant fueled by natural gas near Elkins, southeast of Fayetteville, to meet growing ...
Little Rock Zoo.(Business Briefs)(increases admission prices)(Brief article)
Jan 08, 2007 ... The Little Rock Zoo has increased admission prices Jan. 1 but now offers a discount to seniors. Adult admission prices are $8 a person, up from $6. Child admission is now $6 each ....
Arkansas general assembly.(Legislative Preview)(Table)
Jan 08, 2007; ... <Pre> Arkansas General Assembly Political Senate District Senority Party Sen. Denny Altes (1) 13 22 Republican Sen. Jim Argue 32 2Democrat Sen. Gilbert Baker ...
SBA lending in Arkansas up 5 percent in 2006.
Jan 08, 2007; ... THE NUMBER OF FINANCIAL institutions making Small Business Administration-guaranteed loans to Arkansas borrowers declined during fiscal 2006, but the total number and value of those loans increased compared with 2005. In the federal government's fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, ...
Greg Griffin Farms of Waldenburg has received the 2006 Rice Champion Award from RiceTec Inc. of Alvin, Texas.(AGRICULTURE)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Greg Griffin Farms of Waldenburg has received the 2006 Rice Champion Award from RiceTec Inc. of ...
William Wiedower of Little Rock has received the 2006 Dick Savage Award from the Arkansas Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).(ARCHITECTURE)
Jan 08, 2007 ... William Wiedower of Little Rock has received the 2006 Dick Savage Award from the Arkansas Chapter of the American ...
Harding University.(EDUCATION)
Jan 08, 2007 ... Tony Finley has been named assistant vice president for Adult and Extended Education at Harding University at Searcy, effective Jan. 1. Finley is ...