Arkansas Business back issues from March 2007:
A jewel of a baseball diamond: Dickey-Stephens Park gets finishing touches for April 12 opening day.(Tourism)
Mar 05, 2007; ... ONE OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS' OLDEST WARM-weather attractions is set to become its newest, as construction crews put the finishing touches on Dickey-Stephens Park. Meanwhile its future tenants, the Double-A Arkansas Travelers ball club, is packing up the remnants of 75-yearold Ray ...
Thousands expected to remember '57.(Little Rock's Central High School's 50 th anniversary )
Mar 05, 2007; ... ARKANSAS TOURISM OFFIcials are hoping people not only will remember the past but will be compelled to commemorate it. This September marks the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock's Central High School, and several groups have planned wall-to-wall events to mark ...
March Madness '08 already starts: Alltel ticket sales, preparations begin for men's NCAA.(Tourism)
Mar 05, 2007; ... THE BRACKETS FOR THE 2007 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament aren't even set, but ticket sales for next year's games at Alltel Arena already are more than a month old. The 18,000-seat venue in North Little Rock will be home in 2008 to four first-round games scheduled ...
Corporate HQ.(Whispers)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Heard about a $20 million development going out for bid in west Little Rock? The project in question is the new Bank of the Ozarks headquarters planned for the northwest comer of Chenal Parkway and Rahling Road. We understand the four-story, 92,000SF structure ...
Chapter 11 filing.(Whispers)
Mar 05, 2007 ... A Springdale homebuilder recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and listed $4.3 million in debt. Ben Caston Construction Inc. listed $4.8 million in assets, according to its bankruptcy reorganization filing. ANB Financial of Bentonville has $2.5 ...
Foam sweet foam.(Drew Foam Company Inc. being acquired by Pine Creek Partners)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007 ... We heard that Drew Foam Cos. of Monticello was about to be acquired by a company out of Atlanta. That's not the case, assures CEO Steve Hudson, who says that would be impossible because the company was sold in December to Pine Creek Partners, a private equity firm based in ...
Resurrected.(Whispers)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Little Rock businessman Bob Bomar's lawsuit against his former lawyers, Keith Moser and Barry Jewell, was raised from the dead last week in a ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Bomar, you may recall, claimed that Jewell and Moser cheated him out of a lucrative opportunity to ...
More global title.(Whispers)
Mar 05, 2007 ... We thought we'd heard the last of Mary O'Hanlon-Smith in August when she was sentenced to five years and three months in federal prison for swiping $2.3 million of her clients' money while she owned Global Title Co. of Sherwood. But last month, Global Title's receiver, Gregory ...
Landers in Jonesboro?(Whispers)
Mar 05, 2007 ... We've heard that the Landers auto salesmen are kicking the tires on a dealership in Jonesboro. Steve Landers, who runs Landers Autos Sales Inc., referred questions to his son, Steve ...
Market this.(Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Arkansas awarding Houston Nutt )(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007 ... No doubt this was a good grab for the Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Arkansas, but the timing and the irony are worth noting. The statewide trade group for marketers has landed a speaking engagement featuring University of Arkansas at Fayetteville head football ...
Always the bridesmaid redux?(Editorial)
Mar 05, 2007 ... LIKE SUSAN LUCCI AT THE Daytime Emmy Awards, Arkansas was in the running but once again came away empty-handed. Toyota Motor Corp. last week bypassed a site at Marion for its next vehicle assembly plant, choosing instead a 1,700-acre location at Blue Springs, Miss., about 10 ...
For shame.(Paul Miller, Barbara Horn and Percy Malone were accused for political corruption)(Editorial)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007 ... SEVEN MEMBERS OF THE Senate Commerce & Insurance Committee were neither strong enough to fight the loan sharks nor brave enough to actually vote against a bill to protect Arkansas consumers from the scourge of payday lenders. Instead, they just didn't vote. Five members--Paul ...
The Toyota tease.(Toyota Motor Corp.'s Crittenden County being moved due to environmental concerns warned by Environmental Protection Agency)
Mar 05, 2007; ... TOYOTA MOTOR CORE FLIRted and teased but in the end left Arkansas at the altar again. The news that Toyota would pass on the super project site in Crittenden County for a second time and build a $1.3 billion plant in Tupelo, Miss., was a bombshell. Gov. Mike Beebe ...
Autumn recovery.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Marshall Management Inc. acquired apartment complex)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... A 184-unit apartment complex in southwest Little Rock changed hands in a $2.8 million foreclosure sale. Marshall Management Inc., led by Donald Marshall, purchased the 10.3acre Autumn Park development at 43 Warren Drive. The deal is financed with a three-year loan of $3.1 ...
Church acquisition.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Second Baptist Church)(Little Rock church)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... A west Little Rock church expanded its holdings in a $675,000 transaction. Second Baptist Church Barrow Road acquired the five-acre property at 1618 Barrow Road from Carol and Marvin Thaxton ...
Downtown deal.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(River Market South LLC acquired the property from Catherine Howell Long, Elizabeth H. Patterson and Mary H. Pauley )(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... A nearly half-acre parking lot in downtown Little Rock sold for $485,000. River Market South LLC, led by Jimmy Moses and Rett Tucker, purchased the northeast corner of Cumberland and East Fourth streets. The sellers are Catherine Howell Long and her husband, Michael, ...
Chenal home.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Mar 05, 2007; ... A 4,000-SF home in west Little Rock's Chenal Valley neighborhood rang up a $550,000 deal. Daniel and GaB Lien bought the house from Robb Boyles Construction Co., led by Robb Boyles. The deal is financed with a pair of 30year loans totaling $460,000 from ...
VEP funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Development of a 3.4-acre site in west Little Rock is in motion with a $3.5 million construction loan. VEP LLC, led by Carla Spainhour, picked up the one-year loan from First Security Bank of Searcy. The View at Emerald Pointe site on the west side ...
Commercial financing.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Mar 05, 2007; ... The owners of a North Little Rock commercial project landed a $1.04 million funding agreement. Rod-Chuck LLC, led by Keith and Charles Harper and Rodney Thomason, got the 33-month loan from Metropolitan National Bank. The 5.1-acre development at 8060 Counts Massie ...
Richards note.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Mar 05, 2007; ... A pair of commercial projects in southwest Little Rock was used to secure a $1 million financial package. Richards Finance Co. LLC, led by Betty Richards, received the six-month loan from Simmons First National Bank of Pine Bluff. The 6.1-acre warehouse project at ...
Office mortgage.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Standard Properties LLC acquired office buiding)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... The owner of a 13,800-SF office building in west Little Rock obtained a $745,000 mortgage. Standard Properties LLC, led by David Gulley and James Gulley, got the three-year loan from Bank of the Ozarks in Little Rock. The ...
Coburn funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Coburn Land and Leasing LLC acquired real estate property)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Two acres of downtown North Little Rock are backing a $700,000 funding agreement. Coburn Land & Leasing LLC, led by Rogers Coburn Jr., landed the one-year loan from Twin City Bank of North Little Rock. The property, which includes an apartment house at 803 Ferry St., was ...
Packaging note.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(acquisition of Capitol City Packaging location)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... A commercial project in southwest Little Rock is securing a $700,000 mortgage. M.P. and Jana Ardoin picked up the 33-month loan from Simmons First Bank. The 4.5-acre Capitol City Packaging location at 10 ...
Serenity refinance.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Mar 05, 2007; ... A nonprofit property in south Little Rock was refinanced with a $600,000 note. Serenity House Inc., led by Joseph McQuary, received the 27-month loan from Bank of Little Rock. The 10-acre 2801 W ....
Suites loans.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(DJ Hospitality Inc. got finance from First Louisiana Bank of Bossier City )(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... The owner of a 54-unit motel project near Maumelle picked up a $900,000 financial package. DJ Hospitality Inc., led by Daljeet Mann and Jagtar Otal, obtained a one-year loan of $500,000 from First Louisiana Bank of Bossier City and a $400,000 loan from Pran and Sushma Grover. ...
Beebe: air quality bumped state from Toyota's list.(MANUFACTURING)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Gov. Mike Beebe said last week that Toyota Motor Corp.'s concerns over air quality issues eliminated Marion from consideration for the company's new $1.3 billion Highlander SUV manufacturing plant. Toyota selected a site at Blue Springs, Miss., 10 miles northwest of Tupelo, for ...
EADS North America opens Russellville site.(MANUFACTURING)(Brief article)
Mar 05, 2007; ... EADS North America has officially opened its newest facility at Russellville. The facility specializes in integrated shelters for military, homeland security and disaster recovery applications. The 8,500-SF installation will be the headquarters for EADS North America Integrated ...
Wal-Mart buys share of Chinese hypermarkets.(RETAIL)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has announced an agreement to pay $1 billion for a share of a Chinese retail chain. The Bentonville-based retailer will buy into 35 percent of Bounteous Co. Ltd. of Taiwan. While terms and cost were not disclosed, Chinese media have estimated the cost at $1 ...
Dillard's sees increase in 4th-quarter profit.(Public Company Reports)(Financial report)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Dillard's Inc. reported a 4 percent same-store sales decrease for its fourth quarter, even as its quarterly profit increased with the help of an income tax benefit. The department store chain said fourth-quarter net income reached $155 million, or $1.90 a share, for the 14 weeks ...
AERT receives $834,000 from warrant exercise.(Public Company Reports)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies Inc. of Springdale said it has received approximately $834,000, which represents the exercise of the remaining 1,771,792 Class H warrants originally issued to Marjorie S. Brooks, one of the company founders, in 1995 in return for certain ...
Baldor sets dividend, shareholder meeting.(Public Company Reports)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Baldor Electric Co. of Fort Smith declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents a share, payable on March 30 to shareholders of record on March 9. ...
Don Tyson unloads Tyson Foods stock.(Public Company Reports)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Don Tyson, a member of the board of directors and the former board chairman of Tyson Foods Inc., recently sold more than $11 million in company stock. Tyson converted 211,311 shares of Class B stock to Class A and sold them to earn $3.99 million. He sold 141,685 shares at $18.95 ...
Simmons First National Corp.(Public Company Reports)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Simmons First National Corp. of Pine Bluff declared an 18-cents-a-share ...
First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc.(Public Company Reports)
Mar 05, 2007 ... First Federal Bancshares of Arkansas Inc. of Harrison declared a ...
Agriculture makes up 1/5 of Arkansas economy.(AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS)
Mar 05, 2007; ... The impact of agriculture on the state's economy continues to be great. According to a research report from the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, it accounts for 20 cents of every dollar generated in Arkansas' economy. The Impact of the Agricultural Sector on the ...
Accent Marketing opens Hot Springs call center.(COMMUNICATIONS)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Accent Marketing Services of Jeffersonville, Ind., officially opened its 39,656-SF Boost Mobile call center last week at Hot Springs. The center is Accent's first facility in Arkansas and eighth call center in the United States. "This project has been a true partnership between ...
Verizon launches EVDO in Arkansas.(COMMUNICATIONS)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Verizon Wireless has launched its third-generation wireless broadband service in central Arkansas, making it the fourth wireless carrier to offer high-speed data service in the state. Though it's a late start, the roll-out of Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Verizon's broadband ...
Fort Smith lawyer drives Honda suit.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Jay Kutchka, a lawyer for Jones Jackson & Moll PLC of Fort Smith, is behind a class-action lawsuit that's expected to cost American Honda Motor Co. at least $6.1 million in cash and may ultimately be worth $80 million or more. Kutchka first noticed the odometer on his Honda ...
Johnson elected to EquityNet board.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
Mar 05, 2007; ... EquityNet LLC announced that Terry Johnson has been elected to the company's board of managers. The board is elected by member to oversee management and to assure the long-term interest of the members, stakeholders, employees and clients are being well served. ...
Lodge changes business plan.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
Mar 05, 2007; ... The Lodge on Whitney Mountain in Garfield is changing its focus to become a banquet facility instead of a resort hotel. Scott Hicks, general manager and executive chef, said that as of April 1, the facility will be available for bookings by corporate clients and private parties ...
The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce will spend 59 minutes with Gov. Mike Beebe at 7:30 a.m. March 6 at the Hilton Little Rock on University Avenue.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... The Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce will spend 59 minutes with Gov. Mike Beebe at 7:30 a.m. March 6 at the Hilton Little Rock on University Avenue. The breakfast, a quarterly event of the chamber, is presented by ...
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas' 48th annual Salute to the Arkansas Congressional Delegation will be April 28 through May 1 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas' 48th annual Salute to the Arkansas Congressional Delegation will be April 28 through May 1 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Va. To ...
J. B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... J. B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. has been awarded the right to use the SmartWay logo by the Environmental Protection Agency's SmartWay Transport Partnership. The EPA program is a voluntary effort between the government and the ...
The third annual Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference will be held March 8-9 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... The third annual Arkansas Women in Agriculture Conference will be held March 8-9 at the Hot Springs Convention Center. Rodney Baker of the Arkansas Farm Bureau will lead a panel discussion focusing on legislative issues of concern to Arkansas farmers and ...
Dan Sontag, a senior vice president and head of Global Private Clients Americas Advisory Division at Merrill Lynch, will address Little Rock business professionals at Junior Achievement's 17th annual business luncheon at the Statehouse Convention Center on March 8.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Dan Sontag, a senior vice president and head of Global Private Clients Americas Advisory Division at Merrill Lynch, will address Little Rock business professionals at Junior Achievement's 17th annual business luncheon at the Statehouse Convention Center ...
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco, Gov. Mike Beebe and Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark., presented two grants for more than $6 million last week to Mid-South Community College at West Memphis to train Delta-area workers.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco, Gov. Mike Beebe and Rep. Marion Berry, D-Ark., presented two grants for more than $6 million last week to Mid-South Community ...
RiverCity Print & Imaging Inc.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... RiverCity Print & Imaging Inc. of 9816 Rodney Parham, Little Rock, owned by Scott and Jane Levine, received the top management award from Certified Printers ...
Murphy Oil Corp. said two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, together with partner Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd., have signed two separate gas sales agreements, one to supply the existing Petronas Bintulu LNG facility and one to supply a Petronas-owned methanol plant, onshore Labuan.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Murphy Oil Corp. said two of its wholly owned subsidiaries, together with partner Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd., have signed two separate gas sales agreements, one to supply the existing Petronas Bintulu LNG facility and one to ...
Windstream Corp.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Windstream Corp. has completed its offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 7 percent senior notes due 2019 ....
Convergys Corp. said it renewed a billing services contract with Alltel Corp. to manage Alltel's wireless data rating operations for four years.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Convergys Corp. said it renewed a billing services contract with Alltel Corp. to manage Alltel's wireless data rating ...
University of Arkansas at Little Rock.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... University of Arkansas at Little Rock deans and key administrators joined Chancellor Joel E. Anderson in making gifts and pledges totaling ...
U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... The U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission has recommended raising the cost of mailing a first-class letter by two cents and creating a "forever" stamp that would remain ...
Delta Dental of Arkansas hired Edgewater Technology Inc. of Wakefield, Mass., a technology management consulting firm, to update its existing group rating system.(Business Briefs)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Delta Dental of Arkansas hired Edgewater Technology Inc. of Wakefield, Mass., a technology management consulting firm, to update its ...
Choate named Exec of Year, Hunt projects recognized.(Ed Choate)
Mar 05, 2007; ... ED CHOATE, CEO OF SHERwood's Delta Dental of Arkansas since 2000, was named Arkansas Business Executive of the Year at the 2006 Arkansas Business of the Year awards banquet on Feb. 22. Choate, who had been a finalist for the award last year, thanked the board of directors of ...
Fort Smith seeks funds for Marshals museum.(Tourism)
Mar 05, 2007; ... NOW THAT FORT SMITH HAS locked in the future U.S. Marshals Service National Museum, local officials have begun the search for funding, turning to the state and national governments as well as private sources. Claude Legris, executive director of the Fort Smith Convention & ...
In-state rivals arrive in 2008.(new baseball stadium in Arkansas, location, government finance)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Next year at this time, the Arkansas Travelers will welcome their first in-state rival into the Texas League as play begins in Springdale's new stadium. The team celebrated the ground-breaking last Wednesday for its new baseball stadium, which it says will be ready for opening ...
Trail of Tears plans could mean tourist dollars for Arkansas.(Tourism)
Mar 05, 2007; ... "Hinaushi pisali, Boa Chito onali, yayali." ("I saw a trail to the big river and then I cried.") --Song sung by the Choctaws in Mississippi, in memory of the people forced west. ALMOST 170 YEARS AGO, THE forced removal of Native Americans from east of the Mississippi ...
Hotel sales rise as tourism thrives in Arkansas.(List Overview)(Financial report)
Mar 05, 2007; ... HOTEL SALES CONTINUED to rise in Arkansas for 2006 as one of the state's biggest industries, tourism, continued to get bigger. Richard Davies, executive director of the state Department of Parks & Tourism, said total travel expenditures in Arkansas topped $5 billion in 2006 for ...
Highest-grossing hotels.(Tourism)
Mar 05, 2007; ... <Pre> HIGHEST-GROSSING HOTELS Ranked by total revenue for 2006 Hotel Web SiteAddress Phone, Fax 1 The Peabody Little Rock www.peabodylittlerock.com3 Statehouse Plaza, (501) 906-4000, ...
Advertising & promotion commissions.(Tourism)
Mar 05, 2007; ... <Pre> ADVERTISING & PROMOTION COMMISSIONS Total 2006Hotel Entity Phone CollectionsTax Rate Alma Advertising & (479) 632-4110 $13,651 1% Promotion Commission ...
Gina's Sushi & Grill.(New Businesses: A Listing of Business Start-Ups in Arkansas)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Owner: Gina Wu Address: 9108 N. Rodney Parham, No. 304, Little Rock 72205 Phone: (501) 223-0808 Hours: Mon.-Thu.: 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Fri.-Sat.: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sun.: 12-8 p.m. Start-up: August 18, 2006 E-mail: ginawu8888@yahoo.com ...
M3 Motivations Mini Mall.(New Businesses: A Listing of Business Start-Ups in Arkansas)
Mar 05, 2007; ... Owner: Venita Ross Franklin Address: 1307 John Barrow Road, Suite D, Little Rock 72205 Phone: (501) 221-0215 Fax: (501) 562-2101 Hours: Mon.-Sat: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Start-up: Feb. 1, 2007 E-mail: ...
Calendar.(Brief article)(Calendar)
Mar 05, 2007 ... MARCH * 6--Small Business Marketing Seminar Time: 9 a.m.-noon Location: Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, 202 E. Central, Bentonville Fee: $30 For more information, call (479) 575-5148 * 7--UA ...
Heartbreak Hotel.(Whispers)
Mar 05, 2007 ... The owner of a Little Rock Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites is furious with the way a contractor handled a $3.4 million construction project and is suing to get some of his money back. Swami Hotel Properties LLC of North Little Rock said in its lawsuit that it hired the ...
Order up.(Whispers)
Mar 05, 2007 ... Ownership of a restaurant property in southwest Little Rock changed in a $l.2 million transaction. ...