Arkansas Business back issues from May 2007:
Fayetteville Shale Play spurs concerns: environmental impact remains unknown.
May 07, 2007; ... ALTHOUGH THE FAYETTEVILLE Shale Play is providing an economic hot in the arm for north-central Arkansas, the environmental impact of drilling for gas remains largely unknown. Some state officials and landowners are expressing concerns, especially about contamination and ...
ARM switches boost lending in early 2007.
May 07, 2007; ... RESIDENTIAL LENDING ACTIVITY Pulaski County showed signs of growth during early 2007. However, the numbers for the traditionally slowest two months of the year had some help. Year-to-year comparisons among eight leading mortgage companies in the market reflect a 36 percent increase in the ...
Crain auto grows, so do complaints.(Crain Automotive Holdings of Sherwood)
May 07, 2007; ... CRAIN AUTOMOTIVE HOLDINGS OF Sherwood is expanding--additional locations, a wider variety of car makes and pumped-up Internet marketing of used vehicles. But problems have shadowed Crain's aggressive business plan. Two former employees have accused the dealership of sexual ...
Insurance shake-up.(Whispers)(QualChoice)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... Did you know that nearly all of the 8,000 Arkansas school employees who were members of QualChoice of Arkansas recently fled to Health Advantage? We don't have all the details yet, but here's what we know: QualChoice, which is located in Little Rock, was the ...
Texas twist.(Whispers)(Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods)(Marcantel Crouch LeBlanc)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... An announcement this week is expected, but we picked up a few early details regarding the purchase of a Dallas public relations firm by Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods. CJRW, the state's largest advertising firm, last week acquired Marcantel Crouch LeBlanc, a branding and public ...
Wish we were there.(Whispers)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... In a hearing last week, Little Rock attorney Gary Corum persuaded U.S. District Judge Leon Holmes to postpone the trial of his client, former Little Rock mortgage broker Nelson Miller. Miller's trial on 16 counts of defrauding lenders was supposed to Monday morning. Instead, ...
Elsewhere on the docket.(Whispers)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... Little Rock attorney Barry Jewell is scheduled to enter a plea in his five-count federal indictment at 10 a.m. May 15. We predict it will be not guilty, since he told us after the charges were announced April 5 that he would "fight these false and ridiculous charges in court, ...
All in a TIF.(Editorial)
May 07, 2007 ... SURELY THE RECENT STATE Supreme Court ruling on tax increment financing districts has some economic development folks wondering how they'll now make it work. The court made it very clear, in its ruling on a Fayetteville TIF case, that the 25-mill property tax that is ...
High gas prices, again.(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... CONTINUING SUPPLY CONCERNS have fueled higher gas prices just as the summer driving season is getting ready to kick off this month. The national average is already at $3 a gallon, and most think prices will stay high because the tight supplies could mean problems when the peak demand hits ....
Housing market mess?(Publisher's Note)
May 07, 2007; ... WHEN TECHNOLOGY STOCKS were flying high in the late 90s, many of us enjoyed the ride but expected a tumble--though perhaps not as steep as most tech stocks flopped. As the housing market sizzled throughout the country with historic low long-term interest rates and extremely low ...
Disconnect to connect.(Commentary)
May 07, 2007; ... EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK, IT seems like there is an over abundance of PDA. Walk into any restaurant, bar or retailer,--you can't help but be overwhelmed with it. And no, I'm not talking about public displays of affection. I'm referring to the ever-present, always buzzing personal digital ...
Concrete purchase.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... The sale of three concrete properties in Pulaski County added up to an $897,000 deal. Central Concrete LLC, led by Richard Newland, bought the 25-acre location at 220 Wilcox Road in North Little Rock, a 1.89-acre site at 7305 W. 12th St. in Little Rock and a 4.55-acre location ...
Industrial sale I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(mergers of Accommodator Properties LLC and Alawest-AI LLC )(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... About 34 acres in southwest Little Rock drew an $873,000 transaction. Accommodator Properties LLC, led by Richard Barrett, acquired the property on Mabelvale West Road. The seller is Alawest-AI LLC of Northport, Ala., led by Gene ...
Industrial sale II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(mergers of Dalton Properties LLC and Sibbie Burnett and Gary Burnett)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... An industrial property in North Little Rock changed hands in a $265,000 sale. Dalton Properties LLC, led by Dale Dague and Tony Burnett, purchased the one-acre location adjoining its 3501 Industrial Center Drive property from Sibbie Burnett and Gary Burnett. The sellers ...
Rural residence.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... A 60.7-acre residential spread in west Little Rock sold for $2.4 million. Beck Investments LLC, led by Barry Beck, Jason Beck and Monica B. Glover, acquired the 4,613-SF home and land from Allen and Mary McKnight. The deal is financed with a one-year loan of $1.7 ...
Overlook home.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Martha E. Robertson Revocable Trust)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... A 5,000-SF home in Little Rock's Overlook Park neighborhood tipped the scales at $950,000. The Martha E. Robertson Revocable Trust bought the house from the Charles and Bunny Harper Joint Revocable Trust. ...
House trading.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 07, 2007; ... A 5,351-SF home in west Little Rock rang up an $861,000 transaction. The Selig Family Revocable Trust, led by John and Judy Selig, purchased the property from Michael and Cathy Kincaid. The residence previously was linked with a November 2001 mortgage of $520,000 ...
Auto loan I.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 07, 2007; ... The owner of a luxury auto project in west Little Rock landed a $6 million mortgage. Larock Properties LLC, led by Cyril Murphy III and Lee Owens, obtained the four-year loan from Red River Bank of Alexandria, La. The 6-acre Jaguar and Land Rover dealership at 25 ...
Industrial mortgage.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Burkhalter Property Group LLC)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... Development of a 7.5-acre industrial property in North Little Rock is in motion with a $5.3 million funding agreement. Burkhalter Property Group LLC, led by John Burkhalter, Todd Smith, Stephen Niswanger, William Pierce and Scott Harter, received the three-year loan from Bank of ...
Eatery funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 07, 2007; ... A restaurant project in southwest Little Rock was used to help secure a $3.2 million financial package. Spirit Master Funding II of Scottsdale, Ariz., got the funding ...
Auto loan II.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 07, 2007; ... The owner of a Sherwood auto dealership picked up a $1.8 million loan. North Little Rock Pontiac-Buick-GMC Inc., led by Bill Gwatney, landed the financing from Harold Gwatney. The 4.4-acre Sherwood Pontiac-Buick-GMC development at 5700 ...
Paper financing.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
May 07, 2007; ... A 1.1-acre commercial property in west Little Rock was used to help secure a $670,000 mortgage. Little Rock Paper Co., led by Lawrence Moffett, obtained the one-year loan from Bank of the Ozarks. The 14929 ...
On the web.(Arkansasbusiness.com/realestateguide)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... To search office space, retail property, industrial parks and warehouses in central and northwest Arkansas visit Arkansasbusiness.com/realestateguide. For the latest Arkansas real estate news visit Arkansas ...
Walton dedicates site of Crystal Bridges Museum.(TOURISM)
May 07, 2007; ... The site dedication for the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art was held last week at Bentonville. Alice Walton spoke about her first trip to the construction zone that's turned a wooded valley of her family's property into piles of limestone and red clay. "I ...
UA professor considers legality of forwarded e-mail.(LEGAL)
May 07, 2007; ... In an article set to be published in the summer volume of the Kansas Law Review, University of Arkansas law professor Ned snow says forwarding a private e-mail without the sender's permission violates common law rights. Snow, an assistant professor of law, argues that, based on ...
UA RFID Center joins Global RF Lab Alliance.(TECHNOLOGY & COMPUTERS)
May 07, 2007; ... The University of Arkansas RFID Research Center has joined seven other research centers in the United States, Europe and Asia to found the Global RF Lab Alliance. This alliance of radio frequency-focused laboratories was founded by the University of Florida; the Georgia ...
Baldor earnings rise 84% in first quarter.(Public Reports)(Financial report)
May 07, 2007 ... Baldor Electric Co. reported first-quarter net earnings of $20.9 million, or 50 cents a share, up 84 percent when compared with $11.4 million, or 34 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Wall Street analysts were expecting a gain of 37 cents a share. Excluding non-recurring ...
P.A.M. Transportation earnings off 76% in 1Q.(Public Reports)
May 07, 2007 ... P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc. posted first-quarter net income of $1.3 million, or 12 cents a share, a decline of 76 percent when compared with $5.2 million, or 50 cents a share, for the same period of 2006. Operating revenue, excluding fuel surcharges, was off 3.6 percent ...
Tyson reports profit of $68 million in 2nd quarter.(Public Reports)(Financial report)
May 07, 2007 ... Tyson Foods Inc. had a profit of $68 million, or 19 cents a share, for its second quarter, indicating that the company's efforts to pull out of its slump appear to be working. It's the second straight positive earnings quarter for the Springdale protein producer, which has ...
Alltel sales, subscribers up, profit down in 1Q.(Public Reports)(Financial report)
May 07, 2007 ... Alltel Corp. reported a 13 percent increase in revenue and strong customer additions in its earnings report for the first quarter, the company's second full quarter as a pure-play wireless carrier. For the second quarter in a row, Alltel set a record for net customer additions, ...
Wal-Mart justifies CEO pay in proxy amendment.(Public Reports)
May 07, 2007 ... Because of a media inquiry regarding Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s executive compensation practices, the company filed an amendment to its recent proxy in which it reported total compensation for president and CEO Lee Scott of $29.7 million for fiscal 2007. Here's the text of the ...
P.A.M. Transportation pays CEO Weaver $900,861.(Public Reports)
May 07, 2007 ... In its proxy filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, P.A.M Transportation Services Inc. disclosed executive officer compensation as the annual meeting approaches. Robert W. Weaver, president and CEO, made a salary of $475,000. He received a bonus of $272,105 and was ...
J.B. Hunt announces dividend, share repurchase.(Public Reports)
May 07, 2007 ... J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. declared the regularly quarterly dividend of 9 cents a share payable May 29 to stockholders of record on May 11. The board of directors also authorized up to $500 million in ...
Wal-Mart to expand RFID to 400 stores.(RETAIL)
May 07, 2007; ... Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will expand its RFID, or radio frequency identification, capability to 400 stores by the end of the fiscal year. In a speech to the RFID Journal Live conference in Orlando, Fla., Wal-Mart Executive Vice President and CIO Rollin Ford said the program will ...
Group assails Wal-Mart over tactics on unions.(INSIDE BUSINESS)
May 07, 2007; ... Human Rights Watch last week accused Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of using numerous tactics, many illegal, to keep its workers from forming unions. Human Rights Watch said in a report that Wal-Mart has banned talk of unions in its stores, used in-store surveillance to track people ...
DHHS to split, become separate agencies July 1.(INSIDE BUSINESS)(Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... The Arkansas Department of Health & Human Services will be separated into two independent agencies on July 1. Gov. Mike Beebe signed an executive order last week to split the agencies into the Department of Human Services and the Department of Health. "Both agencies ...
Don Tyson recovers from liver surgery.(AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS)
May 07, 2007; ... Don Tyson, the former CEO and chairman of Tyson Foods Inc., is recovering from liver surgery. Tyson, 77, is being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., following an operation to remove a tumor from his liver. "His doctors believe the surgery was very ...
Arbitrator selection in construction claims.(A PUBLIC SERVICE OF DAVIDSON LAW FIRM)(Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association )
May 07, 2007; ... Construction onstruction Industry Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association establish the procedure for arbitrating construction claims. Once arbitration has commenced, the rules set the procedure for selection of arbitrators. If the parties have not appointed an ...
Pfeffer's pushing for national sales.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 07, 2007; ... Pfeffer's Catering of Rogers is looking to grow its business with Sam's Club. Owner Juliane Pfeffer is making Lemon Jewel cookies exclusively for Sam's Club. The buttery shortbread cookie topped with lemon icing can already be found at wholesale club locations in Bentonville and ...
Harding University expands offerings.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 07, 2007; ... Harding University's Northwest Arkansas Professional Center will be expanding as student enrollment continues to increase. Cecil Boothe, the center's director, said the facility will expand from 6,000 SF to 12,000 SF, completely occupying the second floor of its Bentonville ...
Steiger begins work on $22.5 million project.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)(Fritz Steiger)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007; ... Fritz Steiger, through his The Arbors at Deer Crossing LLC entity of Rogers, has started preliminary work on a residential project that will be valued at $22.5 million on completion. Dave McCabe of Northwest Escrow Services Inc. in Bentonville is in the process of closing the ...
Randolph County hospital seeking Pocahontas' help.(NORTHEAST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 07, 2007; ... Randolph County Medical Center is trying to resell the hospital to the city of Pocahontas. Associated Healthcare Systems Inc. of Brentwood, Tenn., which has owned the hospital for about three years, couldn't be reached for comment. "Patient volumes have been off for ...
Creative Foods bought by Japanese company.(NORTHEAST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 07, 2007; ... Creative Foods LLC of Osceola, which has been in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since January, recently was sold to Kagome Ltd. of Japan. A spokesman for Kagome couldn't be reached for comment and a sales price couldn't be determined. Kagome, the largest producer ...
Arkansas Northeastern raises tuition 2 percent.(NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
May 07, 2007; ... Officials at Arkansas Northeastern College at Blytheville said its tuition will rise 2 percent in the fall semester to $49 per credit hour. Robin Myers, president of the two-year college, said the money is expected to raise an extra $36,000 for the school. A credit ...
Stephens Inc.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * Stephens Inc. is expanding its institutional equity trading operation with the opening of trading desks in Chicago and New York and the addition of four trading professionals. The Chicago ...
McCain Mall in North Little Rock has gained three retailers this year.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * McCain Mall in North Little Rock has gained three retailers this year. Opening this month is American Eagle Outfitters, which sells its own brand ...
Arkansas Institute of Languages.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * Arkansas Institute of Languages will begin offering Chinese for Toddlers and Spanish for Toddlers this month. Parents and children learn one of these languages together through songs, games, stories and more. Teachers are native-speaking professionals. Classes begin every seven ...
Mountain Valley Spring Co. of Hot Springs has been named the 2007 Clear Choice Award winner by the Glass Packaging Institute.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * Mountain Valley Spring Co. of Hot Springs has been named the 2007 Clear Choice Award winner by ...
A team of students from Central High School in Little Rock earned first place in the Federal Reserve's Eighth District Fed Challenge, an economics competition sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * A team of students from Central High School in Little Rock earned first place in the Federal Reserve's Eighth District Fed Challenge, an economics competition sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The Central High students will go on to represent ...
Alltel Corp.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * Alltel Corp. now offers customers the ability to buy day-pass access to the Internet via their cellphone on a daily basis. Customers with Web-capable handsets now have free access to a basic level of ...
Keith Glover, president and CEO of Producers Rice Mill Inc. in Stuttgart, has been named to the Agribusiness Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * Keith Glover, president and CEO of Producers Rice Mill Inc. in Stuttgart, has been named to the Agribusiness Industry Council of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Glover is also a ...
The Arkansas Army National Guard celebrated the completion of Camp Robinson's new $33 million.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * The Arkansas Army National Guard celebrated the completion of Camp Robinson's new $33 ...
Interfaith Hospitality Network.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., was named Homeless Advocate of the Year by the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Little Rock last week. The IHN was recently formed as a group of 17 area church ...
QualChoice of Arkansas has signed a seven-year agreement to renew and extend its software hosting and licensing with the TriZetto Group Inc., a health care information technology company focused exclusively on payers.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * QualChoice of Arkansas has signed a seven-year agreement to renew and extend its software hosting and licensing with the TriZetto Group Inc., a health care information technology company focused exclusively on payers. QualChoice is investing more than $17 million to enhance customer ...
Arkansas State University.(Business Briefs)(Gov. Mike Beebe gets doctor of laws degree)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... * Arkansas State University at Jonesboro awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree to Gov. Mike Beebe last week in recognition of his outstanding achievements ...
Mangan Holcomb Partners' advertising campaign for Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis has won three best-of-show honors in national, state and local industry competitions within two weeks.(Business Briefs)
May 07, 2007 ... * Mangan Holcomb Partners' advertising campaign for Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis has won three best-of-show honors in national, state and local ...
Bank of Eureka Springs plans branch in Carroll County.
May 07, 2007; ... THE BANK OF EUREKA SPRINGS branching into Berryville. expansion plan long in the works will come to fruition this year when the Bank of Eureka Springs breaks ground on its new building on two acres just west of Berryville. Bank president Charles Cross said the move was delayed ...
State sales, use tax receipts increase 6.7 percent in 2006.(List Overview)
May 07, 2007; ... THE TOTAL OF STATE SALES and use taxes collected in Arkansas in 2006 was up 6.7 percent from the previous year. And, for the first time in recent memory--and possibly last time--that figure may actually be a good reflection of consumer activity in the state. The state sales tax ...
Sales & use tax receipts.(Table)
May 07, 2007; ... <Pre> Sales & Use Tax Receipts Counties ranked by 2006 receipts 2006 Total Sales & County, Seat Use Tax Receipts 1Pulaski County, Little Rock $210,142,956 2Washington County, Fayetteville ...
Little Rock amphitheater plans still on hold.
May 07, 2007; ... AFTER YEARS SPENT DISCUSsing the future of the Riverfest Amphitheatre at Riverfront Park, Little Rock city government still has no concrete plans for improvements the facility needs if it's to become a competitive outdoor music venue. The process inched forward earlier this year ...
Calendar.(Calendar)
May 07, 2007 ... * 8 -- Supervisory/Leadership Seminar Time: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Location: Little Rock (locations in Little Rock may vary from date to date), Fayetteville Fee: $1,595 for full six-day program For more information, call (479) 575-2856 * 8-- ...
2007 Mahlon A. Martin Employee of the Year.(GOVERNMENT)(William C. Mann III)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... William C. Mann III, chief deputy attorney for the city of Little Rock, was named the 2007 Mahlon A. Martin Employee of the Year for the city of Little Rock. Mann was cited for his outstanding ...
Arkansas drug director.(GOVERNMENT)
May 07, 2007 ... Fran Flener of Batesville has been named Arkansas drug director by Gov. Mike Beebe. Flener currently works as the director of program and product ...
Neal & Associates.(MEDIA/MARKETING)(Andy Mayberry appointed)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... Andy Mayberry has joined Neal & Associates in Little Rock in the public relations division of the advertising agency. Mayberry has had 20 years of experience in communication. He was the ...
YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock.(NONPROFIT)(Mary Jane Sawyer appointed at Young Men's Christian Associations)(Brief article)
May 07, 2007 ... Mary Jane Sawyer has joined the staff of the YMCA of Metropolitan Little Rock in North Little Rock as director of development, where she will help lead the fund-raising, pubic relations and marketing efforts of the association. Sawyer has experience in YMCA ...