Arkansas Business

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Polymer group to close NLR plant; 140 jobs gone.(Inside Business)
Polymer Group Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., said it would close its North Little Rock plant and consolidate manufacturing operations at its Benson, N.C., plant "to maintain competitiveness in response to . . .

Heber springs firm sells tree transplanters in Iraq.(Big John Tree Transplanter Manufacturing Inc)(Brief article)
Big John Tree Transplanter Manufacturing Inc. of Heber Springs said it has sold an order of seven Big John Model 90Ds, each mounted on a new Mack truck chassis, to the city of Baghdad, Iraq. Will . . .

Leading Saline County real estate firms merge.(Inside Business)
The two largest Saline County residential realty firms merged recently to create Baxley-Penfield-Moudy Realtors. The new firm represents the combination of Phillips Moudy Duke Real Estate of Bento . . .

Atlantic Tele-Network to buy Alltel assets.(Inside Business)
Atlantic Tele-Network Inc. of Salem, Mass., has reached an agreement to buy Alltel Corp. divestiture assets in a deal worth about $200 million. The assets include Wireless spectrum licenses and ne . . .

Dillard's investor's suit alleges mismanagement.(Inside Business)
An investor in Dillard's Inc. stock filed a "derivative" lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court last week that accuses the Little Rock retailer's board of directors of mismanagement, breach of fidu . . .

Dillard's pays $110,000 to settle harassment suit.(Inside Business)
Dillard's Inc. will pay $110,000 and provide remedial relief to settle a same-sex harassment lawsuit involving two male victims at a store in Orlando, Fla., the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Com . . .

Favorable job market expected for LR MSA.(Inside Business)
Employers in the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway area expect to hire at a steady pace during the third quarter, according to the latest Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. For the Fayettevill . . .

JRMC names new president and CEO.(Jefferson Regional Medical Center)(Brief article)
Jefferson Regional Medical Center of Pine Bluff has named Walter Johnson, the current administrator at the hospital, as its new president and CEO, effective Oct. 1. He replaces Robert P. Atkinson, w . . .

Clinard breaks ground on health care facility.(NW Journal: NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
Clinard Construction recently broke ground on a $2.2 million facility for Lifespring Women's Healthcare in Bentonville. The 11,950-SF facility will be located at 1200 S.E. 28th St. The facility wi . . .

NWACC's Retail Institute finding students, success.(NW Journal: NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas
Patrice Whitley is among those who sometimes refer to Benton County as "Retail Mecca." Whitley also believes she knows the quickest way to retail enlightenment. That would be NorthWest Arkansas Co . . .

Dickson Street space leased to fitness club.(NW Journal: NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
Clubhaus Fitness Centers Inc. has leased 9,000 SF at 612 W. Dickson St. in Fayetteville and plans to open in September. Renovations and improvements will be made to the building, which was previou . . .

Pocahontas hospital seeks status change.(NE Journal: NORTHEAST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)
Five Rivers Medical Center in Pocahontas is lobbying Congress to pass legislation that could lead to the hospital receiving "critical access" status. With critical access hospital status, Five Riv . . .

Paragould hopes to start $700,000 sidewalk project.(NE Journal: NORTHEAST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas
The city of Paragould hopes to start a sidewalk overhaul project that could cost $700,000 during the next three to five years. Some of the sidewalks "are so bad they look like they have been hit w . . .

Jonesboro Hospital gets rezoning ok for project.(NE Journal: NORTHEAST ARKANSAS STAFF: A Look at News From Northeast Arkansas)
NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital in Jonesboro recently received the rezoning approval it needed to move forward with its plans for the construction of a hospital. NEA Baptist had bought three plots o . . .

North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.(Business Briefs)
* The North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce is offering a free discount drug card to all residents of central Arkansas who need help paying for prescription drugs. The card is honored at area pharma . . .

FedEx Corp. of Memphis is ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction in the express delivery industry and also first among 81 compani
* FedEx Corp. of Memphis is ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction in the express delivery industry and also first among 81 companies whose customers were surveyed in the first quarter by the Univers . . .

Jefferson Regional Medical Center of Pine Bluff has become the first hospital in Arkansas to be recognized by the Healthcare Inf
* Jefferson Regional Medical Center of Pine Bluff has become the first hospital in Arkansas to be recognized by the Healthcare Information & Management System Society as a Stage 6 facility for its i . . .

Bank of the Ozarks has been named the second-best performing bank in the country by the American Banking Association's Banking J
* Bank of the Ozarks has been named the second-best performing bank in the country by the American Banking Association's Banking Journal in its 17th annual Performance Rankings. It was the only Arka . . .

The MacArthur Park Connections Master Plan, created by Conway+Schulte Architects of Minneapolis, has been awarded a 2009 Design
* The MacArthur Park Connections Master Plan, created by Conway+Schulte Architects of Minneapolis, has been awarded a 2009 Design Citation by the Boston Society of Architects/AIA. The plan describes . . .

Gov. Mike Beebe has released $800,000 in general improvement funds for Arkansas Tech University that will expand McEver Hall by
* Gov. Mike Beebe has released $800,000 in general improvement funds for Arkansas Tech University that will expand McEver Hall by 12,000 SF. The building houses the Departments of Physical Sciences . . .

University of Arkansas.(Business Briefs)(Brief article)
* The University of Arkansas will not raise its tuition for the next academic year Tuition for in-state undergraduates at the Fayetteville campus will remain at $167 per semester credit hour. Out-of . . .

The Green Building Initiative has recognized two University of Arkansas buildings for achieving official Green Globes designatio
* The Green Building Initiative has recognized two University of Arkansas buildings for achieving official Green Globes designations for sustainable design and construction. The Duncan Avenue Apartm . . .

Homeland Security Department.(Business Briefs)
* Greg Schaffer of Hot Springs has been named assistant secretary for cybersecurity and communications at the U.S. Homeland Security Department. He previously was senior vice president and chief ris . . .

First Federal Bank of Arkansas, for the fourth year in a row, has won the Employer of the Year Award from the Arkansas Business
* First Federal Bank of Arkansas, for the fourth year in a row, has won the Employer of the Year Award from the Arkansas Business & Professional Women. The award was presented at the organization's . . .

Out of the top 1,500 public high schools in the United States, only eight are in Arkansas, according to a Newsweek survey.(Busin
* Out of the top 1,500 public high schools in the United States, only eight are in Arkansas, according to a Newsweek survey. Little Rock Central was ranked No. 62, followed by Mills University Studi . . .

Acxiom Corp. has been named a finalist in three marketing-related categories of the 2009 American Business Awards.(Business Brie
* Acxiom Corp. has been named a finalist in three marketing-related categories of the 2009 American Business Awards. Commonly known as "The Stevies," the awards are the only all-encompassing program . . .

The Purple Cow proves quality can be served at a good price.(Business Lunch Review)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A VENTURE TO THE PURPLE Cow on Cantrell Road confirms our belief that quality can be affordable. The lively and colorful dairy bar has the feel of a converted house. We re . . .

Forty under forty.
Dear Readers, For the 16th time, Arkansas Business is pleased to introduce its readers to "40 Under 40"--40 young business and professional leaders from across our state. Some of this year's honor . . .

Hogwash Cleaning Solutions.(New Businesses: A Listing of Business Start-Ups in Arkansas)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hogwash Cleaning Solutions Owner: Scott Rackley Address: 17200 Chenal Parkway, Suite 300-191, Little Rock Phone: (501) 765-3572 Hours: Mon.-Sat., by appointment . . .

Go Ask Robert Inc.(Brief article)
Go Ask Robert Inc. Owner: Robert Bacon Address: 719 N. Spruce St., Little Rock Phone: (501) 588-1958 Hours: Mon.-Sun., 8 a.m.-5 p.m., after-hours service on request Startup: April 2009 . . .

CarrMiller Investments.(New Businesses: A Listing of Business Start-Ups in Arkansas)
CarrMiller Investments Owners: Sam Talbert and Robert Bragg Address: 605 S. Shackleford Road, Suite 325, Little Rock Phone: (501) 716-2555 Hours: Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Startup: J . . .

Calendar.(Calendar)
JUNE * 15--Certified Fiber Optic Technician Time: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Location: NorthWest Arkansas Community College, Shewmaker Center, 1000 S.E. Eagle Way, Bentonville Fee: $700 For more information, c . . .

Chenal Restoration-DKI.(CONSTRUCTION)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] April Matthews has joined Chenal Restoration-DKI of Little Rock as a marketing representative. She previously worked five years for Dillard's Inc. as a brand manager for wom . . .

Arkansas State University.(EDUCATION)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Don Maness has been named dean of the College of Education of Arkansas State University at Jonesboro. Maness, currently associate dean, will assume the post Aug. 16. He repl . . .

Development Consultants Inc.(ENGINEERING)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Roy Andrews and Jay Young have been named partners at Development Consultants Inc. Andrews, with 10 years of engineering experience, will work as a . . .

Regions Bank.(FINANCIAL SERVICES)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Darrell Annis has joined Regions Bank in Russeliville as vice president and community relationship banker. Annis has worked as a city president for AmSouth Bank in the Missi . . .

Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., was recently presented the National Children Alliance's Bud Cramer Award for her work to ensure th
Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., was recently presented the National Children Alliance's Bud Cramer Award for her work to ensure the safety and well-being of children in Arkansas and across the nation. . . .

Arkansas Society of Professional Lobyists.(GOVERNMENT)
Charles M. Miller, vice president and director of legislation and regulation for the ArkansasBankers Association, has been elected president of the Arkansas Society of Professional Lobbyists. Len Pi . . .

Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute.(HEALTH CARE)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Drs. Richard Harper and Paul Phillips were honored at a double investiture ceremony at the Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute at the University of . . .

St. Joseph's Mercy Clinic.(HEALTH CARE)
Dr. Manjusha Kota has joined the medical staff at St. Joseph's Mercy Clinic in Hot Springs. Kota earned her degree at Gunter Medical College in India. She specializes in oncology-hematology and has . . .

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center.(HEALTH CARE)
Mike McNutt has been appointed to the board of directors of the North Arkansas Regional Medical Center at Harrison. He is currently the president of Distribution Solutions Inc. and HTI at Harrison. . . .

Arkansas Bar Association.(LEGAL)
Randy Bueter of Wilson & Associates of Little Rock has been appointed to the organization and redistricting committee, the longrange planning committee and the house committee of the Arkansas Bar As . . .

Crye-Leike Realtors.(REAL ESTATE)
Delaine Carter has joined Crye-Leike Realtors' regional headquarters sales center in Maumelle. She has been a licensed sales associate for seven years. Barry Beard has been named executive broker fo . . .

Stock summary.
Stock Summary 6/11/2009 Weekly YTD Arkansas Public Company Stocks Close Change Change Acxiom Corp. (ACXM) 12 . . .

Dirt woes.(Whispers)
A Bryant businessman recently filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and listed $3.7 million in debts. Jerald Bellinger's assets, however, are reported at $375,000. Bellinger formerly did business as Bell . . .

Corrections.(Whispers)(Correction notice)
Garret and Katherine Sorensen of North Little Rock were charged June 3 with embezzling from Garret Sorensen's employer, USA Drug of Pine Bluff. Their last name was misspelled in the June 8 Editor's . . .

D-G Gets Webby.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
Everyone expects to see new Web sites spring up on a nearly daily basis. Not everyone expects the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to announce its intention to add Web content to the mix. Arkansas' large . . .

Touch that dial.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
Cumulus Broadcasting Inc. switched its station lineup in northwest Arkansas the week of June 8. Effective June 11, classic rock-formatted KKEG-FM, 92.1 "The Keg," changed frequency to 98.3, bumpin . . .

Bank on it.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
The Arkansas Bank Marketing Association Advertising Awards recently took place, and though "Outtakes" doesn't have space to list all the winners, we can report the "Best of" awards: * Arvest Bank . . .

A reminder.(Outtakes: An Inside Look Into Arkansas Media)
The International Association of Business Communicators' Arkansas chapter is hosting a summer workshop for "professional communicators." The event, which Arkansas Business Publishing Group is co-spo . . .