Arkansas Business

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Several teams have talent to stop Junction City.(HIGH SCHOOL: 2A Overview)
Junction City won the 2A state title last season and, with mega-recruit Byran Jones back as well as a slew of other talented players, the Dragons look like the team to beat again in 2009. However, 2 . . .

High school schedules.(Statistical table)(Calendar)
Alma Sept. 4 at Van Burn Sept. 11 Har-Ber Sept. 18 at Springdale S . . .

Hogs fit the SEC just right.(THE PRESSBOX)
It's always interesting to hear the debate and discussions about how tough the Arkansas Razorbacks' Southeastern Conference football schedule is and whether or not the Razorbacks would be a better f . . .

Enough drama, let games begin.(THE PRESSBOX)
It has been the most disturbing off-season in my 27 years covering Arkansas high school football. It was an off-season dominated by one topic: public vs. private. Should the 12 or 13 football play . . .

Pressbox picks.(PRESSBOX)
We surveyed our media partners for their opinions on the Hogs' overall and SEC record, possible bowl game, who they see as the Hogs' surprise player for 2009, and bowl destination: Tommy Smith C . . .

Too many factors keep coaches from committing for life.(THE LAST WORD)
When Bobby Petrino told a national blogger earlier this year that he "needed to make Arkansas my last job," Razorback fans likely wanted something more definitive about their head football coach's l . . .

Dillard's Inc. shareholders try new tack.
HOSTILE DILLARD'S INC. investors are trying a new approach to get the attention of the retailer's board of directors. Since May, two derivative lawsuits have been filed that accuse the Little Rock . . .

Waterview development presses on: more home sites will roll out in search of buyers.(Waterview Estates )
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HINDERED BY A LONG-running lawsuit, development of a 1,140-acre gated community in west Pulaski County is about to push forward with its third phase. Waterview Meadows, pa . . .

NWA restaurateurs gamble on space.
KEVIN KESTNER MIGHT BE JUST AS comfortable at the poker table as he is the dinner table. Kestner and his wife, Jennifer, began making plans to open the funky-yet-family-friendly Mellow Mushroom pi . . .

Future payday.(Whispers)
You probably knew Arkadelphia's Southern Bancorp Inc. was making its first foray into northeast Arkansas in a deal to buy the $314 million-asset First Delta Bankshares Inc. of Blytheville. Who are . . .

Pleasant ridge update.(Whispers)(Brief article)
Pleasant Ridge Town Center has added another name to its repertoire that may ring a bell for Little Rock residents. Cobblestone & Vine, the European gifts and home furnishings store in the Heights . . .

Hair pulling.(Whispers)
Last week, the United States' trustee handling the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of J.M. Products Inc. of Little Rock asked the bankruptcy judge to dismiss the case or convert it to a Chapter 7 liquidation. . . .

Hair pulling 2.(Whispers)(Brief article)
J.M. Products is planning to fight to keep the case as a Chapter 11 reorganization. "There's been no inappropriate conduct on the part of the management of J.M. Products, and they're fully capable . . .

House trading.(Whispers)(Brief article)
Heard about a million-dollar manor swap in the works in west Little Rock's gated neighborhood of Valley Falls Estates? Property A is a never-lived-in 14,156-SF home originally owned by Joseph Blan . . .

Hillcrest changes.(Whispers)(Brief article)
Your "Whisper" staff scared up some more information about the Hillcrest Kroger for our devoted readers. (You know we've got your back.) The Kroger will not be two-story, the company said firmly. . . .

Case closed.(Whispers)
Daimler Financial Services Americas LLC is about to dismiss its case against Ed Harvey, who owned Continental Express Inc. of Little Rock. The Farmington Hills, Mich., company sued Harvey and his . . .

The Wal-Mart plan.(Editorial)
IT HAD TO COME AS A SURPRISE to all the Wal-Mart haters when the .company joined hands last week with a major labor union and liberal-leaning think tank to endorse the idea of requiring large compan . . .

Over-reaching federal government.(Letter)(Letter to the editor)
It seems there will be no end to the intrusion of our federal government into affairs once thought successfully managed by the states and the free market, two principals this country was built on. . . .

[Cartoon].(Editorial)(Cartoon)
THIS SWEPCO WAS A DUD! MAYBE I SHOULD TRY AND LIGHT IT AGAIN? MAYBE YOU NEED ADULT SUPERVISION WITH FIREWORKS! ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] . . .

The unforgettable Andree Roaf.(Editor's Note)(Editorial)
THE SUDDEN DEATH LAST week of Judge Andree Roaf came as a blow to me, although she and I were barely acquainted. Nonetheless, she was a hero of mine. I want to take this opportunity to explain why. . . .

Making social media work.(On Marketing)
THIS COLUMN IS NEITHER A breathless ode to social media nor an overly skeptical "have you noticed the dropout rate on Twitter" rant. My recent speaking and consulting engagements tell me that it's s . . .

Mini transaction.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
A ministorage project in southwest Little Rock changed hands in an $810,000 transaction. Cobalt Capital & Consulting LLC, led by Ernest Harper Jr., bought the Security U-Stor-Lock at 7201 Intersta . . .

Southdale sale.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
A small mobile home park in southwest Little Rock rang up a $548,000 sale. Southdale Estates LLC, led by Rebecca Tefas, acquired the 9103 Geyer Springs Road project from its namesake owner. The . . .

Sezanne home.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
A 5,000-SF home in the Sezanne Court neighborhood of west Little Rock's Chenal Valley development drew a $625,000 transaction. Jonathan and Shelly Blitz purchased the house from Coburn Constructio . . .

Maisons house.(Brief article)
A 5,313-SF home in the Maisons neighborhood of west Little Rock's Chenal Valley development sold for $582,000. Caleb and Zareena Bozeman bought the house from Bank of New York Mellon. The deal is . . .

Heights residence.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
A 3,305-SF home in the Heights area of Little Rock is under new ownership after a $562,000 deal. Jonathon and Natalia Jensen acquired the house from Daniel and Lindsey Berardi. The transaction is . . .

Convenient funding.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
Three Little Rock convenience stores were used to help secure a $5 million funding agreement. Coulson Properties Ltd. and White Properties II Ltd., led by Michael Coulson and Jimmy White, obtained . . .

Old England loan.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
The owner of more than 144 acres in North Little Rock picked up a $4.2 million financial package. Old England Highway Land Co. LLC, led by Raymond Lackie Jr., received an 18-month loan of $1.4 mil . . .

Lofts refinancing.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)(Brief article)
An apartment project in downtown Little Rock is backed with a $3.06 million mortgage. Yellow Rock LLC received the 35-year loan from Reilly Mortgage Group Inc. of McLean, Va. The 0.9-acre Rock Str . . .

McClurg mortgage.(Brief article)
Nearly 13 acres of undeveloped commercial land in Sherwood is securing a $1.23 million loan. Cosden McClurg LLC, led by Timothy McClurg, got the mortgage from Tudor Gardens LLP of Wayne, N.J. Th . . .

Halcyon financing.(Brief article)
The owners of a North Little Rock water theme park landed a $1 million funding agreement. Halcyon Attractions Corp. of Toronto, led by Hugh Hall, obtained the two-year loan from Merk Investments L . . .

Ink LOC.(Real Deals: A Look at Important Real Estate Transactions)
An industrial project in Maumelle is backing a $700,000 line of credit. Ink Properties LLC, led by Rodney Condren, secured the four-year loan from Arvest Bank of Fayetteville. The 3.9-acre Cross-E . . .

Swepco asks Supreme Court to hear appeal.(ENERGY)
Southwestern Electric Power Co. has filed a petition for review before the Arkansas Supreme Court after an appellate court ruling last month revoked the company's permit to build a $1.6 billion coal . . .

Lottery Commission approves Powerball.(LOTTERY)
The Arkansas Lottery Commission last week unanimously approved joining the Multi-State Lottery Association and participating in Powerball. On lottery director Ernie Passailaigue's first official d . . .

Hazen auto parts maker closing plant, 70 jobs lost.(MANUFACTURING)
Hazen Powder Parts LLC, an automotive components manufacturer at Hazen, is shutting down by the end of August because of the fall-off in the car industry, according to a company spokesman. The mak . . .

Pinnacle Foods announces layoffs.(AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS)
The Pinncale Foods Inc. facility at Fayetteville has announced it will lay off about 69 employees, or roughly 11 percent of its plant work force. The company, which makes Swanson frozen foods at t . . .

Kroger introduces new store concept in state.(RETAIL)
Arkansas will get three to four more new Kroger "marketplace" stores and several remodeled stores, including in the Hillcrest area of Little Rock, from a $125 million capital investment in the state . . .

One of the last vestiges of Alltel disappeared last Tuesday as a crew of men perched in a crane mounted the Verizon logo on the
One of the last vestiges of Alltel disappeared last Tuesday as a crew of men perched in a crane mounted the Verizon logo on the arena in North Little Rock. General Manager Michael Marion said the ch . . .

McMennamy buys Innerplan business.(RETAIL)
Northwest Arkansas business executive Roger McMennamy closed last week on his purchase of Innerplan, an office furniture dealer headquartered in Maumelle. Innerplan founder Jim Narup will remain o . . .

Golden Living sells 14 Arkansas facilities.(HEALTH CARE)
Golden Living of Fort Smith, the successor to Beverly Enterprises, has sold all of its properties in Arkansas to a Baltimore investment firm. The sale to Capital SeniorCare Ventures LLC had previo . . .

Boyette strategic advisors returns to Little Rock.(MEDIA)
Del Boyette is partnering with the Stone Ward advertising agency on more than just the Arkansas Economic Development Commission account. Boyette has left Boyette Levy of Atlanta and moved his new . . .

Acxiom CEO gets $2.8m in total pay.(Public Company Reports)
Acxiom Corp. disclosed in its proxy filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission last week that in fiscal 2009 CEO John Meyer received nearly $2.8 million in total compensation. Meyer's compens . . .

J.J.'s Grill n' Chill coming to Fayetteville.(Brief article)
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A popular Rogers eatery will soon expand into Fayetteville. J.J.'s Grill n' Chill, which opened on Walnut Street in Rogers in December, will open a location on Wedington Dri . . .

Web site calculates entrepreneurial odds.(NW Journal: A Look at News From Northwest Arkansas)
An online calculator developed by EquityNet LLC of Fayetteville will give would-be entrepreneurs a glimpse at their odds and offer up food for thought. For the last two years, EquityNet has been d . . .

The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has approved a $250,000 deposit into the Hope Community Credit Union at College Station.(Bus
The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has approved a $250,000 deposit into the Hope Community Credit Union at College Station. Hope will use the deposit to increase its provision of commercial loans, . . .

The Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and the Arkansas Geological Survey are t
The Central U.S. Earthquake Consortium, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management and the Arkansas Geological Survey are teaming up to show Arkansans how to become earthquake prepared. The Get . . .

Prairie Grove Telephone Co. has chosen Clearfield Inc. as its fiber management supplier for its Fiber to the Home program.(Busin
Prairie Grove Telephone Co. has chosen Clearfield Inc. as its fiber management supplier for its Fiber to the Home program. PGTelco, a family-owned and--operated telephone company, is rolling out FTT . . .

Arkansas State Highway & Transportation Department.(Business Briefs)
The 2009 Arkansas State Highway Map is now available from the Arkansas State Highway & Transportation Department. The free maps may be obtained at any of the Highway Department's district headquarte . . .

The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation and the Central Arkansas Library System are sponsoring a free event from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on J
The Charles A. Frueauff Foundation and the Central Arkansas Library System are sponsoring a free event from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on July 22 at the Darragh Center Auditorium to help nonprofit organization . . .

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. associates, customers and members raised $15 million to support the Children's Miracle Network hospitals be
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. associates, customers and members raised $15 million to support the Children's Miracle Network hospitals between May 1 and June 14. Children's Miracle Network is an internationa . . .