Great Announcement Coming

Great Northwest LLC — which consists of John Tyson, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt, Gary Combs, Carla Tyson and Bill Schwyhart — will be part of a major announcement coming very soon that will likely include Mercy Health System Inc.’s plans for land it was given just off Interstate 540.

Evelyn Rife gave Mercy Health 75 acres of land running parallel to I-540 near its southeast intersection with New Hope Road. However, it appears that Mercy Health now may swap its acreage with another part of the Rife farm so Great Northwest can put in a major retail shopping area on the land.

The announcement could also have information regarding Mercy Health’s exact plans. Susan Barrett, CEO of Mercy Health Systems of Northwest Arkansas, said master plans are still in the preliminary stage.

Perhaps the most important announcement will come from the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department and the Federal Highway Administration regarding Rogers’ request for a diamond interchange at I-540 and Perry Road. If the new shopping center is built, it will attract even more people to an area that has a 250-room Embassy Suites hotel and two large commercial areas directly across I-540 in Pinnacle Hills and Village on the Creeks.