Business Services

Fast 15: Megan Heckes

Megan Heckes’ journey to her work at the United Way started with a degree in accounting from Harding University in 2017. After graduation, she became a business analyst in Walmart’s…

Jeff Purinton selected as the new vice chancellor for athletics at Arkansas State University

Arkansas State University System President Dr. Chuck Welch announced Wednesday (May 4) that Jeff Purinton, an athletics administrator who most recently spent the last seven years as part of the…

Arkansas River tonnage up 10% in the first quarter, barge demand high

Tonnage on the Arkansas River in the first quarter of 2.706 million tons was up 10% compared with the same period in 2021. Traffic may have been more robust if…

Fort Smith Board approves airport support, sales tax advisory committee

The Fort Smith Board of Directors approved a resolution Tuesday night (March 15) that pledges $100,000 for the purpose of getting a second airline service into the Fort Smith Regional…

Public art grants awarded by Heritage Department

The Department of Arkansas Heritage presented Public Art Grant checks in a ceremony at their headquarters in Little Rock on Friday, March 11, 2022. $42,035 in grant funding was distributed…

EPIC Glass Recycling ramps up operations in central Arkansas

EPIC Glass Recycling (EGR), a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has ramped up operations in central Arkansas. Spearheaded by local businessmen Courtney Little and Bob Crawford, the company is now…

Bass Reeves impersonator Baridi Nkokheli has died

T. Baridi Nkokheli, the former Fort Smith Sanitation Director whose impersonation of legendary lawman Bass Reeves helped raise awareness of the historic figure and money for a Reeves statue now…

Future School to require face masks; no mask policy in Fort Smith, Greenwood

With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreading quickly through Sebastian County, the Future School of Fort Smith Board of Directors voted Thursday (Jan. 6) at a special called meeting to…

Forty Under 40: Jonathan McNair

In a decade, Jonathan McNair transformed dismal job prospects into his dream job. McNair graduated from the University of Arkansas with a finance degree soon after the recession and discovered…

‘The Great Resignation’ offers a growth opportunity

The Great Resignation, coined by Texas A&M professor Anthony Klotz, is a socio-economic event that has been on just about everyone’s lips. Nearly every industry, post-pandemic, is predicted to experience…

Eye of the tiger: We all need an Apollo Creed in our corner

Before I was a business broker, I was a brewery and restaurant owner. Before I was a brewery and restaurant owner, I was a data analyst. Oh, I was also…

Latest School Report Card: Fewer Arkansas students college-going; no school letter grades

The college-going rate among all Arkansas students fell last school year, while four-year high school graduation rates improved, according to the Arkansas Department of Education’s 2020 School Report Card released…

BSR REIT acquires two Texas properties for $129 million

BSR Real Estate Investment Trust announced Tuesday (Dec. 16) it has acquired Vale Luxury Apartments in the Houston, Texas metropolitan statistical area and Satori Frisco Apartments in the Dallas, Texas…

Caterpillars or butterflies

I’d rather be surrounded by a room full of butterflies than a box full of caterpillars. The beauty of thousands of butterflies hanging from trees like leaves is a sight…

Oil tanker rates to remain low until petroleum demand rises

Global petroleum liquids consumption through 2021 is expected to remain lower than 2019 levels, and crude oil tanker rates are likely to remain low until petroleum demand rises, according to…

Outdoor furniture install happening this week at Springdale’s Walter Turnbow Park

A grant from the Tyson Family Foundation is supporting an upgrade at Walter Turnbow Park in downtown Springdale. The nonprofit group Downtown Springdale is partnering with Nashville-based Fort Houston Artisan…

Connections: Dearing promoted to manage new compliance department for Beaver Water District

Lowell-based utility Beaver Water District has formed a new compliance department and promoted Mindi Dearing as the division’s manager. The promotion is effective Oct. 1. Dearing, a former laboratory supervisor…

UA Little Rock makes COSMOS a designated research center

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Collaboratorium for Social Media and Online Behavioral Studies (COSMOS) Lab has received approval from the Arkansas Department of Education (ADHE) to become an…

UA researchers develop long-lasting disinfectant spray

Researchers with the University of Arkansas and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) have developed a disinfectant spray that can last for up to 50 touches before it…

Baldwin & Shell hires director of virtual design and construction

Little Rock-based construction firm Baldwin & Shell announced Monday (July 27) the hiring of Gene Kitsmiller as director of virtual design and construction. Kitsmiller has over 20 year of experience…