Regions

Farm Credit Services Gives Record Refunds

Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas recently began distributing a record $4.5 million in patronage refund checks for 2004 to its members.

Former Times Owners Under Investigation

F. David Radler, who helped facilitate the purchase in 1996 and subsequent sale in 1999 of the Northwest Arkansas Times for Hollinger International, is part of a criminal investigation being conducted by the Justice Department.

Vaccaro Book Hits Shelves

Mike Vaccaro, former sports writer for the Northwest Arkansas Times, publishes a book on the rivalry between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox baseball teams.

Wal-Mart Launches Asian-Language Campaign

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. unveils an advertising campaign geared toward the Asian Pacific American market.

The Sound Ceases Publication

Betsy Finocchi, publisher of The Sound, sends an e-mail to several contacts saying the weekly tabloid would cease publication.

D-G E-mail Updates Say Very Little (Outtakes Opinion)

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette?s online news are little more than advertisements for the next day?s newspaper.

Van Zandt, Shaw to Start New Real Estate Brokerage

Veteran commercial real estate pros Tommy Van Zandt and Brian Shaw are starting a new commercial real estate brokerage and development firm, Sage Partners LLC.

Regions Reaches for 2-Acre Lot in Pinnacle Hills Area

Birmingham-based Regions Bank closes on a two-acre lot in the Pinnacle Hills area of Rogers.

More Investors at Parkway Pinnacle?

We think the new Parkway Bank building at Pinnacle Hills might have taken on some new investors. At least that?s what the $6.2 million mortgage that Parkway Real Estate Holdings LLC acquired through Pine Bluff National Bank would indicate.

Terravista Landscape Lists New Owner

Terravista Landscape & Maintenance has apparently been sold. Jean Geren has owned the Bentonville business off S.E. 8th Street for 17 years. But Jeannie Fleeman Sooter is now listed as the officer of the for-profit corporation.

Terra Studios On the Block for $2.2 Million

Terra Studios in Durham, famous for making the glass Bluebird of Happiness figurines, is apparently for sale for $2.2 million, according to an Internet posting.

Re-Routed: Arvest Bank Changes Number

Arvest Bank Group Inc. recently sent out notices to some customers who will be affected by an upcoming change in the bank?s routing number.

Virtual Incubation Client, Nano Nano, Wins SBIR

Fayetteville-based Virtual Incubation Corp. scores a total of 26 Small Business Innovation Research awards for its clients since January 2003.

Reporters Grill Wal-Mart, Check Out Pinnacle Group

Reporters from Japan and the Associated Press interview the Pinnacle Group while in Rogers for Wal-Mart?s first-ever media conference on April 5-6.

Growing Doesn?t Pain Arvest Bank

Presidents say Arvest will stick to its guns. Gather a quartet of Arvest Bank Group Inc. presidents in a room, and the talk will turn to high school football and pheasant hunting long before banking.

Trying to Keep Up (Jeff Hankins Commentary)

Some 1990s? graduates continue to do well. But I see many who tasted financial success, didn?t develop the level of expertise they thought they did and now don?t understand why they can?t command big compensation.