The Arkansas Energy Office (AEO), a division of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, has announced that $150,000 in rebates will be awarded through its Clean Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program, part of the Gaseous Fuels Rebate Program.

The Gaseous Fuels Rebate Program has four objectives:
• Provide an incentive for the purchase of clean alternative fuel vehicles;
• Provide an incentive for the conversion of vehicles to a clean alternative fuel using certified or approved conversion systems;
• To develop the refueling infrastructure for various alternative fuels; and
• Reduce emissions from motor vehicles and improve air quality in our communities.

“The popularity of clean fuel vehicles continues to rise, but more can be done to entice consumers to make the switch to clean fuels. By providing incentives to both fleet operators and fuel stations, there is a better opportunity for alternative motor fuels to take hold,” Mitchell Simpson, deputy director of the Arkansas Energy Office, said in a statement.

The Clean Fuel Vehicle Rebate Program applies to fleet operators for the conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG)/propane or the purchase of a CNG/propane fleet. The rebate amount is dependent upon the cost of conversion or incremental cost of a clean fuel vehicle and allows for a rebate equivalent to the lesser of 50% of the conversion/incremental cost or $4,500 per vehicle. Funds for the program were provided by General Improvement Funds and the Northwest Arkansas Development Council. There is no application deadline, but the rebates are available only on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition, a total of $600,000 in funds will be issued to two fueling station operators through the Gaseous Fuels Rebate Program to install Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) equipment to provide public access to clean burning motor fuels. Kum & Go in Springdale received a $400,000 rebate and Arkansas Oklahoma Gas station in Fort Smith received $200,000. The Northwest Arkansas Development Council provided $400,000 of the total rebate amount and the AEO provided $200,000.

AEO administers the Arkansas Gaseous Fuels Rebate Program, as authorized by Arkansas Act 532 of 2013. The program supports the continued development of a publicly accessible, statewide network of alternative fuel filling stations and incentives for the purchase/conversion of fleet vehicles to clean-burning fuels such as compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The rebates allowed under the program are for the lesser of $400,000 or 75% of refueling station construction/retrofit costs and the lesser of $4,500 or 50% of the conversion costs for vehicles.

Link to the AEO website for more information and an application.

The restaurant segment continues to see sluggish activity throughout the second quarter and first half of 2014. The industry’s snapshot for June showed same-store sales were flat at 0.3% during the second quarter. While not great by any means, it was a 0.5% improvement over negative comps reported in the first quarter.

“Even without the weather-related constraints, same-store sales growth for the quarter was pretty lackluster;” said Victor Fernandez, executive director of insights and knowledge for Black Box Intelligence.

Expectations are for a stronger second half of the year from a same-store sales growth perspective, considering that same-store sales were negative during the back half of 2013 creating lower hurdles in 2014.

Black Box reports that on a two-year basis, sales in comparable stores grew by about 1.2% during the second quarter, while guest checks have grown at an average of 2.1% for all months during this same two year period.

“The sales growth we are observing is not reflecting the full price increase amounts that brands have likely taken during the last two years given the growth in average check”, Fernandez said. “The barrier continues to be the declining guest counts experienced by the industry.”

Comparable traffic one again was negative during the second quarter at -1.4%, but it was still the strongest result for the industry since the second quarter of 2013.

The industry has yet to post a quarter of positive same-store sales traffic since the recession. On a two-year basis, same-store traffic dropped by about 2.7% when compared with second quarter of 2012, further illustrating the chain restaurant industry’s main problem.

Fernandez cites several reasons for weaker traffic, as consumer incomes are not growing as fast as inflationary food prices, a shift in consumer preferences and slow improvement in the labor market.

• Sweet deal for Lindt & Sprüngli
Swiss chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli agreed to acquire Russell Stover Candies. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the deal makes Lindt & Sprüngli the third largest chocolate manufacturer in North America and gives the company an established presence in the United States through its Lindt, Ghiradelli, Russell Stover and Whitman’s brands.

“This is the biggest and most important strategic acquisition to date in Lindt & Sprüngli’s history. It’s a unique opportunity for us to expand our North American chocolate business and will greatly enhance the group’s status in the world’s biggest overall chocolate marketplace,” said Ernst Tanner, chairman of the Lindt & Sprüngli.

Based in Kansas City, Russell Stover Candies has annual sales of approximately $500 million. The company operates four manufacturing plants in the United States and is best known as a manufacturer of pralines and seasonal candies in North America.

Lindt and Russell Stover are each suppliers to Wal-Mart Stores with local sales offices in Northwest Arkansas.

• ConAgra Foods buys Chinese potato business
ConAgra Foods acquired TaiMei Potato Industry Ltd., based in Shandu, Inner Mongolia. The $93 million acquisition will expand ConAgra’s Lamb Weston operations in a market that is experiencing growing demand for frozen potato products, according to the company release.

“We’ve been doing business in China and throughout Asia for more than 25 years, leading the way in market development and expansion,” said Greg Schlafer, president of Lamb Weston. “TaiMei is ConAgra Foods’ first potato processing facility in China, and we are confident they’ll help to accelerate our strong growth in Asia.”

Established in 2010, TaiMei is located in one of the largest potato growing regions in China. The plant provides Lamb Weston the ability to make frozen potato products closer to its expanding customer base and meet the growing demand for frozen potato products in Asia.

“Our focused expansion in China is truly customer-centric,” said Gary Rodkin, chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods. “We’re leveraging our deep industry experience to develop in-country supply capabilities for our major quick-service restaurant chains and other strategic customers. Our customers have aggressive growth plans in China, and by adding ConAgra Foods’ operations in China, we will be better able to support their plans.”

ConAgra is a global Wal-Mart supplier with local sales offices in Bentonville.
 

• Unilever sells Slim Fast business
Kainos Capital, a firm specializing in acquiring and managing food and consumer brands, has acquired the Slim-Fast brand from Unilever for an undisclosed amount. Unilever will retain a minority stake in the business, according to the release.

Slim-Fast is a branded weight loss and meal replacement business that markets ready-to-drink shakes, powders, bars and snacks to retail customers throughout North America and in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The transaction includes the Slim-Fast trademark and the global Slim-Fast business portfolio.

Slim-Fast will be part of the Kainos Capital portfolio of health and wellness companies, which includes Milk Specialties Global, InterHealth Nutraceuticals and Healthy Delights.

"We are tremendously excited to acquire the Slim-Fast business in partnership with Unilever. Slim-Fast is the most recognizable brand name in weight management and over the last twenty years has helped millions of people lead healthier lives. Chris Tisi and his team have decades of experience in the diet and weight management category and are ready to give Slim-Fast the resources and entrepreneurial focus that will drive the brand to new heights,” said Andrew Rosen, managing partner of Kainos Capital.

Bank of the Ozarks posted second quarter net income of $26.5 million, up 30% over one year ago.

The big earnings boost comes as the Little Rock-based bank has completed three acquisitions in the last year. Most recently, Bank of the Ozarks announced it would acquire Arkadelphia-based Summit Bancorp in a $216 million blockbuster deal.

For the six months ended June 30, 2014, net income totaled $51.8 million, a 28.2% increase from net income of $40.4 million for the first six months of 2013.

“We are pleased to report our excellent results for the second quarter and first six months of 2014. While acquisitions have contributed significantly to our growth and profitability in recent years, our ability to organically grow our portfolio of high quality, good yielding loans and leases has been even more important,” said George Gleason, chairman and CEO.

Pertinent financial information for the quarter included:
• Total loans and leases were $4.58 billion at June 30, 2014, a 54.8% increase from $2.96 billion at June 30, 2013.

• Deposits were $4.98 billion at June 30, 2014, a 67.0% increase compared to $2.98 billion at June 30, 2013.

• Total assets were $6.30 billion at June 30, 2014, a 55.8% increase compared to $4.04 billion at June 30, 2013.

• Common stockholders’ equity was $850 million at June 30, 2014, a 60.1% increase from $531 million at June 30, 2013.

• Tangible common stockholders’ equity was $742 million at June 30, 2014, a 42.5% increase from $520 million at June 30, 2013.

Bank of the Ozarks recorded net interest income of $64.8 million in the second quarter. Non-interest income for the second quarter of 2014 decreased 8.4% to $17.4 million compared to $19.0 million for the second quarter of 2013.

On June 23, 2014, Bank of the Ozarks completed a 2-for-1 stock split, in the form of a stock dividend, effected by issuing one share of common stock for each share of such stock outstanding on June 13, 2014.

Shares of Bank of the Ozarks (NASDAQ: OZRK) closed trading at $32.94 on Monday. The company’s stock has traded between $22.46 and $35.24 per share in the last year.

A meeting of the Central Business Improvement District on Tuesday (July 15) provided an update on potential street closures in the downtown area.

The CBID has previously requested that the city close A Street near Compass Park down to Riverfront Drive in order to create a more pedestrian-friendly area downtown, while converting B Street to a two-way street from its current configuration as a one-way street. The closure was initially timed to coincide with construction of a new splash pad and landscaping improvements in the area, though the splash pad may not be opened until October of this year, Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman told commissioners.

The closure of A and the conversion of B to two-way will also impact truck traffic and Russ Bragg of OK Foods was on hand to urge commissioners to create some type of stakeholders group that would include members of the business community.

Bragg said businesses that rely on trucking have already studied the most efficient routes possible and expressed worry that any changes in downtown routing could negatively impact the bottom line of his and other businesses in a big way.

A vote by commissioners on the CBID Tuesday urged to city to move as quickly as possible on the traffic study.

Dingman also told commissioners that a preliminary design of the River West Trails had been completed and was being prepared for bid later this summer.

Sparks Health System is making an early release of approximately $13.5 million to be applied toward the opening of the proposed Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine at Chaffee Crossing in Fort Smith.

The money is a portion of funds that were escrowed as a result of the 2009 sale of Sparks Regional Medical Center. By agreement of the parties, an additional $10 million will be released on Dec. 1, 2015.
    
“This is another wonderful example of a community-wide effort to meet a great community need,” Kyle Parker, president and CEO of the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, said in a statement from Sparks Health.

Citing the commitment from the Fort Smith Regional Healthcare Foundation, the Degen Foundation, the donation of 200 acres by the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, an anonymous $14 million gift, and now the early release of escrow funds by Sparks Health System, Parker noted, “this school and its mission to provide care for medically underserved areas will be transformative for our region and state.”

Arkansas is ranked 48th in the nation for physician accessibility. Upon its completion, the new osteopathic school would be Arkansas’ first college of osteopathic medicine and one of just 31 in the United States. Early estimates show the school would have a $100 million annual economic impact on the region, while also addressing future needs for primary care physicians across the nation.  

Recruitment of primary care and specialty physicians continues to be an emphasis for Sparks Health System. 

“We are excited to support the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education and the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine for their commitment to educate physicians in our area,” Jeremy Drinkwitz, chief operating officer of Sparks Health System, said in the statement. “This school will expand the number of providers available to serve patients in our area, and we hope many of these physicians will choose to stay in the area after graduation.”

The Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine anticipates accepting its first class of students in the fall of 2016. Sparks Regional Medical Center is among the facilities where students will complete their clinical rotations.

The Samaritan Community Center’s SnackPacks for Kids program received a $45,000 grant from Tyson Foods in Springdale, the second such donation in the past year.

“No child should ever go hungry,” said Annetta Young, director of corporate social responsibility for Tyson Foods. “The Samaritan Community Center’s snackpack program helps to ensure that doesn’t happen for area school children at-risk for hunger on the weekends, and we’re very proud to support those efforts.”

The Samaritan Community Center started the SnackPacks for Kids program nine years ago. The program focuses on hunger relief for Northwest Arkansas elementary-aged school children who have been identified by school personnel as being most at-risk for hunger and food insecurity on the weekends and during the summer months when school meal programs are not available.
 
Led by one paid staff member, the program is primarily volunteer driven. During the school year dozens of individuals and volunteer groups donate time each week to pack snackpacks (a plastic grocery bag that contains eight to ten healthy snack food items) at the Rogers Samaritan Center location. The snackpacks are then placed in uniform delivery containers and transported to local schools by volunteer delivery drivers. Rural schools receive monthly delivery by SCC personnel, and school personnel are responsible for ensuring that snackpacks are discreetly provided to children for them to take home on weekends.

During the 2013-2014 school year SCC delivered approximately 6500 snackpacks to 95 elementary schools and Head Start centers each week in all four Northwest Arkansas counties (Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison). During summer months when schools are not in session snackpacks are available at both the Rogers and Springdale Samaritan Cafés each Thursday, as well as schools that offer summer lunch programs, other nonprofit organizations and church feeding programs.

“National studies have continually shown that lack of proper and adequate nutrition in children directly leads to health problems, behavioral issues and ultimately to the ability to learn," said SCC Executive Director Debbie Rambo. “Many of these children go a day or even a weekend without any significant amount of food available.”

For a complete list of locations where snackpacks are available for pickup this summer visit online.

Three drivers for Van Buren-based USA Truck placed among the state's best at the 2014 Arkansas Trucking Championship July 11-12 in Rogers. The Little Rock-based Arkansas Trucking Association hosts this annual event.

Robert Williams won the Sleeper classification and was Grand Champion Runner-Up based on his cumulative score in the three segments of the Driving Championship: Written Exam, Pre-Trip Inspection and Road Test. Williams, who is also the reigning USA Truck Grand Champion, placed second out of 111 competitors overall and topped the 33 entrants in the Sleeper category, and will represent USA Truck at the 2014 National Truck Driving Championships Aug. 12-16 in Pittsburgh.

Williams is a company driver who lives in Hammond, La., and has been with USA Truck for 10 years. He has driven nearly 900,000 collision-free miles.

Eddie Mullins and David Large also competed for USA Truck. Mullins, an owner operator, lives in Hixson, Tenn., and is a 31-year industry veteran. He was the company’s Owner Operator Driver of the Month for April 2014 and has driven more than 900,000 collision-free miles since joining USA Truck in 2007.

Large, a company driver and a military veteran, lives in Bethany, Okla., and has been with USA Truck for nine years and has driven more than 600,000 collision-free miles.

In the Technician Championship, USA Truck was paced by Daniel Cupp's first-place finish in Air Conditioning/ Refrigeration while Jesse Elmore, the reigning USA Truck Grand Champion, took second in Air Systems & Brakes. Elmore finished fifth overall out of 32 competitors. Cupp placed eighth overall and Henry Ipema rounded out Team USA Truck with a 14th-place finish.

Elmore and Cupp work out of USA Truck’s Van Buren, Ark. terminal while Ipema is based at the company’s Chicago terminal. The trio will represent USA Truck at the 2014 National Technical Skills Competition Sept. 22-24 in Orlando, Fla.

At Tuesday’s (July 15) meeting of the Sebastian County Quorum Court, the Court approved on a third vote by a tally of seven to six an ordinance that would have the county enter into a lease for golf carts at a cost of more than $32,000 per year.

The lease will provide the county with 70 new golf carts for use at Ben Geren Golf Course for four years, at which time either another lease or a purchase of golf carts will take place if approved by the court.

The lease had drawn scorn from Justice of the Peace Shawn Looper, who suggested that the lease of golf carts out of the general fund was cheating other departments out of pay raises and needed capital expenditures, such as patrol cars in the sheriff's department.

Looper said the annual payments of $32,477 to replace the fleet are irresponsible considering the number of rounds played at the golf course have steadily dropped since 2007.

"Since 2007, the number of golfers, the number of rounds has gone down 30%, so I'm not sure why you need that number of golf carts," Looper said prior to Tuesday’s meeting.

The retail battleground in Canada is fierce and Wal-Mart just announced another tactical play offering free shipping on all of its household items. The move is seen by analysts as a way for Wal-Mart to compete with Amazon’s subscription services.


The pricing structure appears to be a long term plan and is applicable to several consumable item categories including health and beauty, grocery, baby and household.


There is no minimum order required to receive free shipping at Wal-Mart, which is a competitive advantage over Target’s $50 minimum. To better compete with Amazon’s subscription service Wal-Mart Canada is also promoting online orders that can be shipped at later dates to help save customers time and avoid forgetting to purchase necessities.


Canada is an underdeveloped e-commerce market compared to the U.S., Brazil and the United Kingdom. As of January 2014 non store sales represent 2.3% of total retail for the Canadian market. 


Some analysts think Wal-Mart might be using Canada as a test market for this type of service. Others say it’s necessary given the tough competitive retail climate north of the U.S. border.

An investor lawsuit against Hillshire Brands was filed this week by Shareholders Foundation Inc. The suit claims Hillshire executives breached their fiduciary duties by agreeing to sell the company to Tyson Foods, “too cheaply via an unfair process”

Meanwhile, Brower Piven, a securities litigation firm in Maryland, announced an investigation of Hillshire’s board of directors on possible breaches of fiduciary duties.

Class action suits and threat of suits are common in takeovers and mergers of publicly traded companies. Hillshire shareholders can collect $63 per share from the Tyson Foods cash deal worth a 70% premium, according to analysts who cover the companies.The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $8.55 billion and expected to be completed in the next few months pending regulatory approval.

In an effort to boost flattening e-book sales Amazon announced its testing a e-book subscription service for under $10. The publishing house / retailer will offer Kindle users access to 600,000 e-books and thousands for audiobooks for $9.99 per month.

Many titles from Amazon's own publishing imprints are offered, but none of the big-5 publishers appear to be participating in Amazon’s offer.


That said, Simon & Schuster and HarperCollins have made e-books available for similar services from Scribd and Oyster, charging $9 per month and $10 per month, respectively.


Industry trade group AAP estimates that e-book sales were roughly flat in 2013 at $3 billion in the U.S. They made up a little over one-fifth of total trade publishing revenue of $14.6 billion.

Denver-based TeleTech Holdings announced Thursday (July 17) it will open a call center in Jonesboro that will initially employ 150 but could expand up to 600 jobs. The center will be TeleTech’s second Arkansas operation following the recent opening of a 250-job center in Sherwood.

The opening of the Jonesboro site is scheduled for August of this year.
 
“With an existing TeleTech site in Sherwood and a new site in Jonesboro, we are expanding our footprint in Arkansas,” said Ken Tuchman, chairman and chief executive officer of TeleTech. “The new Jonesboro site will be integral to TeleTech’s continued growth, particularly within the healthcare vertical, a complicated industry that requires an exceptional customer experience.”
 
TeleTech is actively hiring for its new Jonesboro site, which will support a leading healthcare insurance company. TeleTech is specifically looking to hire customer experience representatives, team leads, trainers, recruiters, technical assistance and IT specialists, operations managers and facilities staff.
 
“As a global company with locations worldwide, we are focused on hiring the best talent in the world to serve our clients. We have been extremely impressed with the strong workforce in Central and Northeast Arkansas and we look forward to growing our relationship in this region,” said Todd Baxter, SVP of Global Operations at TeleTech. “We are excited to join the Jonesboro community and are committed to a continued partnership with the state of Arkansas.”
 
TeleTech, founded in 1982, is a leading global provider of analytics-driven, technology-enabled services. The Company offers an integrated platform that combines analytics, strategy, process, systems integration, technology and operations to support customer service for Global 1000 clients and their customers.

The Poultry Federation has named Michael Kidd as its 2014 Industry Leader of Year. Kidd is the director of the Center of Excellence for Poultry Science and head of the Department of Poultry Science at the University of Arkansas,

“It’s an absolute personal honor,” said Kidd. “I can’t get over being honored like this. We are working hard to get more students trained to become great leaders and placed in key industry jobs, as well as supporting our research and extension programs.”

The Poultry Federation is a tri-state trade organization representing the poultry and egg industries in Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Kidd was recognized during the 55th Annual Poultry Festival in Rogers. The award, which has been presented since 1955, recognizes the outstanding achievements of poultry and egg executives and their contribution to the industry.

“Dr. Kidd has revitalized the Poultry Science Department at the University of Arkansas by increasing the number of students and increasing their participation,” said Marvin Childers, president of the federation. “He has led efforts to have the department become more engaged with the industry. Dr. Kidd supports the industry with research. In doing this, he is also developing future poultry industry leaders.”

Kidd has been a lab tech for Hudson Foods, a research director and research manager for Nutri-Quest, has consulted in more than 30 countries, and has more than 355 peer-reviewed manuscripts. He has served as president of the Poultry Science Association and department head at the Department of Poultry Science at Mississippi State University.

Cargill Meat Solutions said its Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms are the first major turkey brands to remove growth-promoting antibiotics from all turkeys across the independent farms they work with, without charging a premium price. 

Customers has said they want more natural turkey and Cargill says it has responded working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a three-part verification process for turkey production that exceeds all current government and industry standards:

· All turkeys are raised by independent farmers,
· Producers are trained on proper animal handling practices, and
· No antibiotics are used for growth promotion (antibiotics only used for treatment of illness and disease prevention)
 
“Consumer research tells us people are more interested than ever in where their food comes from and how it is produced,” said Ruth Kimmelshue, president of the Cargill Turkey & Cooked Meats business.  “We believe ending the use of antibiotics to promote growth in turkeys is an important step that provides consumers with nutritious and affordable options.  Working with our broad network of independent farmers, Cargill has the experience, resources and capabilities to successfully make this change and meet the needs of our customers and consumers.” 

Cargill’s initiative to remove growth-promoting antibiotics was reinforced last December when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a three-year plan to phase out the use of antibiotics that are medically important in human health and are also used to improve growth or feed efficiency in livestock and poultry.

“Fresh, whole turkeys raised without growth-promoting antibiotics will be available this Thanksgiving under Cargill’s signature brand labels, Honeysuckle White and Shady Brook Farms,” Kimmelshue said.  “All Cargill turkey flocks will be free of growth-promoting antibiotics by the end of 2015.”

Cox Communications has announced it will double the speeds for its most popular Cox High Speed Internet packages in Arkansas. Customers who subscribe to the company’s Preferred package will see their speeds increase from 25 Mbps to 50 Mbps. Speeds for subscribers of the Premier package will increase from 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps. The new speeds automatically go into effect by July 18.

With speeds as fast as 150Mbps, Cox is continuing to provide its customers the fastest speeds in Arkansas. The increased speeds come on the heels of the company’s announced plans to offer Gigabit speeds to all customers by 2017.

“Our customers tell us that speed matters,” stated Kim Rowell, market leader of Cox Communications in Arkansas. “We know this is especially important in today’s connected world where more and more devices are connected through in-home WiFi networks. We will continue to invest in our network to bring our customers the best online experience possible.”

Cox customers with the Preferred or higher package also have access to more than 250,000 WiFi hotspots when they travel so they can stay connected on-the-go.

The higher speeds greatly increase as customers move up the packages Cox offers. Choosing the best package as well as the right modem equipment will provide the fastest Internet and strongest wireless signals to all the devices they use. Customers interested in experiencing the new Internet speeds should visit the company’s high speed Internet website or a local Cox Solutions Store to test speeds for themselves.

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet and telephone services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable TV company, Cox serves approximately six million residences and businesses.

The Fort Smith Children’s Emergency Shelter is receiving a portion of all Smith Chevrolet‐Cadillac vehicle sales through July 31, 2014.

Smith Chevrolet‐Cadillac announced July 17 that through the month of July, $100 will be donated to the Children’s Emergency Shelter for every new and used vehicle sold.

“Smith is proud to partner with such a fine organization that is making a very strong impact in our local community,” said General Manager Bryan Penniman.

Advancement Coordinator for the Children’s Emergency Shelter, Ashley Ahlert said the promotion is an opportunity for citizens of Fort Smith and surrounding communities to shop local.

“With a goal of selling 225 cars, this has huge potential for impact on the Children’s Emergency Shelter and the children we serve. It’s a good feeling to know that we live in a place where we are all investing in our community,” Ahlert said in a statement.

Smith Auto Group was formed when John decided to purchase a Nissan franchise in 2007 and then expand once again in 2012 with the acquisition of three additional dealerships in Pineville, Missouri; a second Chevrolet dealership, a Ford franchise and a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram which all sit on the same property.

The Children’s Emergency Shelter of Fort Smith provides shelter and care to area children ages 6‐17 who have been removed from the custody of their guardian by child welfare authorities. CES provides a home‐like environment to these abused and neglected children until an alternate placement can be procured. The Shelter is licensed to house up to 24 children at a time, and as many as 300 children will walk through its doors each year.

Don Keesee has been named Western Arkansas Division President at Bank of the Ozarks. Keesee joined Bank of the Ozarks from Summit Bank in Fort Smith, as part of Bank of the Ozarks’ recent acquisition of Summit Bank.

He has more than 30 years of financial experience in Fort Smith, central Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas.
 
Keesee serves on the City of Fort Smith Planning Commission and is vice chairman and on the executive Committee of the Arkansas Community Foundation of Sebastian County. He also serves as a trustee of the Bost Foundation in Fort Smith. Formerly he was active in the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce, Fort Smith Symphony, Western Arkansas Counseling and Guidance Center, Girls Inc. of Fort Smith and Fort Smith Public Schools. He is an alumnus of the Leadership Fort Smith Program, Class of 1998.

In his new role, Keesee will be responsible for business operations in the Western Division, which includes three offices in Fort Smith, two offices in Van Buren and offices in Mulberry and Alma.

“I look forward to continuing to build on the Bank’s presence in Sebastian and Crawford counties as we continue to advance our position as the market’s leading financial services company,” Keesee said in a statement.

Monday (July 21) was the first day of Van Buren's new security measures at its municipal complex.

District Court was not in session at the complex Monday, making it easier to introduce the new security measures which include an X-ray machine to inspect belongings and a walk-through metal detector at the entrance of the courthouse.

Van Buren Mayor Bob Freeman let city aldermen know they could receive an identification badge to freely enter the building during regular business hours, but noted that everyone else would have their belongings inspected by the X-ray machine and would have to walk through the metal detector, what he was calling a body scanner.

He said the number of mass shootings in public places, including a shootout at the Crawford County Courthouse just down the street from the municipal complex, had led to the security measures on full display Monday.

Freeman said he was unsure of the cost of the metal detector that was bought from circuit clerk's office, but said the X-ray machine cost about $15,000, adding that an associated computer equipment and a chair for a city police officer to use while on duty at the complex brought the total to about $20,000.

The annual cost for manning the security station at the entrance to the complex will run about $55,000, Freeman said, adding that the cost included salary and benefits for the police officer on duty.

In other business, the Van Buren City Council approved an ordinance that allows individuals living within the city to commute by golf cart between their homes and a golf course using a golf cart.

Freeman told the city council that the city did not previously have a law addressing the issue, but noted that state law allows for golf cart commuting to a golf course along city streets and said the action by the city council Monday was a "clean up action" and noted that individuals had been driving golf carts to the golf course without problems for quite some time. City Alderman Johnny Ragsdale chimed in and said, "I've been doing it for years."

Freeman said the state did not state how far an individual could commute by golf cart, just so long as it was from the individual's home to the golf course. The only golf course within Van Buren city limits is at the city park.

Police Chief Kenneth Bell noted that state traffic laws would apply to golf cart drivers.

Gov. Mike Beebe on Tuesday (July 22) announced the following appointments to State boards and commissions:

Weston Lewey, Forrest City. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019. Replaces Darin Gray.

Jennifer Belt, Little Rock, to the Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Replaces Johnna McClain.

David Choate, Judsonia, to the Arkansas Agricultural Board. Appointment expires Aug. 15, 2016. Replaces Ruben Garzor.

Joe Christian, Jonesboro, reappointed to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Jay Coker, Stuttgart, reappointed to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Douglas Cox, Pocahontas, reappointed to the Black River Technical College Board of Directors. Appointment expires July 1, 2021.

Emily "Suzanne" Davidson, Hot Springs, reappointed to the Arkansas Arts Advisory Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2018.

Katherine Earlywine, Stuttgart, to the State Board of Sanitarians. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Replaces David McKinnon.

Rodney Farley, North Little Rock, reappointed to the Governor's Commission on People with Disabilities. Appointment expires June 1, 2017.

Mariah Hatta, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Arts Advisory Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2018. Replaces Garbo Hearne.

Jeff Jackson, Ash Flat, to the State Board of Sanitarians. Appointment expires June 30, 2016. Replaces Teresa Bullock.

Christopher Johnson, North Little Rock, to the Governor's Developmental Disabilities Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Replaces Jennifer Emery.

Robert Jordan, Hot Springs, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. Appointment expires July 1, 2017.

Charles Ledbetter, Fordyce, reappointed to the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Licensing Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2018.

Jack McCoy, Malvern, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Appointment expires June 9, 2019.

Bill Mitchell, Fayetteville, reappointed to the Arkansas Arts Advisory Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2018.

Clarence "Bryan" Moery, Jr., Wynne, reappointed to the Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Derrick Newby, Pine Bluff, reappointed to the State Board of Sanitarians. Appointment expires June 30, 2019.

Janet Paschal, Tuckerman, to the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Appointment expires June 30, 2015. Replaces Charlotte Britton.

Myrtle "Ruth" Pellow, Crossett, to the Governor's Commission on People with Disabilities. Appointment expires June 1, 2016. Replaces Shirley Byers.

Michael Richardson, Holly Grove, reappointed to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2016.

Tim Smith, Clarendon, reappointed to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Robert Tillman, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy. Appointment expires July 1, 2017.

George Toll IV, DeValls Bluff, reappointed to the Arkansas Wheat Promotion Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Stewart Weaver, Edmondson, reappointed to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2016.

Dr. James "Randy" Willison, Batesville, reappointed to the Southern Regional Education Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2018.

Dennis Keith Woolverton, Pollard, reappointed to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2016.

To the Arkansas Catfish Promotion Board:
Jeff Baxter, Watson.
Wayne Branton, Wilmot.
Steve Kueter, Paragould.
Joey Lowery, Amagon.

These reappointments expire June 30, 2016.

To the Arkansas Commission on Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence:
Cecile Blucker, Bryant.
Rob Combs, Hoxie.
Charles Ellis, El Dorado.
Dr. Jerry Jones, Little Rock.
Robert Parker, Sheridan.
Debbie Roark, Lonoke.
Lieutenant Corey Sanders, Camden. Replaces Sheriff Victor Rose.
Dr. Karen Worley, Sherwood.

These are reappointments unless otherwise noted and expire June 30, 2016.

To the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board:
Jim Carroll III, Brinkley.
Shannon Davis, Bono.
Douglas Hartz, Stuttgart. Replaces Andrew Oliver.
West Higginbotham, Marianna.

These are reappointments unless otherwise noted and expire June 30, 2016.