After visiting 30 cities and traveling roughly 13,682 miles, the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour is quickly approaching its final destination — Bentonville.

Sam’s Club said on Saturday (Sept. 27) 50 of the country’s best barbecue teams will descend on its parking lot at the corporate offices in Bentonville, and one team will leave with the $50,000 grand prize.

Since 2011, the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour has traveled the United States, region by region, searching for the year’s best in competitive barbecue and awarding winning teams a total of $500,000 in prize money annually.

In that time, thousands of Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) competitve teams worked to carefully perfect and present their barbecue, which was assessed by KCBS certified judges. This more than 700 teams have competes for their chance to earn the title and grand prize money this year.

“These teams moving on to the championship in Bentonville are beyond excited!” said Michael McDearman, series director for the tour. “Time to see who will bring the heat!”
 
The Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour is a tournament-style series in which teams must advance from a local qualifying event to the top tier of their regional event in order to qualify for the National Championship and a shot at the $50,000 Grand Champion prize.

The sponsors of this competition include:Bush’s, Cargill, Coca-Cola, Heinz, Hillshire KC Masterpiece, Kingsford, the National Pork Board, New Zealand Lamb, Pillsbury, Tone’s and Wright brand bacon, owned by Tyson Foods.

After visiting 30 cities and traveling roughly 13,682 miles, the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour is quickly approaching its final destination — Bentonville.

Sam’s Club said on Saturday (Sept. 27) 50 of the country’s best barbecue teams will descend on its parking lot at the corporate offices in Bentonville, and one team will leave with the $50,000 grand prize.

Since 2011, the Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour has traveled the United States, region by region, searching for the year’s best in competitive barbecue and awarding winning teams a total of $500,000 in prize money annually.

In that time, thousands of Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) competitve teams worked to carefully perfect and present their barbecue, which was assessed by KCBS certified judges. This more than 700 teams have competes for their chance to earn the title and grand prize money this year.

“These teams moving on to the championship in Bentonville are beyond excited!” said Michael McDearman, series director for the tour. “Time to see who will bring the heat!”
 
The Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour is a tournament-style series in which teams must advance from a local qualifying event to the top tier of their regional event in order to qualify for the National Championship and a shot at the $50,000 Grand Champion prize.

The sponsors of this competition include:Bush’s, Cargill, Coca-Cola, Heinz, Hillshire KC Masterpiece, Kingsford, the National Pork Board, New Zealand Lamb, Pillsbury, Tone’s and Wright brand bacon, owned by Tyson Foods.

• Mars announces some leadership changes
Mars Food has promoted Fiona Dawson its next president. She has the responsibility of for Mars drinks and European multisales. She succeeds Poul Weihrauch, who has been named president of Mars global petcare, effective Jan. 1.

Dawson began her career at Mars in sales in 1988 as a graduate trainee. After many years in multisales in Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, she became the head of the U.K. chocolate business in 2005 and has since also added responsibility of the Mars retail group.

Andrew Clarke, regional president of petcare for Latin America, will become Mars Inc.’s new chief customer officer and a member of the Mars leadership team, effective Feb. 15. Clarke joined Mars in 2000 in U.K. sales and over the next seven years took on increasing responsibility in the function as he moved between the pet specialty, impulse and grocery teams. Since then, he has taken multiple general manager roles across the business.

Bruce McColl, Mars’ chief marketing officer, also has been named to the Mars leadership team. McColl joined Mars in 1992 in Australia as a brand manager. Over his 22 years in marketing at company, he has worked across Mars’ business brands, categories and geographies.

“We are thrilled to have such great talent within the organization and proud of the growth that these leaders have demonstrated over the years,” said Grant F. Reid, president of Mars Inc. “These great leaders have an average of more than 19 years of experience in leadership at Mars, and they are a testament to how well our development programs at Mars works.”

Mars is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores and operates a sales office in Rogers.

• Mondelz names new global chief marketing officer
Dana Anderson has been named senior vice-president and chief marketing officer at Mondelēz International.  Anderson will be responsible for the company’s global portfolio of advertising, media and marketing partners and oversee the teams responsible for agency relations, brand equity, brand strategy, marketing capabilities, media and digital for the company's global and regional Power Brands.

“Dana is the ideal leader to be our new chief marketing officer,” said Mark Clouse, who was named to the newly-created role of chief growth officer on July 31. “As our work for brands like Oreo, belVita and Cadbury demonstrates, she is constantly pushing the boundaries to create breakthrough marketing and engage with consumers in new ways. Her deep consumer understanding and strategic approach will be invaluable as we further focus on delivering fearless and innovative marketing programs that span multiple marketing and media channels and cutting-edge technologies.”

Mondelez is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and operates a supplier office in Northwest Arkansas.

Main Street Rogers is hosting Rep. Steve Womack for a visit with Downtown Rogers business and property-owners, as well as a tour of new residential and business spaces Monday (Sept. 22).

Womack, the former Mayor of Rogers, is to tour a new residential loft project — City Hall Lofts— located at 214 W. Elm St. which is an ongoing remodel of an historic building.

He will also tour Brick Street Brews at 208 W. Walnut St. for an informal question and answer session 3 p.m.  
       
The Main Street Rogers Board of Directors’ said the primary objective for this visit is to showcase the smart investments being made in Downtown Rogers by renovating historic spaces for new uses.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced Kevin Systrom, an entrepreneur, software engineer and co-founder of photo-sharing service Instagram, as a new member to the retailer’s board of directors. Systrom recently became the 15th member of the board and will also serve as a member of the company’s technology and e-commerce committee and its compensation, nominating and governance committee.

“Kevin”s entrepreneurial background and his technical and digital expertise will be invaluable as we further connect with customers and deploy new capabilities through e-commerce and mobile channels," said Walmart Chairman Rob Walton. “Walmart is investing in e-commerce capabilities through talent, technology and fulfillment. Kevin’s passion and deep knowledge of social media align with our focus to engage customers through our digital and physical channels.”

The 30-year-old Systrom is best known as the co-founder of Instagram, which was acquired by Facebook in 2012.

“Walmart has had a profound impact as a global leader in retail,” Systrom said. “It’s an honor to join the Walmart board and have an opportunity to help provide more convenient and flexible ways for people to shop.”

A native of Massachusetts, Systrom holds a bachelor’s degree in management science and engineering from Stanford University. Since 2011, Systrom has consistently been ranked in lists such as Fortune's 40-under-40 and TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people.

River Valley Regional Food Bank has received a $150,000 contribution to assist with receiving retail store donations. The grant, given to the non-profit organization through the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program, will give the food bank additional refrigerated storage, allowing the food bank to better serve the community.

“This gift is nothing short of a miracle from heaven,” said Ted Clemons, the food bank’s director. “Our current truck has over 120,000 miles on it and has needed constant repair.”

The grant was presented to Mark Whitmer of the Crawford-Sebastian Community Development Council during a check presentation ceremony held Monday (Sept. 29)  at The River Valley Regional Food Bank. During the ceremony, Whitmer thanked the food bank’s grocery and restaurant partners, the Walmart Distribution Center in Clarksville and the West Central Arkansas volunteer army of hunger fighters.

The food bank began operations 28 years ago. In 2008, the food bank distributed 3.2 million pounds of food; last year – $7.5 million. The food bank serves eight counties in West Central Arkansas – Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Scott, Sebastian, Polk and Yell counties. About 307,000 live in these counties, of which, 52,610 people are considered food insecure. Also in the area, 22,740 of the 77,546 children are considered food insecure reaching as many as one in three children living in food insecure households. Feeding America estimates 9.2 million meals are missing from the diets of West Central Arkansans.

Food bank stats show that close to 90% of retail food recovery comes from area Walmart Supercenter and Neighborhood Stores and Sam’s Club facilities.

“The Walmart Foundation is very pleased to be supporting the River Valley Regional Food Banks, and is committed to helping those in need in the communities where we serve,” said Michael Lindsey, Walmart Director of Public Affairs. “Through this grant, we are hopeful that needy residents in the River Valley will have additional opportunities to receive the food that they need.”

The contribution to River Valley Regional Food Bank was made possible through the Walmart Foundation’s Arkansas State Giving Program. Through this program, the Walmart Foundation supports organizations that create opportunities so people can live better. The Walmart Foundation State Giving Program strives to award grants that have a long-lasting, positive impact on communities across the U.S.

Repair costs on the 2009 retail recovery box truck ran $16,018 in 2013 with an additional $3,734 in costs to rent a replacement unit. According to food bank officials, there were several days during the year where it was necessary to call and cancel pickups and there were several days when the unit was left stranded on the interstate highway awaiting towing services.
 
The new refrigerated truck will have 230 cubic feet more cargo space than the previous truck, which could in some cases avoid the need for a second run.

“In the course of a year, that will add roughly 55,000 cubic feet of pick up capacity, or almost 14 more truckloads of food in any given year,” noted a statement from the food bank.

A new sign may be going up, but the dining experience that has been a staple of Movie Lounge since opening nearly two years ago will go on, just under new branding.

According to General Manager Deborah Bowers, the changes at the Rogers Avenue establishment will allow the company to focus more on its growing events and banquet business while still operating the cinemas that offer meal service.

"The Movie Lounge will be associated with the theaters and cinema and Starlight Celebration and Events Center will be advertising all of our banquet space," she said.

Starlight Celebration and Events Center, she said, will incorporate the dining room and bar that had been under the Movie Lounge brand, as well as the banquet facilities that have been under the Epic Center branding.

As for why the company is re-branding itself, Bowers said it had to do with the growth the company had been seeing from large-scale events.

"Banquet space in this town is rather limited. And we've been enjoying growth with the Phoenix Expo Center having closed. There's not a lot of options. So we've spent a lot of time and money creating some beautiful banquet space," she said.

The Phoenix Expo Center was closed by its owner FSM Redevelopment Partners after what is now known as the Shared Services Center signed a long term lease for the facility.

Even though the name is changing, Bowers said the dining room at the Starlight Celebration and Events Center will still be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday. She said the restaurant would be available for private rental on evenings it was closed.

Bowers also said as part of the rebranding, the company had hired Wes Daugherty as chef. Daugherty had previously been chef at 21 West End in downtown Fort Smith.

• Coty CEO steps down
Coty Inc. CEO Michele Scannavini has stepped down from his role at the company for personal reasons and resigned his board seat.  Coty's Chairman Bart Becht will become interim CEO, working with Coty's executive committee to ensure a smooth transition and oversee major decisions at the company.  

The company intends to commence a search process for Scannavini's permanent successor immediately, meanwhile Becht will remain as chairman of the company once a permanent successor has been appointed.

"I want to thank Michele for his many contributions during his career at Coty," said Becht. "Michele has been a material part and key contributor to Coty's success over the past decade. We would like to thank him in particular for taking Coty public through a listing on the New York Stock Exchange and developing a clear strategy for Coty's future.”

Becht joined the Coty board of directors as chairman in 2011. From 1999 to 2011, he served as CEO of Reckitt Benckiser. Becht also held a variety of marketing, sales and finance positions at Procter & Gamble. He earned  a master’s degree in business from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands.

"I feel honored to have led Coty through an important chapter of its history and proud to have contributed to the success of the Company over the last 12 years," said Scannavini. "It has been an extremely rewarding adventure, developing great brands and leading a group of exceptionally talented and passionate people.”

Coty is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores and maintains a sales team and office operation in Bentonville.

• Seaboard sell large interest in meat division
Seaboard Corp. has sold a 50% stake in Daily’s Premium Meats, its processed meats division, to Triumph Foods for $72.5 million. In conjunction with the transaction, Kelly Hattan was named president of Daily’s.

Daily’s manufactures a variety of processed pork products, ranging from flavored bacons to hams and sausages. The company has processing plants in Salt Lake City, and Missoula, Mont.

“This partnership will enable Daily’s to further solidify a supply of high-quality raw materials while providing additional capital to expand production and the geographical footprint where Daily’s sells its products,” Hattan said. “I’m excited about the significant opportunities for growth as a result of this enhanced partnership.”

Seaboard and Triumph have been longtime partners on a variety of fronts. Seaboard, for example, sells fresh products produced by Triumph’s St. Joseph, Mo., plant. The products are sold under the Seaboard Farms, St. Joe Pork and PrairieFresh Pork brands.


Seaboard and Triumph are suppliers to Wal-Mart Stores with local sales teams in Northwest Arkansas.

Retail giant Wal-Mart claims actor and comedian Tracy Morgan and the other passengers involved in the Limo accident with one of its semi trucks were partially to blame because they were not wearing seatbelts.

Wal-Mart lawyers recently filed a 28-page response with the U.S. District Court of New Jersey (Trenton) to Morgan’s auto negligence lawsuit (3:14:cv-04388) filed against the retailer July 10.

The Wal-Mart response states, “Plaintiffs’ injuries, if any, were caused in whole or in part by plaintiffs’ failure to properly wear an appropriate available seat belt device. All or a portion of the injuries could have been diminished or minimized by the exercise of reasonable conduct in using the available seat belts.”

Kevin Roper, the 35-year-old Wal-Mart driver, has plead not guilty to a vehicular homicide charge as the fatality accident claimed the life of James McNair. Roper is free on bond and on administrative leave.

Morgan’s lawyers spelled-out in their complaint that Roper hired by Wal-Mart lived in Jonesboro, Ga., and his job was based out of Smyrna, a commute of more than 700 miles, which he made just before beginning his shift at 11:22 a.m. on June 6.

The lawsuit claims, a fatigued Roper fell asleep at the wheel, and failed to slow down for traffic ahead. The National Transportation Safety Board cited in its preliminary report that Roper was traveling 20 miles over the speed limit prior to slamming into Morgan’s limo van while traveling at 65 miles an hour.

Federal law allows drivers to log 14 hours behind the wheel, Roper was within those limits at 13:5 hours, the NTSB report confirmed.

Wal-Mart released a statement that it continues to work with Morgan and the other plaintiffs to resolve this matter and provided no other comments following Monday’s filed response with the court.

The retailer listed eight other so-called affirmative defenses in its legal response to the court intending to mitigate damages. Wal-Mart’s response also demands the plaintiffs to specify the amount of damages they alleged in their complaint. Both parties have requested a jury trial.

Retail giant Wal-Mart will face claims that it defrauded shareholders by concealing corruption linked to the ongoing bribery allegations and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practice Act in Mexican business unit. U.S. Judge Susan Hickey signed the dismissal denial order Sept. 26 and filed it with the federal court the same day in Fayetteville.

The City of Pontiac Michigan’s Retirement Fund sued Wal-Mart and Mike Duke in May 2012, claiming the retailer is liable for making false statements; or failing to disclose adverse facts known to them about Walmart’s involvement in ethics violations in Mexico under the watch of Mike Duke, CEO of Walmart International at the time. At the same time the plaintiffs argued that Wal-Mart’s failure to disclose their exposure to the bribery investigation allowed their stock price to be inflated as it broke through a decade long lull.

The lawsuit also claims that Duke and other top executives conspired to conceal the extent of their knowledge and involvement, whether purposely or negligently. The shareholders argue that costs have massive.

Wal-Mart was told by the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2012 to do a better job alerting shareholders of the expenses related to the ongoing investigation. 

The retailer said it’s spent $439 million since 2012 in connection with investigations into allegations that employees paid bribes in Mexico, China, India and Brazil. That figure includes internal controls which have been set up around the globe to ensure best practices are adhered to with regard to compliance going forward.

“We are disappointed in the court’s ruling,” Wal-Mart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told the media on Tuesday (Sept. 30).

The lawsuit was “based solely on unproven allegations.” The fund must now “come forward with actual evidence to prove its case, and we don’t believe it will be able to do so,” she said.

Gov. Mike Beebe on Wednesday (Oct. 1) announced the following appointments:

Robert W. McCorkindale, Harrison, as Special Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Arkansas for the case styled 14-427, Nathaniel Smith, M.D. et al v. M. Kindall Wright et al. Replaces Justice Cliff Hoofman, who has disqualified himself from this case.

Dr. Sondra Bedwell, Texarkana, reappointed to the Arkansas Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2016.

John Cole, Sheridan, reappointed to the College of the Ouachitas Board of Directors. Appointment expires July 1, 2021.

Janice Dean, North Little Rock, reappointed to the Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee. Appointment expires February 1, 2017.

Amy Denton, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2017.

Martha Dixon, Arkadelphia, reappointed to the State Board of Career Education. Appointment expires June 30, 2021.

Gin Foster, Camden, reappointed to the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources Advisory Committee. Appointment expires July 31, 2019.

David Hendrix, Benton, reappointed to the Arkansas Milk Stabilization Board. Appointment expires Sept. 12, 2019.

India Holt, Crossett, reappointed to the University of Arkansas at Monticello Board of Visitors. Appointment expires July 31, 2017.

Jerry Hyde, Paragould, reappointed to the State Plant Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Dr. Suzanne Jessup, Bella Vista, reappointed to the Arkansas Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2016.

Carol Maxwell, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2016.

Marshall Nash, Jacksonville, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy. Appointment expires Aug. 20, 2017.

Peggy Parks, Prairie Grove, reappointed to the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park Advisory Commission. Appointment expires June 13, 2019.

Dr. John Robinette, Sheridan, reappointed to the Arkansas Board of Podiatric Medicine. Appointment expires Sept. 1, 2017.

Joe Don Rogers, Waldron, reappointed to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Appointment expires Sept. 1, 2019.

Jimmy Simpson, Searcy, to the Arkansas State Claims Commission. Appointment expires January 15, 2017. Replaces The Honorable Jim Baker.

Mike Stephenson, West Memphis, reappointed to the Technology Equipment Revolving Loan Fund Committee. Appointment expires June 30, 2017.

Lance Whiteaker, Calico Rock, to the Criminal Detention Facility Review Committee, Judicial District #16. Appointment expires January 14, 2018. Replaces Euna Sitton.

To the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board:
Matt Fair, Maynard.
The Honorable Jimmy Hart, Morrilton.
Alan Hughes, Little Rock.
Brian Itzkowitz, Little Rock.
The Honorable Mark Stodola, Little Rock.

These reappointments expire Aug. 10, 2018.

To the Distance Learning Coordinating Council:
Katie Burns, Little Rock.
Kenneth Rich, Salem.
Steven Sanders, Jr., Flippin.
Carla "Cathi" Swan, Rison.

These reappointments expire Sept. 1, 2017.

According to Gov. Mike Beebe’s office and the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, the state of Arkansas has paid off its federal debt for funds borrowed to prop up the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

The fund, which provides benefits to laid-off workers, had gone in the red up to $360 million.

Gov. Beebe and chamber officials said Thursday (Oct. 2) that the debt had been paid in full.

“This debt retirement means Arkansas employers will save $119 million on their 2014 UI [unemployment insurance] taxes payable in 2015, when they will pay $87 less per employee and avoid additional increases of $32 per employee,” said Kenny Hall, vice-president of the State Chamber.

Arkansas was one of 36 states whose UI Trust Fund went broke as a result of the Great Recession. The collective debt of the 36 states and territories peaked at $48.5 billion. As of Sept. 26, 13 states and territories still had debt with a $13.4 billion collective total as of Sept. 30.

At the end of August, the Arkansas UI Trust Fund had a positive balance of $247.7 million, according to the chamber.

The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services estimates the fund will close 2014 with a positive balance of $203.9 million. DWS also projected the Trust Fund would have a balance of $305.4 million at the end of 2015 and $345.9 million at the end of 2016.

To satisfy U.S. Department of Labor recommendations, the Arkansas UI Trust Fund should maintain a balance of approximately $500 million to be considered solvent, the chamber said.

The former Simmons First bank branch at 3210 South Walton Blvd. was recently purchased by Integrity First Bank which has plans to relocate their Rogers branch to the location on Jan. 5, 2015.

The $1.5 million transaction was brokered by Pat Morrison with Colliers International | Bentonville and closed on Oct. 1.

The new First Integrity facility will provide drive-through service in addition to all other banking services including loan, deposit and trust services. Their former branch at 207 N. 24th St. in Rogers will be closed.

“This Walton Boulevard location will be a great fit for First Integrity with its good visibility on a major thoroughfare,” Morrison said. “We were happy to assist them in their search for a larger location so that they can offer additional amenities and convenience to their customers.”

In one month’s time Arvest Bank said it has collected enough to provide 640,792 meals for local food charities; and is well on its way to the 1 million meals goal set in September.

“Our 1 Million Meals initiative has hit the halfway mark and has raised more than 500,000 meals for those in need so far ... We are grateful for the generosity of our partners, customers and community, and appreciate each donation that has been made. We’re all looking forward to reaching our goal of one million meals by Nov. 1,” said Craig Rivaldo, Arvest Bank President in Benton County.

Arvest branches throughout Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma have been participating in this initiative by collecting nonperishable food items and monetary donations. These efforts will continue through Nov. 1 with the intention of reaching one million meals donated to the local communities Arvest serves just in time for the holidays.

Every dollar raised through 1 Million Meals provides the equivalent of five meals for local, hungry families.

Locally, Arvest Banks in Northwest Arkansas have partnered with 16 local food organizations. These organizations will receive all of the nonperishable food and monetary donations made at Arvest locations in Northwest Arkansas through Nov. 1.

The organizations are:
• Helping Hands, Bentonville
• Shepherds Food Pantry, Bella Vista
• Farmington School Backpack Program, Farmington
• 7Hills Homeless Center, Fayetteville
• Life Source International, Fayetteville
• Gravette Gardens, Gravette
• Open Arms Food Pantry of Madison County, Huntsville
• The Grace Place, Lincoln
• First Baptist Church of Lowell Food Pantry, Lowell and Pleasant Crossing
• West Fork Elementary Backpack Program, West Fork
• Prairie Grove School Backpack Program, Prairie Grove
• Pea Ridge Ministerial Alliance, Pea Ridge
• Samaritan Community Center, Rogers
• The Genesis House, Siloam Springs, Gentry and Kansas
• Springdale Public Schools Health Services, Springdale
• NWA Food Bank, Arvest Bank Operations

Misty McMullen is joining the Bentonville office of The Griffin Company as a real estate agent. McMullen will assist property buyers and sellers in the Northwest Arkansas area.

The Griffin Company has more than 50 Realtors in its offices in Bentonville and Springdale.

“We are happy to welcome Misty to our family of real estate specialists,” said Executive Broker Philip Taldo. “As a native of Austin she has a solid knowledge of the region and will help our clients find the right home and the right buyer for their home.”

McMullen lives in Springdale and is a member of the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors.

Multiple news reports cite Amazon plans to open its first brick and mortar store in midtown Manhattan ahead of the holidays.

Dow Jones Newswires reports the location as 34th Street directly across from the Empire State Building and a few blocks away from Macy’s flagship store in the heart of New York City.

Retail consultant Jan Rogers Kniffen said every retailer needs an online business and a physical showroom if nothing more than to create a halo effect. He suspects this site by Amazon will be just that a showroom that features unique and cool products that can draw attention to the Amazon brand in a new way.

Kniffen applauds Amazon for this new venture and thinks the location is spot on for a retailer.

The Amazeum which set to open in 2015 has already announced its first permanent exhibit will be "Lift, Load & Haul" and will focus on kinetic activity and the transference of things. The exhibit will be sponsored by General Mills.

"We are delighted with how plans for the Amazeum have taken shape," said Mary Zettle, General Mills sales director. "At General Mills, our mission is to nourish our communities through remarkable programs that promote education, nutrition wellness and volunteerism. The new Lift, Load & Haul exhibit will allow kids to explore how things work on their own terms while experiencing basic principles of physics, engineering, logistics and problem-solving."

The multi-faceted exhibition allows kids to roll up their sleeves and work on their own or in cooperation with someone else to lift, move, load and ready a truck for transport.
The truck was donated to the museum by Walmart Fleet Services and – thanks to a gift from The Miller McNeil Woodruff Foundation – will be wheelchair accessible.

The interior of the cab will have all gadgets intact, including an air horn. A small back-up monitor will be mounted in the dashboard so the driver and passenger can view the activities taking place in the trailer, which features conveyors and devices that move boxes into and out of the truck.

"The exhibition will offer multiple points of engagement and levels of complexity that will appeal to a wide range of ages, and we are very grateful for the support of General Mills making it all possible," said Sam Dean, Amazeum executive director.

Dean said the one of the first things visitors will notice is the large, accessible cab of a truck inviting them to climb in and pretend to drive. He said the actual truck cab has been part of the design from the get-go as the museum seeks to provide authentic experiences.

Before boxes reach the truck, they travel from a kid-powered conveyor activated by turning a crank. This belt sends boxes up high before they slide down, making their way to a motorized conveyor belt. At this point, children can push buttons that send boxes off the belt and into color-coded bins, ready for loading into the truck.

In addition to the truck loading process, the General Mills exhibition includes a:
• Pulley lift where boxes can be raised and lowered by three different pulley systems
• AirWorks station where visitors can manipulate the path of balls and scarves through a tube system by changing the direction of the wind flowing through
• Packaging area complete with a graphic informing visitors of the weight differences between old versus new packaging, as well as other green facts
• Building space for kids to work with the same boxes used on the conveyor belt to build in creative and traditional ways
• Magnetic ball wall in which balls can be lifted and set into motion to travel the path the user creates with an assortment of pipes, tees and other objects

Construction on the $25 million children’s discovery center, led by former Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott and wife Linda and a host of other benefactors, is well underway near the entrance of Crystal Bridges Museum on American Art in Bentonville. The Amazeum is slated to open in the back half of 2015, but the project remains $1.3 million behind in its initial capital campaign goal of $28.5 million, according to Molly Rawn spokeswoman for  the children’s museum.

Rawn said the museum is accepting donations at all levels, and permanent recognition opportunities are still available. 

Drs. Randy Brown and German Kamalov have joined Sparks Health System, with Brown working at Sparks Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Clinic and Kamalov affiliated with Sparks’ Cardiology Center.

Brown’s work includes heart transplant surgery and heart valve repair, and he treats a wide range of heart, lung, and vascular diseases. He completed his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and his general surgery residency at the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa.

Most recently he practiced at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he was chief of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. He is board certified in cardiothoracic and general surgery.

Kamalov is a cardiac electrophysiologist and specializes in evaluating and treating heart rhythm irregularities by prescribing medication and by performing procedures, including radio frequency ablations and pacemaker implantation. Kamalov comes to Sparks from Ohio State University where he completed his electrophysiology fellowship. He is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine.

He also completed a clinical fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis in 2012.

Also, Sparks Regional Medical Center has received Chest Pain Center Re-Accreditation with PCI (Percutaneous Coronary Intervention) from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC).

To become an Accredited Chest Pain Center, Sparks engaged in rigorous reevaluation and refinement of its cardiac care processes in order to integrate the healthcare industry’s successful practices and newest paradigms into its cardiac care processes.

“People tend to wait when they think they might be having a heart attack, and that’s a mistake,” Randy Bowen, director of Cardiovascular Services at Sparks, said in a statement. “The average patient arrives in the emergency department more than two hours after the onset of symptoms, but what they don’t realize is that the sooner a heart attack is treated, the less damage to the heart and the better the outcome is for the patient.” 

Sparks was first named in 2011 as the only Accredited Chest Pain Center in the region.

The Fountain of Youth Adult Day Center recently received a $40,000 donation from the Ghan Family Foundation to support the center’s capital campaign which is focused on renovations to a facility at 2801 McKinley Ave.

Also, the  Fountain of Youth hopes to raise an additional $25,000 from a Raise the Roof BBQ scheduled for Oct. 17. The Ghan Family Foundation provided the $40,000 to kick-start the renovations.

The BBQ is set for 6 p.m., Oct. 17 at the McKinley Avenue location. Tickets are on sale now for $10 and may be purchased by calling 484-7782. All proceeds benefit the Fountain of Youth Adult Day Center. Fountain of Youth is a United Way Community Partner and CDBG Grant Recipient.

Fountain of Youth has provided care for dependent adults 18 and older for the past 25 years to Fort Smith area residents.

Sabrina Chesne, an English faculty member at NorthWest Arkansas Community College, was selected as coordinator for the college’s honors program. She will begin that role at the start of the spring semester 2015.
 
Dr. Ricky Tompkins, vice president for learning, made the announcement on Thursday (Oct. 9). The honors coordinator is responsible for leadership and management of the program, including curricular, co-curricular, and financial aspects of the program and the co-director of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society.

Chesne earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southern California and two master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas. She has been a faculty member at NWACC for 10 years and has served as a full-time faculty member for the past five years. She served as an interim coordinator for the program during the fall 2012 semester.

Chesne believes the program should grow and draw students who want challenges, higher order thinking, engagement with education, and personal transformation.

“We kid ourselves into thinking these types of students are few,” she said. “The more I teach, the more I realize how students shine when they find the right combination of course and instructor. As a coordinator, my job will be to find this combination. I feel confident in the Honors Program and am grateful to be a part of increasing the opportunities for our learners.”