The U.S. Postal Service announced several changes to its “Priority Mail” service, offering free insurance and tracking, and day-specific delivery of packages.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said he expects the new features to make the Postal Service more competitive with private package-delivery services and generate more than $500 million in new revenue over the next year.

He said “Priority Mail” generated $5.9 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, an increase of 8.9% since 2010.

That increase help to defray its receding revenue of 2.7% over the past two years. During that time sales fell to $65.2 billion.

Online commerce has helped increase package volume by more than 14% since 2010. Postal officials expect that trend to continue as e-commerce sales are poised to reach $370 billion annually by 2017.
 

Pilgrim's Pride Corp. plans to close a rendering facility in El Dorado, that produces chicken meal used in pet food. The plant closure in September will eliminate 29 jobs, the company said on Wednesday (Aug.14).

Those operations will shift to another Pilgrim's facility in Texas, the company said.

Pilgrim’s said the decision to close the plant is based on supply chain and operational efficiencies that it can’t achiever in El Dorado.

Pilgrim’s has idled four other poultry plants in the U.S. in recent years as it worked to streamline its operations following its bankruptcy filing and subsequent acquisition by South American beef company JBS in 2009.
 

Members of the Texas Hearing Aid Association have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. based on claims that the world's largest retailer sells hearing aids without the state-mandated license.


The trade group is seeking to stop Wal-Mart's hearing aid sales immediately, in addition to asking the court to require the return of profits from prior sales.


"Wal-Mart knew it was required under Texas state law to become licensed in order to dispense hearing aids in Texas stores, yet the corporation has failed to take all necessary steps to ensure their ability to do so," said attorney Bill Chamblee, managing partner of Dallas-based Chamblee, Ryan, Kershaw & Anderson and lead counsel for the hearing aid group.

Chamblee said the Bentonville-based retail giant has chosen profits over the health interests of 3.8 million Texans suffering hearing loss.

The group advocates that a licensed hearing professional give a complete examination of the patient's auditory health in order to detect infections and other problems that aren't addressed by simply wearing a hearing aid.

Wal-Mart said its mission is to help people save money so they live better and one way they do that is offer affordable hearing aids at select locations.

“While a medical exam is recommended before purchasing a hearing aid, under federal law, adults have the option to waive an exam before buying them. We offer our customers that option, although we do require a signed waiver indicating that they have elected to purchase them without the benefit of an exam,” said Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman.

The City of Siloam Springs has hired James Nixon as the new airport manager. Nixon will start in the position Sept. 2.

City officials interviewed several candidates and announce Friday (Aug. 16) that Nixon was promoted from within. Since June 2012 he has served as a dispatcher with the Siloam Springs Police Department. However, Nixon’s work history and education are in the aviation industry.

“Aviation is my passion. I believe that my education and work history will allow me to successfully serve both the City of Siloam Springs and our aviation community”, Nixon said. “I look forward to working with the existing staff and patrons and continuing to grow our airport.”

Nixon earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation administration from Utah Valley University.

He has work experience in aviation marketing and operations, specifically flight line operations and new aviation business development, account management and customer service. Nixon is also a FAA licensed pilot.

The airport manager is responsible for the day to day operations of the airport including fueling/refueling aircraft, maintaining aviation safety standards, providing weather information, radio communications and flight tracking with aircrafts.

Additionally, Nixon will oversee daily runway safety checks, fuel farm operations, airport vehicle fleet, building and hangar security and building and hangar upkeep.

The airport manager will report to Don Clark, community services manager for Siloam Springs.

“Mr. Nixon is the right person for the job and we look forward to seeing the airport flourish under his leadership,” Clark said in a statement.

NorthWest Arkansas Community College will dedicate its student center to Dr. Becky Paneitz at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22. The brief ceremony will be held at Bogle Plaza on the college campus in Bentonville.

The Dr. Becky Paneitz Student Center honors Paneitz as President Emerita after her recent retirement from the institution and caps a decade of service to the rapidly growing community college.

The Student Center was the first building project undertaken after Paneitz assumed the college’s chief executive role in 2003. Other facilities constructed during her tenure include what was Benton County’s first multistory parking garage, the Shewmaker Center for Global Business Development and the Center for Health Professions.

Recently, work has begun to transform the former Highlands Oncology building into the Melba Shewmaker Southern Region National Child Protection Training Center, also located on the NWACC campus in Bentonville.

The brief dedication ceremony will include a ribbon cutting by Bentonville / Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce.

Leadership Franklin County Director Marci Gage of Ozark has announced the program’s 2013-14 class.

Housed at Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus, Leadership Franklin County develops current and emerging leaders to work together to improve conditions in Franklin County and surrounding Arkansas River Valley communities.

From August through May, the following 18 participants will be educated and challenged during monthly, daylong sessions as to the needs and opportunities of the regional and dynamics of social and economic change:

Anthony Boen of Ozark, Franklin County sheriff;

Justina Buck of Russellville, associate director of Financial Aid, Arkansas Tech-Ozark;

Yvonne Case of Coal Hill, training unit manager, Department of Human Services;

Ronnie Duggar of Ozark, gas field specialist, Southwest Energy;

Sonya Eveld of Ozark, Ozark city clerk;

Brandon Fisher of Charleston, GIS coordinator, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative;

Jim Ford of Ozark, Ozark School District superintendent;

Mike Gibbons of Ozark, assistant vice president, Bank of the Ozarks;

Rex Heffington of Ozark, owner, Heffington Insurance Inc.;

Luke Holcombe of Altus, winemaker, Post Winery;

Keith Moore of Mulberry, owner, Do Moore Works LLC;

Lauren Robinson of Cecil, accountant, Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative;

Paula Shaw of Ozark, item processing manager, Bank of the Ozarks;

Tonya Sneed of Charleston, administrative assistant/project coordinator, City of Charleston;

Ray Spruell of Ozark, chief public defender, Sebastian County Public Defender’s Office;

Jan Stacy of Altus, legal assistant, Capp Law Firm;

Rachel Whitman of Paris, assistant manager of Fiscal Affairs, Arkansas Tech-Ozark;

Gina Wilkins of Lamar, Clarksville-Johnson County Chamber of Commerce director.

“Last year’s inaugural class was a tremendous success and laid the groundwork for this year’s class, which promises to increase awareness of local issues and develop a valuable communications network within the county,” Gage said. “Also, it will strengthen the participants’ personal leadership skills and prepare them for other leadership opportunities.” 

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced Tuesday (Aug. 20) that former owners of an adoption agency found guilty of defrauding Arkansas consumers have been ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution and penalties and to never do business in Arkansas again.
 
McDaniel sued Adoption Advantage Inc., a defunct Little Rock adoption agency, in 2010, accusing the company of making false promises related to the company’s ability to place a child with prospective parents. All the while, the company and owners Ed Webb and Donna Gail Hight were raking in thousands of dollars in upfront fees collected through their deception.

“Many Arkansas families who earnestly wished to adopt were left with despair and heartbreak after dealing with the defendants,” McDaniel said. “Some consumers gave their life savings to this company to adopt a child. Instead, these callous individuals stole their hopes, dreams and their money.”

A Pulaski County jury in April unanimously found that Hight and former Adoption Advantage employee Jacklyn Potter had violated the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Previously, the court had entered a default judgment against Webb and Adoption Advantage.

In his order issued today, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Mackie Pierce described the defendants’ actions as “simply horrific.” He added that “words cannot adequately describe the despicable conduct,” of the defendants.

Adoption Advantage claimed to specialize in domestic infant adoptions. The company lied to prospective parents about the availability of birth mothers seeking adoptive parents for their infants. Prospective parents were asked to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees. Couples were asked to sign a contract and wire money to be able to “immediately” adopt a child.
 
Pierce ordered the defendants to pay a total of $850,749 in restitution to affected consumers. He assessed civil penalties of $370,000 to Adoption Advantage, Webb and Hight for 37 violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Potter was ordered to pay $2,000 in civil penalties.
 
The State was awarded $33,577 in fees and costs.
 
The order permanently prohibits the defendants from operating an adoption service in or from Arkansas regardless of the location of the prospective parents. It also prohibits the defendants from offering to facilitate adoptions for Arkansas residents even if the defendants choose to operate from outside Arkansas.

Oklahoma officials have reported the state's first case this year of West Nile Virus and one local county is now urging residents to exercise caution.

The LeFlore County Health Department is urging residents to take the extra precautions due to a reported case in Oklahoma County, in the central part of the state.

"We want to remind everyone to use insect repellent when outdoors and mosquito-proof their home and yard," said LeFlore County Health Department Administrative Director William Pierson in a press release.

According to the LeFlore County Health Department, there were 176 cases of West Nile confirmed last year in the state of Oklahoma, resulting in 15 deaths. The ages of those infected ranged from 1 to 93 years old, they said.

"Anyone can be bitten by a mosquito and acquire WNV," Pierson said. "Although we cannot predict the severity of this year's WNV season, it is important for everyone to know the highest risk months in Oklahoma for WNV exposure occur from July through October. We urge everyone to protect themselves now against mosquito bites."

He said repellents with DEET should be applied to exposed skin when outdoors. Additionally, broken window and door screens should be repaired to keep mosquitos out of homes while items such as buckets, pool covers and other items that hold water should be placed in areas where they will not collect standing water and breed mosquitoes. Re-filling water bowls for pets and cleaning out rain gutters are encouraged, as well.

The disease is spread by mosquitos who have bitten infected birds and then go on to bite humans and other mammals, spreading the disease, according to the health department. Symptoms of West Nile include fever, headache, dizziness and muscle weakness. Other, more serious symptoms, can develop and should be treated by a doctor if symptoms worsen following a mosquito bite within the previous two weeks. Individuals over the age of 50 are at greatest risk of contracting the virus.

Gov. Mike Beebe on Tuesday (Aug. 20) announced the following appointments to boards and commissions:

Tonya Alexander, West Memphis, reappointed to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2018.

Tommie Anthony, Conway, to the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children. Appointment expires June 20, 2016. Replaces Lynn Parker.

Lillian Arnold, Pine Bluff, reappointed to the Home Health Care Service Agency Advisory Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

The Honorable Sammy Barr, Berryville, reappointed to the Arkansas Public Defender Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2018.

Troy Buck, Alpine, to the State Plant Board. Appointment expires Aug. 15, 2015. This is a new position.

Lonnie Burrow, North Little Rock, reappointed to the Board of Dispensing Opticians. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Jon Carroll, Moro, reappointed to the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2015.

George Chlebak, Batesville, to the Arkansas Art Advisory Council. Appointment expires June 30, 2017. Replaces Bob Pest.

Terry Coberly, Fayetteville, reappointed to the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. Appointment expires July 1, 2017.

The Honorable Vicki Cook, Hot Springs, reappointed to the Arkansas Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2015.

Dr. Jackson Cothren, Fayetteville, reappointed to the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board. Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2017.

Alex Coulter, West Memphis, reappointed to the Mid-South Community College Board of Trustees. Appointment expires July 1, 2019.

Damon Daniels, Arkadelphia, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Registration for Foresters. Appointment expires July 18, 2018.

Marlin Freeman, Benton, reappointed to the Arkansas Board of Hearing Instrument Dispensers. Appointment expires July 31, 2016.

Scott Freyaldenhoven, Conway, reappointed to the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Licensing Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2017.

Becky Hall, Ed.D., Marvell, to the Arkansas Board of Health Education. Appointment expires July 31, 2014. Replaces Antonio Abad.

Ann Henry, Fayetteville, to the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission. Appointment expires March 29, 2017. Replaces Dana Samples.

Dr. Charles Henry, Little Rock, reappointed to the Board of Dispensing Opticians. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Julie McQuade Heyes, Fayetteville, to the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission. Appointment expires July 14, 2019. Replaces Randy Frazier.

Nadine Jamison, Paragould, to the Greene County Quorum Court for District 2. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2014. Replaces Joey Becerra.

Ben Johnson, El Dorado, reappointed to the State Review Committee for Historic Preservation. Appointment expires June 30, 2017.

George "Tommy" Lalman, Palestine, to the State Plant Board. Appointment expires Aug. 15, 2015. This is a new position.

Avis Lane, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Child Abuse, Rape and Domestic Violence Commission. Appointment expires July 1, 2015.

Dr. Margaret McMillan, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board. Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2017.

Lauren Marquette, Fayetteville, to the Social Work Licensing Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2015. Replaces Tealisa Allen.

Florence Marvin, Little Rock, to the Home Health Care Service Agency Advisory Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016. Replaces James Smalley.

Milton Nicks, Jr., Marion, to the Mid-South Community College Board of Trustees. Appointment expires July 1, 2019. Replaces Marvin Steele, Sr.

Fred Oaks, Quitman, reappointed to the Board of Dispensing Opticians. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Carl "Dwayne" Plumlee, Salem, reappointed to the Arkansas Abstractors Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2019.

Carrie Poston, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Board of Health Education. Appointment expires July 31, 2016.

Ann Purvis, Little Rock, to the Health Information Exchange Council. Appointee serves at the will of the governor. Replaces Paul Halverson.

Johnnie Roebuck, Arkadelphia, reappointed to the Southern Regional Education Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2017.

Alison Rose, Maumelle, reappointed to the Arkansas Board of Health Education. Appointment expires July 31, 2016.

Brenda Simpson, Pearcy, to the Arkansas Veterans' Commission. Appointment expires October 15, 2016. Replaces Austin Hanner.

Dr. Laura Smith-Olinde, Little Rock, to the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Appointment expires June 30, 2016. Replaces Kimberly Watson.

Barbara Thexton, Hot Springs, reappointed to the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Linda Thompson, Star City, to the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children. Appointment expires June 20, 2016. Replaces Susan Bryant.

Regina Walker, Mena, reappointed to the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. Appointment expires July 1, 2017.

Darin Walton, Trumann, reappointed to the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Appointment expires June 30, 2016.

Amy Whitehead, Conway, to the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Board. Appointment expires Aug. 1, 2017. Replaces Dr. Robert Kissell.

James "Richard" Williford, West Memphis, to the Mid-South Community College Board of Trustees. Appointment expires July 1, 2019. Replaces Phillip Neri.

Greg Wood, Mountain Home, to the Home Health Care Service Agency Advisory Board. Appointment expires June 30, 2016. Replaces Phil Thompson.

To the Arkansas Athletic Commission:
L.M. Duncan, Bono.
Robert Johnson, Horseshoe Bend.
Lydia Robertson, Little Rock.
Carroll Wayne Womack, Cabot.

These reappointments expire July 15, 2015.

To the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission:
Evelyn Bass, Little Rock.
Ava Coleman, Jacksonville. Appointment expires July 1, 2015. Replaces Jeff Maneth.
Dr. Glenda Ezell, Magazine. New position.
Nickie Hammontree, Mountain Home.
Jody Veit-Edrington, Little Rock.

These are reappointments expiring July 1, 2016, unless otherwise noted.

To the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board:
John Freeman, Dumas. Replaces Thad Freeland.
Donald Morton, Jr., Des Arc. Replaces Robert Watkins.
Gary Sitzer, Weiner. Reappointment.
Rusty Smith, Des Arc. Reappointment.
Joe Thrash, Conway. Replaces Todd Allen.

These appointments expire June 30, 2015.

To the Governor’s Trauma Advisory Council:
Terry Collins, Little Rock.
Dr. Clinton Evans, Roland.
Ranzy "R.T." Fendley, Little Rock.
Thomas Jenkins, Rogers. Replaces Robert Williams.
Dr. Charles Mabry, Pine Bluff.
Dr. Barry Pierce, Mountain View.
Jon Wilkerson, Center Ridge.

Unless otherwise noted, these are reappointments and expire July 1, 2015.

• Target gives cautious forecast, lighter profits
Another big box discounter warned of cautious consumer spending on Wednesday (Aug. 22) as the retailer’s second quarter profits narrowly beat estimates, while overall Target sales fell a little short of expectations.

Target earned $611 million, or 95 cents per share, in the fiscal second quarter ended August 3. Profits were down from $704 million, or $1.06 per share, a year earlier. Including the effects from opening Canadian stores but excluding other items, Target earned 97 cents per share, one penny more than analysts expected.

Second-quarter sales rose 4% to $17.12 billion, missing the analysts' forecast of $17.26 billion. Same-store sales rose 1.2%, below analysts' estimate of a 2.1% increase and its own forecast of a 2% to 3% gain.

Target said it doesn't see a meaningful pickup in same-store sales in the U.S. the rest of this year. The retailer gave a 1% forecast down from the 2% to 2.5% prior estimates.

Executives note the payroll tax increase is still a factor and the "crowding out" effect of a strong automobile and industry is in play.

Consumers who have purchased large ticket items such as automobiles in recent months are likely spending less on other discretionary goods. The retailer said food and healthcare sales were strong in the quarter, while women’s apparel was sluggish.

Things to watch at Target include:
• Same-day pickup of online orders which is coming in the third quarter;

• Lower weekly pricing in an effort to drive traffic, which was lighter in the recent quarter; and

• Losses in Canadian operations through the rest of this year, amid fluctuating margins.

• Amazon to sell magazine subscriptions

Amazon continues to blur the lines between retailer and publisher signing a deal with Condé Nast that will allow consumers to buy and renew print and digital magazine subscriptions on the Amazon site.



Not all brands will be immediately available but the deal does include: Vogue, Glamour, Bon Appétit, Lucky, Golf Digest, Vanity Fair and Wired to start with.

Other titles like The New Yorker, Allure and GQ, are expected to be brought on later in the year, the company said.

• J.Crew pins catalog

Multichannel apparel retailer J. Crew Group Inc. said it recently debuted its September catalog on Pinterest for the first time, using social media to connect with is loyal consumer base.


The pins feature images, not pages, from the catalog on the social network.


The items were posted a few days prior to the Aug. 22 availability date. But the retailer did allow consumers to pre-order.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art has recently hired two new staff members, Emily Ironside and Bill Lyle.

Emily Ironside joined Crystal Bridges’ advancement team on August 1 as the membership program manager. 

At Crystal Bridges, Ironside will oversee all aspects of the museum’s membership program, including recruitment and member services.  

“It’s certain that the museum’s membership program will continue to thrive under Emily’s capable leadership,” said Jill Wagar, Director of Advancement. “Her graceful ability to strategically engage individuals at Crystal Bridges will enrich members’ experiences.”  



No stranger to the arts in Northwest Arkansas, Ironside comes to Crystal Bridges from Walton Arts Center, where she served as the annual giving manager for two years. 

She also worked previously at the University of Arkansas, Wal-Mart, and YMCA and holds a master’s degree in communication from the UA.

Ironside serves on the boards of NWA Mercy Family YMCA, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and Life Styles Inc. as a member of the Art Advisory Council.

Bill Lyle also joined Crystal Bridges as the new executive chef of Eleven, the museum restaurant. 

Chef Lyle has been part of the Northwest Arkansas food community in Fayetteville for several years, not only through his work as executive chef at Ella’s Restaurant on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Lyle also has the annual Winemaker’s Dinner at Walton Arts Center’s Art of Wine Festival and previously served as sous chef at Bordino’s restaurant in downtown Fayetteville.


“Chef Lyle’s dynamic, yet accessible style of cuisine promises to be a perfect fit for Eleven’s mantra of modern American comfort food,” said Crystal Bridges’ Director of Culinary Services Case Dighero.

Summit Medical Center has announced that Tinika Osborne has been hired as a new physical therapist.

Osborne, PT, DPT, RYT, is now caring for patients in the inpatient and outpatient settings. This means two full time physical therapists and a physical therapy assistant are now available to provide Crawford County patients with the individualized experience they deserve.

Osborne has nearly 10 years of experience helping rehabilitate patients.  She earned her doctorate in physical therapy from Shenandoah University in Winchester, Va., and her Bachelor of Science degree from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va.

The Summit physical therapy staff provides care for patients of all ages, from pediatric to geriatric. Services available include back and neck rehabilitation, post-surgical rehab, sports and orthopedic rehab, neurological rehab, industrial rehab and a wide range of modalities. Patients must be referred to receive outpatient treatment by a licensed healthcare provider.  

Summit Medical Center is a fully accredited, 103-bed acute care hospital based in Van Buren.

Sparks Health System has added a new computed tomography (CT) scanner for use in the Sparks Medical Plaza.

The General Electric Bright Speed 16-slice scanner is the same model in use at Sparks Regional Medical Center. This means Sparks Clinic patients in need of diagnostic imaging may have their scans performed right at the Plaza, located at 1500 Dodson Ave., without having to travel to the hospital. 

The Plaza CT scanner is also equipped with Adaptive Statistical Iterative Reconstruction technology, which allows for an up to 75% reduction of radiation dose in the patient without compromising image quality or resolution. IQ Enhancement software enables the Bright Speed device to perform scans at a speed equal to 50-slice scanners.

This particular scanning system is designed with patient comfort in mind. The scanner’s low table height allows patients easier access to the device and its faster speed mean patients spend less time being scanned.

The new CT allows the Plaza’s Medical Imaging department to perform a wide variety of patient scans, including specialized orthopedic and sinus scans, and some angiography studies.

Sparks Health System includes Sparks Regional Medical Center, Sparks Clinic (an employed multi-specialty physician group), Sparks Home Health, Sparks PremierCare physician-hospital organization, and the fully hospital-integrated Marvin Altman Fitness Center. Summit Medical Center in Van Buren, Ark., is a sister facility of Sparks Health System. 

Tyson Foods continues to grow its value-added, higher margin sales making strategic investments into various facilities across the country.

The latest of those deals is a $5.3 million expansion to its Mexican Original facility in Portland, Ind.

This subsidiary makes tortillas, taco, chips and flatbreads for the restaurant industry.


This is the second major expansion for the Mexican Original business this year as the company purchased Don Julio Foods in February.



Wall Street continues to shine on Tyson Foods with shares trading near its 52-week highs. Shares closed Wednesday (Aug. 21) at $31.53, down 30 cents.

Fayetteville-based Clark Partners Realty Group has hired Alex McGowen as a tenant representative to manage all rental/lease inquiries.

McGowen is a business major at the Walton Honors College and earned his real estate license in 2013. He also co-founded the Razorback Hope Chest charity and serves as Vice-President. Alex can be contacted at 479-236-6002.
 
"Alex’s position fills an important void missing in our college town and throughout the region,” said Anthony Clark, lead agent. “Having a professional willing to take on the daunting job of helping you find the perfect rental property in a quick-moving market is something few other companies offer in Northwest Arkansas.”
 
Clark Partners Realty Group is a real estate group within Bassett Mix & Associates Inc. Clark Partners is based in Fayetteville but serves all of Northwest Arkansas.

Arkansas is widely known as a poultry producing state but one of the nation’s largest chicken company’s continues to move its business elsewhere.

Pilgrim’s Pride, based in Greeley, Colo., announced plans to close a processing plant in Batesville in the next 60 days as employees received their WARN letters this week as required by the federal Worker Adjustment and Restraining Act.

The plant closure will impact 470 workers.

The poultry company has been streamlining operations for several years to rein in excess capacity in older, commodity-oriented facilities, as the chicken industry pursues higher margin products.

Last week Pilgrims said it was also closing a rendering facility in El Dorado, and shifting those operations to a plant in east Texas. That closure eliminate 29 jobs.

Ozark Mountain Poultry-based in Rogers is reportedly pursing the Pilgrim’s facility in Batesville. This firm is a further processor and does not own its own grow out operations. OMP performs deboning operations and employs 600 workers in Springdale and Rogers.

Arkansas Tech University will move forward with plans to construct a new $16.5 million academic, student support and administrative facility on its main campus in Russellville following action by the Tech Board of Trustees on Thursday (Aug. 22).

Trustees gave their permission for the creation of full construction drawings and the submission of a bond feasibility study to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education Coordinating Board to issue revenue bonds not to exceed $5.5 million to provide part of the funding for the project.

The remaining dollars needed to build the facility will come from Arkansas Tech physical plant funds ($7.1 million), general improvement funds from the Arkansas Legislature ($3.4 million) and general improvement funds from the office of Gov. Mike Beebe ($1 million).

“This project would not have been possible without the general improvement funds that were made available by Gov. Mike Beebe and through the legislative efforts of Sen. Michael Lamoureux,” Arkansas Tech President Dr. Robert Brown said in a statement. “We are indebted to both of those individuals.”

The new academic, student support and administrative facility will be located on the parcel of land previously occupied by Bryan Hall, which was demolished earlier this summer.

Once complete, the new 66,900-square foot facility will house the following operating areas: admissions on the first floor; financial aid, student accounts and the student identification card office on the second floor; registrar, Upward Bound and Student Support Services --- a pair of federally-funded programs that provide students with barriers to higher education resources to achieve their academic objectives --- on the third floor; and payroll, budget and human resources on the fourth floor.

In addition, the Arkansas Tech Graduate College and eTech – which oversees the institutional initiatives in online learning – will have a presence on the first floor of the building. There will be classrooms and conference rooms on all four floors of the facility.

David Moseley, senior vice president for administration and finance at Arkansas Tech, told trustees that construction could begin as soon as the spring 2014 semester and that it will take approximately two years to construct the facility.

The Trustees on Thursday also approved the following new, full-time faculty appointments at Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus for the 2013-14 academic year:
• Candace Harkreader, clinical coordinator and cardiovascular technology instructor;
• John Harris, instructor in criminal justice at the Arkansas Tech Career Center;
• Brenda Huntsinger, health information technology instructor;
• Wendi Pool, program chair in occupational therapy assistant;
• Charles Trusty, instructor in drafting, engineering and architecture at the Arkansas Tech Career Center; and
• Dr. Sarah White, science instructor.

John Brown University recently opened its new CARE Clinic, a counseling facility located on the Siloam Springs campus.

The clinic features facilities designed to utilize play therapy, a form of psychotherapy which helps children process complex emotions through playing.

JBU is the first university in Arkansas to provide a certificate in play therapy through the graduate counseling program.

“The new facilities will focus on state of the art training in play therapy techniques for any licensed clinician interested in becoming a registered play therapist,” said Dr. John Carmack, program director for graduate counseling and professor of marriage and family therapy. “Currently, the closest like facilities are in Denton, Texas and in Kansas City.”

The building’s five play therapy suites are located in The Tucker Hill Play Therapy Wing, named in honor of the late grandson of Dr. John Carmack.

“The new play therapy CARE Clinic demonstrates John Brown University’s strong commitment to providing high quality training and to better serving the mental health needs of our communities through the use of play therapy,” said Dr. Charles Romig, professor of counselor education, licensed marriage and family therapist and registered play therapist.


The CARE Clinic is a counseling center with locations in Northwest Arkansas and Fort Smith that offers affordable counseling to anyone in the community. The clinic allows JBU's graduate counseling students to gain experience through training and supervision.

More information can be found at www.jbu.edu/careclinic/
 

Mercy recently named Clark Ellison as regional vice president of philanthropy for its south central communities. In his new role, Ellison will continue to lead Mercy Health Foundation Northwest Arkansas, while also overseeing Mercy Health Foundation Fort Smith.

Having begun his career with Mercy in 1998, Ellison has many notable accomplishments as vice president and chief development officer for Mercy NWA, including Mercy Hospital in Rogers, that was funded by a $42 million capital campaign.


During his 16 years at Mercy, Ellison has championed multiple fundraising initiatives in order to advance the work and spirit of Mercy in the community.

“As a nonprofit organization, donor support and true partnership is how we successfully bring health care excellence to the community,” said Patricia Arnold, Mercy’s philanthropy vice president. “Clark is gifted at this. His personable approach in building meaningful relationships, along with his strong leadership and management skills, will be added benefits to strengthening our south central communities’ philanthropic efforts.”

As regional vice president, Ellison will be responsible for developing and enhancing philanthropy programs, increasing support, strengthening donor, member and volunteer relations, and building visibility with stakeholders, corporations, foundations and the public. 

He will collaborate with fellow regional vice presidents and Mercy’s philanthropy team, as well as hospital presidents, physicians and volunteer leaders throughout the region to enhance awareness of the foundations.

In addition to Ellison’s fundraising capabilities, he assisted Mercy Health Foundation Joplin with co-worker and community relief and special projects after the May 2011 tornado.  
 

Arvest Bank and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are working together to kick off  a "1 Million Meals" campaign to help feed those who are hungry.


In September, Arvest Bank will launch its annual campaign, a two-month effort to collect donations to provide more than 1 million meals to partnering food banks in the 90 communities Arvest operates in across Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.


To help Arvest Bank reach that goal and get the campaign started, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals are offering free Naturals’ game tickets to anyone who donates either $5 or 10 individual food items at the main gate of Arvest Ballpark before the 2013 Naturals’ home games between Aug. 26 - 29.



Residents wanting to take part should bring $5 or 10 non-perishable food items to the ballpark gates between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. and exchange them for a ticket for than evening’s game.