Gov. Mary Fallin was won a second term leading the state of Oklahoma. Fallin, the first female governor in the state's history, defeated Democrat Joe Dorman by a total of 55.4% to 41.4%. Independents Kimberly Willis and Richard Prawdzienski received 2.1% and 1.1% respectively.

In the race to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, Republican U.S. Rep. James Lankford of Edmond was elected over Democrat Connie Johnson. Lankford received 67.7% to Johnson's 29%. Lankford will have to seek re-election to his seat in 2016, when he will be up for a full six year term.

Also on the ballot in Oklahoma was U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, a Tulsa Republican who defeated Democrat Matt Silverstein 68.1% to 28.4%. Inhofe is entering his fourth term in the Senate.

Other races of interest include the race for state superintendent of public education, where Republican Janet Barresi came in last in a three-way primary in August. The winner of that primary, Joy Hofmeister, received 54.8% of the vote to Democrat John Cox's 45.2%.

Republican Lt. Gov. Todd Lamb won re-election with 68.4% of the vote to Democrat Cathy Cummings' 31.6%, while Republican Commissioner of Labor Mark Costello won hie election with 62% of the vote to Democrat Mike Workman's 38%.

In the race for U.S. House of Representatives, Markwayne Mullin easily won re-election with 70% of the vote to 24.6% for Democrat Earl Everett and 5.4% for Independent John Douthitt. Everett died Sunday (Nov. 2) after being involved in a traffic accident last week. There has been talk that Democrats in the state may seek a special election even though Everett was not expected to win the seat. Republicans have publicly balked at the notion of holding a special election, which would have to be set by Fallin. She has not indicated whether she intends to call a special election.

Local philanthropist Denise Garner is being honored by Cottey College for her leadership and advocacy toward reducing poverty. Garner will receive the “Women Going Places” award on Nov. 13 at a special presentation at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers. Cottey President Dr. Judy Rogers will make the presentation. 

“This award recognizes outstanding individuals or organizations that exemplify women’s scholarship, leadership or citizenship.  Denise Garner is one of Arkansas’ most active philanthropists. She is the founder and chair of the board of directors for Feed Communities, has supported women in many significant ways and has led the NW Arkansas area in providing supporting and expanding local food systems as a means of providing durable solutions to food insecurity,” Rogers said. 

“We are excited to honor Denise Garner for her contribution to social change, her ongoing support of organizations to address poverty, human rights and mental health issues and her ability to make a difference in her community.”

Cottey College is an independent, liberal arts and sciences women's college in Nevada, Mo.

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores has reportedly assigned Scott Price as its next CEO and president of Asia, after the brief stint served by Greg Foran who recently took the helm of the retailer’s U.S. business at the urging of Wal-Mart Stores CEO Doug McMillon.

Price moved to Bentonville in June to oversee international strategy after managing the business in China for nine years. Now he will also resume management of the retailer’s Asia business and do it from his Bentonville office. This add to his international strategist role.

McMillon said recently that he managed Walmart International from his home base in Bentonville and there are benefits to that come with such a close connection to retailers’s hub. 

David Cheesewright, CEO of Walmart International, also offices out of Bentonville, while he still maintains a home abroad.

The centralized management strategy being used by Wal-Mart is not a surprise to analysts who say it can foster more collaboration opportunities among the top leaders.

The five-year experiment of Wal-Mart’s Supermercado in the Houston suburb of Spring, Texas, is history. The 39,000 square-foot grocery supermarket was Wal-Mart’s first Latino-oriented store in the U.S.

There were two of these large Latino supermarkets in the retailer’s U.S. fleet. The Phoenix location, which also opened in 2009, was shuttered two years ago.

Wal-Mart quietly closed the Texas store last week (Nov. 6) roughly nine months after Sam’s Club shuttered its experimental Mas Club, also a Latino marketplace which was located in the Houston metro area.

Gov. Mike Beebe on Monday (Nov. 10) announced the following appointments to State boards and commissions:

Robert “Steve” Balloun, Dardanelle, to the Arkansas Agriculture Board. Appointment expires Aug. 15, 2017. Replaces Steve Stephan.

Dr. Marian Barr, West Memphis, to the Mid-South Community College Board of Trustees. Appointment expires July 1, 2019. Replaces Milton Nicks, Jr.

Lawrence Bearden, Smackover, reappointed to the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board. Appointment expires Aug. 10, 2017.

Forest Boles, Little Rock, to the Arkansas Scenic Resources Preservation Coordinating Committee. Appointment expires Oct. 1, 2018. Replaces Evan Tanner.

Dewayne Chappell, Des Arc, to the Arkansas Agriculture Board. Appointment expires Aug. 15, 2016. Replaces Bill Elliott, Jr.

Shane Dallas, Caldwell, reappointed to the Fire Protection Services Board. Appointment expires Oct. 14, 2017.

Robert Goff, Vilonia, reappointed to the Arkansas State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers. Appointment expires Nov. 1, 2018.

Craig Griffin, El Dorado, to the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board. Appointment expires Aug. 10, 2018. Replaces Steve McGuire.

Rhonda Jackson, Little Rock, to the Health Information Exchange Council. Appointee serves at the will of the governor. Replaces David Miller.

Jim Luker, Wynne, to the DHS State Institutional System. Appointment expires June 30, 2019. Replaces Dr. Don Purcell.

Dr. Michael “Brad” Mayfield, Lake Village, to the Arkansas Tobacco Control Board. Appointment expires July 1, 2019. Replaces Dr. Tommy Wagner.

Lisa Miller, Bryant, to the Auctioneers Licensing Board. Appointment expires April 15, 2016. Replaces Edye White.

Johnette Parham, North Little Rock, reappointed to the Long Term Care Facility Advisory Board. Appointment expires Oct. 15, 2017.

Donald Prevallet, Blytheville, reappointed to the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority. Appointment expires Nov. 1, 2020.

Edward Regenold II, Armorel, reappointed to the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority. Appointment expires Nov. 1, 2020.

Dr. Clinton Roaf, Pine Bluff, to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission. Appointment expires Sept. 1, 2018. Replaces Dr. Carolyn Blakely.

Dr. Scott Simmons, Little Rock, reappointed to the Long Term Care Facility Advisory Board. Appointment expires Oct. 15, 2017.

Garry Smith, Camden, to the Arkansas Workforce Investment Board. Appointment expires Aug. 10, 2018. This is an open position.

Forrest Spicher II, Hot Springs, to the National Park Community College Board of Trustees. Appointment expires Dec. 31, 2018. Replaces Mahlon Grigsby.

Dwight Stroud, Little Rock, to the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities. Appointment expires June 1, 2017. Replaces Bryan Purifoy.

Jeffrey Tabor, Little Rock, to the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. Appointment expires July 1, 2017. Replaces Garry Odom.

Randall Tate, Jonesboro, to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Appointment expires Sept. 1, 2019. Replaces Helen Holloway.

Sarah Thomas, Maumelle, to the Governor’s Commission on People with Disabilities. Appointment expires June 1, 2016. Replaces Maureen Strobel.

Penny Thomason, Hope, to the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion Commission. Appointment expires April 1, 2018. Replaces Charlene Reed.

Samern Turner, Little Rock, to the Arkansas State Board of Massage Therapy. Appointment expires Aug. 20, 2015. Replaces Susie Williams.

Jared Varner, North Little Rock, to the Governor’s Commission on people with disabilities. Appointment expires June 1, 2017. Replaces Christopher Fears.

Norman Walker, Lonoke, reappointed to the Arkansas Manufactured Home Commission. Appointment expires Sept. 1, 2018.

Elana Wills, Little Rock, reappointed to the Arkansas Public Service Commission. Appointment expires Jan. 14, 2019.

To the Arkansas Coalition for Juvenile Justice:
Jazzmine Allen, Little Rock.
Haley Burks, Little Rock.
Mieshia Moore, Blytheville.
Lillie Peterson. Appointment expires Aug. 15, 2015. Replaces Jeronica Anderson.
Regina Taylor, Little Rock.

Unless otherwise noted, these are new positions and expire Aug. 15, 2017.

To the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness:
Bruce Alt, Little Rock. Replaces Dawn Scott Jones.
Eric Boles, Fayetteville. Replaces Nora Osborne.
Maurice “Mo” Elliott, Fayetteville. Replaces Memory Frazer.
Scott Gann, Sherwood. Replaces Hector Mendoza.
Stacey Hall, Little Rock. Replaces Allison Young.
Maggie Holt, Hot Springs. New Position.
Cody Slater, Little Rock. Replaces Sara Hunt.

These appointees serve at the will of the governor.

Former Sebastian County Circuit Clerk Ken Blevins failed to score a win in a lawsuit filed last year against County Judge David Hudson after a judge ruled in favor of Hudson. Sebastian County and the Association of Arkansas Counties were also named defendants in the suit. 

In the complaint filed on July 24, 2013, Blevins claimed that the county's former grievance policy, which included a hearing before a grievance board, was illegal and used to undermine his bid for re-election following the accusations of six employees that Blevins sexually harassed them in the workplace. Two of the employees were terminated by Blevins on Nov. 16, 2011, though the employees were eventually reinstated following grievance hearings with the county.

"The illegal grievance processes supervised by the Defendant, Hudson, as well as the Motion to Enforce the County Court Order of Hudson, were all used to undermine public confidence in the Plaintiff and to replace the Plaintiff in his duly-elected position, either by recall or in an election," the complaint read.

The grievance board Blevins refers to in the lawsuit is no longer in use by the county. Instead, the county implemented a new policy in June 2013 that states terminated employees may submit grievances directly to the director of human resources, Steve Hotz.

In his Oct. 30 ruling, Circuit Judge Kirk D. Johnson of the Eighth Judicial District said Blevins failed to make the case against Hudson and the County.

In siding with Hudson, Johnson noted irregularities in the filings of Blevins and the inability to prove that Hudson was personally liable for alleged damages against Blevins.

"The Plaintiff has alleged in the heading that the Defendant, David Hudson, is individually liable for the acts alleged in the complaint. However, in the body of the complaint the Plaintiff apparently abandons the intent to pursue this cause of action by stating in paragraph 7 that 'all actions of the Defendant, Hudson, were committed in his official capacity as county judge of Sebastian County.' Since no allegations nor factual basis for liability were made against the Defendant in his individual capacity, the county finds that the Plaintiff has failed to allege a cause of action and the suit against the Defendant, David Hudson, individually should be dismissed."

In addition to dismissing Hudson from the lawsuit, Johnson also said Blevins failed to "show any facts to establish malice by Sebastian county through its policies or intentional acts of the Defendant, David Hudson."

A video (see below) that showcases the development of the Razorback Regional Greenway in Northwest Arkansas has received a top transportation award.
 
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recognized the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department with the grand prize for entering the best video in the Professional Production category of the “Faces of Transportation” competition.

The Walton Family Foundation, Alta/Greenways, and the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission worked with Ozark Film and Video of Springdale, Ark., to produce the video, which provides information about the trail system and how it came to be developed.
 
The Razorback Regional Greenway is scheduled for completion in early 2015.  When finished, the paved, shared-use trail will cover 36 miles and connect six cities, three hospitals, 23 schools, the University of Arkansas campus, shopping and dining venues, and other popular destinations.

The Razorback Regional Greenway, a partnership of public and private funds, serves as an example of coordinated planning across many cities to the benefit of the entire region.

Full build-out of the Greenway is expected to cost approximately $38 million with majority of necessary funds already pledged from two different grant sources: a federal transportation grant and a matching grant and gift from the Walton Family Foundation, according to the NWA Trails website.

Revenue slid but profits improved for Little Rock-based retailer Dillard’s. The mall and internet retailer posted profits of $55.2 million on quarterly sales of $1.499 billion in its most recent quarter.

One year ago, Dillard’s posted net income of $50.9 million on revenue of $1.507 billion. Same-store sales declined one percent for Dillard’s.

Dillard’s third quarter profits were boosted by a net after-tax credit of $3.8 million related to the sale of a store location.

The company also completed a share repurchase program, spending $224.5 million for approximately 2 million shares of Class A Common Stock at an average price of $109.89 per share.

Other financial highlights for the quarter included:
• Gross margin from retail operations (which excludes CDI) improved 69 basis points of sales for the 13 weeks ended Nov. 1, 2014 compared to the prior year third quarter. The improvement resulted primarily from increased markups combined with decreased markdowns.

• Consolidated gross margin for the 13 weeks ended Nov. 1, 2014 improved 50 basis points of sales compared to the prior year third quarter.

• Inventory remained unchanged on a percentage basis at Nov. 1, 2014 compared to Nov. 2, 2013.

“Returning cash to shareholders was a high priority during the quarter, and we completed the remaining $224.5 million of share repurchase authorization. Although comparable sales declined 1%, we were pleased with a 69 basis point merchandise gross margin improvement, with our inventory control and with our strong operating cash flow. We believe we are positioned very well for the holiday season, and we look forward to providing premium Dillard’s service to our customers,” said Dillard’s CEO Bill Dillard.

Dillard’s shares (NYSE: DDS) closed trading on Wednesday at $105.43 and were trading nearly 4% higher in pre-market activity. During the past year, the company’s stock has traded between $82.75 and $125.17 per share.

Mercy announced its first family clinic in Washington County with the new alliance of Dr. Lawrence Schemel, and the Northwest Arkansas Clinic for Families in Springdale. The health care partnership marries the patient care of Schemel and his team with Mercy’s resources and signifies further fulfillment of Mercy’s promise to increase access to health care in the NWA community.

“I knew I wanted to make this type of move with my practice and felt Mercy provides the strongest combination of primary care, specialty care, and hospital care in Northwest Arkansas,” Schemel said. “I am proud to join them and know the patients and families who have relied on me for their health advice will benefit from this new association.”  

Dr. Steve Goss, Mercy Clinic president, recognizes the importance of Mercy forging relationships with providers like Dr. Schemel.

“We are seeing an increasing number of patients from Washington County accessing our hospital, emergency room, clinics, and specialists. We are thrilled that it is with Dr. Schemel that we are partnering to expand our services and footprint closer to home for these patients and their families.” Goss added, “Dr. Schemel has had a busy and vibrant practice for many years and is a natural fit for the Mercy family.”

The Springdale Clinic provides a broad range of primary care including well and sick child care, adult medicine, geriatric care and Federal Aviation Administration physicals. It’s the sixth clinic Mercy has opened or integrated within the past year. Mercy has also added 34 new providers, introduced the area’s first freestanding Emergency Department and launched a new mobile health unit.

Schemel’s clinic will remain in its current location at the corner of West Robinson and Pleasant.

Little Rock banker, attorney veteran and political confidante William H. “Bill” Bowen has passed away at the age of 91.

Bowen was known as one of the most powerful men in Arkansas through his business and political connections.

Born in Altheimer, Arkansas (Jefferson County), Bowen was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve. He earned his law degree from New York University and eventually practiced law in Little Rock with what is now the Friday, Eldredge and Clark law firm.

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock named its law school, the William H. Bowen School of Law, after him in 2000. He served as the law school’s dean in the 1990’s.
Bowen had a distinguished career in the banking arena, where he was lured away from his prestigious legal work. Bowen became president of Commercial National Bank and helped transform the financial institution into a major statewide operation known as First Commercial Bank. Eventually, the bank sold to Regions Corp.

Bowen was a 2008 inductee in the Arkansas Business Hall of Fame.

With a knack for remembering people instantly and his business influence, Bowen was also active in politics. His name was frequently mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candidate, but as an ally to then Governors Dale Bumpers, David Pryor and Bill Clinton, Bowen never seemed to have the opening.

When Clinton ran for President in 1991-92, Bowen served as his chief of staff and kept state government running on schedule despite Clinton’s lengthy travels out-of-state on the campaign trail. Bowen also served a short stint as an appointee to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel released a statement on Thursday morning saying, “With the death of William H. Bowen, Arkansas has lost a man who was without equal in Arkansas in terms of his success, kindness and commitment to public service. Bill will be missed, but his legacy will live on forever, and through that legacy, Arkansas will be a better place.”

McDaniel added, “When I met Bill Bowen, I was a first-year law student, and he was the dean of the law school that now bears his name. I was inspired simply to be in his presence. In the years that followed, I learned more about his accomplishments and service to his state and nation, and was honored to build a friendship with him. I am a proud graduate of the William H. Bowen School of Law, and I am even more proud to have been able to call Bill my friend.”

Bowen is survived by his wife, Connie, three children, and 12 grandchildren.

The Wallace W. and Jama M. Fowler House, the chancellor’s residence on the University of Arkansas campus, will soon be able to expand its capacity for hospitality thanks to an additional gift from its namesakes.

Wallace and Jama Fowler of Jonesboro have pledged $2.93 million for the second construction phase of the residence – the Fowler House Garden and Conservatory. The project is subject to approval by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees.

Completed in 2008, Fowler House not only serves as the primary residence for the University of Arkansas chancellor but also functions as a campus resource, used to host students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends in a variety of campus celebrations. Prior to its completion, the university lacked a suitable on-campus location for certain special events or for hosting dignitaries and heads of state.

In the last six years, Fowler House has become known as the “campus living room,” by allowing the university to further extend its hospitality in a comfortable and beautiful location designed to make guests feel especially welcome. Since its completion, the house has held more than 800 events, with more than 17,000 guests in attendance. Significant dignitaries have included former President Bill Clinton, former Panama President Ricardo Martinelli and several presidential cabinet members, U.S. senators and governors.

The Garden and Conservatory will be a separate structure designed to hold large seated dinners and receptions, meetings and other events and will have a seated dinner capacity of 120 people, as well as a 300-square-foot catering kitchen. Polk Stanley Wilcox is designing the proposed addition. A construction bid has not been awarded and a groundbreaking date has not been set, but is expected for fall 2015 with a projected completion of August 2016. In addition, funds will be used for the surrounding grounds to create a garden area for large events where more than 250 people could be seated under a tent for dinners or more than 500 could attend a tailgate or reception. The gift will also allow for flower beds, planting of trees and improvement of the general aesthetics of the space in front of the house facing Razorback Road.

The Fowlers have supported the University of Arkansas extensively over the years with their philanthropic efforts. In addition to their 2005 gift to construct Fowler House, they also made a $1 million gift in 2011 to name the Don and Ellen Edmondson Legacy Studio in Vol Walker Hall and recently gave $2.5 million for the Fowler Family Baseball and Track Training Center.

Sparks Health System in Fort Smith and Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville have been recognized as a “2013 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures” by The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading accreditor of health care organizations.

Washington Regional was recognized as part of The Joint Commission’s 2014 annual report, “America’s Hospitals: Improving Quality and Safety,” for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for: Heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, and surgical care.
 
Washington Regional is one of 1,224 hospitals in the United States, and one of 16 in Arkansas, to achieve the 2013 Top Performer distinction. The Top Performer program recognizes hospitals for improving performance on evidence-based interventions that increase the chances of healthy outcomes for patients with certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children’s asthma, stroke, venous thromboembolism and perinatal care, as well as for inpatient psychiatric services and immunizations.
 
This is the second time in three years Washington Regional has been recognized as a Top Performer. The hospital also was recognized as a Top Performer for 2010 for the heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care measure sets.

“We are honored to be recognized again by The Joint Commission as a Top Performer,” Bill Bradley, Washington Regional president and CEO, said in a statement. “This achievement reflects the dedication that our entire hospital staff has to providing patient-centered, evidence-based care.”

Sparks was recognized for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, and Surgical Care. Sparks is one of only 16 hospitals in the state named a Top Performer in 2013. Sparks is one of just 314 hospitals across the country to have achieved this accomplishment for three consecutive years.

“This honor means that our community can turn to Sparks with confidence, knowing that we strive to provide excellent care every day,” Dan McKay, CEO for Sparks Health System and Summit Medical Center, said in a statement. “Following evidence-based clinical protocols close to 100 percent of the time is not an easy goal to reach, but one that has been achieved through the dedication of our physicians, nurses and other caregivers.” 


Sparks was recognized for attaining and sustaining excellence in accountability measure performance for Heart Attack, Heart Failure, Pneumonia, and Surgical Care. Sparks is one of only 16 hospitals in the state named a Top Performer in 2013. Sparks is one of just 314 hospitals across the country to have achieved this accomplishment for three consecutive years.

To be a 2013 Top Performer, hospitals had to meet three performance criteria based on 2013 accountability measure data, including:
• Achieving cumulative performance of 95% or above across all reported accountability measures;

• Achieving performance of 95% or above on each and every reported accountability measure where there were at least 30 denominator cases; and

• Having at least one core measure set that had a composite rate of 95% or above, and (within that measure set) all applicable individual accountability measures had a performance rate of 95% or above.

President George W. Bush will be signing copies of his book: 41: A Portrait of My Father at the Walmart supercenter in Bentonville on Saturday (Nov. 15) beginning at 10 a.m.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan said customers wanting to secure a signed copy of the book must first buy the book at which time they will receive a wristband. Only those with wristbands will get the signed copies.

She said customers must get their wristbands prior to the signing on Saturday. The band will indicate the time customers need to be there for the signing.

Those with red bands need to line-up for the signing at 9.20 a.m., those with blue bands — the waitlist — are to line-up at 10 a.m.

Arvest Bank announced Thursday (Nov. 13) that it raised 1.806 million meals in its four-state “1 Million Meals” initiative launched two months ago.

The campaign total of 1,806,844 meals was made possible through donations from the bank, Arvest associates, customers and community members through fundraisers, events and nonperishable food drives in all Arvest branches throughout September and October. The bank noted that with Thanksgiving right around the corner, the success of the campaign comes just in time to help local food partners meet their increased need during the holiday season.

“Through the efforts of our associates, customers and members of our community, we are thrilled that Arvest was able to provide so many meals to our neighbors in need. Throughout the 1 Million Meals campaign we hope that our efforts increased hunger awareness in the Fort Smith/River Valley region,” Beth Presley, vice president and marketing director of Arvest Bank, said in a statement. “We will continue to fight hunger long after we’ve completed this year’s 1 Million Meals initiative by bringing people together to support those in need in our community. I am proud of our success and look forward to continuing to give back to our community.”

Locally, Arvest Bank of Fort Smith and River Valley Region partnered with Community Services Clearinghouse and Arkansas Rice Depot for the campaign.

These organizations received all local donations, and this year 138,014 total meals were provided in Fort Smith/the River Valley. All money and food items raised through this campaign directly benefitted 59 different organizations feeding local communities in four states – Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

The bank’s decision to provide one million meals was based on the fact that hunger is an issue in every community it serves. In 2012, one in six American households reported food hardship, or not having adequate funds to provide enough food for their family.

The Arkansas Agriculture Department will honor 54 family farms around the state that will reach the Century Farm milestone this year. There are three separate ceremonies this month in Clarksville, Little Rock and Newport to commemorate the accomplishments.

Among those farms tagged for the 100-year honor there are two located in Northwest Arkansas, two others located in neighboring Sebastian County with three eligible farms in Madison County. Each of the farms have been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years in 2014.

• The Wallis Family Farm in Benton County

• Carruth Farms of Sebastian County

• Fulgham Farm of Sebastian County

• Sugar Hill Ranch Farm of Washington County

• Fritts Watermill Farm of Madison County

• Fred A. Smith Farm of Madison County

• Spurlock Family Farm of Madison County

• Spriggs Farm of Boone County

• Possum Hollow Family Farm (PHFF) of Clark County

• Pippin Farm of Franklin County

• John K. Carter Farm of Johnson County

• Meek Farm of Johnson County
• Foster Farm of Yell County

To qualify for this Century Farm designation the family must have owned the same land — at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition. The farm also must make a financial contribution to the overall family income.The farm families listed above will be honored with a sign and a certificate at a ceremony Tuesday (Nov. 18) at the Rogers Conference Center at University of the Ozarks in Clarksville.

Farms being honored at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Arkansas Poultry Federation in Little Rock include:

• Bennett Farm of Arkansas County
• Frank Wolfe Farm  of Arkansas County
• Henderson Farm of Arkansas County
• Noble Family  Farm of Arkansas County
• Epstein Land Company of Chicot County
• Mary Martin Farm of Craighead County
• Jones Farm of Desha County
• McNew Charter Farm of Faulkner County
• E. T. Walton Farm of Lee County
• Chris Hallum Farm of Lonoke County
• Morris Farm of Lonoke  County
• Frances Walls Farm of Lonoke County
• Cox Homestead of Nevada County
• Fred Alston Farm of Polk County
• Robert Alston Farm of Polk County*
• Chudy Farm of Prairie County
• Greenwalt Company Farm of Prairie County
• St. Joseph Orphanage Farm of Pulaski County
• Breckenridge Farm of White County
• Heritage Ranch of White County


The 17 family farms being honored at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Jackson County Courthouse in Newport include:

• Travillian Farm of Clay County
• Osborn Family Farm of Craighead County
• Boeckmann Farm of Cross County
• Charles F. & Mary F. Hamrick Farm of Cross County
• Willett Farm of Fulton County*
• Cox Farm of Independence County
• Bowen Farm of Jackson County
• Coe Clover Farm of Jackson County
• Coe Farm of Jackson County
• Cox Farm of Independence County
• Hare Family Farm of Jackson County
• Charlie  Jones Farm of Lawrence County
• Dead Timberlake – Price Farm of Poinsett County
• Ellis Bell Farm of St. Francis County
• Jerald Burns Family of St. Francis County
• Larry Bennett Farm of White County
• The H. M Hamilton Family Farm of White County

Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Johnny Roscoe in the new director of the city of Fayetteville Aviation Division, and Charles Mark Whitaker was recently hired as Fayetteville’s building safety director.

As director of Fayetteville’s Aviation Division, Roscoe will manage the Fayetteville Executive Airport (Drake Field). The Fayetteville airport is an FAA Part 139 Class IV certified General Aviation Airport that supports commercial service passenger carrying aircraft on an unscheduled basis. The city assumed operation of the Fixed Based Operation (FBO) in March 2013. 
 
Roscoe has been involved with aviation operations at various levels throughout his career, including a staff assignment at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., where he oversaw foreign military sales programs and security cooperation efforts with Mid-East and African countries. He was an operations group commander and then a wing commander where he ran two of the largest Department of Defense airports in the world. he also has 20 years in program management and strategic operations, with experience in stakeholder management, critical issues, risk mitigation, return on investment (ROI), and cross-functional integration.
 
Roscoe was born in Centralia, Pa., and graduated in 1988 from the United States Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s degree in Science. Roscoe also holds a master’s degree in human resources development degree and in strategic studies. He became a career pilot and has accumulated more than 4,400 hours in multi-engine aircraft. 

Whitaker will manage the inspections and plan review services of the building safety division and provide a help source to other divisions such as planning and engineering and the fire department. He will also coordinate with local and state professional construction groups to ensure that Fayetteville is up-to-date and consistent with the administration of local building codes.

Whitaker comes to Fayetteville with an long career in municipal public service. He served the building codes department for the city of Little Rock in various positions for 18 years in positions that included plans examiner, plans examination administrator and deputy building official.

While in Little Rock, Whitaker also taught part-time in the ETAS Department of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for 12 years, establishing and teaching a new senior level codes class as well as other construction classes. He has also served as the senior project construction manager for the Arkansas Department of Education, which involved all new construction for grades K-12; overseeing and determining construction project funding, code compliance to applicable fire, building and PME regulations; and site visits for compliance on approved construction plans.
 
Whitaker has also served on the International Code Council (ICC) National Storm Shelter committee and helped publish the inaugural edition of the ICC 500, which is considered the premiere guidebook of Storm Shelter Design. In 2005 he traveled to Russia and met with civic leaders in Moscow, including the Vice Deputy Minister and Department Heads and gave a presentation on the I-codes. Similar presentations were also made in Novosibirsk, Siberia, and St. Petersburg. 

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art announced Monday (Nov. 17) that Don Bacigalupi, museum president and board member, will conclude his role as president on Jan 14, while remaining a board member.  

Bacigalupi will assume the role of founding president for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, to be built in Chicago. That opening is slated for 2018. He joined Crystal Bridges as executive director in 2009, and was instrumental in the planning, collection development, and opening of the museum, which has hosted more than 1.5 million visitors in its first three years of operation.
 
“Don’s achievements at Crystal Bridges have been numerous, and many of our successes are attributable to his guidance leading up to the opening of the museum and continuing into our highly successful next three years,” said Crystal Bridges Founder and Board Chair Alice Walton. “He came on board when the museum was in its early stages, guiding our direction through the building phase and helping to shape the development and exhibition of our art collection. His expertise in overseeing the launch of new institutions makes him an ideal leader for the Lucas Museum, and we’ll be applauding his accomplishments. We are pleased that he will retain his connection to Crystal Bridges as a member of our board.”

Bacigalupi became museum president in February 2013, when Crystal Bridges announced a leadership realignment to support its strategic plans. The board of directors named Bacigalupi as museum president and a board member, and Rod Bigelow as executive director. Bigelow assumed oversight for day-to-day operations of the museum at that time. The realignment focused Bacigalupi’s attention on the museum’s key exhibition initiatives, namely launching the "State of the Art: Discovering American Art Now" exhibition, which opened on Sept. 13 and has already received more than 88,000 visitors.

"Leading Crystal Bridges through its construction, opening and early years has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience and honor,” said Bacigalupi. “I am so proud to have worked with such an incredibly passionate and capable team--of staff, board, and volunteers--to achieve such extraordinary successes. I often say that we've made a good start at Crystal Bridges, and I look forward to the great momentum continuing. I'll be a lifelong friend and fan."
 

NorthWest Arkansas Community College inducted more than 70 students into the Beta Kappa Psi chapter of Phi Theta Kappa on Nov. 3.

The honor society, which is recognized internationally, provides scholarships for members, along with a host of other benefits. Students in the honor society must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 and have completed at least 12 credit hours per semester. Phi Theta Kappa is recognized as the official honor society for community colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges.

Students named to the society from Northwest Arkansas included:
Bella Vista: Jef Curlin, Amber Davis, Savana Holley, Thomas Nance

Bentonville: Derek Armer, Kimberly Bennett, David Berk, Matthew Campbell, Richard DeCampa, Kelsey Erickson, So-Yeon Kweon, Mary Loveless, Samantha Malmo, Joetta Powers, Jennifer Reed, Ruth Reynolds, Casey Sequichie Lyon, Taylor Shelton

Berryville: Rhonda Thomas

Cave Springs: Ariana Meza

Centerton: Elizabeth Faulkenbury, Michael Williams

Decatur: Gregory Goodwin

Elkins: Brenda Long

Farmington: Gillian Guenther, Paula Halbedel

Fayetteville: Chandler Evans, Michelle Everett, Lana Hackler, Myrlinda Huff, Sangyun Kim

Garfield: Rhonda Baker

Gentry: Lora Unruh,Vasiab Xiong

Hindsville: Sierra Logan

Holiday Island: Amy Kappen

Huntsville: Jimmy Davis

Lincoln: Melissa Reed

Little Flock: Derek Richard

Pea Ridge: Amber Lancaster, Bethany Watson

Rogers: Blake Finley, Elizabeth Frank, Dariella Gonzalez, Victoria Guevara, Geannine Gulas, James Haskins, Dorcas Masila, Jesse Olivarez, Lisa Pena, Fidel Sanchez, Stefany Sierra, Nathan Spears, Shelly Wisecarver

Rudy: Mariah Brown

Siloam Springs: Cristopher Miller

Springdale: Marsha Brown, Wendy Emery, Rachael Engledowl, Jamie Harris, Elizabeth Jones, Lee Lee, Alyssa Nelson, Taylor Sticht, Betty Szekely, Christopher Traxson, Sarah Watkins

West Fork: Gerrit Den Herder

Winslow: Joana Maria Clere

Consumers spent a little more money in October on retail goods according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates released Friday (Nov. 14). Seasonally adjusted retail sales rose 0.3% sequentially, above the +0.2% consensus. Without auto and fuel sales the retail spending was 0.6% better than prior month.

Trailing three-month unadjusted retail sales increased 4.5% in October versus a 4.6% increase in September, according to the government report.

Energy prices have plummeted over the last two months. If gasoline and, potentially more important heading into winter, heating oil prices remain depressed this could be a tailwind for retailers going into the holiday season, according to analysts with Raymond James & Assoc.

The year-over-year growth in retail sales for the building material and garden equipment increased 5.4% in October, slightly above last year's 5 % increase and above the two- and 10-year averages of 5.2%, and 1.7%, respectively.

Furniture and home furnishing store sales increased 2% year-over-year versus its two-, three-, and 10-year average growth rate for the month of October of -0.1%, 6.1%, and 5.5%, respectively.

Grocery store  sales increased 3.7% year-over-year in the month of October, ahead of the two-, three- and ten-year averages of 3.3%, 3.2%, and 3.1%, respectively.

General merchandise store sales growth increased 3.2% in October. This was  better 2.4% 2-year average.

Warehouse Clubs and supercenters sales growth increased 3.4% in September (reported on a one-month lag), ahead of the two and three-year average of 2.5% and 3.2%, but below the 10-year average of 6.2%.

Northwest Health is helping local residents learn about and enroll in the government’s Health Insurance Marketplace. As part of the Affordable Care Act, most U.S. citizens are required to have health insurance beginning in 2014. During the first enrollment wave, which began in October of 2013 and ended in March of this year, nearly 10 million uninsured individuals enrolled in a Marketplace plan. Yet, approximately 30 million Americans remain uninsured.
 
“As a primary health provider in Northwest Arkansas, we want to help educate residents in an easy-to-understand way, as well as assist those who haven’t  yet signed up for health insurance or Medicaid, if qualified,” said Sharif Omar, CEO, Northwest Health System. “During the next few months, we’ll be going out in to the community to educate consumers, hosting in-hospital events, and meeting one-on-one to help these individuals find affordable coverage for themselves and their family.”


The Health Insurance Marketplace provides U.S. citizens access to health insurance coverage. Depending on household income, some individuals may qualify for financial assistance from the government – or subsidies – towards the cost of the premium and other financial obligations like co-pays or deductibles.
 
All health plans on the Marketplace must offer a comprehensive set of benefits, and individuals cannot be denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition. Some of the health benefits include preventive care and wellness services, doctor visits, prescription drugs, hospital and emergency department care, lab services, pediatric services – and more.

Driscoll said those who haven’t secured health insurance in 2015 maybe subject to a penalty ($325 per adult and $162.50 per child). 

“This is where Northwest Health System can help,” said Omar. “With many people in our community lacking access to a computer or having difficulty enrolling on the government’s website, our application counselors can help. We can assist individuals and their families evaluate the health plan options and determine if they are eligible for Medicaid or other financial assistance.”
 
In all states, Medicaid provides health coverage for some low-income people, families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities. In some states, the program covers all low-income adults below a certain income level.


Arkansas has chosen to expand Medicaid coverage. This expansion increases the eligibility limits for adults to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (equivalent to an annual income of $16,105 per year for one person; $32,913 for a family of four in 2015). However, citizens must enroll in the program; it’s not automatic.

Though a major function of www.healthcare.gov is assessing whether individuals and families qualify for financial help to lower the cost of health insurance, Northwest Health System’s application counselors can perform the same analysis and help with the sign-up process. To make an appointment to meet with an application counselor, call Northwest Health at the following numbers:

479-553-4551 -Bentonville;
479-757-3101  Springdale; or
479-684-3069 –Willow Creek Women’s Hospital.