Daddy Warbucks

For the seventh year in a row and in the midst of an economic recession, Ozark Natural Foods, Fayetteville’s homegrown grocery store and food cooperative, recently sent out patronage checks for 2008. These are refund checks paid to shoppers who are co-op members. The check amount is based on the amount spent at the store. The more a member spent last year, the bigger their refund. Those who spent at least $126 received a $2 check and it multiplied from there. The amounts being paid to cooperative members set a record. Members pocketed almost $90,000 in patronage refunds, which is only 20 percent of the profits that the co-operative made. The 80 percent held back will be reinvested in the cooperative for improvements and such. The co-op in the Evelyn Hills Shopping Center is a Fayetteville mainstay and is becoming a regional shopping magnet for those in a 100-mile or so radius. Did the big box retailers send you a check thanking you for shopping there last year? Well that’s a good question, now isn’t it?

Big Question

Wt what temperatures did researchers discover that office productivity suffers when the workplace gets too cold or too hot? Answer at the end.

Play City

Well another national ranking has come to Northwest Arkansas. Chickendale, aka Springdale, has been named the only “playful city” in Arkansas by a national group. Yep. That’s right. The nonprofit KaBOOM! named Springdale, Arkansas’ most playful city. No other cities were nominated. Go figure. Few, if any walking trails, one water park and, oh yeah, the Jones Center, which now charges for formerly free stuff. This was the second time Springdale has won this honor.

Bankruptcy

Looks like the Fayetteville Athletic Club will head into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after the Bob Shoulders family got entangled in a bank collapse. Some out-of-state bank bought the loans and Shoulders could not reach a settlement agreement with them. The filing shows the debt at between $10-$50 million. Stay tuned.

No Mo’ Alltel

Now that Verizon and Alltel are one, the Alltel name is no more. Thus, North Little Rock’s Alltel Arena is now known as Verizon Arena.

Empty Spots

Looks like the recession has caught up with some of the high rent places along Dickson Street. The Three Sisters Building has some empty spots and of course there are more stacked-high condos available down there than you can count on your fingers and toes.

Action On Dickson

There is activity at the old Froggy’s/Gypsy on Dickson Street. A restaurant liquor permit notice and a building permit are taped to the door and workers are on site. The building permit is in the name of Pearson Family Trust. At one time the Pearsons owned most of that block, but have sold some of the buildings. Not sure if the Pearsons are still involved in Brewskis, but they did open that Dickson Street hot spot.

Wee Wee Wee

Looks like the hog farmers working for Tyson Foods on their corporate hog farms in Benton and Washington counties will be working for someone else or looking for jobs. Tyson sold their corporate hog facilities, which represented only about 1 percent of their corporate structure, but there are 76 jobs affiliated with these farms.

Tech Tour

The Fayetteville School District will be on the next National School Board Technology Tour on March 14-16, 2010. Seems the tech savvy district has caught some national attention.

More E-Z Beer

Looks like the E-Z Mart at 4026 W. Wedington Drive in Fayetteville is trying for a beer permit. The usual suspects will be speaking out against the permit, no doubt. The ABC down in Little Rock will make the call.

Big Answer

Researchers found that when temperatures drop below 72 (too cold) or climb above 78 (too hot) worker productivity falls.

Grocery tax drops another cent

By Daddy Warbucks

Did you notice that penny tax reduction on our grocery bill? Of course you didn’t. Even though you didn’t notice, you left the grocery store with a little more change in your pocket last week. The reduction of the state’s regressive tax on groceries was reduced by another penny on July 1. There is still a 2-cent tax on groceries, but never fear, Gov. Mike Beebe pledges to see if that pittance of a tax can be removed in the future. Daddy’s guessing this will happen when his re-election bid comes around in a little less and a year. The first grocery tax reduction was a couple of years ago when half of the state’s six-cent grocery tax was dropped. Major (and minor) retailers say the drop has had no effect on shoppers. In these tough economic times, folks are buying less and looking for more bargains. But all in all, dropping any tax is nice. So enjoy.

Big Question

What percentage of southern homes with children younger than age 10 were popping firecrackers during the July 4 holiday? Answer at the end.

Club Shrinking

Count your nickels and dimes folks, the Millionaires Club is shrinking. Yes, recent statistics show that the recession has caused a 15 percent dip in the number of millionaires. Even so, there are still 8.6 million of ’em. 

Big Lots

We’ve mentioned this before and now the sign is up. Big Lots! is coming to Fiesta Square in the old Trees N Trends location (once a Wal-Mart). Daddy hears the opening will be this fall. 

New BBQ

Out in Farmington there’s a new weekend BBQ joint, Damon’s BBQ and Grill. It features takeout from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays. There is a sign up, but the meat and all the fixin’s come in a wheeled wagon and by 7 p.m. Friday it’s all gone.

All Skate

Like Daddy W. hinted a couple of weeks ago, the Starlight Skatetium is coming to the old Curry’s complex — once home to Curry’s Video and clothing empire on North College. The building will be restored to show off much of the original and unique construction. Looks like disco roller skating will be here soon.

Cross Your Fingers

Fayettevillians have been whining that we don’t have anything close to the gourmet grocery/convenience store like the one up north at Pinnacle. It is impressive and there is nothing like it down this way. But, there’s action going on at one of the convenience stores at the corner of Mission and Crossover and we can only hope, at last there may be a gourmet market in our hometown. 

Now No. 2

It looks like Tyson has again slipped to No. 2. A Brazilian merger has moved Perdiago SA into the No. 1 slot as the world’s largest poultry producer. 

New Name

KUAF, the local NPR affiliate, found a big-time donor and has done the naming rights thing. The new home of KUAF, across from the Fayetteville Public Library, will be called the Lynn and Dr. Joel Carver Center for Public Radio. How much the Carver’s gave on the $1.5 million project was not disclosed. Well under a million Daddy W. has heard.

Permit Request

Looks like a new alcohol permit has been requested by John Dortch for Big John’s Bar and Grill at 3300 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, the former home of Quittin’ Time. We shall watch with interest.

Coors Moving

The state Beverage Control Board has been asked to allow a move of Coors of Western Arkansas (Wholesale Beer Permit) from 750 S. Hill St. to 1601 Pump Station Road in Fayetteville. 

Walmart Teachers

Looks like the start-up company, 8th & Walton in Bentonville, has hit upon a real deal. They specialize in teaching small-to-mid-sized firms how to deal with the world’s largest retailer. They are well into Mexico and off now to Chile. They are not affiliated with Wal-Mart.

Tops In Real Estate

It was no surprise that Mary Bassett of Fayetteville was ranked one of the top single real estate agents in local listings in the state. The belle of Bassett/Mix Realtors was No. 2 followed by No. 3 Rich Harris of the Griffin Co. of Springdale; Kendall Richards of Crye-Leike of Springdale was No. 5; Margie Molendhauer of ReMax in Fayetteville was No. 6. No. 7 was Stacey McSpadden of Bassett/Mix. Firm wise, three of the top five are in Northwest Arkansas. No. 2 is Lindsey and Associates in Fayetteville. Coldwell Banker Faucette of Fayetteville is No. 4 and Harris McHaney in Rogers if No. 5. The top spot went to Crye-Lieke (a relatively new name to Arkansas) with offices all over the state, including NWA. No. 3 went to Coldwell Banker in Little Rock.

Big Answer

A whopping 82 percent of Southern homes with kids under the age of 10 were poppin’ fireworks of some sort over the July 4 holiday.

Fayetteville No. 2 for Forbes Economic Turnaround forecast 

By Daddy Warbucks

Daddy W. has come to the realization that in life you get what you pay for. So amid all the wild talk that the amount paid for the expert services of the former South Carolina State Senator and formerly head of the South Carolina Lottery, is not surprising.

Ernie Passailaigue’s first year salary as head of the Arkansas lottery is $324,000. Woo Pig. Sooie. Ernie, sell them ducats.

Arkansans who voted for and want a successful lottery to generate money — upwards to $125 million a year for college scholarships — need to ante up. That way we can expect big bucks in return for his (and his high priced assistants) expertise. 

Arkansas is set to pay its lottery head the third-highest salary paid to a state lottery director, behind only Tennessee and Georgia.

Does any one who has followed these “educational based” games see what is going on here? Georgia, which has a wildly successful game sending thousands of first-time students to colleges — most of whom would not go if it were not for the scratchers and Powerball tickets is No. 2 with a payout to its lotto chief. Tennessee is No. 1 in pay to its lotto chief at $436,144. Enough said.

And before all the whining starts, ask yourself this: When was the last time Arkansas elected a governor, or even lieutenant govenor, who didn’t spend more than his state salary to just get elected to the job that we pay so poorly for to someone who oversees the state budget.

Big Question

What is the number of employees who do not typically take a lunch break? See end for the answer.

Bark Park

The new dog park at Bryce Davis Park will open soon, we hope, for our canine friends. The 2-acre site at 1595 Dartmouth Ave., will be filled with frisky pups.

New Green

Word is that Wilma’s restaurant in south Fayetteville, the spot that formerly housed Masion des Tarts, is moving to a North College Avenue location and the Greenhouse Grille will be moving to the Wilma’s spot.

New Roll

Also heard around town … a roller rink is coming to central Fayetteville … a big one. Stay tuned.

New At FLP

Susan Foley, a veteran fundraiser who has worked with several area nonprofit organizations, will become the new development director at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Tithe Troubles

Looks like hard times has hit the former Lake Hills Baptist Church, which has closed. First Federal Bank, has filed a lawsuit against the church and its former board members. The church owes the bank some $1.18 million, which is secured by a 3.8 acre plot of land out of 2828 Crossover Road. Yikes. Pass the plate.

Forbes Best

Again the NWA area has been recognized as one of the best. We never doubt it, but Forbes says Fayetteville is the No. 2 spot to be when the economy really turns around. No. 1 was Austin, Texas where Shorthorn University is located. The others listed were No. 3 Boulder, Colo., No. 4 Huntsville, Ala., and No. 5 San Antonio. Everyone pat themselves on the back for without all that we have here in NWA we wouldn’t be on this list. 

Good Grants

A big federal grant for food safety was given out in Northwest Arkansas this past week. Some $1.7 million and scientific equipment were awarded to the Arkansas Public Health Lab from Uncle Sam. The only other states to get money for keeping the food supply safe went to Nebraska and Wisconsin.

Big Answer

Four out of 10 employees do not typically take a lunch hour. Some 55 percent take 30 minutes or less each day.

Way Down

By Daddy Warbucks

While the majority of the press about the Benton County apple orchard turned into a regional airport will always be positive, the year-to-date numbers don’t show that positive spin much mercy.

Mercy, mercy me, can XNA (the little airport that could) be so far down on the year? More than 13 percent to date?

Well, maybe the recent Wal-mart shareholders flying in and out will help that number, but not much some airport folks say.

Looks like airport traffic and air travel, even with the rising cost of gasoline, is down.

XNA in April produced its 12th monthly decline. And who said air travel is not a good indicator of the economic health of the country?

Little Rock National Airport is down more than 11 percent so far this year. Tulsa International Airport is down almost 13 percent. 

Some blame the ice storm earlier this year, well OK. Air travel was down 21 percent in January. But the downward trend continued in February. Can it bounce back? Yes.

But it is going to take more than direct flights to big cities. A cheaper airline like Southwest perhaps? But then that won’t really fix the problem. Only a stronger economy where people have the money to fly. That will fix a lot of things, won’t it? Even an old Benton County apple orchard.

Now Open

The Homewood Suites by Hilton opened its 269th extended-stay hotel in Fayetteville recently. The brand new 96-suite property is a stone’s throw off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near the University of Arkansas. 

New Band Man

Christopher Knighten, a native of North Little Rock, has been named director of the University of Arkansas athletic bands. Knighten comes to Arkansas from East Carolina University where he has led the band since 1993. He will begin his duties July 1. Readers want to know if this means an end to the endless repertoire of Disney tunes played at UA football games. Let’s hope so. Joining Knighten is his wife, Janet, who will serve on the university music faculty. She completed her doctorate at the University of Texas. Uh oh. Better watch this Hog fans and UT sippers out there.

Bad Timing

Of all the weeks to be closed … The Denny’s on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard was closed for renovation but reopened on Friday, the final day of the Wal-mart Shareholders meeting. Are you kidding me? The Wal-martians were eating all over this area and a big chain like Denny’s was closed? Bad timing. And this is the third time that building has been painted, twice already this year. Wow.

Q3 Cluck Cluck

Word from the Tyson corporate henhouse in Chickendale is that the third-quarter profit results are gonna be good. Very good. Cock-a-doodle good, one high up Rooster says. Well, we shall see. Being No. 2 in the poultry game sure has humbled Tyson and made them better at looking at the bottom line.

Digital TV

If you live out in the country, this Saturday could be a big TV date for you. The nation’s broadcasters will begin transmitting 100 percent of their TV signals in digital format. If your set goes fuzzy, you must not have been watching all those mindless converter box commercials. If you need help setting-up a digital television (DTV) converter box, indoor antenna adjustments or hooking up analog VCRs to a converter, call 1-888-CALL-FCC or visit www.dtv.gov. Remember the government is here to help you.

Renter RX

Leave it up to Lindsey management to promote a new twist in the leasing world … a prescription discount card. The mega-renter wants you to consider living in one of their 31,000 apartment units throughout the south and they will sign you up for a discount pharmacy card. They say it can be used at all major discount stores and national pharmacies. Who knew that Lindsey could cure the nation’s health care woes?

Factored Out

Old Max Factor was once, once mind you, a giant on the makeup shelves. Not so much any more. Procter & Gamble has announced that Max will be factored out. Never fear Cover Girl. You are staying.