Verizon Completes Alltel Purchase

Last updated Friday, January 9, 2009 10:23 AM CST

LITTLE ROCK — Verizon Wireless has announced it has completed its $5.9 billion purchase of Little Rock-based Alltel Corp., making Verizon the nation's largest mobile phone company.

Verizon said Friday it will also take on $22.2 billion in Alltel debt.

Wal-Mart Feels Pinch

Last updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:40 PM CST

SPRINGDALE -- Wal-Mart has seemed immune from plunging sales plaguing other retailers, but no more.

A small increase in same-store sales -- the top statistic used to gauge retail success -- climbed slightly to 1.7 percent, but fell well short of its expectations of 2.8 percent. Wal-Mart carried that number with a 1.9 percent gain, while sales at Sam's Club fell 3.2 percent.

Technical Institute Opens Nursing Simulation Lab

Last updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:40 PM CST

SPRINGDALE -- Northwest Technical Institute welcomed three new "employees" Thursday.

Confined to beds in the nursing simulation laboratory, their chests raise and lower with each breath and their pulse rates are strong. They are basically plastic dummies filled with technology and 90 programmed scenarios to teach nursing students.

Welsh Proving His Worth

Last updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:47 PM CST

FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas guard Stefan Welsh followed Texas' leading scorer, guard A.J. Abrams, all over the court Tuesday night.

Welsh -- who held Abrams to seven points -- was in his face at the 3-point line. He guarded him off the dribble. He was prepared to go further if needed.

Baird Already Turning Heads

Last updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:45 PM CST

SPRINGDALE -- Shelton Baird's played just 13 games at the high school level, but he's already made quite an impression.

The 6-foot sophomore is averaging just a shade under 27 points per game and has led Springdale High to a 9-4 record after the Red'Dogs won just eight games last season.

Royals Bring Wilson To Naturals

Last updated Wednesday, January 7, 2009 7:51 PM CST

SPRINGDALE -- The Kansas City Royals signed veteran Major League catcher Vance Wilson to a one-year Minor League contract Wednesday and the Springdale resident will start the season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

Northwest Arkansas is the Double-A affiliate of the Royals.

Rogers' Rib Crib Closes

Last updated Friday, January 9, 2009 4:05 PM CST

ROGERS -- The Rib Crib in Rogers at 3604 W. Walnut has closed.

Multiple phone messages made Friday to two executives at the Rib Crib's corporate office in Tulsa were not returned.

State of the Arts: Part I

Last updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:32 PM CST

"We need money," Mark Landon Smith says simply.

Until recently, Smith, an actor and playwright, was artistic director for Arts Live Theatre. He still is -- but today he's also executive director, one of the cost-cutting measures undertaken by the Fayetteville nonprofit.

Art to Go

Last updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:29 PM CST

GALLERIES

ARSAGA'S on Crossover at 1852 N. Crossover Road in Fayetteville (527-0690): Oil paintings by Nancy Ballew, through January.

OPO First 2009 Casualty

Last updated Thursday, January 8, 2009 7:29 PM CST

Only nine days into 2009, and the Northwest Arkansas music scene has suffered its first casualty of the new year. The OPO Gathering Place in Fayetteville is a gathering place no more. The owners closed the doors the first of the year and took with them another venue for live music.

The OPO was located within Urban Table Bar & Grill, which took up residence in the Fayetteville square's old post office building in 2007. The owners went out in style by hosting Art Amiss' Blue Masquerade Ball on New Year's Eve.