The Arkansas Public School Resource Center has announced that eight schools, including KIPP Delta College Prep in Helena, affiliated with the education organization were designated a “higher performing school” by the National Center for Educational Achievement.

Arkansas bankers keep rolling with the changes wrought by last year’s financial shake-up. Across the state, bank executives and directors are examining their place in the market: buy, sell or hold as well as deciding to cut or add branches.

The market flux has forced a refresher course on minding the basics, to maintain adequate capital and liquidity and scrutinize risk analysis. A wild card thrown into the mix is an evolving government program designed to aid troubled banks and provide extra capital to healthy lenders in hopes of stimulating the economy.

Arkadelphia’s Southern Bancorp Inc. put its $11 million in TARP capital to work expanding through two acquisitions. The first up was the $5 million-plus deal for troubled Timberland Bank of El Dorado, a $135 million-asset venture launched in 2000.

Henderson State University and Arkadelphia Public Schools have partnered to create a new educational opportunity for Arkadelphia High School freshmen. The Arkadelphia College Preparatory Academy is scheduled to begin classes on Saturday, April 18.

The pilot program was designed as part of the High School Redesign Initiative of the Southwest-A Education Renewal Zone and the Arkansas Department of Education. Leaders from Arkadelphia Public Schools, HSU, Ouachita Baptist University, Ouachita Technical College, Dawson Educational Cooperative, Clark County Strategic Plan, local business and community representatives and elected officials participated in the development of the Academy.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Mike Ross along with U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor and U.S Representative Marion Berry have announced that the Southern Good Faith Fund will receive a $176,471 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services for its asset building program.

Talk of expanding the eStem Charter School campus in downtown Little Rock has manifested into a $1.35 million transaction. A subsidiary of Arkadelphia’s Southern Bancorp has acquired the old Federal Reserve property at 123 W. Third St. and will lease it to eStem, which operates out of leased quarters in the neighboring Gazette Building.

Plans call for the 45,000-SF building to undergo renovation expected for completion during the next 12 to 15 months. The property is envisioned to house upper-grade classes.

Southern Bancorp Buy
The one-time home of the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank tipped the scales at $1.35 million. Southern Bancorp CDC of Arkadelphia bought the 123 W. Third St. project. The seller is 123 West Third Associates Ltd., led by Kenneth McRae.

Southern Bancorp Buy
The one-time home of the Little Rock branch of the Federal Reserve Bank tipped the scales at $1.35 million. Southern Bancorp CDC of Arkadelphia bought the 123 W. Third St. project. The seller is 123 West Third Associates Ltd., led by Kenneth McRae.

For the second time in as many weeks, Southern Bancorp of Arkadelphia is announcing another acquisition. Southern’s CEO, Phil Baldwin, confirmed Monday the news contained in a news release that was distributed two days early by the target organization, First Delta Bankshares Inc. of Blytheville. Southern will be acquiring the holding company, which owns First National Bank of Blytheville and the Bank of Trumann.

Cindy Jackson, the parish nurse of First United Methodist Church, who has taken on the role to spearhead a charitable health clinic, met with a group of 10 people interested in the effort Tuesday to discuss needs for opening the clinic.

The Clark County Strategic Plan outlined the need for a charitable health clinic in Goal No. 2, Action Step C: “Develop a comprehensive plan to open a medical clinic in Arkadelphia for low income residents and those without insurance. Using the results of this comprehensive plan, open a medical clinic on or before Dec. 31, 2008.” The CCSP Healthcare Subcommittee addressed this action step in fall 2008. While it may be a few months behind target on its opening, volunteers are paving the way for the step to become a reality.

Webmaster note: Southern Bancorp provided a loan and grant for Clark County Childcare Inc. and constructed the newly-opened facility.

24-hour daycare is now a reality in Clark County. Not only is it bringing 46 new jobs to the area, it also helps parents who work late hours. “I’ve never heard of 24 hour daycare,” said Alicia Benson who works in the Radiology Department at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hot Springs. “My hours vary; sometimes I work until 8pm, 10pm, sometimes I work during the day.”