Southern Bancorp opened its doors on Cherry Street on Jan. 17, 1931 as Phillips National Bank. Seventy-eight years later the bank is still going strong thanks to loyal customers, local management decisions making by a local board of directors.

Exploring Innovation participants had the chance to test their innovation skills in the “Fed Prize Challenge,” a contest that asked participants to submit their most creative response to a question on the minds of community development practitioners.

About 50 people heard an update on the Clark County Strategic Plan at Hickingbotham Hall Tuesday.

A co-chair from each CCSP subcommittee spoke about 2008-2009 accomplishments and upcoming plans. CCSP Chair Dr. Wesley Kluck reported that 26 action goals have been completed since the 2008 meeting, and that 49 goals are being worked on.

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.