The owners of Drumco are excited to be moving to Arkadelphia, co-owner Barry Wingard said during a press conference today at the Southwest Arkansas Technical Learning Center.

The company, which recycles and reconditions steel drums and other non-bulk packaging, now operates facilities in Bauxite and Memphis, Tenn. The Bauxite facility measures 60,000 square feet, but “we’ve simply outgrown it,” he said.

The Boys & Girls Club of Phillips County announced today the endowment of the Club’s Teen Zone and Kitchen/Concessions area by First Bank of the Delta / Southern Financial Partners and Helena National Bank, respectively…

Equipment has begun arriving at the construction site of the proposed KIPP high school and gymnasium, which will be constructed just off Missouri St. During the first phase before the construction of permanent buildings, classes will be held in modular buildings.

There are an estimated 28 million” unbanked” and 44.7 million “underbanked” people in the United States today, representing a potential market of 40 million households with little or no current relationship with a financial institution.

LITTLE ROCK (AP) – More than a third of the payday lenders operating in Arkansas are not being regulated, opponents of the lending practice said in a study released Wednesday.

The study by Arkansans Against Abusive Payday Lending, a coalition of groups seeking to end the practice of payday loans, said the state has improved its licensing of payday lenders but called for more oversight.

During his recent trip to Phillips County, Gov. Mike Beebe made a stop at Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) in Helena. Accompanied by PCCUA Chancellor Dr. Steven Murray, he looked in on high school students in their Career & Technical secondary Center classes, spoke with officials in the Career Pathways program, and met with Phillips College nursing administrators and faculty.

Helena’s KIPP Delta College Preparatory School has generated statewide and national attention since its founding. According to State Senator Steve Ryals, D – Piggot, KIPP is a key element to the success of Phillips County and the Arkansas Delta.

The plan will guide the decisions of the Planning Commission and City Board of Directors for an estimated 15-20 years. The plan’s goals will compliment those of the recently launched Clark County Strategic Plan…

Mary & Martha’s Florist celebrated its Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting this week.

Since its July 1, 1999 inception, the BDC has served over 6,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs through access to financing, business counseling, training and technical assistance.