KRG's blog

A four-story, 83-room Best Western Inn & Suites will be open to guests Friday, Feb. 26 according to a report from The Times Record. The building has been under construction for nearly 11 months and is located at 6500 Rogers Ave. Developer Tim Whitten says, “we’ve been sitting there for seven weeks trying to get the parking lot paved.”

With winter weather upon is, it’s important to know how to drive in ice and snow. Of course, the best advice for driving in snow and ice is to not drive at all unless it’s absolutely necessary. Here are some other tips from weather.com for winter driving.

Don’t go out until the sand and salt trucks have had a chance to work on the roads, and always allow yourself extra time to reach your destination.

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, you men out there might be stressing about what gift to give to the woman in your life. This doesn’t have to be a nerve-wrecking task, just focus on showing your woman that you care. Here are some ideas from 5News on gifts to consider for this Valentine’s Day.

Last Wednesday, Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s latest creation: the iPad. Jobs called the iPad Apple’s “most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device and at an unbelievable price,” according to ABC News.

Many reviews of the iPad are circulating around the web and consumers are anxious to get their hands on the latest and most technologically advanced tablet computer. Before you rush out to buy your iPad, consider these tech specs from infocera.com.

According to the Southwest Times Record, Arkansas has been ranked 10^th in education for the second year in a row, according to a report released on Jan. 14 that evaluates public education systems.

The 14^th annual Quality Counts report released by Education Week gave Arkansas a grade of B-minus for overall education quality. The nation as a whole received a C.

After this holiday season and receiving gifts from friends and loved ones, you may be struggling with thank you notes. Often times it is difficult to determine the exact style and nature of thank you notes, but luckily eHow.com has outlined the art of the friendly, personal thank you note.

According a report released by the Arkansas Realtors Association last Thursday and the Times Record, home sales in Arkansas improved in October 2009 from the same month in 2008 for only the third time in 45 months. 2,332 homes sold in October 2009 compared to 1,879 last year, a 24.11 percent increase that can be credited to the expiring tax credit. 

Beginning on Dec. 1, 2009, Melody Trimble will be the new CEO of Sparks Regional Medical Center. Trimble will oversee more than 2,000 employees according to a memo from a Health Management Associates executive and Fort Smith’s The City Wire Web site. David Rothenberger will also join the medical center as the new chief financial officer.

It was announced yesterday that the Senate approved a $45 billion plan to expand the tax credit for first-time homebuyers while also extending jobless benefits and providing tax refunds to companies that are losing money. Senators in Washington voted 98-0 for the measure and now it has to pass through the House to become a law. Majority leader Steny Hoyer (Maryland) said in a statement that the bill could receive a vote as early as today. If it passes in the house, it will be forwarded to President Barack Obama for his signature. 

Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas Inc. announced this Friday that it will build wind turbine manufacturing facility in Fort Smith. This investment, which is estimated to be worth $100 million, will create as many as 400 jobs.

The subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc. plans to begin construction by early 2011. The company, which is headquartered in Lake Mary, Fla., plans to build the plant in a 200,000 square-foot facility on 90 acres of land that was formerly part of Fort Chaffee.