Full-time parenting is tough - Charleston Daily Mail

Q. When I decided to stay home with my child, I had no idea howlonely

it would be. I'm fine for part of the day, but then I get tiredof toddler games and wonder, what now? All of the others moms in myneighborhood work. If anyone else has been through this, I wouldappreciate some ideas.

B.R.

Tacoma, Wash.

A. The most obvious way to break a cycle of isolation is to headout to places where parents and their young children typically hangout - story times at local libraries, toddler gyms, music classes andarea parks. However, it's not always as easy as it sounds, accordingto mothers who have been there.

'The only thing I can possibly recommend is to get involved withsome sort of play group, the Y or Gymboree,' says Ellen Curley ofTrumbull, Ct. 'You almost have to force yourself to go and do this,but otherwise it's a very lonely existence. You really have to getout there and try.'

One mother, Jessa Haynes from North Canton, Ohio, has evenresorted to introducing herself to other moms on the playgrounds atfast food restaurants.

'Tell the moms, 'Hey, I'm new at this. Do you know of any playgroups?' More than likely the other moms are looking for things todo, too,' Haynes says. 'It takes a little bit of swallowing pride,but it's worth it.'

It may help to think of such boldness as networking, much like youused to do on the job, says Barbara Ferraro, a mom from HuntingValley, Ohio.

'The more she gets out, the more she'll be able to network and thehappier she'll be,' Ferraro says.

Your new role at home is a job. After reader Jody L. Ziskind ofGlen Arm, Md., decided to stay home full time, she got business cardswith her name, phone number and 'Mother-At-Home' printed on them.

'They are very handy for networking with other moms that I meet atthe library, grocery store and church,' she says.

Parents often are surprised to find themselves lonely at home, andit can happen quickly, says Darcie Sanders of Chicago, co-author of'Staying Home: From Full-time Professional to Full-time Parent'(Little, Brown & Co., $12.95).

'Getting out with a new baby can seem like an extraordinary effortbecause the learning curve is so high with everything you have to dowith a baby,' Sanders says. 'The isolation can become a viciouscycle, and it does take some effort to break out of it.'

Don't expect to make friends all in the first week, Sanders says.

'Once you find some moms, don't invite them to your home atfirst,' she says. 'Start with a neutral setting, such as gettingtogether at a park.'

These more casual meetings at first give both people a chance tosee if they have anything in common.

Here are some practical tips from stay-at-home parents:

- Join or start a baby sitting co-op, suggests Kathryn Knecht ofAvondale, Ariz. 'You can post fliers in the neighborhood,' she says.

- Church is the best place to find moms in the same boat, saysL.T. of Carrollton, Texas. 'If your church doesn't have a mothers'group, start one,' she says.

- Make at-home time more stimulating by developing hobbies andincluding your children in them, suggests Melia Beckwith of Phoenix,Ariz. 'Gardening, sewing and crafting are hobbies of mine thatbecame neglected,' she says. 'So did my sanity.'

- 'Welcome Home' magazine, published by Mothers at Home, offerssupportive stories and other writings, says Jody L. Ziskind of GlenArm Md. For a free sample copy, call (800) 783-4666.

- Join a national mother's group such as F.E.M.A.L.E. (FormerlyEmployed Mothers At The Leading Edge), suggest moms like Linda Riessof Brook Park, Ohio. For information on the chapter nearest you,contact the national office at (800) 223-9399.

- Another group is the MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support).For more information on the chapter nearest you, write InternationalMOMS Club, 25371 Rye Canyon Road, Valencia, CA 91355.

- Don't feel you must entertain your child all day, severalparents say. 'You must remember to take care of yourself,' saysAngela Poole of Monroe, N.C. 'Find a health club or YMCA that offerschild care during the exercise classes.'

Can you help?

Here's a new question from a parent who needs your help. If youhave tips, or if you have questions of your own, please call ourtoll-free hotline any time at (800) 827-1092. Or write to ChildLife, 2322 Hales Road, Raleigh, NC 27608, or send e-mail tobevmills@aol.com

Makers wait for folks to take their medicine.(Pharmaceuticals) - Business North Carolina

Wait 'til next year. It's a way of life for Chicago Cubs fans, and in 2003, it applied to a couple of fledgling Tar Heel drug companies that were supposed to start cashing in big.

Durham-based Trimeris won U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in March for its breakthrough AIDS drug, Fuzeon. The drug prevents the AIDS virus from infecting healthy cells. Trimeris launched it amid projections of 10,000 customers and $70 million in sales by year's end. But the cost of the drug--more than $20,000 a year per patient--and patients' aversion to the twice-daily shots it requires combined to weaken demand and cut those projections by at least 50%. Trimeris shares tumbled. In mid-December, the stock was trading below $20 per share, less than half its 52-week high.

Another Tar Heel drug maker, Durham-based Inspire Pharmaceuticals, was expecting FDA approval for its first compound, diquafosol tetrasodium, before the end of 2003. Diquafosol treats dry-eye disease, which Inspire says affects 10 million Americans. It spent the second half of the year gearing up to begin marketing diquafosol with its partner, California-based Allergan. But just before Christmas, the FDA asked for another study, which could delay marketing until 2005.

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Chapel Hill-based Pozen also got some bad news. The FDA rejected its MT 300 migraine treatment, which was expected to go on the market this year, because it doesn't relieve nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, common complaints for migraine sufferers. Pozen is challenging the ruling and hopes for approval of its second migraine treatment, MT 100. Analysts estimate MT 100 could generate annual sales of $500 million, 10 times MT 300's potential. The company hopes to begin sales this year

The state's largest contract-research organizations have already started cashing in, though one had an off year. Durham-based Quintiles Transnational went private in September after it was bought for $1.7 billion by a group led by company chairman and founder Dennis Gillings. Through three quarters of 2003, it had earned $38 million, down 64% from the same stretch of 2002. Wilmington-based Pharmaceutical Product Development reported $62.8 million in net income through three quarters, compared with $19.9 million for the same period of 2002. Wilmington-based aaiPharma had net income of $24 million through three quarters, compared with $10 million for the same period in 2002.

The state's life-science startups hope to have better luck finding venture capital in 2004 than they did in 2003. Venture capitalists invested about $55 million in North Carolina-based biotechs through the first three quarters, down 40% from the same period of 2002. In fact, venture capitalists contributed less to the industry than Golden LEAF, a nonprofit set up to distribute half the state's proceeds from the national tobacco settlement. In August, it set aside $60 million to train workers to make vaccines, drugs and other products.

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 N.C. EMPLOYMENT AND WAGES  (drug manufacturing)                            1998         2000        2002  Employers                   59           74          83 Employment              17,920       18,429      20,588 Total wages (millions)    $989.6     $1,219.9    $1,434.3 Average weekly wage     $1,061.97    $1,272.92   $1,339.77  Source: Employment Security Commission  TOP BIOTECHNOLOGY EMPLOYERS  COMPANY/N.C. LOCATION                        N.C. EMPLOYEES  GlaxoSmithKline, RTP and Zebulon                    6,000 Bayer, RTP and Clayton                              1,600 Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Sanford                      1,000 Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro                  700 bioMerieux, Durham                                    600 Diosynth, RTP                                         595 BASF, RTP                                             450 Becton Dickinson Technologies, RTP                    430 Novozymes North America, Franklinton                  400 Bayer CropScience, RTP                                375 Novo Nordisk North America, Clayton                   300 Syngenta Biotechnology, RTP                           250 Paradigm Genetics, RTP                                195  Source: companies, 2003  TOP BIOTECHNOLOGY LOCATIONS                   COMPANIES                  COMPANIES  Durham             35       Charlotte           3 RTP                26       High Point          3 Raleigh            24       Cary                2 Morrisville        11       Clayton             2 Winston-Salem      10       Wilmington          2 Greensboro          9       Other              11 Chapel Hill         6       NORTH CAROLINA    144  Source: North Carolina Biotechnology Center, 2003  N.C. RETAIL PHARMACIES  TYPE Chain          995 Independent    578 Health care    375 Other          190  CHAIN STORES CVS            262 Eckerd         248 Wal-Mart       101 Kerr Drug       94 Kmart           43 Winn-Dixie      43 Bi-Lo           41 Walgreens       39 Target          28 Harris Teeter   27 Other           69  Source: N.C. Board of Pharmacy, 2003  TOP RESEARCH/TESTING EMPLOYERS  COMPANY/N.C. LOCATION                                  N.C. EMPLOYEES  Laboratory Corporation of America, Burlington               4,815 Research Triangle Institute, RTP                            2,300 Pharmaceutical Product Development, Wilmington              2,100 DSM Catalytica Pharmaceuticals, Greenville                  1,200 Quintiles Transnational, Durham                             1,000 Duke Clinical Research Institutes, Durham                     855 aaiPharma, Wilmington                                         675 Inveresk Research, Cary                                       580 Cardinal Health, Morrisville                                  400 PharmaResearch, Wilmington                                    350 Family Health International, Durham                           280 Parexel International, Durham                                 250  Source: companies, 2003 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Briefs.(Statistical Data Included) - Frozen Food Digest

Winn Dixie Selects Haskell For Charlotte Facility Expansion

The Haskell Company is designing and constructing a 267,500 sq. ft. grocery distribution center expansion in Charlotte, North Carolina for Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. Winn Dixie is one the largest grocery retailers in the U.S. with sales exceeding $13 billion and nearly 1,200 stores in 14 states and the Bahamas.

Included in the new facilities is new, 0 degree and minus 20-degree freezer space; meat and produce cooler additions; truck washing facilities; substantially increased refrigeration system capacity; and extensive site work. When the new facilities are completed in the third quarter, 1999, employment is expected to increase by 435 jobs, bringing total positions at the distribution center to 1,375.

Haskell is providing all architectural and engineering design; refrigeration design and installation; and construction of the new plant.

The Haskell Company, with experience in 34 states and several foreign countries, provides architectural, engineering, construction and real estate services. The company's annual sales volume exceeds $400 million. Haskell offices are located in Chicago, IL; Jacksonville, FL; Nasville, TN, and Raleigh, NC. For further information call Ron Vallort at 630-493-4282 or fax 630-493-4360.

Appointed

Tim Bridgman, President and C.E.O. of United States Cold Storage, announced recently the appointment of Jerome Scherer to Area Manager of U.S.C.S.'s Tennessee operations. U.S.C.S. currently has 4 distribution facilities in the Nashville area.

Mr. Scherer is a well known figure in the Public Refrigerated Warehousing industry with many years of service with U.S.C.S., as well as holding leadership positions with industry associations. In addition to this recent appointment, Mr. Scherer will also remain Area Manager for the Northern California district of U.S.C.S.

Doug Coulter has also been appointed to the position of Plant Manager of their Interchange City, Tennessee warehouse, and Adam Ashley has been named the new Transportation Manager at the U.S.C.S.-Tulare facility.

Randy Dorrell has been promoted to the position of Operations Manager of the U.S.C.S.-Bakersfield facility, and George Cruz, Vice-President-Metroplex Area Manager of U.S.C.S., recently announced the promotion of Jerry Garcia to Assistant Office Manager.

ConAgra Acquires Fernando's Foods

ConAgra, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) has acquired Fernando's Foods Corporation, a manufacturer of Mexican food products. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Fernando's is a producer of a wide variety of frozen prepared Mexican entrees, snacks and appetizers sold to food distributors, convenience stores and in-store delis. Fernando's operates a manufacturing facility in Compton, Calif., and has about 250 employees. Fernando's is the second largest supplier of frozen Mexican food products to the foodservice industry.

For information call 402-595-4153.

New Region Manager

McCain Foods has appointed Michelle Lawrence to oversee sales of McCain products in the company's western region.

As Regional Manager, Lawrence will direct broker activity to attain sales growth in potatoes, appetizers and pasta. Specifically she is responsible for McCain and Ore-Ida brand potatoes, Brew City and Moore's appetizers, and Domani Pasta. She manages five brothers in the region, which includes California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona.

For further information call 312-372-7090.

New Expanded Seattle Headquarters

National Frozen Foods Corporation, Seattle-based international marketer of Pacific Northwest frozen vegetable products has announced the opening of new executive headquarter offices at 1600 Fairview Avenue East, according to Stephen J. McCaffray, President of the historic Seattle firm.

National Frozen Foods Corporation was founded in 1912 by William P. McCaffray, a frozen food industry pioneer who, along with Clarence Birdseye and other early entrepreneurs, built the modern American frozen food industry.

McCaffray senior located the firm in Seattle. Today National employs 1,200 people and processes nearly 300 million pounds of Northwestern frozen vegetables for worldwide distribution from processing plants in Burlington, Chehalis and Moses Lake, Washington, as well as Albany, Oregon.

'We've always been committed to Seattle as the natural center for our operations,' Steve McCaffray, grandson of the founder and former Chairman of the American Frozen Food Institute, said in making the announcement. 'And our new headquarter facility permits us to more easily integrate our systems and personnel,' he added, 'and accommodate the aggressive business growth we've experienced in the last few years.'

With sales of more than $100 million, National Frozen Foods Corporation is one of the world's leading frozen vegetable processing firms, providing 'The Best of The Great Northwest' frozen food products under continuous family management since 1912.

For information call 717-975-2148.

Up-To-Date Research On Health-Enhancing Foods

Although several recent books have emerged on the topic of functional or designer foods, none has addressed the issue of processing, which can profoundly affect the health-enhancing potential of a functional food. Processing of a functional food can have profound effects on the specific health benefits it claims to deliver.

Now published, Functional Foods: Biochemical and Processing Aspects, in addition to providing an extensive overview of an array of biologically-active components from both plant and animal sources, is unique in its ability to shed light on how the processing of these phytochemicals and zoochemicals may impact the health benefits of functional foods.

Edited by G. Mazza, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist and Head, Food Research Program, Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the book furnishes a comprehensive treatment of the physiological effects of foods and food components capable of promoting good health and preventing or alleviating diseases.

This major new reference assembles, in one volume, extensive recent information on the nature and physiological effects of biologically-active components of major plant foods--cereals, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables--and dairy and fish products.

This volume serves the information needs of food scientists and technologists, food process engineers, biochemists, nutritionists, public health professionals, and entrepreneurs involved in the design, processing, and marketing of new functional food products. Anyone who believes in the need for real foods that combine nutritional and medical benefits and who believes that such foods can be produced, will find this book invaluable.

Chapter titles include:

* Functional Oat-Based Product

* Physiologically Functional Wheat Products

* Functional Products from Rice

* Flaxseed Products for Disease Prevention

* Functional Grape and Citrus Products

* Functional Vegetables Products

* Processing and Properties of Mustard Products and Components

* Designer Vegetable Oils

* Functional Products from Quinoa, Amaranth, Common Beans and Selected Fruits and Botanicals

* Physiological Components and Health Effects of Ginseng, Echinacea and Sea Buckthorn

* Functional Milk and Dairy Products

* Functional Seafood Lipids and Proteins

* Regulatory Aspects of Functional Products.

This new book is now available from Technomic Publishing Company, Inc., 651 New Holland Ave., Box 3535, Lancaster, PA 17604, U.S.A. Phone: 717-291-5609 (Toll-Free in the U.S./Territories and Canada: 800-233-9936), Fax: 717-295-4538,

E-Mail: marketing @ techpub.com

WWW Site: http://www.techpub.com

Preparations For Anuga '99 Have Started

Preparations for the forthcoming Anuga, the universal special trade fair for the food business, have already started. From October 9-14, 1999, the largest trade fair worldwide for the food business will once again confirm its leading function for the food industry's national and international trade. Today it is already evident that once again over 6,000 suppliers from all continents will take part at Anuga. Foreign suppliers will account for about two-thirds of the total ranges. Exhibitors will present the entire potential of the food industry for the retail grocery trade, hotels and restaurants and out-of-home catering.

The outstanding response to Anuga '97 from exhibitors and visitors sets positive signals for the further development of its position in the national and international markets. With 6,540 exhibitors from 103 countries and around 190,000 visitors from 144 countries, Anuga once again set new records.

Interested parties can obtain information by calling 0-221-821-3619 or 821-2369, by fax on 0-221-821-3417 and by writing KolnMesse, Postfach 210760, D.-50532 Cologne. Closing date for exhibitor registrations is October 30, 1998.

Canada and Mexico Take More U.S. Exports in 1998

U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico are rising in fiscal 1998. In the first 8 months Canada took $4.7 billion in exports from the United States, while Mexico took $4 billion. This already is 7% more than the same period in 1997 for Canada and up 18% for the period for Mexico. Total U.S. exports to Canada and Mexico are forecast at $7 billion and $6 billion, respectively, for the year up from $6.6 billion and $5.1 billion for all of 1997.

International Multifoods To Sell Venezuela Foods Unit

International Multifoods Corp. (NYSE: IMC) announced Aug. 4 that it has entered into an exclusive nonbinding letter of intent with Archer Daniels Midland Co. (NYSE: ADM) to sell its Venezuela Foods unit. The company said that it intends to complete the sale on an expeditious basis, subject to beard of directors' and regulatory approval.

Millard Refrigerated Services Chosen

The Pillsbury Company announces it has chosen Millard Refrigerated Services for distribution of its frozen product line for the Midwestern United States. Pillsbury will relocate its regional inventory and will begin distributing from Millard's Geneva, Illinois distribution center in August of 1998. Mike Schewene, Director of Distribution Center Operations, Pillsbury, stated, 'Pillsbury is proud to be a partner with Millard and we look forward to leveraging Millard's service orientation, operations excellence, and technology to continuously exceed our customers expectations.'

The distribution center will feature the latest in technology for receiving, inventory control and shipping. Millard is currently constructing the second phase for this facility which will be completed October, 1998. At the completion of this phase, Millard will have over 600,000 square feet of distribution space in the Chicago area with build out capability of 1.1 million square feet totaling 33 million cubic feet.

'All of us at Millard are excited about the opportunity to partner with Pillsbury in one of their larger markets. We look forward to working closely with the Pillsbury team in designing and implementing more efficient ways to fulfill the service demands of their customers,' commented Kevin Margeson, Senior Vice President, National Sales, Millard Refrigerated Services. Including its facilities currently under construction, Millard operates 24 refrigerated warehouse, distribution, and processing facilities throughout the United States accounting for over 160,000,000 cubic feet. This network of facilities is designed to meet the demands of major markets served by national retail, food service, and production companies throughout the country.

Country Pure Foods To Acquire The Quaker Oats Company's Ardmore Farms Business

Country Pure Foods Inc. has announced that it has reached an agreement with The Quaker Oats Company (NYSE:OAT) to acquire Quaker's Ardmore Farms juice and juice drinks business. Ardmore Farms' product lines include frozen, single-serve fruit juices and Skigo smoothies, both sold to foodservice customers in the United States. Under the agreement, Country Pure Foods will purchase the formulas, trademarks And inventories of the business, as well as the Deland, FL plant. The Deland plant employs approximately 160 people. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

For information call 330-753-2293 or 312-222-7397.

New Plant In North Carolina

Perdue Farms Incorporated officially began production in a completely updated, state-of-the-art prepared food/cooking plant in Concord. The facility was converted from an older, conventional chicken processing plant and is designed to develop more value-added products and raise the company's current production levels in further-processed chicken.

The decision to renovate and modernize the plant was based on Perdue's expanded commitment to offering more variety in prepared foods. The company will steadily increase production at the Concord Plant through 1999 until it reaches full capacity, estimated at up to 60 million pounds of poultry products annually.

'This is a bold step toward expanding Perdue's presence in the prepared foods, value-added chicken market.' said Randy Day, vice president of Perdue's Foodservice and Prepared Foods Division. 'Our new Concord plant is equipped with the latest technologies in food preparation, food safety, cooking, freezing and distribution to handle maximum product variety and to keep up with consumer demand.'

Perdue retail products are sold in fine supermarkets, smaller groceries and quality butcher shops from Maine to Florida and as far west as Chicago and St. Louis. Foodservice chicken and turkey products are sold nationwide, and Perdue's international operations export to more than 50 countries around the world.

Agrilink Foods Acquires Hopay Distributing Inc.

Agrilink Foods, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pro-Fac Cooperative (Nasdaq: PFACP) announced recently that it has acquired J. A. Hopay Distributing Co., Inc., Pittsburgh, PA. Hopay has 21 routes which distribute potato chips and other snacks for Snyder of Berlin, an Agrilink bus/ness unit located in Berlin, PA, and other non-competing snack products in the metropolitan Pittsburgh area.

Commenting on the transaction, Agrilink president and chief executive officer Dennis M. Mullen remarked, 'This announcement, along with our recent acquisition of C&O Distributors, is further evidence of our commitment to our snack business. Growing this business is an integral part of our strategic plan. We are grateful to the Hopay organization for their years of dedication to Snyder.

Agrilink Foods processes and markets a variety of product lines of regional branded, private label and foodservice products in facilities located throughout the United States. Pro-Fac Cooperative, an agricultural marketing cooperative which consists of more than 600 members, processes fruits, vegetables and popcorn through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Agrilink Foods.

Director Of International Sales

National Frozen Foods Corp., international marketer of Pacific Northwest frozen vegetable products, has named Misty Burkland Director of International Sales, according to Bob Ashmun, Vice President-Sales.

National Frozen Foods Corporation, founded in 1912 and headquartered in Seattle, is one of America's premier frozen vegetable processors with plants located in Burlington, Chehalis and Moses Lake, Washington, as well as Albany, Oregon.

Alliant Foodservice Selects The Stellar Group For Expansion

Alliant Foodservice, Inc., one of the nation's largest and fastest growing broadline foodservice distributors, has selected The Stellar Group for a new distribution center in Lyon Township, Michigan to accommodate rapid growth. Stellar services include real estate site evaluation, design and construction. Alliant officials said the new 290,000 s.f. distribution center will more than double the existing size of its Taylor and Livonia, Michigan facilities.

Plans call for 120,000 s.f. of refrigerated space for fresh produce, meats and other perishable items, and 120,000 s.f. of dry, storage space. The project is scheduled for completion in the spring of 1999. Stellar has also been involved with Alliant expansions in Atlanta, Georgia; Topeka, Kansas; and Phoenix, Arizona.

According to Robed Green, market president for Alliant-Detroit, the company is investing in its Detroit market largely due to rapid growth in the Michigan market and Alliant's acquisition of Leone Foodservice in Livonia over a year ago. Green said the expansion would allow Alliant room to continue growth by offering more products and improving its service to customers. The company plans to consolidate its two sites into one to gain increased efficiencies.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Alliant Foodservice, Inc. employs more than 12,000 people in 47 distribution centers across the United States. The company delivers over 1 million cases of food and food-related products every day to approximately 200,000 customers nationally, most of which are comprised of independent and multi-unit restaurants, hotels, contract management operators and hospitals. Alliant is the nation's leading foodservice distributor to the acute healthcare industry through its Dietary Products unit.

For further information call 800-488-2900.

PepsiCo Acquires Tropicana Products

PepsiCo Inc has agreed to pay $3.3 billion to acquire Tropicana Products Inc. from the Seagram Company.

Tropicana, which posted sales last year of close to $2 billion, will continue to be based in Bradenton, FL and will operate as a separate company.

Implementing A Foodservice Program

A new FMI publication provides supermarkets with the first detailed, comprehensive guide to implementing a foodservice program. Supermarket Foodservice: A Recipe for Implementation begins with the strategic questions that executives must answer when deciding whether or how to implement a program. The guide then takes the reader through the 10 major steps needed to develop a successful operation -- from developing a strategic business plan to evaluating the program's effectiveness.

For further information call 703-821-0770.

Goya Plans To Build

The country's largest distributor of foods for the Hispanic market, Goya Foods Inc., has purchased 16 acres from Northrop Grumman Corp., in Bethpage, NY, for $3.6 million, with plans to build a 150,000 square foot food packaging and distribution center.

World Group Members Outline Strategy, Appoint Officers For 1999

'As strong, independent companies, we all bring to The World Group the determination to unite as regions, providing cost-effective and efficient service to all of our customers. Our leadership remains strong and our advertising and marketing focus is developing to forward that goal,' says Mark Blanchard, VP Sales and Marketing, NOCS, New Orleans and World Group Marketing Committee chairman.

Officers named for 1999 were approved and include Al Borthwick, (of Trenton Cold Storage, LTD., Ontario, Canada) president; and Gary Sarner, (of Total Logistic Control, Zeeland, Mich.) treasurer.

The seven World Group companies comprise almost 126 million cubic feet of refrigerated and frozen storage space. They distribute products and provide services throughout the United States and Canada, as well as offer export services to a number of global markets.

World Group members include Henningsen Cold Storage Co., Hillsboro, Ore; U.S. Growers Cold Storage, Inc., Los Angeles, Calif.; Total Logistic Control, Zeeland, Mich; Trenton Cold Storage LTD, Trenton, Ontario, Canada; NOCS, New Orleans, La; American Cold Storage, Inc., Louisville, Ky; and Commercial Cold Storage, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.

Millard Refrigerated Services Chosen

Land O' Lakes has announced it has chosen Millard Refrigerated Services for distribution of its consumer and foodservice product lines. Millard's new distribution center located in Geneva, IL will be responsible for distributing all of Land O' Lakes consumer products for the Midwest and all foodservice products for distribution west of the Mississippi River.

Judy Ohannesian, Land O' Lakes Director of Logistics, stated, 'Millard Refrigerated Services has the best mix of state-of-the-art facilities, people and systems to meet our Midwest distribution needs. We are very pleased about this important step in our distribution network restructure.'

Millard is currently constructing the second phase for this facility which will be completed in October, 1998. At the completion of this phase, Millard will have over 600,000 square feet of distribution space in the Chicago area with build-out capability of 1.1 million square feet totaling 33 million cubic feet.

Including its facilities currently under construction, Millard operates 24 refrigerated warehouse, distribution and processing facilities throughout the United States accounting for over 160,000,000 cubic feet. This network of facilities is designed to meet the demands of major markets served by national retail, foodservice and production companies throughout the country.

For further information call 402-896-6600.

Store Development Rate Decreasing

Despite a healthy economy and a high level of consumer confidence, new store development was not the preferred method used by supermarkets to boost revenue in 1997. The latest edition of FMI's Facts About Store Development, suggests a new pattern in supermarket construction, remodeling and related trends. Among its findings:

* Store construction hit a five-year low at 3.7 percent, due to market saturation, the capital-intensive nature of construction, and the slow payback on such investments.

* There was little difference between the rate of store openings and closings--3.7 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively.

* Only 5.5 percent of the existing stores in 1997 were remodeled, with 75 percent of those adding square footage.

* The typical new store size is now more than 50,000 square feet, compared with 40,000 square feet at the start of the decade.

* At least eight of the 10 new stores in 1997 included a meals solutions department.

Although there is a trend toward developing larger stores, conventional stores--a traditional supermarket with 30,000 square feet or fewer of selling space--accounted for 50 percent of all operating stores surveyed. Combination stores--supermarkets with a large selection of general merchandise/health and beauty care items and a pharmacy--represented more than 50 percent of the stores built, yet just under 10 percent of those closed.

Americold Logistics Inc Closes Carmar Acquisition

AmeriCold Logistics, Inc., the world's largest provider of temperature-controlled distribution services, has announced the completion of The Carmar Group acquisition, in a release dated July 7, 1998.

Carmar's network adds 60 million cubic feet of refrigerated space in six facilities, with plans for the addition of another distribution center in the mid-Atlantic states. Dan McNamara, CEO of AmeriCold Logistics, Inc., stated, 'The completed acquisition of The Carmar Group along with the addition of Freezer Services, which closed in May, is further evidence of our objective to provide our customers the broadest network for storing and distributing temperature-controlled products in the United States.'

AmeriCold Logistics, Inc., head quartered in Atlanta, GA, currently has 100 facilities totaling 480 million cubic feet of storage capacity nationally. In 1997, the company handled over 44 billion pounds of temperature-controlled products and managed transportation programs which controlled over 7 billion pounds of freight. AmeriCold Logistics is also the largest consolidator of less-than-truckload temperature-controlled products in North America.

U.S. Poultry Sponsors The College Student Career Program

The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association will again co-sponsor one of its most popular programs, the College Student Career Program, at the 1999 International Poultry Exposition.

'This is an invaluable program that helps companies find fresh minds with solid ideas,' said Dr. Ron Prestage, Prestage Farms of South Carolina, chairman of U.S. Poultry's College Student Career Program Advisory Committee.

The 1999 International Poultry Exposition will be held Jan. 20-22 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga.

For more information, contact: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, 1530 Coo/edge Road, Tucker, Ga. 30084-7303. Phone 770-493-9401; Fax: 770-493-9257.

E-mail: mlyle@poultryegg.org

1997 Packaging Machinery Shipments Increase 8.1%

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute has announced the results of its Fourth Annual Packaging Machinery Shipments & Outlook Study. Results of the study showed that United States shipments of packaging machinery increased by 8.1% in 1997 to an estimated $4.347 billion.

U.S. shipments of packaging machinery are forecast to grow at a cumulative annual rate of 4% over the next three years, thereby rising from an estimated $4.347 billion in 1997, to $4.891 billion by 2000.

Millard to Construct Distribution Center

Millard Refrigerated Services (Millard) has announced it will construct a distribution center in Louisville, KY. Built out for Millard's newest Distribution Center will be 465,000 square feet with 14 million cubic feet. The complex will be built in phases. The first phase, which will be 155,000 square feet with 4.7 million cubic feet, is expected to be completed in January, 1999. This facility is another extension of Millard's expanding network of distribution centers targeted for major population centers throughout the United States.

The Louisville facility's General Manager will. be Chris Dean. Chris comes to Millard with a strong background in the distribution logistics field, most recently with AmeriCold Logistics, Inc.

Competition heats up in N.C.'s Piedmont Triad. - Chain Drug Review

GREENSBORO, NC. -- The hot topic in the Piedmont Triad is whether the area can snare a major league baseball team with a proposed new stadium.

But the competition among chain drug retailers here is already major league.

The Triad, a triangle formed by Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is being fought over by CVS Corp., Eckerd Corp, and home-state player Kerr Drug. Phar-Mor Inc., Drug Emporium and Medicine Shoppe International have a small presence in the area, while Walgreen Co. is entering Charlotte--North Carolina's largest city--with five stores this summer.

Given Walgreens' 'inkblot' approach to growth, it's probably inevitable that the company will fill in the area between its established markets in Richmond, Va., and Tennessee by expanding into the Triad, the second-most populous region in North Carolina.

At least one person familiar with the market has no doubt that Walgreens will eventually move beyond Charlotte.

'It won't be long before it enters Greensboro,' he says. 'There's no doubt that it's on [Walgreens president and chief executive officer] Dan Jorndt's master list somewhere. It's likely to be sooner rather than later that there will be a fourth major player in the area.'

Meanwhile, CVS leads the market with a share of some 40% of drug store sales, as a result of its pickup of the more than 70 units Revco D.S. had here. Eckerd's share is in the 25% range, while that of Kerr, which has more stores in outlying areas than within the Triad, is around 10%.

Besides competing with each other, the drug chains must also vie for sales with retailers from the other mass market trade classes as well as with independent pharmacies. North Carolina-based supermarket chain Harris-Teeter Inc. operates food/drug combo stores here, as does Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and Kroger Co. Food Lion Inc., the leader in the supermarket channel here, has no pharmacies, but the health and beauty aids aisles of its more than 60 outlets in the area provide formidable competition for drug chains' front-end business.

In the discount store arena, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Stores and Kmart Corp. are all here with pharmacies, and in Kmart's case, supercenters. A Sam's Club unit of Wal-Mart provides further competition for H&BAs and general merchandise.

What has attracted all these chains is a growing area with a population of over 1.1 million--just under Charlotte's--and drug store sales of close to a half-billion dollars, which made the Triad the No. 39 drug store market in the country last year. Its location puts it squarely between two other vibrant markets--Charlotte--Gastonia to the southwest and the Research Triangle (formed by Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill) to the east.

The Triad, which has an international airport between Greensboro and Winston-Salem, has recently been gaining a reputation as a global business center. In 1996 it was recognized by Site Selection magazine as one of the country's top 10 commercial regions.

According to North Carolina Department of Commerce Secretary S. Davis Phillips, businesses invested more than $200 million in the Triad in 1996, making it the leading region in the nation in terms of new and expanding facilities. Northwest Airlines Corp., Medi Manufacturing and Wilson-Cook Medical are three of several international companies that have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.

Further employment growth is promised by the expansion of Koury Convention Center and the sell-off of Jefferson Pilot Corp.'s 400-acre reserve. And Lorillard Tobacco Co. has moved from the Big Apple to Tobacco Road with the construction of a $12 million building in Greensboro.

If the Triad's global reputation is a recent phenomenon, High Point's is longstanding. The twice-a-year International Home Furnishings Market, the largest wholesale finished goods home furnishings market in the world, has a huge impact on the economy of the city and the region. On average, 70,000 retail home furnishings buyers, furniture company executives, brokers, interior designers and members of the media attend each event.

Visitors to the April and October markets come from every state and more than 100 countries. Yearly attendance is 9,400 and participants spend $250 million in the area, not including furniture orders. The local economic impact has grown more than 160% since 1986.

Winston-Salem has kept pace with the rest of the region through major growth in the service sector, which accounts for over one-fourth of area employment. And the sector is dominated by high-paying jobs in health care, which is the largest industry in Forsyth County. The trend is likely to continue as Winston-Salem's reputation as a leading medical research and treatment center grows through such projects as the $40 million center on aging at Bowman Gray/Baptist Hospital Medical Center.

At the same time, the city is home to the headquarters of two of the largest employers in the Triad, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and the apparel division of Sara Lee Corp., which has opened a $15 million 275-worker distribution center. Meanwhile, heavy construction machinery manufacturer Deere Hitachi has completed a $20 million expansion.

And then there's the possibility of a baseball team. North Carolina businessman Don Beaver is negotiating to buy the Minnesota Twins and move the team to the state next year. Should the sale go through and the league's owners approve a relocation, and if Forsyth and Guilford County voters approve funding for a new stadium in a May 5 referendum, Beaver would move the Twins to the Charlotte area for the 1999 and 2000 seasons, and then to a permanent home in the Triad.

Biggest deals of 2002.(General Interest) - Arkansas Business

 Biggest Deals of 2002  Announced transactions of more than $5 million involving Arkansas companies or projects, ranked by value (Arkansas companies in bold)                                                                 Price    Buyer, City                       Seller, City            (millions)  1  Alltel Corp,, Little Rock   CenturyTel Inc., Monroe, LA    $1,650.0 2  Alltel Corp., Little Rock                                  $1,500.0 3  Alltel Corp., Little Rock                                  $1,250.0 4  Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,       The Seiyu Ltd., Tokyo            $420.0    Bentonville 5  Mapco Express Inc.,         Bank Leumi USA, New York         $168.0    Franklin, TN 6  J.B. Hunt Transport                                          $132.6    Services Inc., Lowell 7  Afco Steel Inc., Little     Bank of Oklahoma, Oklahoma       $130.0    Rock                        City 8  Performance Food Group,     Quality Foods Inc., Little        $95.0    Richmond VA                 Rock 9  General Motors, Pfizer,     Acxiom Corp., Little Rock         $85.0    IBM, Bank of America,    MasterCard, Sun    Microsystems, others 10 Macerich Co., Santa         Dillard's Inc., Little Rock       $68.0    Monica, CA 10 Alltel Corp., Little Rock   CenturyTel Inc., Monroe, LA       $68.0 12 TBC Arkansas Inc., Little   Transamerica Commercial           $50.0    Rock                        Finance Corp., Hoffman                                Estates, IL 13 Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,       The Seiyu Ltd., Tokyo             $46.0    Bentonville 14 McKee Foods Corp.,                                            $45.0    Collegedale, TN 15 National By-Products        Harris Trust & Savings            $42.0    Inc., Des Moines, IA        Bank, Chicago 16 Intellimark Holdings        Technisource Inc., Fort           $40.0    Inc., Little Rock           Lauderdale, FL 16 Immanuel Baptist Church,    Simmons First National            $40.0    Little Rock                 Bank, Pine Bluff 18 University of Arkansas,                                       $38.0    Fayetteville 19 John Q. Hammons,                                              $35.0    Springfield, MO 20 John Q. Hammons,            Metropolitan National Bank,       $32.0    Springfield, MO             Little Rock 21 Faulkner Road Ventures      Bank of America, Charlotte,       $25.5    LLC, North Little Rock      NC 22 First Security Bancorp,                                       $23.0    Searcy; Moses Tucker    Investments LLC, Little    Rock; McKibbon Brothers    Inc., Gainesviile, GA 23 GDLR LLC, Norfolk, VA       Walnut Ridge Associates           $16.4                                LLC, Atlanta 24 Cliffs LP, Fayetteville                                       $15.8 25 Boen Building II LLC,       Regions Bank, Birmingham,         $15.4    Boen Building III LLC,      AL    Bowman Plaza Phase 1 LLC,    Bowman Plaza Phase II    LLC, Little Rock 26 WB Pineapple RP LLC, San    GMAC Commercial Mortgage          $15.0    Clemente, CA                Corp., Horsham, PA 27 Scholastic Distribution     Warmack-Warehouse Ltd.,           $14.1    Services Inc., New York     Texarkana, TX 28 Chenal Valley Apartments    GMAC Commercial Mortgage          $13.8    Ltd., Little Rock           Corp., Horsham, PA 29 FRLR LLC, Norfolk, VA       Walnut Ridge Associates           $13.6                                Inc., Atlanta 30 McSha Properties Inc.,                                        $13.2    Norman, OK 31 Market Plaza Ltd., Little   American National Insurance       $12.5    Rock                        Co., Galveston, TX 32 Central Baptist Church,                                       $11.0    Jonesboro 32 LFC Properties LLC,         Greystone Servicing Corp.,        $11.0    Little Rock                 Warrenton, VA 34 Lindsey Construction Co.,                                     $10.7    Fayetteville 35 Northwest Arkansas                                            $10.2    Community College,    Bentonville 36 South Square LLC and        North Little Rock Holding         $10.1    North Square LLC, North     Co. LLC, West Little Rock    Little Rock                 Holding Co. LLC, affiliates                                of Bond VII Delaware                                Business Trust, Oakbrook,                                IL 36 Schaedle Worthington Hyde   SouthTrust Bank,                  $10.1    Properties Ltd., Atlanta    Birmingham, AL 38 Kansas City Life            WKB Value Partners Ltd.,          $10.0    Insurance Co, Kansas City   Newport Beach, CA 39 Springdale School                                              $9.6    District, Springdale 40 Forest Place Apartments     Deutsche Bank AG, New York         $9.5    Inc., Little Rock 41 Rainbow Holdings II LLC,                                       $8.7    Rogers 41 Bank of Jonesboro                                              $8.7 43 John Brown University,                                         $8.5    Siloam Springs 43 Dixie Development Co.,      Emerson Electric, St. Louis        $8.5    Fayetteville 43 Capitol City Hotel Ltd.,    J.P. Morgan Mortgage               $8.5    Little Rock                 Capital Inc., Atlanta 46 Investors Realty LLC,                                          $8.3    Fayetteville 47 Newman Family LLC,          Arvest Bank, Fayetteville          $8.1    Sherwood 48 Archway Broadcasting        Equity Broadcasting Corp.,         $8.0    Group LLC, Jamestown, NY    Little Rock 48 Plains All-American         Murphy Oil Corp., El Dorado        $8.0    Pipeline LP, Houston 48 Pocahontas Bancorp Inc.,    Spring River Bancshares            $8.0    Jonesboro                   Inc., Imboden 48 WRLR LLC, Norfolk, VA       Walnut Ridge Associates            $8.0                                Inc., Atlanta 48 Campus Crusade for Christ   Bank of the Ozarks Inc.,           $8.0    Inc., Orlando, FL           Little Rock 48 Philander Smith College,    Regions Bank, Birmingham,          $8.0    Little Rock                 AL 48 Riley's Health & Fitness    Regions Bank, Birmingham,          $8.0    Centers Inc., Little Rock   AL 48 Pinnacle Foods Inc.,                                           $8.0    Cherry Hill, N.J. 48 University of Arkansas,                                        $8.0    Fayetteville 57 Quebecor World, Jonesboro                                      $7.9 58 Arkansas Spine and Joint                                       $7.3    Hospital, Jonesboro 59 Barrington Hills            Waterton Raintree LLC,             $7.0    Acquisition LLC, North      Chicago    Kansas City, MO 60 Procon Inc., Bentonville                                       $6.9 61 Alltel Corp., Little Rock   Euronet Worldwide Inc.,            $6.8                                Leawood, KS 62 NWA Properties LLC, North   Community Bank, Cabot              $6.6    Little Rock 63 Cantrell West Properties    Bank of the Ozarks, Little         $6.5    LLC, Little Rock            Rock 63 48th Street LLC,            Numar Group LLC, Springdale        $6.5    Springdale 65 Dixie Management Co.,       ThompsonMurray, Springdale         $6.1    Fayetteville 66 Beau Vue Estates LLC,       Shollmier Family Ltd.,             $6.0    Little Rock                 Little Rock     Buyer, City                       Description or commodity  1  Alltel Corp,, Little Rock   Purchase of wireless operations 2  Alltel Corp., Little Rock   Offering of senior notes 3  Alltel Corp., Little Rock   Offering of publicly traded equity units 4  Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,       Exercising option to increase stake in    Bentonville                 Japanese retail company 5  Mapco Express Inc.,         Funding agreement for purchase of    Franklin, TN                Griffen Express LCC 6  J.B. Hunt Transport         Public offering of 5.1 million shares at    Services Inc., Lowell       $26 a share 7  Afco Steel Inc., Little     Funding agreement for industrial project    Rock                        at Little Rock 8  Performance Food Group,     Purchase of private food distributor    Richmond VA 9  General Motors, Pfizer,     Long-term deals    IBM, Bank of America,    MasterCard, Sun    Microsystems, others 10 Macerich Co., Santa         Sale of 50 percent stake in Flatiron    Monica, CA                  Crossing mall in Colorado 10 Alltel Corp., Little Rock   Remaining wireless market not included                                in larger deal 12 TBC Arkansas Inc., Little   Mortgage for Travis Boating Center    Rock 13 Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,       Initial stake in Japanese retail chain    Bentonville 14 McKee Foods Corp.,          180,000-SF expansion of Little Debbie    Collegedale, TN             Snacks plant at Gentry 15 National By-Products        Financial package for owners of    Inc., Des Moines, IA        industrial property in east Little Rock 16 Intellimark Holdings        Purchase of IT staffing and services    Inc., Little Rock           company 16 Immanuel Baptist Church,    Funding agreement for church building in    Little Rock                 west Little Rock 18 University of Arkansas,     Construction of four-building, 280,000-    Fayetteville                SF dormitory complex 19 John Q. Hammons,            Construction of 252-room Embassy Suites    Springfield, MO             hotel next to Hot Springs Convention                                Center 20 John Q. Hammons,            Loan to build Embassy Suites hotel and    Springfield, MO             convention center at Rogers 21 Faulkner Road Ventures      Funding agreement for North Little Rock    LLC, North Little Rock      industrial project 22 First Security Bancorp,     Construction of 14-story hotel/office/    Searcy; Moses Tucker        condominium building in downtown Little    Investments LLC, Little     Rock    Rock; McKibbon Brothers    Inc., Gainesviile, GA 23 GDLR LLC, Norfolk, VA       239-unit Greenwood Forest project and                                211-unit Williamsburg Square project 24 Cliffs LP, Fayetteville     Expansion of The Cliffs apartment comple 25 Boen Building II LLC,       Financial package for west Little Rock    Boen Building III LLC,      project    Bowman Plaza Phase 1 LLC,    Bowman Plaza Phase II    LLC, Little Rock 26 WB Pineapple RP LLC, San    78-room Springhill Suites project    Clemente, CA 27 Scholastic Distribution     Sale of 497,200-SF warehouse at Maumelle    Services Inc., New York 28 Chenal Valley Apartments    Financial package for 216-unit, Ashburry    Ltd., Little Rock           at Chenal apartment project 29 FRLR LLC, Norfolk, VA       337-unit Foxrun project 30 McSha Properties Inc.,      Construction of Bentonville Commons    Norman, OK                  apartment complex 31 Market Plaza Ltd., Little   Financial package on 202,000-SF Market    Rock                        Plaza 32 Central Baptist Church,     New church construction    Jonesboro 32 LFC Properties LLC,         Funding agreement for 184-unit apartment    Little Rock                 project in Little Rock 34 Lindsey Construction Co.,   Construction of 240-unit Shiloh    Fayetteville                Apartments complex 35 Northwest Arkansas          Construction of three buildings totaling    Community College,          97,000 SF on NWACC campus    Bentonville 36 South Square LLC and        Purchase of two vacant Home Quarters    North Square LLC, North     buildings    Little Rock 36 Schaedle Worthington Hyde   Financial package for 243-unit, Grove    Properties Ltd., Atlanta    at Pleasant Ridge project 38 Kansas City Life            Purchase of 562,000-SF General Electric    Insurance Co, Kansas City   distribution warehouse 39 Springdale School           Construction of 187,896-SF George Junior    District, Springdale        High in Springdale 40 Forest Place Apartments     Mortgage for 256-unit apartment project    Inc., Little Rock           in Little Rock 41 Rainbow Holdings II LLC,    Development of 225,000-SF, 14-lot    Rogers                      commercial project at Bentonville 41 Bank of Jonesboro           Construction of new main bank building 43 John Brown University,      Equipment purchase and construction of    Siloam Springs              38,395-SF William Bell Science Hall 43 Dixie Development Co.,      Purchase of 22-plus acres and 217,000-    Fayetteville                SF commercial building at Rogers 43 Capitol City Hotel Ltd.,    Mortgage on DoubleTree Hotel    Little Rock 46 Investors Realty LLC,       Purchase of 2.5 acres and development    Fayetteville                of commercial property in Fayetteville 47 Newman Family LLC,          Funding agreement for Sherwood home    Sherwood                    improvement development 48 Archway Broadcasting        Purchase of radio stations KLEC-FM/KHTE-    Group LLC, Jamestown, NY    FM 48 Plains All-American         Purchase of Butte Pine Line Co. in    Pipeline LP, Houston        Canada 48 Pocahontas Bancorp Inc.,    Purchase of Peoples Bank of Imboden    Jonesboro 48 WRLR LLC, Norfolk, VA       252-unit Walnut Ridge project 48 Campus Crusade for Christ   Funding agreement for office development    Inc., Orlando, FL 48 Philander Smith College,    Funding agreement for development of    Little Rock                 Kendall Science & Health Mission Center 48 Riley's Health & Fitness    Refinance package for three athletic/    Centers Inc., Little Rock   tennis clubs 48 Pinnacle Foods Inc.,        Equipment purchase and 3,100-SF    Cherry Hill, N.J.           expansion of Fayetteville plant 48 University of Arkansas,     Construction of 36,000-SF health center    Fayetteville 57 Quebecor World, Jonesboro   New press 58 Arkansas Spine and Joint    Construction of new center    Hospital, Jonesboro 59 Barrington Hills            Purchase of 232-unit Barrington Hills    Acquisition LLC, North      Apartments in Little Rock    Kansas City, MO 60 Procon Inc., Bentonville    Construction of five commercial                                buildings at South Walton Plaza at                                Bentonville 61 Alltel Corp., Little Rock   Purchase of EFT Network Services Inc. 62 NWA Properties LLC, North   Financial package for North Little Rock    Little Rock                 project 63 Cantrell West Properties    Funding agreement for 3.4 acre office    LLC, Little Rock            development in Little Rock 63 48th Street LLC,            Purchase of commercial acreage and site    Springdale                  improvement in Springdale 65 Dixie Management Co.,       Purchase and expansion of 32,000-SF    Fayetteville                commercial building in Springdale 66 Beau Vue Estates LLC,       Mortgage for 190 acre in west Little    Little Rock                 Rock     Buyer, City                 Date announced  1  Alltel Corp., Little Rock     March 2  Alltel Corp., Little Rock     June 3  Alltel Corp., Little Rock     April 4  Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,         December    Bentonville 5  Mapco Express Inc.,           October    Franklin, TN 6  J.B. Hunt Transport           June    Services Inc., Lowell 7  Afco Steel Inc., Little       October    Rock 8  Performance Food Group,       April    Richmond VA 9  General Motors, Pfizer,       November    IBM, Bank of America,    MasterCard, Sun    Microsystems, others 10 Macerich Co., Santa           December    Monica, CA 10 Alltel Corp., Little Rock     August 12 TBC Arkansas Inc., Little     October    Rock 13 Wal-Mart Stores Inc.,         March    Bentonville 14 McKee Foods Corp.,            March    Collegedale, TN 15 National By-Products          August    Inc., Des Moines, IA 16 Intellimark Holdings          June    Inc., Little Rock 16 Immanuel Baptist Church,      June    Little Rock 18 University of Arkansas,       November    Fayetteville 19 John Q. Hammons,              March    Springfield, MO 20 John Q. Hammons,              February    Springfield, MO 21 Faulkner Road Ventures        March    LLC, North Little Rock 22 First Security Bancorp,       October    Searcy; Moses Tucker    Investments LLC, Little    Rock; McKibbon Brothers    Inc., Gainesviile, GA 23 GDLR LLC, Norfolk, VA         December 24 Cliffs LP, Fayetteville       January 25 Boen Building II LLC,         November    Boen Building III LLC,    Bowman Plaza Phase 1 LLC,    Bowman Plaza Phase II    LLC, Little Rock 26 WB Pineapple RP LLC, San      December    Clemente, CA 27 Scholastic Distribution       August    Services Inc., New York 28 Chenal Valley Apartments      April    Ltd., Little Rock 29 FRLR LLC, Norfolk, VA         December 30 McSha Properties Inc.,        June    Norman, OK 31 Market Plaza Ltd., Little     November    Rock 32 Central Baptist Church,    Jonesboro 32 LFC Properties LLC,           June    Little Rock 34 Lindsey Construction Co.,     January    Fayetteville 35 Northwest Arkansas            May    Community College,    Bentonville 36 South Square LLC and          March    North Square LLC, North    Little Rock 36 Schaedle Worthington Hyde     September    Properties Ltd., Atlanta 38 Kansas City Life              February    Insurance Co, Kansas City 39 Springdale School             December    District, Springdale 40 Forest Place Apartments       May    Inc., Little Rock 41 Rainbow Holdings II LLC,      September    Rogers 41 Bank of Jonesboro 43 John Brown University,        March    Siloam Springs 43 Dixie Development Co.,        April    Fayetteville 43 Capitol City Hotel Ltd.,      November    Little Rock 46 Investors Realty LLC,         October    Fayetteville 47 Newman Family LLC,            February    Sherwood 48 Archway Broadcasting          November    Group LLC, Jamestown, NY 48 Plains All-American           February    Pipeline LP, Houston 48 Pocahontas Bancorp Inc.,      January    Jonesboro 48 WRLR LLC, Norfolk, VA         December 48 Campus Crusade for Christ     November    Inc., Orlando, FL 48 Philander Smith College,      August    Little Rock 48 Riley's Health & Fitness      March    Centers Inc., Little Rock 48 Pinnacle Foods Inc.,          January    Cherry Hill, N.J. 48 University of Arkansas,       November    Fayetteville 57 Quebecor World, Jonesboro 58 Arkansas Spine and Joint    Hospital, Jonesboro 59 Barrington Hills              January    Acquisition LLC, North    Kansas City, MO 60 Procon Inc., Bentonville      April 61 Alltel Corp., Little Rock     January 62 NWA Properties LLC, North     July    Little Rock 63 Cantrell West Properties      January    LLC, Little Rock 63 48th Street LLC,              April    Springdale 65 Dixie Management Co.,         April    Fayetteville 66 Beau Vue Estates LLC,         June    Little Rock 

NC at a glance.(Y) - The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA)

Raleigh

alcoholic energy drinks targeted

Gov. Beverly Perdue wants energy drinks containing alcohol to be pulled from North Carolina store shelves.

In a statement Friday, Perdue asked manufacturers of the beverages to pull their products from North Carolina until they're shown to be safe.

The state ABC Commission, which regulates alcohol sales, will take up the question of restricting the drinks at a meeting onNov. 18.

Michigan, Utah, Oklahoma and Washington state have issued short-term emergency bans on such products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing their safety.

Officials say the combination of alcohol and stimulants like caffeine can be dangerous in large quantities. Last month, nine college students in Washington state were hospitalized after a drinking binge that included alcoholic energy drinks.

Raleigh

official may oversee fannie, freddie

North Carolina's banking commissioner has been nominated by President Barack Obama to lead the federal agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The White House on Friday announced Joseph Smith Jr. is the president's choice as director for the Federal Housing Finance Agency, subject to Senate confirmation. Smith would replace acting director Edward DeMarco.

Winston-Salem

sheriff asks for ticket for his crash

Forsyth County Sheriff Bill Schatzman wants to show that no one is above the law.

Schatzman has asked city police to issue him a citation for a fender bender he caused by running a red light Tuesday.

Schatzman's county car and two other vehicles were damaged. Winston-Salem police decided not to give the sheriff a ticket although he admitted fault.

Raleigh

Ex-speaker can go back to work

Former North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black can resume work as an eye doctor after leaving a federal prison where he served time for government corruption.

A North Carolina optometry board attorney said Friday the panel voted to restore Black's license to practice optometry Thursday once paperwork is finalized and he pays a fee.

Black pleaded guilty in 2007 to taking cash from chiropractors while pushing their legislative agenda. Black also accepted punishment on state charges.

Greensboro

Tuition going up at UNC-Greensboro

A trustee committee of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro has approved a tuition increase for undergraduate students next year.

The plan endorsed Thursday afternoon would increase tuition by $211.

A second committee approved a fee increase of $309 for the 2011-12 academic year. That would bring the total proposed tuition and fees to nearly $5,500.

Charlotte

Groups wantto protect trees

Two environmental groups are trying to block a ruling that would allow Charlotte-based Duke Energy to burn trees to generate electricity.

The Southern Environmental Defense Center and the Environmental Defense Fund have filed an appeal of a state utilities commission order.

Raleigh

police honortrio of students

Three North Carolina State University students who used CPR to save a fellow student's life are being honored.

The N.C. State Police Department honored the students at a ceremony Friday afternoon in the Talley Student Center at the university's Raleigh campus.

Robert Olson, Matthew Cross and Jonathan Smetana saw a jogger collapse on campus on Sept 2. They noticed the jogger wasn't breathing and administered CPR until emergency medical workers arrived. The jogger, also an N.C. State student, survived.

Raleigh

Conservatives seek gay-marriage ban

The economy dominated the fall campaign, but leaders among North Carolina's social conservatives believe the Republican sweep at the state legislature should finally permit a vote on a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

North Carolina is the only state in the Southeast that hasn't approved an amendment restricting marriage to one man and one woman.

Raleigh

Facebook to build $450M data center

The social networking powerhouse Facebook joins a growing list of companies bringing data centers to North Carolina, with a Thursday announcement that it will spend $450 million to build a facility in Rutherford County.

The data center -- the second in the United States to be built by Facebook -- will take about 18 months to build, with construction set to begin Friday, according to Tom Furlong, Facebook's director of site operations .

The company expects the construction process to create up to 250 jobs during that time, while the data center will have between35 and 45 full-time employees.

Mount Olive

five deaths linked to shared needle

The owner of a Wayne County nursing home where five residents have died from hepatitis B says public health investigators are examining whether a shared blood testing needlemay have spread the disease.

Glenn Kornegay, owner of GlenCare of Mount Olive, said Thursday that state Division of Public Health investigators told his staff five medical technicians had reused diabetes pens when checking patients' blood sugar levels.

Eight patients at Mount Olive have contracted the disease, and five of them have died. Hepatitis B is a blood-borne disease typically transmitted by exposure to blood or body fluids.

Raleigh

case over base'swater can continue

A federal judge has again refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by an Iowa woman who claims contaminated water at Camp Lejeune contributed to her cancer.

U.S. District Judge Terence Boyle last week denied the federal government's motion to end the litigation filed by Laura Jones.

Jones used contaminated water during the 1980s while her husband was stationed at the Marine Corps base. She was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2003.

Wilmington

2 coastal bridges are nearly ready

Two new bridges are ready to open on the North Carolina coast.

NAPA AUTO PARTS Invites Fans to Honor Loved Ones Affected by Breast Cancer and Raise Funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure[R] Via One-of-a-Kind Paint Scheme. - Cancer Weekly

NAPA AUTO PARTS and NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Martin Truex, Jr., are teaming up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure[R] to honor breast cancer victims, survivors and supporters via a special, one-of-a-kind paint scheme to be unveiled on the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota during the AAA 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7. The fan-generated paint scheme will feature names of individuals affected by breast cancer (see also Breast Cancer).

>From now to Oct. 11, consumers can submit the names of loved ones affected by breast cancer to appear on the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota by making a minimum donation of $5.60 via the NAPA KNOW HOW Facebook page (www.facebook.com/napaknowhow). NAPA is hoping to recognize more than 56,000 individuals affected by breast cancer via the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota paint scheme. NAPA will make a minimum guaranteed donation of $250,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure with this promotion and the NAPA All Out for the Cure™ program.

'NAPA wants to give individuals a chance to recognize their loved ones who have been affected by breast cancer via our Signature Car program,' said Gaylord Spencer, vice president of marketing strategy, NAPA AUTO PARTS. 'We look forward to honoring our fans' and customers' mothers, sisters, daughters and wives who have been touched by breast cancer on the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota with this fan-generated paint scheme.'

Consumers can submit a name via the NAPA KNOW HOW Facebook page at www.facebook.com/napaknowhow. Via an easy three-step process, consumers can submit their loved one's name and select the location on the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota where they would like the name to appear. All names collected will be featured in pink on the paint scheme of the No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota during the AAA 500 Sprint Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The minimum donation for each name is $5.60. Names submitted with a donation $560 or more will be in white on the car. All donation proceeds will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

'This year, more than 200,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in the United States,' said Katrina McGhee, EVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 'We are excited to partner with NAPA AUTO PARTS to honor individuals touched by the disease and spread the word about the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer to the NASCAR fan base.'

The AAA 500 at Texas Motor Speedway will be broadcast live on ESPN at 3:00 p.m. EST on Nov. 7, 2010.

NAPA will support Susan G. Komen for the Cure this October with two programs in addition to the Signature Car. Throughout the month of October, consumers can purchase a NAPA All Out for the Cure™ limited edition hat at a participating NAPA AUTO PARTS store or NAPA AutoCare Center for just $3.99 with $1 from the sale of each hat benefitting Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The No. 56 NAPA AUTO PARTS Toyota will also feature a special breast cancer awareness paint scheme on Oct. 3 at Kansas Speedway during the Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods.

NAPA AUTO PARTS has supported Susan G. Komen for the Cure since 2008. In 2009, NAPA conducted the NAPA AutoCare's All Out for the Cure breast cancer awareness campaign whereby consumers who spent $25 at any participating NAPA AUTO PARTS Store or NAPA AutoCare Center received an All Out for the Cure travel mug. In conjunction with the program, NAPA made a donation of $250,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. NAPA also ran a special pink paint scheme on the No. 55 NAPA Toyota, driven by Michael Waltrip, during last October's Sprint Cup Race at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Breast Carcinoma, Oncology, Women's Health.