Arkansas business news in brief

Feed mill marks 35-year safety record

Cargill's pork feed mill in London, near Russellville, has gone 35 years without a lost-time accident, the first facility of any kind to reach the milestone since the Arkansas Department of Labor began keeping records in 1976.

The record spans the history of the plant, which began operations in 1980. The mill has gone more than 12,700 days without an accident, said Bud Akers, the plant's manager.

The facility makes and delivers hog feed for nearly 100 contracted farms in the region, as well as the company-owned Sandy River sow farm, and processes more than 152 million pounds of feed annually. Jobs include grinding, mixing and pelleting feed, as well as lifting and handling several tons of feed daily and delivering the loads to farms.

The safety program is employee-led and supported by management.

Council names Lindsey lifetime member

Former Northwest Arkansas Council executive director Uvalde Lindsey was inducted as an honorary lifetime member of the organization during its 25th anniversary meeting Monday.

Lindsey, who oversaw the regional planning group from its inception in 1990 until 2005, joins former President Bill Clinton; Alice Walton, daughter of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton and a founding member of the council; and U.S. Rep. John Paul Hammerschmidt. Clinton was selected for the honor in 2010 and Walton and Hammerschmidt were inducted in 2012.

Council members gathered for the silver anniversary meeting at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, the museum founded by Alice Walton. Gov. Asa Hutchinson addressed the meeting, which celebrated the growth of Northwest Arkansas and major milestones since the council was formed in 1990.

Lindsey, now a state senator, was the first executive director of the organization.

"It's an humbling experience to be standing up here and be named as a lifetime member with folks like Alice, folks we've all looked up to for a long time, who helped this region come together to succeed," Lindsey said.

Sam's Club Chief Executive Officer Rosalind Brewer completed her term as presiding co-chairman of the organization. Jim Walton, CEO and chairman of Arvest Bank, will replace Brewer and is serving as presiding co-chairman for the third time.

Marshall Saviers, a partner in real estate firm Sage Partners, joined the Northwest Arkansas Council's executive committee. Saviers will serve a three-year term.

Business on 07/21/2015

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