Pickard announces retirement from Maumelle PD
Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce launches Build Maumelle; Commercial Real Estate Awards honor significant achievements; ‘Cats ring it up, again plus sports and headlines
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The North Little Rock School Board will have its regular, monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the district’s administration building. The North Little Rock City Council will meet next Monday night at City Hall. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube and the public is welcome.
EVENTS: The best time of the year is here. And by that, I mean March Madness. Good time to call in sick and just watch basketball all day. The game of local interest is Arkansas, of course. The Hogs play Hawaii at 3:25 today on TBS and in Portland. If they win, they would face the winner of High Point-Wisconsin. The Badgers are the higher seed and the favorite. You know what else goes with basketball? Free food. As part of its opening the new Hideaway Pizza in west Little Rock. Can’t miss it, right in front of Costco. The new restaurant is having friends and family days today and Friday. Click here to reserve your time. Parties up to 4 can be done online. Larger groups require a phone call.
Pickard announces retirement from Maumelle Police Department
The City of Maumelle last week announced the retirement of Maumelle Police Chief Cory Pickard, above, effective May 1, after more than 27 years of service to the Maumelle Police Department and the community.
Pickard began his career with the Maumelle Police Department on Feb. 8, 1999. Over the course of his career, he served in a variety of roles including K9 Handler, Patrol Shift Supervisor, Background Investigator, and Patrol Commander before being appointed Chief of Police in September 2019.
Maumelle Mayor Caleb Norris said, in a release, Pickard had served the city with professionalism, integrity and a deep commitment. “I want to personally thank him for his leadership and for the example he has set throughout his career,” Norris said.
Norris said he had the opportunity to work closely with Pickard long before becoming mayor.
“I worked with Chief Pickard during my time as the city’s attorney and prosecutor and had the privilege of seeing firsthand his professionalism, judgment and dedication to this community,” Norris said. “That experience gave me full confidence in appointing him as Chief of Police, and I appreciate the leadership he has provided to this department.”
During his time as chief, Pickard led the department through several significant events, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the consolidation of communications operations with the City of North Little Rock. His leadership emphasized professionalism, transparency and maintaining strong relationships between the police department and the citizens in the community.
Earlier in his career, Pickard played an important role in assisting neighboring jurisdictions during the devastating tornado outbreak in 2014 and again in 2023 when severe storms impacted surrounding communities.
Prior to becoming a police officer, Pickard served with the Sherwood Fire Department. In 2003, he deployed with the U.S. Army’s 39th Infantry Brigade as part of the 1st Cavalry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he served in Baghdad. During his military service he was awarded the Purple Heart along with several other military honors and commendations.
Pickard is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, having completed the prestigious executive leadership program in 2022.
“Serving the citizens of Maumelle alongside the men and women of this department has been the greatest honor of my career,” Pickard said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such dedicated professionals and to serve a community that has always supported its police department.”
Norris said the Maumelle Police Department has developed strong leadership throughout its ranks and that experience will be important as the city begins the process of selecting its next chief.
“The Maumelle Police Department has earned a strong reputation for professionalism, service, and the trust it has built with our community,” Norris said. “My goal is to ensure a smooth transition that continues the culture the department is known for.”
Pickard’s final day with the Maumelle Police Department will be May 1.
Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce launches Build Maumelle
The Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce has announced the launch of its new Entrepreneurial Support Organization called “Build Maumelle,” an initiative designed to support the growth and success of local entrepreneurs and small businesses through education, connections, and strategic resources.
Build Maumelle will serve as a hub for entrepreneurs at all stages, from startups to established businesses seeking expansion, by connecting them with mentors, capital sources, and practical tools needed to succeed in today’s competitive business environment.
“As Maumelle continues to grow, it’s important that our entrepreneurs and small businesses have the support systems they need to thrive,” said Kellie Wall, President and CEO of the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce. “[It] will help bring together the resources, relationships, and expertise that entrepreneurs need to start, grow, and expand their businesses right here in our community.”
The organization will host its first training session on Tuesday, March 31, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mira at Maumelle. The event will feature a panel discussion focused on sources of capital for businesses, including funding opportunities for startup growth, business expansion, and strategic investment.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from financial professionals and capital providers, ask questions about funding options, and gain insight into navigating the financing landscape for their businesses.
The event will also include networking opportunities for entrepreneurs, business leaders, and community partners, along with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine provided for attendees by Mira at Maumelle.
The Chamber hopes the new initiative will strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Maumelle by fostering collaboration, increasing access to resources, and supporting long-term economic growth.
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community partners interested in attending are encouraged to participate in this inaugural session and connect with others working to build and grow businesses in the region.
For more information about the Maumelle Entrepreneurial Support Organization or to attend the event, contact the Maumelle Area Chamber of Commerce at kellie@maumellechamber.com or visit www.maumellechamber.com.
Clark, Shettles‑Tull awarded PCSSD Inspiration in Education awards at board meeting
Larry Clark and Tiffany Shettles‑Tull were both awarded the People Committed to Serving Scholars Daily Inspiration in Education Award for March during the regular meeting of the PCSSD Board of Education.
Clark was the classified awardee, and Shettles‑Tull was the certified awardee. The awards, which included a certificate and monetary prize, were presented by PCSSD Superintendent Jeff Senn.
Clark is the security officer at Oakbrooke Elementary and brings more than seven years of school and community safety experience to his role, including five years with the Arkansas Department of Corrections.
Shettles‑Tull has been an educator for 25 years and began her PCSSD career in 2001 at North Pulaski High School, where she taught English and served in several roles until the school closed in 2016. She later taught at Jacksonville and Maumelle High Schools, also serving as an AVID Site Coordinator and AVID elective teacher. Five years ago, she transitioned to College Station Elementary as the teacher librarian, where she now shares her love of reading with younger learners and builds strong relationships with students and families.
She also supports classroom instruction, manages the school’s social media presence, and organizes monthly themed potlucks to build staff morale. Colleagues describe her as a positive, dedicated leader whose enthusiasm and commitment strengthen the entire school community.
Commercial Real Estate Awards honor significant achievements
The Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock held the eighth annual Commercial Real Estate Awards on Thursday, March 12, to recognize significant achievements and the largest real estate transactions in metro Little Rock made by local brokers in the previous year. Transactions are recognized in the categories chosen when the transaction was submitted. Sales are based on reported dollar amounts and leases are based on reported square footage.
Roby Brock, CEO of Natural State Media, parent company for Talk Business & Politics and The Northwest Arkansas Business Journal emceed the event.
LEASES
Largest Industrial Lease : 9401 Diamond Drive, North Little Rock – Bill Pendergist, Isaac Smith, and Andrew Wiechern, Colliers Arkansas
Largest Medical Lease: 10915 N Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock – George Friedmann, Chris Monroe, Chris Moses, and Greyson Skokos, Moses Tucker Partners
Largest Office Lease: 1001 Technology Drive, Little Rock – Jeff Hathaway and Wes Martin, Hathaway Group and John Martin and Chris Monroe, Moses Tucker Partners
Largest Retail Lease: 9101 W Markham, Little Rock – Hank Kelley, Eric Varner, and Kindley Wasson, Kelley Commercial Partners
SALES
Largest Industrial Sale: 4201-4217 S Shackleford Road, Little Rock – Nathan Monan and Drew Holbert, Colliers Arkansas
Largest Land Sale : Acreage Tracts off Harper Road, Little Rock Port Authority – Hank Kelley, Nick Kelley, and Gary Smith, Kelley Commercial Partners
Largest Multi-Family Housing Sale: 501 N Magnolia Street, North Little Rock – Richard Cheek and Ted Bailey III, The Multifamily Group
Largest Office Sale: 1 World Avenue, Little Rock – Hank Kelley, Kelley Commercial Partners and Ed Willis, Willis Cole Partners
Largest Retail Sale : 9801 I-30, Little Rock – Casi Runnells, Colliers Arkansas
Commercial Real Estate Project of the Year 2025
Pavilion in the Park, conceived as a European hilltop village with an inner street and glass covered courtyard surrounded by five buildings, was constructed in 1985 as an upscale specialty retail center. On March 31, 2023, the iconic mixed-use retail, restaurant, healthcare and commercial office building with 38-active tenants was hit directly by an EF3 tornado that caused substantial damage throughout central Arkansas and beyond. The building was closed immediately, assessed for damage and its structural integrity, and the owners determined they did want to renovate the building. The result was a multi-year, $14M-plus project that replaced all of the damaged glass of the 16,000 SF atrium and much of the other glass and windows; removed, reframed and re-roofed all of the buildings in a sequence that kept the center open for business throughout construction; replaced the HVAC system; upgraded the electrical and lighting systems; created a bridal suite, groom suite and catering kitchen to support event rentals; renovated public restrooms; replaced flooring and many other public finishes; and renovated multiple tenant spaces. The result is a completely renovated and refreshed destination property that welcomes thousands of people per week. The project is a testament to the determination of the Flake & Company ownership to save and enhance the Pavilion, and the architect, engineers, construction manager, subcontractors, and vendors who delivered the renovated facility safely with a focus on value, quality, and schedule with as little disruption to the tenants and public as possible.
Owner/Developer: Flake and Company
Architect: Polk Stanley Wilcox
Contractor: Metro Disaster Services, East Harding
Bank: Relyance Bank
Person of the Year Award
2025 was an eventful year for Jeff Yates. In 2025, Yates was an integral part of Pavilion in the Park’s grand re-opening and is reinventing the Village at Rahling Road with a new vision. With over thirty-five years of experience, he has shared his integrity and expertise as a sounding board and trusted advisor throughout our state. He has written extensively for the Daily Record and is an expert on the metro Little Rock CRE market. There is a list of 2025 Flake and Company projects that show the fingerprints of Jeff Yates. Separate from his Flake and Company projects is the impact he, personally, has had on CREC of Metro Little Rock. This organization was his brainchild beginning in 2018, and CREC was extremely pleased to honor him as the 2025 CRE Person of the Year.
In Memorium
Last year, the metro Little Rock commercial real estate community lost a long-time member. Stacey Moore served in various capacities at Hathaway Group for 35 years, and at the time of her death on Feb. 2nd, 2025, she was Director of Operations. Jeff Hathaway, Hathaway Group, highlighted some of Stacey Moore’s accomplishments and contributions.
Commercial Real Estate Impact Awards
The Impact awards recognize the positive effects of innovative ventures, support, experiences, or long-term projects that are key to the success of individuals or businesses who help make metro Little Rock a healthy commercial real estate market.
Little Rock Central High School: Some spaces continue to make impacts over their many years. Little Rock Central High School, an iconic building, the only high school in the United States designated as a National Historic Site, completed its first major expansion and renovation in over 50 years in 2025. The $60 million upgrade included:
58,000 square-foot, two-story field house with an indoor practice field, cheer and wrestling rooms, and a new weight room
67,000 square-foot, three-story science wing that replaced portable buildings and the original laboratory spaces that were built in 1927 with a rooftop patio classroom and 200-seat lecture hall
new common area that connects the science building to the school
new parking lot
new promenade connecting the buildings together called the Tiger Trail
This expansion and renovation will allow Little Rock Central High to continue its impact on the community to continue for generations to come.
Rockwater Village
In the early 2000s, Lisa Ferrell and Jim Jackson believed in a possibility. Their idea was to create a unique, modern take on the traditional neighborhoods of the past on the bank of the Arkansas River. What started as the development of a residential neighborhood has had ripple effects on North Little Rock’s historic Argenta neighborhood and the city of North Little Rock. Besides the original Rockwater Village residential development, the area now boasts the Rockwater Marina, a 64-slip marina offering access to the Arkansas River and The Resort at Rockwater, an upscale multifamily community. TIF and property tax for the area has seen an increase from $58,874.25 in 2007 to $1,062,444 in 2024. Revenue for the NLR School District increased from $44,000 in 2006 to $663,232.28 in 2024. There has been over $300,000,000 in private investment, with more to come. This Impact award honored the vision of Lisa and Jim and Rockwater Village.
Legend Awards
People are called Legends for many reasons. They could have noteworthy accomplishments, outstanding skills, or inspirational gifts that have been shared. CREC’s Legend award recognizes how this type of person makes an outsized contribution to metro Little Rock’s commercial real estate community. Past Legends include John Flake, Timothy Grooms, Rick Ashley, Gus Vratsinas, Jim Hathaway, Jimmy Moses, and Dickson Flake. This year’s recipients are Tom Ferstl and Mark Saviers.
Tom M. Ferstl
Tom M. Ferstl has spent more than six decades shaping the real estate valuation profession in Arkansas. Born April 19, 1939, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, he built his career on education, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Mr. Ferstl earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1967, his MBA from Northwestern University in 1968, and his Juris Doctor from UA Little Rock in 1972. His professional career included leadership roles as Vice President and Manager of Republic Mortgage Company and as Chief Appraiser for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation before founding his own ventures, including Ferstl Enterprises and Affiliated Appraisers of Arkansas.
In 1967, Tom Ferstl founded what would become Ferstl Valuation Services with a simple but powerful goal: to provide reliable, trustworthy, and certified real estate appraisal services. In 2000, his son, J.T. Ferstl joined the company. The father-son partnership established a legacy rooted in loyalty, respect, and pride in their work. Today, the firm stands as one of the oldest and largest full-service appraisal companies in Arkansas, known for tackling complex assignments and serving as trusted advisors across the region. Mr. Ferstl’s distinguished career includes numerous professional honors, reflecting a lifetime dedicated not only to business success, but to strengthening the profession for future generations.
Mark Saviers
Mark Saviers is one of the founders of Tempus Realty Partners. He has served as General Partner of Asset Strategies of Tempus since inception in 2016. Mark has 43 years of experience in developing, leasing, and acquiring office buildings, business parks, data centers, warehouses, and corporate headquarters/campuses. His extensive work in Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Illinois with the Trammell Crow Company Myers and Crow & Saviers, Ltd., included acquiring and managing Westlake Corporate Park in west Little Rock, at that time a campus of six office buildings and about 30 acres of to-be-developed land. On one of those land parcels, Mark led the team to develop a build-to-suit office building for Aegon Transamerica.
Mark is one of three co-founders and a current board member of Cushman & Wakefield/Sage Partners, a commercial real estate firm with offices in Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock. He is the author of the book Flipped, which tells the story of how God helped his brother-in-law and partner of Sage, Tommy Van Zandt, survive and thrive after a tragic accident in 2009, and how faith, family, friends, and community came together to create triumph over tragedy. Mark is married to his high school sweetheart, Vicki, and they are proud parents of two grown sons, Marshall (married to Beth) and John Mark (married to Melissa) and grandparents to four grandchildren. He enjoys fishing, hunting, and traveling with family and friends.
The Commercial Real Estate Council of Metro Little Rock’s mission is to promote and support all aspects of commercial real estate. The group works to facilitate engagement, education, and networking for groups, individuals, and companies representing development, brokerage, property management, finance, construction, law, and other industries with an interest in commercial real estate in the metro Little Rock area.
For more information contact 501-291-2210 or info@crecmlr.org.
North Little Rock opens new Event Center
Mayor Terry Hartwick’s 20‑year vision has officially come to life; the North Little Rock Event Center is now open and ready to welcome the community. Over 650 City leaders, residents, and guests gathered Tuesday evening for a celebratory ceremony followed by self‑guided tours of the stunning new facility. Guests explored the elegant Centennial Bank Ballroom with its soaring ceilings and dazzling lighting, the flexible Mainstream Boardrooms, the state‑of‑the‑art catering kitchen, and more.
The evening offered a moment to reflect on years of planning and collaboration, and to look ahead to the bright future of North Little Rock. With new hotels and businesses rising around the Event Center, the development is poised to transform the Arena District and downtown, strengthening North Little Rock as a premier place to live, eat, work, play—and now celebrate! The City extends its sincere thanks to everyone who attended and to Central Arkansas Entertainment for helping to create a beautiful opening night experience. We look forward to the many events and memories this new space will host in the years ahead.
If you are interested in reserving space at the North Little Rock Event Center, call Raul Fernandez at 501-975-8866 or email nlreventcenter@nlr.ar.gov
Sports
North Little Rock 46, Har-Ber 40: ‘Cats ring it up, again
By Collin Scott
HOT SPRINGS —- North Little Rock Wildcats entered the state finals with a set goal to finish a strong season with a championship.
The Charging Wildcats did exactly what they set out to do.
North Little Rock defeated Har-Ber in the state championship girls basketball tournament with the final score 46-40 Saturday night, closing out a strong postseason run and making their mark as one of the top teams in the state of Arkansas. The Wildcats left Hot Springs as champions after going through a tough tournament bracket and rising to the occasion in the final matchup.
North Little Rock ended the year at 30-3 and this was the second time the ‘Cats had defeated Har-Ber.
North Little Rock Coach Daryl Fimple’s motto all year was for the team to become legendary at the end of the season.
“Everybody kept asking me, how good of a team is this?... Well, you can’t tell until the end, and I think it’s a pretty good team,” Fimple said.
This title puts a stamp on a dominant season for the Wildcats, which continued to be proven against the top tier competition throughout the playoffs. The Wildcats’ being able to control the pace of the game and completing key plays in big moments helped separate them from the rest of the teams in the tournament.
Spring Dale Har-Ber Coach Kimberly Jenkins believes they started off the game by having a bad first half leading to the loss.
“We’re not used to scoring ten points in a quarter, let alone a first half. That was a hole we kind of dug ourselves that was hard to get out of”.
Har-Ber was able to push through their own obstacles on their path to the finals, setting this finals up as a great matchup between two of the best teams in Arkansas. With the championship, North Little Rock girls basketball closes the season as the top team in Class 6A.
North Little Rock’s Elicia Shepherd was named the game’s MVP with nine points and 11 rebounds. Lauren Brewster led North Little Rock with 14 points while Katie Fimple, the coach’s daughter, had nine points in the win. For the younger Fimple, basketball runs in her family with her dad having won five state titles, while Donnie Smith, her late grandfather, was also a career coach
North Little Rock is now 29-3 and will face Springdale Har-Ber at 6 p.m. this Saturday at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs.
The ‘Cats are going for their sixth state title under Fimple, with wins in 2022, 2018, 2016, 2010, 2006 – and ninth state championship game with those three appearances coming this season and in 2023, 2017 and 2009.
North Little Rock defeated Har-Ber, 54-40, in a game played Dec, 31.
This was also North Little Rock’s sixth state title under Fimple, with wins now in 2026, 2022, 2018, 2016, 2010, 2006 – and ninth state championship game with those three appearances coming this season and in 2023, 2017 and 2009.
State finals scoreboard
Thursday
CLASS Score … Attendance … MVP
1A GIRLS: Earle 73, West Side 54 2938 Jada Maples
1A BOYS: Earle 70: Clarendon 58 3133 Ta’Ron Hurst
2A GIRLS: Quitman 66, Sloan-Hendrix 57 2524 Madilyn Varvil
2A BOYS: Barton 89, Mt. Vernon-Enola 44 3549 Christian Williams
Friday
3A GIRLS: Manila 49, McGehee 42 3522 Lucy Farmer
3A BOYS: Osceola 55, Newport 51 4520 Tyler Bell
4A GIRLS: Pulaski Academy, 56 Pea Ridge 43 3227 Greenlee Elmore
4A BOYS: Little Rock Hall 59, Mills 54 3622 Landen Hill
Saturday
5A GIRLS: Farmington 74, Mountain Home 39 3362 Easton McCollough
5A BOYS: Parkview 63, Marion 57 4223 Jacob Lanier
6A GIRLS: North Little Rock 46, Har-Ber 40 4110 Elicia Shepherd
6A BOYS: Bryant 58, LR Central 50 5319 Camarion Bead
TOURNAMENT TOTAL 44,048
TOURNAMENT AVERAGE 3,671
Health
Pandemic deaths unknown
The state Department of Health didn’t update the state’s dashboard this week, again, and deaths still total 532 for the past year. There’s no tab created for 2025 either and the virus has now killed 14,162 Arkansans since the pandemic began then. That would mean the pandemic death toll has now passed Marion’s 13,635 people, the state’s 29th largest city.
Covid toolkit
There’s now a one-stop shop to learn about vaccination sites and other Covid related information. Click here to learn more.
If you don’t want to get sick and die, there’s some things you can do:
Get vaccinated
Get boosted
Wear a mask
Avoid crowds