Overheard

Springfield-based hotelier and real estate developer John Q. Hammons last month put an exclamation mark on the nearly $200 million he has invested in Arkansas. John Q. Hammons Hotels & Resorts LLC opened the $33 million, 125,000-square-foot John Q. Hammons Center in northwest Arkansas, part of Hammons’ largest development to date. The Rogers, Ark., meeting facility is connected to Hammons Hotels’ Embassy Suites Hotel Northwest Arkansas, which is undergoing a 152-suite tower and spa addition to open next summer. The property is across from the Pinnacle Hills Promenade, a 1.1 million-square-foot shopping center due to open in October. Also located nearby are several large corporate demand generators such as headquarters for Wal-Mart and Tyson. Wal-Mart president and CEO Lee Scott praised Hammons in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for Hammons’ foresight and investments.

Hammons Center has the largest ballroom in Arkansas at 42,000 square feet. It features $1 million in audio and video equipment, including projectors, a theater screen, plasma-screen televisions and touch-screen keypads for lighting and sound-system options.

WOW Membership Drive

Wonders of Wildlife’s recent Join WOW Now membership campaign netted the museum 141 new memberships and 20 new business memberships, according to WOW’s most recent newsletter. To create a competitive aspect, board members formed teams to solicit members. Courtney’s Cougars, led by Museum District Board member Courtney Beykirch, of West Plains, won the contest, collecting 37 points for individual memberships. Individually, Commerce Bank-Springfield President Bob Hammerschmidt recruited the most business memberships with 11, and Bass Pro Shops Public Relations Director Martin MacDonald recruited the most individual memberships with 30. WOW had nearly 1,500 memberships at the end of 2005.

TABOR Rejected

A ballot initiative that proposed a spending lid on state funding will not go to voters in November, a Cole County circuit judge ruled in July. Judge Richard Callahan chose to uphold Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s May rejection of Constitutional Amendment Article 14. The article is similar to one passed in Colorado called the Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, or TABOR, which placed a cap on state funding for services such as education, health care, public safety and capital construction. Both proponents and opponents say the issue could resurface.

Slice of Nice

Edward Jones is sponsoring a school-supply drive for Salvation Army on Aug. 16 and 17 at Edward Jones’ new 304 E. Republic Road office. An open house is planned in conjunction with the drive’s second day, and guests are asked to bring supplies. Investment representatives Lilly McCown and Nancy Conley are hosts. RSVP by Aug. 15 by calling (417) 881-5200.