Trout Capital News
Cotter, Arkansas

Good things are happening in Cotter; it's a great time to be here!

Published by the City of Cotter, Arkansas
Trout Capital News Home Page

September 2002

3^rd Annual Fall Festival Set
September 27^th & 28^th

This year's "Art, Antiques and Architecture...A Cotter Open House" will be better than ever.

White River Shore Lunch Fish Fry

The celebration will begin at 5 p.m. Friday evening Sept 27^th with a White River Shore Lunch Fish Fry at the Pavilion at Big Spring Park. The cooking will done by Gary Flippin and friends from Rim Shoals Trout Dock, and R.V. Armstrong and The Broken Spoke Band will entertain. The cost is $5 per plate. The Cotter High School Band and Chorus will perform at 4:30 just prior to the fish fry.

On Saturday Sept 28^th the celebration will move to Cotter's historic downtown for a full day's entertainment.

Parade

At 10 a.m. visitors will be treated to a downtown parade. The theme will be "A Salute to Cotter Schools - Home of the Warriors." School administrators, Superintendent Donald Sharp, High School Principal Mike Parrish, and Elementary Principal Aril Cheek have been selected as grand marshals. The staging area will be Melba Ave. in Cotter Heights. The route will be from Melba westbound down Cotter hill, left on Second, and right on McLean to Big Spring Park.

At 11 a.m. several major attractions begin.

Art Show and Sale

City Hall will be the site of an outstanding art show and sale conducted by members of the Area Art Club. The show will feature popular award winning artists in various media.

Antique and Classic Car Show

The antique and classic car show will be located on McLean Ave. just west of Second and McLean. We are expecting a great show and trophies will be awarded to include dash plaques for the first 25 cars. The show will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Musical Entertainment

At 12 noon an outstanding stage show will begin along Second Street just north of Second and McLean. The schedule starts with great family entertainment by Ray, Shelly and the Boys. "Karaoke with Maggie" a songwriter and entertainer from St. Louis, MO, will begin at 1 p.m. The popular Grizzly Bear Boys will provide laughter, humor and fun at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m. Country music star Dusty Rhodes with recording artists Sandy Rhodes and Brenda Burnett will appear. The versatile group Swing Shift should begin around 4:30 p.m. and close the show with their light jazz and old standards. Bring a lawn chair and have a great time.

Exhibits

Throughout the day a variety of exhibits will be located throughout the downtown area. These include the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's mobile aquarium, the Wiggins Battery Civil War Re-enactors, the North Arkansas Woodcarvers, Hill and Hollow Quilters, a variety of civic and school clubs and private arts and craft vendors.

Self-guided Historical Walking Tour

Cotter's history will be highlighted by a self guided walking tour. Information brochures will be available at the Chamber of Commerce Information Booth. Renovations of historic downtown properties to include the Rainbow Arch Bridge will be featured. Plans are for the Hopkins Lumber Company Building at the corner of South and 2^nd Streets to be open part of the day.

Kids' Games

Kids games are a new feature this year. Carnival style games will be located along the Cotter Hair Studio building just north of Second and McLean. The youth church in the old Adams Hall - Fielding Grocery building next door plans to be open and also offer activities especially for kids.

New Apartment Building Opens

On August 20, 2002, Mayor Pratt and the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Rodney Wagner's Autumn Run Apartments to Cotter at a formal ribbon cutting ceremony. The building is located at 109 Ryan Road and contains nine apartments.

Four units offer three bedroom, two baths, washer and dryer, with 1200 square feet. Five units offer two bedroom, two baths, washer and dryer, with 950 square feet. Monthly rental for the three bedroom units is $550, and rent for the two bedroom units is $500. Rent includes water, sewer and trash pick-up.

Hat's Off Award

The August Hat's Off Award sponsored by the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce was given to Chuck and Jane Flowers at 432 Combs Ave. The award is presented to recognize outstanding property improvements within the city.

VFW Day of Remembrance for 9/11

The Cotter VFW Post is hosting a service at 9:00 a.m. on the 11th day of September to honor those lost and recognize survivors. The public is invited! Plans are also under way to include our local fire department and police force. Coffee and donuts will be served.

City Council Approves Street Work

The City Council approved a proposal from Advance Coatings Company of Little Rock, AR, for patching and resurfacing of Summit, Mulberry, Bland, Lithia and Cedar Streets. The work would be done with a process called slurry seal. Work should begin sometime in September of this year.

In other business the Council gave final approval to Ordinance 2002-04 which closed State Street between 8^th & 9^th Streets in Cotter. The Council heard an update from the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce on the upcoming fall festival and also received praise for the new downtown street lights and sidewalks. The September City Council meeting was scheduled for September 26, 2002.

Final call for family histories for the new
"History of Baxter County"

The Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society are preparing a new County History book. The focus will be on personal and family histories. Each Baxter resident is encouraged to write a 500-word history of their family's time in Baxter County. The final deadline is November 15. For more information, call Jane Andrewson, 425-4502.