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

October  2002

Cotter Fall Festival Best Ever

Great weather, attractions, food and entertainment filled the streets of Cotter with visitors during the 3rd annual fall festival "Art, Antiques and Architecture...A Cotter Open House."

The Friday evening fish fry at the pavilion set the tone for the entire event. The Cotter High School band and chorus entertained, Rim Shoals Lodge and Trout Dock presented an authentic White River shore lunch fish fry, and R.V. Armstrong and his band played into the evening. Lines started long and stayed that way until the large supply of catfish was exhausted. Many visitors stayed late and enjoyed the music.

On Saturday Cotter's historic downtown was on display as a large crowd enjoyed colorful exhibits, a downtown parade, art show, stage show, car show, historic tours and plenty to eat including the Pig-In-A-Poke Barbeque.

Parade winners from Cotter schools included the Traveling Warrior Trophy won by the Senior Beta Club. Their float, "On Track with Beta" was a train with the authentic number of the first locomotive that came to Cotter. This Traveling Warrior Trophy is a carved wooden warrior and will be engraved with the winner's name and year won. The trophy will be given each year to the winning school entry.

Winners were: Traveling Warrior Trophy, Senior Beta Club, Float Name: On Track with Beta; Student 1st Prize Trophy and $50 Savings Bond donated by Doris Merrill, FBLA Club Float Name: Don't Get Scalped in Business; Student 2nd Prize Trophy, Cotter High School Choir, Float Name: Pride in Action; Student 3rd Prize Trophy, Cotter High School Stream Team, Organization 1st Prize Trophy, The Cotter Post Office, Float Name: Cotter "Warrior" Express ----River Run Route.

Meet Cotter's Candidates at
North Arkansas Youth Center

The public is invited to a special meeting at 7 p.m. on October 22, 2002, at the North Arkansas Youth Center, 412 Powell Street in Cotter. The evening is sponsored by the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce and refreshments will be served. The following candidates running for office in the city of Cotter have been invited to share their views.

Mayor Louis Dennis, Bill Jennings, Jimmy Thrasher

City Council

Ward 1 Position 1 - Peggy Dunn, Jim Whittington
Ward 1 Position 2 - Keith Simmons (unopposed)
Ward 2 Position 1 - Mo Mosley (unopposed)
Ward 2 Position 2 - Chuck Flowers (unopposed)
Ward 3 Position 1 - S.E. Copeland, Tommy Flippin
Ward 3 Position 2 - Wanda Fielding, Robert Nordell

Please plan to attend this important meeting. For more information call Gil Stammer at 435-2663

City Council Promotes Paving Work

At their regularly monthly meeting on Sept 26th the Cotter City Council approved payment to R.& B. Paving Co. of $10,423 upon completion of work in the 7th and Powell area. Also, the council approved payment of $11,808 to Advance Coating for paving work to be completed in the area of Bland, Mulberry, Lithia, Cedar and Summit Streets. The Council also approved consideration of additional paving on Powell Street to fully utilize money set aside for paving
during the current fiscal year. Mayor Pratt will obtain estimates from crews on site and report back at the next council meeting.

The Council approved replacement of a 1976 Chevrolet pick-up with a 1997 Jeep at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Taxes within the City of Cotter were maintained at current rates for the year.

The Council voted to oppose Amendment 3 to the Arkansas Constitution due to significant reductions in tax revenues that would result.

The Council delayed consideration of an additional property donation with deed restrictions for part of lot numbers 510, 511, and 512 at the corner of Second and McLean. The measure will be taken up again in January, 2003.

The Council heard a presentation by Police Chief Jack Burkhart on the need for a pit bull and vicious dog ordinance. The Council asked that a proposed ordinance be developed for consideration in the near future.

Minimum Flow Benefits Outweigh Costs

The Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported on Oct.1, 2002, that the economic benefits of making "fish water" in the White, Norfork and Little Red Rivers out weigh the costs of removing the water from the hydro-electric system of five dams.

There will be a great deal of scrutiny on the process going forward. Enormous business interests on the lakes and rivers and within the flood control and power generation environments will all have a stake in actions that will be taken to balance the increased flow and effects on the river
with decreased levels and effects on the lakes.

At this time it appears that at some point water levels in the White River will be assigned a minimum flow and the Cotter area will benefit.

Care Crew Barbeque a Sell Out

Cotter Care Crew President, Lynn Stude, reports that the annual Pig-In-A-Poke Barbeque on September 28th at the Spring House had great attendance and sold out. Special thanks to Grover of the White Sands for the wonderful slow roasted barbeque pork.

Work continues on the railroad memorial at Big Spring Park. Delivery of marble for the sign and lights is expected in the near future. The cabooses are being painted, and dedication is likely in December.

The public is invited to the next Care Crew meeting at the Spring House at 7 p.m. on Oct 10th.