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Trout Capital
News |
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Good things are happening in Cotter; it's a great time to be here! |
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| Number 31 |
Published by the City of Cotter, Arkansas |
April 2003 |
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The dedication of the Anglin-Tinnon Railroad Workers Memorial at Big Spring Park is scheduled for May 2, 2003, at 4 p.m. The memorial honors Cotter history and the railroad workers who lived it. Cotter's railroad history includes the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern (1901); Missouri Pacific Iron Mountain (1905); Missouri Pacific (1917); Union Pacific (1982); and Missouri & Northern Arkansas (1992-present). The Cotter Care Crew has led the effort to create the memorial. Funding has been private and has centered around a $100,000 bequest by the late Gwen Tinnon Derouin. She asked that the memorial be dedicated to her father, Hugh Tinnon, and his close friend Roy Lee Anglin, both engineers. The memorial grounds include a Rock Island caboose and a Missouri Pacific caboose. Both have been renovated by Cotter Care Crew members Jerry Stude and Tom Dunn. The memorial also includes a life-size bronze statue of a conductor surrounded with engraved granite bricks with railroad workers names. A black granite sign, diamond-etched by hand, welcomes visitors to the attractive grounds. A gazebo, walking path and other railroad history information are available, and an information kiosk is underway. New Parks Committee Takes Active Role The new Parks Committee, which presented its proposal for the city parks at the March 20 City Council meeting, has completed its first project, the cleanup of historic Warrior Park, within ten days of its organization. The City Council heard and approved an ambitious proposal to complete a park on property at Second and McLean in historic downtown Cotter. Committee Chair Sue Whittington described the project to include a bandstand, small amphitheater, picnic area, Cotter information kiosk, a trout sculpture and an evergreen that could be used as a community Christmas tree. Another priority of the new committee is to improve the roadside park by the water tower on Highway 62-412, which has been recognized as a Trail of Tears site. Big Spring Park will also receive attention. The group is hoping to form a comprehensive plan for Cotter's parks and will be working with the Cotter Care Crew. According to Alderman Bob Nordel, who has responsibility for parks on the City Council, the Cotter 2025 program will also be renewed in the near future. He feels that work will relate well with the parks effort. The City Council approved use of $4000 previously earmarked for the park and voted to formally accept donation of an adjoining lot. To become involved with the new parks emphasis in Cotter contact Sue Whittington at 435-6989.
Cotter Bridge Repair News Highlights
Representatives of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department and the Hardy Construction Company gave a detailed presentation with pictures of the history of the rainbow arch bridge, its original construction, and the repairs being done. Another chance for residents to see the presentation is planned for a later date. The Chamber grants committee, chaired by Lori Sloas, has been working on an application for a grant to develop Cotter's unique 3½ mile White River access. Preliminary work was started to get caution signs put up at the G&FC access points to inform visitors and promote their awareness of possible fast-rising water. The Cotter Calling phone book is being revised. For more information contact Dianne Doughty at 430-5738. The city wide yard sale is scheduled for April 12, 2003. Sign up at City Hall. The annual Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for April 19, 2003, at 10 a.m. at Big Spring Park. Shelly Baker is handling the bunny's visit this year. Cotter will offer a farmer's market beginning on Friday, May 2, at 2 p.m. Growers are to set up along Second Street near Second and McLean in Cotter's historic downtown. The second annual Great Cotter Trout Festival is scheduled for May 2 & 3, 2003 at Big Spring Park (see related article). Cotter VFD Auxiliary Chili Supper The Cotter Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary's annual fund raising chili supper held at the Amanda Gist Elementary School Cafeteria on February 22 raised $3,600. Wal-Mart added an additional donation of $1,000. Cotter Post Office Centennial and Special Stamp Cancellation Are Trout Festival Features
On Saturday, May 3, 2003, a Cotter Trout Capital USA Post Office Station will be set up by Postmaster, Janet Latham, in Big Spring Park. The station will include stamps, envelopes and post cards available for sale with the special centennial cancellation. The picture for the cancellation was drawn by Duane Hada and shows a rainbow trout coming up out of White River to catch a fly with the rainbow bridge and bluffs in the background. It's name is "White River Rainbows." One hundred numbered and signed prints of the picture will be available for sale. Following the Cotter Care Crews' dedication of the railroad memorial (see related story), a White River Shore Lunch Fish Fry will be held on Friday evening (May 2nd) at 5 p.m. at the pavilion. If you were here last year, you'll know you'd better arrive early and hungry! A remote broadcast by radio station KTLO is scheduled from 3-5 p.m. Saturday will feature a full day of activities beginning at 10 a.m.:
For more information contact Sonny Sharp at 492-4483 or Gil Stammer at 435-2663. History of the Construction and
Restoration of (Excerpts from a presentation by Greg Harding, Resident Engineer No.95, Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department) Original Construction Originally opened in 1930 . . . the age of this structure . . . has sneaked up on many in this area. First considered in 1912, real effort to put a bridge at Lakes Ferry began in the 1920s. . . the Department was developing a highway system . . . Highway 62 was designated to run from Maysville, Kentucky, to El Paso, Texas, and would eventually extend from Canada to Mexico . . . . . .a contract was . . .awarded on September 18, 1929, to Bateman Contracting Co. of Nashville, Tennessee, for $390,729.82. The Cotter Bridge is 1805 feet long and 78 feet above the White River. There are 5 large rainbow arches with another smaller arch over the railroad. The bridge is not flat, but slopes toward Marion County. It is 32.80 ft. higher on the Cotter side. . . .Instead of cranes, a cable way supported by two towers on each side of the river was employed to move material and equipment along the bridge site. Sand and gravel was mined from the river to make concrete. Construction took place around the clock with electric lights strung all over the rising structure. . . .Two men lost their lives during construction. Working for Rehabilitation Over the years age, wear, tear and maintenance expenses increased to a point that reconstruction or closure of the bridge to vehicular traffic had to be considered. (After two rounds of bidding were rejected). . .efforts were then focused on the need for more funds and alternatives. Finally, in January, 2002, the Department bid and awarded the project to Hardy Construction Co. of Maumelle, Arkansas, for $6,278,211.30. The order to begin work was given February 25, 2002, and the contractor was given 200 work days to complete the job. . . . Because of its unique nature, detailed efforts were taken to keep its appearance as it has been. This job is being funded using Enhancement funds (which) can be used for landscaping, sidewalks, historic preservation and rehabilitation and the like. This bridge met the requirements for historic preservation. The funding is 80% Federal and 20% State funds. Reconstruction Work Reconstruction of the bridge is to remove and replace the concrete deck (driving surface), concrete rails and some selected vertical and horizontal beams . . . the pier in the river will be removed down to the arches . . . the vertical beams between the arches (hangers) and the deck will have the concrete removed around the rails but the steel skeleton of the hangers will be left intact. Work is detailed and time consuming. Bracing and forms special to this bridge had to be made and used. . . . keeping with original construction, wood forms are being used extensively. The flat decks have all been removed. On the west side of the river, the new surface is in place and work is underway to replace the side rails. These rails are to be replicas of the old rails including poles and lights. For the arch spans the contractor has had to provide special bracing to hold the arches in place as the span is worked on. Monitoring of selected arches is also being done to verify and maintain that the arches do not move. To date, $2.1 million has been spent and 66% of the time used . . . they have even employed double shifts when and where possible . . . the contractor is approximately 2 months behind where they need to be to complete within the contract time. Currently . . . Presently the contractor is working on arch 1 on the west side of the river and arch 5 in the park. Netting to keep birds from nesting is being placed on the arches . . . This year you can expect to see work over the railroad and the river. While working over the river, I want to encourage guides and boaters to be careful when navigating under the bridge. The contractor will take precautions and provide various warnings up and down the river. However, people using the river should expect delays up to 15 minutes in the bridge area. Now twice a day unrestricted use of the river is planned from 8-9 a.m. and 3-4 p.m. When completed, the bridge will be cleaned and look like it did before allowing for typical trucks and cars to use the bridge for many years to come. Trash, Trash, Trash! Large item trash pick-up in Cotter is scheduled for April 21, 2003.
Be neat! Remember, one man's trash ... City Council Approves 5% Pay Raise for All City Employees The City Council approved recommendations by Alderman Copeland for 5% across the board pay raise for city employees at its March 20 meeting.. Richard Weaver's position was upgraded to foreman status. The Council also approved a raise for the Mayor of $100 per month. Raises were made retroactive to January 1, 2003.
Cotter Care Crew Resumes Meetings
Jerry Stude (left) and Tom Dunn, in front of one of the cabooses in the Railroad Memorial in Big Spring Park. On any day during the last year or two, you might have seen these two Care Crew members working.
The Cotter Care Crew will resume its schedule of monthly meetings on Thursday, April 10, 2003, with a potluck supper at the Spring House at 6 p.m. The agenda will include plans for the dedication of the Anglin-Tinnon Railroad Workers Memorial on May 2. For more information contact Lynn Stude at 430-5645. Potluck Supper - April 10
- Spring House
The Mobile Mammography Unit of Baxter Regional Medical Center will be coming to Cotter on May 8, 2003. Bone density tests will be offered as well as mammograms. For additional information contact Carolyn Gill at 435-2267. Rainbow Bridge Lodge Opens In Historic Downtown Cotter When Sharon and George Peters purchased the old Baxter County Bank/Hotel building, their goal was to open an antique store on the lower level and an upstairs lodge for Cotter's fishing visitors. Last summer, Rainbow Bridge Treasures opened downstairs, and this month will see the first guests in Rainbow Bridge Lodge. The historic 1906 building, outfitted with the Trout Capital USA theme including beds for 30 people (enough for a family reunion, retreat or wedding) and shared kitchen, dining and sitting areas, is topped off with plaid ceilings. A two minute walk from the famous White River, and our beautiful Big Spring Park with pavilion, guests may use the river access at George's Cotter business, Roundhouse Shoals Fishing Services, for sitting, fishing or BBQ. Council Approves Meth Lab Cleanup Ordinance and Two Resolutions At the March 20 regular meeting, the Cotter City Council heard a presentation by Cotter Police Chief Jack Burkhart about the dangers of being in an area which had been used as a meth lab. He presented for Council approval an ordinance designed to protect neighbors and future residents of such dwellings. Ordinance number 03-04, which prohibits contamination and mandates clean-up of air, water, land and property due to illegal drug residue (meth labs), was passed unanimously. Stiff penalties -- large fines, jail time and restitution for clean-up -- were included. The Council passed resolution number 03-04 which will allow the builder's truss manufacturer (presently Contractor's Truss Systems of Midway) to participate in the Advantage Arkansas Program. This will enable them to recoup tax refunds and credits associated with building and equipping their new facility in Cotter. The Council passed resolution number 03-05 which will authorize the Mayor to apply for a grant from the Arkansas Rural Development Commission to fund safety equipment for the Volunteer Fire Department. |
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Railroad Memorial
Dedication 
A report on the status of bridge
rehabilitation project #090045 packed the White Sands Restaurant on March 18th
at the monthly meeting of the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce. 
The Great Cotter Trout Festival will include a special pictorial cancellation
celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Cotter Post Office. 
This newsletter is published
monthly by the City of Cotter and focuses on organized activities. It is
compiled by Sonny Sharp and published electronically at Copyright
2000-2003
Last updated
07.08.2003