At its regular meeting on April 17, 2003, the City Council accepted a proposal by the owners, Don and Helen Lacefield, to sell the building and the four lots it occupies to the City of Cotter for $10,000. Further, they asked that if end usage decisions eventually deem it appropriate to name the building, it be named for their deceased son. Final approval is pending construction and architectural evaluations. These should occur within a matter of weeks.

A grant writing committee will be available to go after restoration funding. The above process should provide a solid opportunity to save an important part of Cotter's history.

In other business the council voted to change the plan for cell phones for city employees to a more cost effective plan. The proposal was brought by alderman Keith Simmons. New carpet was approved in city hall. The council approved hire of two auxiliary policemen. Casey Stroup and Ronnie Weaver will assume their duties effective May 1, 2003.

Ordinance number 95-08 (amended) was passed to require weed and rubbish control of properties within the city limits of Cotter. The ordinance addresses trash, rubbish, garbage, abandoned vehicles, and accumulation of unsightly hazard along with weed and grass violations and those for unsanitary conditions. Remedies and penalties are also defined. If remedies are not completed, violators shall be fined fifty ($50) each day. Each day such violations occur shall be considered a separate offense.

The Council passed a resolution that supported a grant application for funds to develop the Cotter Rainbow Trail. This includes the walking trail along the White River and also much improved walk-in access for wade fishermen.

Other information included: bids for the summer mowing season; 25 personnel handbooks for city employees will be ordered; painting done by community service individuals will be improved; a robust report by the parks committee; plans for dedication of the railroad workers memorial; trout festival; report on the city wide yard sale; and the upcoming farmers market.

The second annual Great Cotter Trout Festival brought a large number of visitors to Big Spring Park May 2nd & 3rd. The White River shore lunch fish fry on Friday evening served 375 dinners. A number of visitors were from other states and several praised the wonderful things going on in Cotter. The bridge drew questions about its history and positive comments about the rehabilitation project.

A steady stream of visitors throughout the day on Saturday enjoyed a variety of quality attractions to include fly tying, fly fishing seminars, casting instructions and demonstrations, a river boat show, boat rides, a kids' "fishing hole," the Cotter High School Band and Chorus, and a variety of booths and exhibits.

A very special exhibit was by the Cotter Post Office celebrating its 100th anniversary. Visitors were able to get a special pictorial stamp cancellation commemorating the anniversary. The picture was designed and drawn by nationally renowned outdoor artist, Duane Hada. Pictures of the cancellation (and framing) were also available.

Special thanks to members of the Mid-South Fly Fishers, North Arkansas Fly Fishers, Mountain Home Rod and Reel Club, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Cotter city employees and the many volunteers who made the festival happen.

The Care Crew voted to support a community consensus to pursue action to preserve the historic building on Second and McLean.

The next meeting of the Cotter Care Crew will be at 7 p.m. May 8, 2003, at the Spring House. The public is invited to attend.

Kelley Linck, Executive Director, Ozark Mountains Region (OMR),was the featured speaker at the April 15th meeting of the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce. He explained the purpose of OMR as a destination marketing organization. The organization was formed by Jim Gaston and receives 2 to 1 matching funds from the state of Arkansas (Department of Parks and Tourism). OMR promotes the north central part of Arkansas as a tourist destination. OMR answers requests for information. They prepare and distribute tourism magazines and brochures. They also have an active Web site and refer inquiries to OMR members.

In other business the Chamber heard reports about recent park clean-up, grant preparation, and the upcoming trout festival. The next Chamber meeting is May 20, 2003, at 8 a.m. at the White Sands Restaurant. The public is invited.

Andrea Krea, sponsor of Cotter High School= s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), reports that five students have been selected to attend the FBLA National Leadership Conference. These students are: Melissa Hurst, local chapter president; Hanna Kenney, state reporter; Jordan Hurst, District VI vice president; Benji Martin, chapter representative; Nick Ash, chapter representative. They will be joined by their sponsor.

The conference will include business related workshops, leadership training, and competitions that will provide unique knowledge and experience. Financial contributions from the Cotter community would be appreciated. For further information contact Cotter High School.

The Anglin-Tinnon Railroad Workers Memorial in Big Spring Park was dedicated May 2nd at 4 p.m. to honor Cotter's railroad heritage and the people who lived it. The memorial, a privately funded project by the Cotter Care Crew, consists of two rail cars, a life sized statue of a conductor, memorial bricks (with names of railroad workers), a gazebo, period lighting, walkways, and landscaping. It is a dignified, fitting place to honor a special history.

Appropriate ceremony and speeches were given. However, simple pride took center stage. It was everywhere. You could here it in Care Crew President Lynn Anglin Stude's voice as she spoke of her railroad family. Her father, Roy Lee Anglin, was one of the namesakes for the memorial. Her mother, Doris, passed away recently and could not attend the ceremony in person. Her brother, Phillip, was one of the models for the statue. Her brother, Lee Roy, was one of the Care Crew Committee that completed the memorial. Her father's close friend,

Hugh Tinnon, was the other honoree. His daughter had made a $100,000 bequest to the Cotter Care Crew for the memorial and asked that it be named for her father and his close friend.

Jerry Stude, Lynn's husband and railroad history buff, traced the coming of the railroad through Cotter from 1901-1904. He spoke of the railroad families, their special bond and the pride they shared as pioneers as the railroad opened up this region and a boom town called Cotter thrived. He also outlined the demise of the railroad from the replacement of the steam engine, removal of passenger service, to the advancement of other forms of transportation.

Baxter County Historian Mary Ann Messick talked about the excitement that whole families felt when they would go to the Cotter depot on Sunday afternoon and watch the enormous, steam engine trains arrive with much noise and smoke.

County Judge Joe Bodenhamer spoke of the vision that early decision makers had when they decided to put a connecting line from Newport, Arkansas, to Carthage, Missouri. The decision opened access to rich mining and natural resources. It also paved the way for present day Baxter County, the hub of North central Arkansas.

Cotter Mayor, Bill Jennings, accepted the memorial from the Care Crew on behalf of the City of Cotter. His remarks were a glowing endorsement of the wonderful accomplishment of the memorial and the pride all can share in Cotter's railroad heritage.