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Good things are happening in Cotter; it's a great time to be here! |
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Cotter VFD
Auxiliary The Cotter Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary’s only annual fundraiser, the chili supper / bake sale / auction for the benefit of the fire department, is scheduled for March 20th at the Elementary School Cafeteria. In addition to the Auxiliary’s famous chili, chicken soup by local celebrity chef, Judy Nazarenko, will be on the menu. The event will at 5 p.m. at the Elementary School Cafeteria. Tickets are $5.00 and include all you can eat chili, soup, drink and desert. This is the only fundraiser scheduled annually by the Auxiliary, and a large turnout is expected. The bake sale, which is held in an auction format for a variety of baked good, is always a highlight of the popular event, and usually provides some good humor as well. This year, a silent auction for some special items will be added to the lineup. These include one year’s dialup Internet service with Infodash, an afghan handmade by Linda McIntosh, a new shop vac donated by Meeks, a weekend trip to Tunica, tickets to Branson shows, a fishing trip with local guide Gil Stammer, an airplane ride over the area from a resident of Valley Fly-In, as well as art objects and many other special things. The Auxiliary’s goals for the year are to purchase a special foam unit to attach to the fire truck to put out grease fires and car fires. The cost of these units is $1,000 - $2,000 each. The Auxiliary is also starting a fund for extrication equipment, such as “jaws of life.” These items cost from $20,000 to $50,000. Plan to be at this event with an empty stomach and a full checkbook and have a great time for a good cause! Cotter Chamber to Host Arkansas Highway Department, Hardy Construction At March Meeting Representatives of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department and Hardy Construction are scheduled to present the current status of the bridge renovation at the March 16th meeting of the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber meets for breakfast at 8 a.m. at the White Sands, and the public is always invited to attend.
City Council
Loaded We've often said "Good things are happening in Cotter and it's a great time to be here." There could be no better evidence to this than the February 26th City Council meeting. Contractor’s Truss Systems: The meeting was preceded by a public hearing conducted by Jay Stallard, grants administrator, Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. He reported that Contractor's Truss Systems has nearly completed its relocation to Cotter. A state grant of $17,750 was used to help fund water and sewer needs. A low interest loan of $1,000,000 was obtained to help fund the 40,000 sq ft manufacturing facility on the site of Cotter's roundhouse. The manufacturer expects to create 19 new jobs as their production is fully brought on line. Sav-U-More Building Sold: The good economic news kept coming. A local realtor, Gerald Hammons of Rocking Chair Realty, reported the vacant Sav-U-More building had been purchased by Flippin businessman, Randy Hopper. An announcement of intended usage is pending. Hammons suggested that a viable commercial activity on that site will make the surrounding area more attractive for further commercial development. Hopkinswoode Bed and Breakfast Inn: Gil Stammer, President, Cotter Planning and Zoning Commission, reported that plans are being made to convert the historic Clarence and Laura Hopkins house at 914 Combs to a bed and breakfast inn named "Hopkinswoode," a name originally chosen for the house by Mr. Hopkins. Mr. Stammer recommended to the Council that the zoning be changed from the present R-1 to C-3 (quiet commercial). The Council agreed and passed the change pending required legal notices. Fire Department Funding: State Representative, Johnny Key, announced that he and State Senator, Shawn Womack, had obtained additional funding for local fire departments and Cotter will receive approximately $6,000. He presented Mayor Jennings a check for $3000 with the remainder to be forthcoming later this year. The Council approved further upgrades for the local fire department to include $562 for paint for the firehouse and $1512 for medical training. Centennial Celebration: In other matters the Council voted to approve $3500 for use by the Centennial Celebration "Picnic In the Park" planned for July 10th. Also approved was Ordinance 03-08 that removed fences from planning and zoning regulations. Council approved sale of a Dodge pick-up in the near future. In the information portion of the agenda, John Mullens presented information about the Federal Flood Insurance Program and recommended Cotter consider participation. Vista Volunteer, Anna Tillman, of the Twin Lakes Literacy Council presented efforts to develop support in the Cotter area and appealed for volunteer tutors. Carolyn Gill updated the long range planning group 2025 Progress, and Gil Stammer reported on plans for the upcoming Great Cotter Trout Festival. Ceremonies before the fish fry will kick off Cotter's Centennial Celebration.
The Riley home, located at the End of Second Street across from the Cotter Post Office, was built in 1932 as the Masonic Hall. The Masons and Eastern Star met upstairs and the downstairs was rented to a business. The Riley’s have accomplished a Master feat since they did almost all the improvements themselves. They are to be congratulated for their beautiful home and courtyard. This home will also be featured later this year on a televised home and garden show. Great Cotter Trout Festival Is April 30-May 1st Plans for the third annual "Great Cotter Trout Festival" are rapidly taking shape. New events are being added, and the trout festival should be bigger and better than ever. The festival will open Friday evening, April 30th with an authentic White River Shore Lunch fish fry and music at the pavilion at Big Spring Park. Saturday will be filled with great food & entertainment, trout fishing and other attractions for the whole family. A major addition this year is the "White River Shore Lunch Cook-off." Fishing guides will compete for bragging rights for the best shore lunch on the White River. Details are being worked and the competition will include other surprises.
Another addition is the "Antique Tackle River
Show." Patterned after the popular television series "Antiques Road Show,"
festival visitors can bring their old fishing tackle to the event and have
appraisals done by experts. Collectors are invited to set up tables and
have fun in an old fashioned swap meet. This event is especially
appropriate during Cotter’s Centennial Year. A river boat show and sale will be featured, and multiple boat builders are expected to display their latest designs. For festival information contact Festival Chairman, Gary Flippin, at 870-435-6144 or Sonny Sharp at 870-492-4483. Lodging and other information about the Cotter area can be found at http://www.cotterarkansas.com.
The City of Cotter adopted a comprehensive plan in 1970. Part of that plan sets out how our town is zoned, (commercial, residential, industrial etc.) and the necessary building regulations for an orderly growth. It also describes the structures that require building permits and must adhere to other requirements, such as set-backs. Here in City Hall we refer to the definition of structure quite often in answer to a citizen’s question about when a building permit is required. Recently, in answer to a query, I realized that fences were listed in the structures that required regulation. Fences are to define and confine property, and would be worthless for those purposes if they had to be installed at least 10-feet from the side lot line and 25 feet from the front line. The professional planner on staff at Municipal League said he had never heard of fences listed as structures and he recommended changing the ordinance to remove the problem. The City Council voted last week to remove fences from the definition of structures, and thereby correcting a 33 year old error. Had we not taken that action, every fence erected since 1971 would have been illegal. The Council is working on another long-standing ordinance to come up with the fairest way to charge for water used on lawns and gardens and other summertime uses where the water does not enter the sewer system and therefore is not processed by the waste water treatment plant. The existing ordinance gives all water customers a break in the three summer months by charging the average of the previous three winter months’ sewer rate. One of the problems is that almost a third of our water customers use more water in the winter, and therefore pay a higher rate than they should in the Summer. The Alderman representing your ward would like to hear from you if you have an idea on solving that problem. I certainly hope we can give any resident a break for developing a beautiful yard and garden. Tennis Anyone? The City is blessed with 2 very nice tennis courts that are almost never used. In my hair-oil days, I played a lot of tennis and would not be in such terrible shape had I continued to play. I recently stopped in Performance Tennis Shop to see if there was any interest on their part to help us start a tennis program her in Cotter. They said most definitely, if we have enough interest. Do we? If you think you or your children would enjoy learning to play tennis from a Champion Player with over twenty years teaching experience, call City Hall and we will start a list. Wouldn’t it be thrilling to see the Cotter Tennis team whip the sox off Flippin or Mountain Home? Call me. Dates to remember:
Also please volunteer to help with our other festivals.
Three Grand Openings Slated for
Annie’s
Books and Curiosities, In an unprecedented show of faith in the future of Cotter, three new businesses will debut in the city on Saturday, April 3. Annie's Books & Curiosities Proprietor Anne Ramey said, “It’s small, but I’m trying to get in a little something for everyone.” The store will have a variety of new and used fiction and nonfiction for children and adults. Both the books and the curiosities will emphasize Arkansas, the Ozarks, the White River, trout fishing, and the outdoors. Riverbend Trading Tina, who is now living here permanently, will have charge of the shop until Quin retires next year and comes home. Tina is a chair caner and will offer that service at Riverbend Trading, along with a selection of antiques. The shop will also offer items aimed at the fishing crowd, including local fly patterns, new fishing gear and accessories, and a selection of collectable fishing lures. Hopkinswoode After the Iron Mountain Railroad was built through Cotter, the company had some extra land to sell. One of Cotter’s first young businessmen, Clarence Hopkins, took the railroad’s land agent to the very top of the steep hill behind the depot, to a plot of land he was interested in. By the time the two had made it to the top, the land agent was sure there’d never be another buyer for this out-of-the-way spot that was so difficult to reach; so he gratefully sold the land to young Clarence and his wife, Laura. In 1914, the wonderful stone home was built, and Clarence named it Hopkinswoode. "There is no more beautiful or serene place on earth than Hopkinswoode,” he wrote. “If I were an artist I would paint this scene and name it Peace." Guests staying at Hopkinswoode are in for a real treat. The house is not only one of Cotter’s most beautiful historic landmarks. There are 27 acres of trees and pastures surrounding the house and a wide porch on three sides, perfect for rest and relaxation. Room rates will be $69 - $75 for two with a full breakfast included. Hopkinswoode, which will be managed by Evelyn Denton, is also available as the setting for outdoor weddings on the beautiful grounds overlooking the White River. The Web address is http://www.hopkinswoode.com. |
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The Cotter
Chamber of Commerce has selected Mr. and Mrs. Ray Riley as the winners of
the February “Hats Off Award.” This award is given each month to a Cotter
resident who has made improvements and enhanced the appearance of their
home, yard or both. 
