At their October meeting, the Cotter City Council approved purchase of weapons and ammunition for the Cotter Police Department. The purchase will include four Taurus S & W 40 caliber pistols, three Remington 870 Express 12 ga. shotguns, associated magazines and holders. The purchase will be made from Bob’s Guns and Sporting Goods of Mountain  Home and will standardize weapons and ammunition costs and officer certification. Total value of the purchase will be $2707.62.
     The Council voted to authorize Mayor Bill Jennings to proceed with plans to add decorative lighting to the R.M. Ruthven Bridge. The Mayor advised that lights and associated wiring and materials are already on hand. An estimate has been received from Crawford Electric of Mountain Home of $7650 for labor only. Fund raising to date is approx $1600, and the City of Flippin has indicated support (see related article). The Council agreed that remaining funds of approximately $3600, previously earmarked for Centennial Celebrations, could also be applied. It is hoped that work can begin soon. The Council also heard plans to re-design Christmas wreaths to create Holiday lighting displays with the decorative trout already in place.
     In other matters the Council heard from Lisa Henderson of Finnigan and Associates, a grant writing firm from Little Rock. She offered her firm’s services to pursue grants for improvements to be made in several areas of

Finally, Mayor Jennings announced that Alderman Chuck Flowers, Ward 2, Position 2, had resigned, effectively immediately.

AGFC Takes Up Trout Management Plan

     At their monthly meeting Oct 21st, The Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioners heard for approval the first ever Trout Management Plan for the state of Arkansas. Basic objectives include improvement of water quality and trout habitat, expansion of trout fishing opportunities for more people in more areas in Arkansas. The plan includes a section that would convert the man-made channel from the Cotter Big Spring to a year round catch-and-release fishery for children (age 15 and under) and adults with a current handicapped fishing license. The area along the channel would be improved to create a similar attraction in Cotter to that developed by AGFC on Dry Run Creek on the North Fork River.
     The proposal involves public land owned by the AGFC and the proposal does not involve the popular Big Spring swimming area. The Commissioners will vote on the proposed Trout Management Plan at its November meeting.

     The Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed back another old friend at their meeting Oct 21st at the White Sands. Former Baxter County Judge, Joe Bodenhamer, Chief, Arkansas’ Homeland Security Division, spoke about his organization’s responsibilities to help keep Arkansas safe in today’s environment.
     An important part of Arkansas’ Department of Emergency Management, the Homeland Security Division works closely with federal grant sources and first responders throughout Arkansas to ensure preparedness for any contingency.
     Bodenhamer outlined new efforts to establish a "Citizen Corps" to promote awareness and increase the level of vigilance throughout the state. He outlined common sense measures the average citizen can take such as always maintaining one half tank of gas in their car, keep some cash on hand, have a transistor radio, and a one week supply of groceries. He also suggested that every

     Charles Newton, Baxter County Director of Emergency Management, also attended. Both men stressed the close cooperation between the county and state levels of emergency preparedness and answered a number of questions from the audience.

Bridge Lights Gathering Momentum

The Baxter Bulletin reported Oct 25th that a group of campers had donated $600 to help light the arches of the historic R. M. Ruthven Bridge. The lighting project is outside the scope of the recent renovation contract for the bridge. The camper’s contributions were the latest in a series of donations. At the Baxter County Fair the Cotter Chamber of Commerce booth sold autographs on individual light bulbs. To donate to the lighting project send contributions to City of Cotter, P.O. Box 9, Cotter, AR 72626. 

Mayor’s Minute

     Wherever I go, locally or around the state, I get compliments on the ribbon cutting program opening our Rainbow Bridge and the Fifth Annual Fall Festival. The wonderful parade kicked off the festivities on Saturday morning was the longest and best ever.  What a thrill to turn the corner off Harding onto 2nd Street and see the huge crowd lining the street.  It looked like downtown New York City.  Sonny Sharp and his committees certainly know how to put on a festival!  So many people worked very hard to organize the great celebration. It is easy to tell how successful they are, because the crowds get bigger every year.
     “Buy a Bulb for a Buck” is how we financed the lighting of the bridge the first time, and people are responding again.  We were able to do the work before with volunteer help and of course the City crew. This time we don’t have the volunteers and their equipment, and we have to pull new wire in the conduits to feed the lights, so we require the services of licensed electricians.  The job will be more expensive, but there will be twice as many lights. All five arches and the railing will be lighted on both the upstream and the down-stream sides.  Believe me, it will be beautiful but we still need your donation.  We have bulbs here in City Hall, that you can write your family name on for $1.00 a piece.What a neat way to honor you relatives or friends.  They can always say their name is on a bulb on the bridge.
     This past week, I spent the afternoon with an engineer that has over forty years experience mainly in storm water systems.  He is going to develop a master plan that we will be able to construct a piece at a time.  The master plan will not be cheap because of all the surveying required to make a topographic map of the town.  I am excited about having a plan that we can construct as much as we can afford each year, until we have our storm water under control.

It doesn’t seem possible that the Holidays are just around the corner.  We just completed Halloween, and that means Thanksgiving is about here.  Those of you who are traveling, please drive carefully.  We have a town full of wonderful people, and I don’t want to lose any.  No matter what they say, it’s OK to pig out one day a year.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Letter to the Editor:

Cotter residents and friends:

    Did you know that for $200, a Cotter high school band member can have a complete new uniform? For $90 (female) or $125 (male) a choir member can look as good as they sound!     Actually, every band student doesn’t need a complete new uniform. (Only five jackets at $150 each are needed.) Several years ago, beautiful blue and white uniforms were purchased. But now there are many new students who want to participate in the band and choral music programs.
     Now is our chance to help the Cotter musicians get “spiffed up” for the upcoming contest season. Won’t you send your check for $50 to buy a band member a new pair of pants (overall style, so their tummies don’t get cold), $45 to buy a choir member a blouse of skirt (the girls only, of course -- boys need $125 for a tuxedo.).
     If you played in a high school band, remember how cool it was to put on your uniform and march in a parade? If you sang in a choir, didn’t you feel elegant when you were all dressed up and ready to sing?
     Please send your check for any amount to Cotter Band, P.O. Box 70, Cotter, AR 72626. Make sure you note on the check that it’s for the uniform fund.

Fairy Godperson