Cotter, Arkansas

Good things are happening in Cotter; it's a great time to be here!

Number 55                                                    Published by the City of Cotter, Arkansas                                                       April 2005

Congrats to the Junior High Quiz Bowl Team

     Cotter’s Junior High Quiz Bowl Team took First Place in the Junior Finals Quiz Bowl Tournament in Danville on February 19. They won the title in their seventh and final match of the day against Jessieville. The Junior Finals Tournament is the highest level of play for junior high teams.

     Way to go team! You make Cotter proud.

From your new editors:

We’re thrilled to serve Cotter as the new editors
of the TCN and will do our best to provide you with stories about our community. News, feedback,
and comments are always welcome!
Deb Peterson and Laura Morris

Warrior Solo and Ensemble Members
Really Rate

     Congratulations to Cotter’s thirteen band members who received Superior or Excellent ratings at the annual Arkansas Region I Solo and Ensemble Festival at West Fork on April 1.

     Division One Ratings (Superior) were awarded to Samantha Neureuter, clarinet; Sarah Lawler, trumpet; Dillion Mincey, snare drum; Althea Abel, piano; Paula Studdard, trumpet; and Samantha Somrek, trumpet.

     Division Two Ratings (Excellent) were awarded to Amanda Coley, clarinet; Jessica Powell, clarinet; Althea Abel, alto saxophone; Jenna Benedict, French horn; Chrissie Ballard, French horn; Grace Pendergrass, flute; Duncan Walton, mallet percussion; and Annie Gilpin, snare drum.

     Cotter’s Band Director is John Devos. Solo performances were accompanied by Cotter’s Choir Director, Carolinn Devos.

     The city of Cotter and its citizens thank Sonny and Judi Sharp for their generous service as founders and editors of the Trout Capital News. As of this issue, they have turned the paper over to Laura Morris and Deb Peterson, innkeepers at Hopkinswoode Bed and Breakfast.

     The first issue of the paper appeared in June, 2000 after then-mayor J.D. Pratt commented in a casual conversation that he wished he had a newsletter for Cotter. Judi volunteered to create one and the Trout Capital News was born. Five years and 55 issues later, 400 papers are distributed throughout the city and nearly 600 people visit the TCN website, also developed by the Sharps, each month. “People who have invested in Cotter have told us their first introduction to the city was on the World Wide Web,” Sonny Sharp said.

Share Your Ideas

Sonny and Judi Sharp have suggested that we include profiles in the newspaper of the many colorful people of Cotter. We plan to do that. Your ideas are also welcome. What would you like to see in the Trout Capital News? Send your suggestions to troutcapitalnews@hopkinswoode.com or to 914 Combs Avenue, Cotter, AR  72626.

City Wide Yard Sale Set for Saturday, April 23

It’s Spring, and that means it’s time for Cotter’s semi-annual city-wide yard sale. Do you have closets to clean out? Is your attic full? Wouldn’t you love to get rid of all that stuff you don’t use anymore? April 23 is your chance to exchange treasures with your neighbors. Sign-up sheets are available at Riverbend Trading, Rainbow Bridge Treasures, Firehouse Antiques, Old Cotter Lumber Co., and Cotter Hair Studio. There is no list at City Hall this year. Maps will be provided.

 Large-Item Trash Pick Up: Monday, April 25

     The city will pick up large items placed on the curb on Monday, April 25. This includes items too large or heavy for regular trash disposal. Tires will not be picked up. Muffler World, open 8-5 Monday-Friday and 8-12 on Saturday, will take tires. Call them at 425-8600 for details. See the Mayor’s Minute for additional information regarding tires.

     Air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers must have the Freonâ removed before they can be disposed of. The city has made an arrangement with Economy Heating to remove the gas for a discounted price. Here is the process:

     1.    Take a check for $25, made payable to Economy Heating, to City Hall by 4/21 to get your name on the list.

     2.    Fred Pike from Economy Heating will visit your house, remove the Freonâ, and tag your item as cleared for disposal.

     3.    Place your item on the curb for pick up on Monday, May 25.

Trivia Wanted

Mayor’s Minute

by Bill Jennings

The hummingbirds and martins have returned, so I think it is safe to say, Spring is here. Cotter has again been blessed with a mild winter, so mild in fact that Ronnie, Richard and Justin played with their snow removal equipment only twice.

This spring we are faced with a problem different from any year in our history. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality has stopped the City from hauling brush, tree limbs, leaves and other yard waste to a central point and burning it. Property owners can burn on their property or hire a professional to either mulch the debris or haul it to the land fill. 

If you have any suggestions, please contact one of your Council members or give me a call.

I see brush and limbs collecting in the ditches around town, and I’m sorry, you are going to have to take care of it yourself until, and if, we can come up with an affordable solution.

Kent Newman tells me the ball field lights are coming in and the poles will be erected soon. They may be by the time this goes to print. This has been a great example of what can be accomplished with a few dedicated people and the backing of two great organizations like the Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Cotter.

Community Calendar

             April 12      2025 Meeting, 7 p.m., Spring House
                   April 16      Saturday Club, 2 p.m., Amanda Gist Elementary School Library
                   April 19      Chamber of Commerce Meeting, 8 a.m., White Sands
                   April 23      City-Wide Yard Sale
                   April 25      Large-Item Trash Pick Up
                   April 28      City Council Meeting, 6 p.m., City Hall

Add your community event to the calendar in City Hall and it will be included here.

By John Berry

Introducing your wife or significant other to fly-fishing can be the best thing that ever happened to you or it could be an invitation to hell. My most cherished moments in life are those spent on stream with my wife, Lori. The whole thing hinges on how the introduction is done. This article is written from a male perspective, but most of the information would be applicable if the tables were turned.

Have a professional casting instructor teach her how to cast. Even if you know what you are doing, you bring too much baggage to the lesson to be effective. While you are criticizing her back cast, the only thing she can think about is that you forgot her birthday last week. I don’t say this because my brother and I make our living teaching casting. Remember, if anything goes wrong, it’s your fault. (Berry’s Law – Whenever You and a Significant Other Undertake a New Sport Seek Professional Advice). Better yet, consider a fly-fishing school. That way she could learn knots, entomology, and all the other skills needed. Lori regularly teaches a ladies fly-fishing class.

Next make sure that your significant other has the right equipment. This is not the time to give her all your old stuff so that you can get new gear. Sometimes you can borrow good gear. Just make sure that it fits properly. The most important thing is waders. If you haven’t noticed, women are shaped differently from men. Most of the wader manufacturers now make waders for women. Make sure that the waders fit properly and are comfortable. If she is dry, warm, and secure she can stay out there all day. If she is cold, wet, and miserable the day is over.

Choose the location for the first outing with great care. Avoid treacherous water with heavy currents and bedrock bottoms. Go for mild currents and gravel bottoms that will be easy to wade where she will feel secure. Make sure there are restroom facilities nearby.

Finally, choose water with plenty of fish where you will have a good chance to catch a few. Carry a good picnic lunch and maybe a bottle of wine. If there are no picnic tables carry a couple of comfortable chairs.

For the first trip I would suggest hiring a guide. If you don’t do this, leave your rod in the car. The object of the exercise is for her to catch fish, not to watch you nail them. Carefully rig her rod and patiently show her what you are doing and why. Put her in the best water you can find and demonstrate the best techniques for that location. Avoid being critical. This is the crux of the matter! If you stand there and constantly correct her casting, tell her she should cast further, and ridicule her every time she puts a fly in a tree, you are inviting a catastrophe. If she loses a fly, smile, tie on another one, and tell her how you did the same thing two weeks ago.

DO NOT BECOME FRUSTRATED AND RAISE YOUR VOICE! When she makes a good cast, tell her. Net her fish. When she catches a fish, photograph it. When you wade heavy water, hold her securely by her wader belt and wade together with you on the upstream side so that you can break the current. When she gets tired, quit.

by John Berry

The Great Cotter Trout Festival, May 6-7, is repeating it’s most popular event this year, the World Championship Shore Lunch Contest. The contest, the only one of its kind in the world, determines who cooks the best shore lunch. Local fishing guides battle each other for bragging rights. In addition, there is a $100 first prize, and a $50 second prize. The entry fee is $25. The contest will furnish the fish to be cooked, and all contestants will receive a unique contest apron.

The shore lunch is a time-honored tradition in our area. Guides stop at noon and prepare a shore lunch for their clients featuring the fish caught that morning. Trout, potatoes and hush puppies are cooked over an open fire on the riverbank. The World Championship Shore Lunch Contest is a celebration of this fine tradition.

The contest is to be held during The Great Cotter Trout Festival on Friday, May 6, 2005 at 5 p.m. under the Rainbow Arch Bridge in Cotter’s Big Spring Park. Anyone observing the contest who is overcome by the aroma and sight of the fish frying can enjoy this special treat by attending the fish fry held at the same time.

Anyone interested in competing should contact John Berry at (870) 435-2169 or by email at berrybrothers@infodash.com.

by Beverly Pence, Chamber of Commerce President

     On March 8, 2005, Chamber Secretary Gail Major and I attended the Governor's Conference on Tourism dinner in Little Rock, AR. The Cotter Area Chamber of Commerce was nominated for the Henry Award, Boot Strap Category. This category recognizes achievement of an individual, organization or community that has achieved significant success “on a shoestring,” having limited means to work with, either in resources or finances. The Chamber was runner up and received a beautiful plaque. Pictured at the ceremony is Governor Huckabee, Miss Arkansas, and myself.

     On April 6, Kent Newman, owner of Contractor's Truss Systems, installed the lights for our Ball Field Renovation Project in the Little League Ball Field in Cotter’s Big Spring Park. This was a great community effort that everyone will benefit from. Duane Hada painted a wonderful picture of the ball park. There are still prints available. Call Teresa Newman at 435-5655 or Beverly Pence at 430-5012. We are still accepting donations to assist with the cost of the project. Your help will be greatly appreciated.

     May 6-7, 2005, we will host the 4th Annual Great Cotter Trout Festival and 2nd Annual World Championship Shore Lunch Contest at Cotter’s Big Spring Park. On the evening of May 6, the

shore lunch contestants will be cooking and the public can observe and sample their wonderful food as they prepare to compete for bragging rights as the “best shore lunch cook on the White River.” Also, we will be having a catfish dinner with all the trimmings on Friday evening.

Riverbend Trading Company on the Move

One of Cotter’s most popular shops, RiverBend Trading Company, is on the move.

It has relocated to the recently restored historical structure at 102 Combs Avenue that was once the toll house for Cotter’s famed Ruthven Rainbow Arch Bridge. It is across the street from Duane Hada’s River Town Gallery. Owners Quin and Tina Berry had outgrown their shop on 2nd Street and wanted to add some new lines, as well as expand their antique selection. The quaint yellow arts and crafts structure was just the place to locate their business.

Cotter Kids’ Corner . . . This month, a short story for the 5-9 year old gang!

Budrick lives in the country where dogs run free. No leashes, no fences he can’t get under, no crabby people next door. Life is good in the country.

Budrick loves the leftover pancakes he gets every Tuesday morning after Ben goes to school. Tuesday is Pancake Day. Ben’s mom always puts butter on the leftover pancakes for Budrick. He loves butter on his pancakes for breakfast. But he doesn’t like his lunch.

For lunch, every single day, Budrick gets plain old dry dog food. It might be okay for city dogs, but a country dog needs energy to chase rabbits through the pasture and race cars down the dirt road.

One Wednesday, the day after Pancake Day, Budrick knew he would have to wait a whole week to have pancakes again, pancakes with butter. To cheer himself up, he went to meet Ben on the playground at school. Budrick knew Ben ate his lunch outside on the picnic table before recess.

Ben grinned when he saw Budrick.

“Buddy! What are you doing at school?”

Ben rubbed Budrick’s neck and scratched behind his ears. Budrick wagged his tail. He laid down in the cool shade under the picnic table.

“What’s for lunch Rod?” Ben asked his friend Rodney.

“Peanut butter and jelly. What about you?”

“Bologna. Again. I always get the same thing for lunch. Every single day,” Ben said.

“I’ll trade you. I love bologna.”

Buddy’s ears perked up.

“What kind of jelly?” Ben asked Rodney.

“Grape.”

“Deal. I love peanut butter and grape.”

On his way home from school, Budrick decided he needed a lunch deal of his own. He took a detour through the woods to the house where the Dalmatian just moved in.

“What’s for lunch?” Budrick asked the new Dalmatian.

“Steak bones.”

“I’ll trade you,” Budrick offered.

“For what?”

“Super-duper gourmet delight,” Budrick said. “Beef.”

“Plain old dry dog food?”

Budrick kicked at the dirt.

“Yeah. Plain old dry dog food.”

“No way.”

Budrick crossed the little bridge over the creek to the house where the scary Bulldog lived. The Bulldog with the squeaky little voice.

“What’s for lunch?” Budrick asked.

“Ham bones.”

“I’ll trade you.”

“For what?”

“Blue-ribbon premium smorgasbord,” Budrick said. “Pork.”

“Plain old dry dog food?”

Budrick kicked at the dirt again.

“Yeah. Plain old dry dog food.”

“Get lost.”

Budrick cut through Miss Millie’s yard, and arrived at Rodney’s house just as Rodney’s mom was putting a leftover pancake in Shelby’s bowl on the porch. A leftover pancake with butter on it.

Shelby hates pancakes with butter.

Budrick waited for Rodney’s mom to go back in the house. The screen door banged shut behind her. Shelby sat staring at his bowl.

Budrick sat down beside Shelby and stared at the pancake too. The pancake with butter on it.

“Hi Bud.”

“Hey there Shelby.”

“Bad day?”

“Yeah, and it’s about to get a lot better or a lot worse.”

“Tell me about it. You call this lunch? I hate pancakes with butter,” Shelby griped. “I get them every single day except Tuesday. I’d rather have plain old dry dog food.”

Budrick smiled.

“The day is about to get better,” he said to Shelby. “For both of us.”

Budrick explained the trade. Every day except Tuesday.

“Deal,” Shelby agreed.

Shelby waited until Budrick finished every last crumb.

Budrick licked his chin. “I love pancakes with butter on them.”

Shelby stared at his friend. “Let’s go,” he said.

Budrick and Shelby cut through Miss Millie’s yard. The scary Bulldog with the squeaky little voice said, “Get lost.” They crossed the little bridge over the creek and the new Dalmatian said, “I told you, no way.” They took the detour through the woods, and ran down the lane to Ben’s yard, just as Ben’s mother was putting plain old dry dog food in Budrick’s bowl on the porch. Just like she did every single day.

Budrick and Shelby waited for Ben’s mom to go back in the house. The screen door banged shut behind her. Budrick waited until Shelby finished every last crumb.

“Every day except Tuesday,” Budrick said.

“Deal, Bud.”

And Shelby ran home down the lane.

This newspaper is published monthly by the City of Cotter and focuses on organized activities. It is edited by Deb Peterson and Laura Morris, and printed by Good Impressions Printing. It is also published electronically at www.troutcapitalnews.com. If you have information to contribute, please email it to troutcapitalnews@hopkinswoode.com, drop it by City Hall, or mail it to 914 Combs Avenue, Cotter, AR  72626.