Submitted By Wanda Fielding

From The Cotter Courier, Friday, Dec. 25, 1903

… If ever a day were given to us wherein to be happy and in which to add to the happiness of others, it is Christmas Day. It should be as fully freighted with happy moments and pleasant deeds as we can make them: happy moments for ourselves, pleasant deeds for others. No span of years can be bright which allows the Christmas spirit to be dormant between childhood and old age. It is the Christmas of the present which we should enjoy and make bright. We must not allow ourselves to forget the true meaning of the Christmas spirit. It will bring happiness to us just in proportion as we bring happiness to others…
 

     If you have a taste for nostalgia, plan a trip to Cotter for a unique “Small Town” Christmas shopping experience on December 9^th and 10^th. Come to shop; have a meal at the White Sands Restaurant, then finish shopping. You will find a wide variety of antiques; jewelry; stained glass; novelty items; assortments of candles; gourmet foods; and wonderful creations by local artisans. Many shops will offer refreshments and a door prize.

     Among those merchants participating in the event are: Mountain River Fly Shop at 1177 West Main; Rainbow Bridge Treasures at 2^nd & McLean: Firehouse Antiques at 596 2^nd Street; RiverBend Trading Antiques & Fly Shop at 102 Combs Avenue; Rivertown Art Gallery at 102 Harding Blvd; Riverbend Frame Shop at 102 Harding Blvd: White River Flea Market at 302 2nd Street and White Mist of Cotter at 106 Combs Ave. Come visit our “Small Town” shopkeepers for the holiday experience that will keep you coming back.

Playground Improvement

With the help of a grant from Arkansas Forestry Service, Cotter School has planted five new trees on the playgrounds. Not only will the trees provide shade, they will also offer UV protection for the children.

Denton Ferry Park
by Elwood Mosley

     At the November 17, 2005, City Council meeting, Jim Chrietzberg announced plans for a residential subdivision to be built at the present location of the Denton Ferry RV Park. The project is a partnered effort of Chrietzberg and Bill Ernst. Consolidated Land Services of Mountain Home will provide engineering, surveying and materials testing, while Strider Consulting of Gassville will be the Civil Engineer.

     Phase I of the project was presented at the meeting and includes eighteen homes, ten of which have river frontage and eight that are directly behind the river front homes. The homes will be in the $350,000 to $375,000 range and will be built to the very highest standards.

     Chrietzberg has built homes and subdivisions in several areas of the country and currently has a house under construction in Rainbow Heights. Bill Ernst is a local businessman who originally designed and built the Denton Ferry RV Park. Denton Ferry Park will be a gated community and, though not common in our area, will be a welcomed addition. Pictured above is an example of one of the homes that will be available in the sub division. Welcome to Cotter “Denton Ferry Park”!

Featured Sponsor of the Month
Firehouse Antiques

     Iva Duggins opened the Firehouse Antiques after visiting Cotter during a city festival in 2000. She and her husband, Don, had been vacationing in the Cotter area for years as Don was born and raised in the Rae Valley area. They had always planned to retire to this area.

     Once before, Iva owned an antique store in Illinois with two other women. When they made their move to Mountain Home, Iva rented a booth at one of the area malls. The booth, however, reminded her how much she enjoyed interacting with her customers.

     In 2000, Iva was invited to set up a booth in one of the empty downtown building during the Cotter festival. Her booth was located in what is now the Cotter Hair Studio. Iva fell in love with the architecture and when she learned that many of the buildings were for sale, she had to take another chance. The Hair Studio building was already sold to the current owners so Iva looked at other opportunities. The realtor information labeled her building as the “old firehouse”. Since Don had been a firefighter in Beaumont, TX it seemed destined to be - “Firehouse Antiques” was born.

     Soon local “old timers”, inquiring about the name she chose, informed her that the building was in fact not the old firehouse. Rather the building had been owned by the McLean family and used as a furniture factory on one side and a mortuary on the other - it makes sense for the local furniture maker to build caskets.

     Iva first fell in love with the buildings in Cotter, then in love with the people. She and her husband moved from Mountain Home to Cotter. She says the people of Cotter are just like family. She enjoys getting to know new people, learning what they are looking for, and helping look for those items for them.

     Firehouse Antiques is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm. Come in to experience the past. With five showcases of costume jewelry, vintage clothing, over 100 hats, furniture, art, collectibles, china, crystal and silver, there is something for everyone!

Wildflowers for Spring
and Beyond

     Spring will find wild flowers blooming in Big Spring Park, on the eastern slope under the Bridge and along Hwy 345. This was accomplished by the guidance of Wanda Fielding.

     Donna Gardener (below) of the Arkansas Highway Dept sewed the seeds which were purchased by the City. Some of the varieties planted are Cornflowers, Gloriosa Daisies, Lemon Mint, Red Corn Poppies, Primroses, Tickseed, Liatris, Aspera and Ox-Eyed Daisies.

     The Grand Opening with Ribbon Cutting will take place at Cotter Crossing Apartments at 1:30 PM December 9, 2005. Come and share in this momentous occasion. Enjoy cookies and hot cider and tour the complex. Come and see these nice apartments - the newest addition to Cotter.

Left: Justin Morrow of the City Crew stands quietly in the corner waiting his turn at the bountiful feast set before him. Peggy Hammack (right) ensures everything is within reach of the hungry group.

City Employees Potluck

     The employees (above) of the City of Cotter gathered for a potluck dinner on November 23, 2005 at City Hall. The food was great and in abundance and was enjoyed by all that attended. With plenty of meat, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, scalloped potatoes, green beans, corn, hot rolls, pumpkin pie, apple crisp, pecan pie. sweet rolls, and Lana’s special dessert with chocolate and whipped cream - it is a good thing Thanksgiving only happens once a year.

     If you have driven down McLean Street around dusk lately, you may have been shaken by the sight of what seems to be a hundred buzzards preparing to turn in for the night. It appears they have one favorite tree in which to roost but they soon start to fill the surrounding trees.

Fun with Wontons

     The Saturday Club met November 19^th at the home of Sharon Peters. After a short business meeting, Sharon revealed the secrets of making the perfect pork wonton appetizers and fruit filled dessert wontons.

     The Saturday club next meets at noon December 10^th to share a pot-luck meal and enjoy a little Christmas party. A $5 donation will be collected for distribution to the charitable organizations supported by the club. Anyone interested in joining Cotter’s 100 year old service club, please contact any member or president Judi Sharp at 492-4483.

Holiday Performances by
Cotter Choir and Band

     Mark your calendars for these musical events in the month of December. The high school band will perform in the Mountain Home Christmas Parade, Dec 2. Go early to get a good seat – the parade begins at 5:30.

     The choir will participate in ASU’s “Jingle on the Green” Dec 5^th from 6pm – 7:30pm. Arrive early - admission is free.

     The choir and the band will perform Dec 9^th at Home Depot at 4:30pm. Come out and show your support for these talented performers!

Crossword Crazy

     The solutions to the clues can be found in the pages of this Trout Capital News. Hope you have a Happy Holiday Season!

ACROSS

1. Found with 33 down
5. Holiday Market
9. Wild poppies of spring.
14. Some do it until they drop.
15. Anticipation
16. Featured sponsors biz.
17. Trout Capital seal disguise.
19. Magnificent Daisy of Big Spring Park
22. Served at Cotter Crossing open house
23. “Light the _____”!
25. Street Light holiday garb
27. True meaning of Christmas should not be left behind with this.
30. Store at center of holiday activities.
32. Playground addition.
34. Necessity for a “white Christmas”

DOWN

2. “Peace on _____”
3. Farmland Beauties?
4. With 25 across
6. Cotter’s blue spruce
8. 1800s mode of transportation
10. Fruit filled Wonton
11. RR Xing homes
12. 3 down is one of these
13. Cotter shopping experience.
18. Holiday Open House surprise
19. Often said with 2 down.
20. 3 down or the farmer’s daughter?
21. Untamed
22. Yours in proportion to what you bring others
24. Sweet promises of City Hall
26. Red Buds, Dogwoods, and buzzard roost?
28. Local nut (not the Mayor)
29. Reveals solution in another light
31. Thanksgiving Turkey’s choice meat
33. Spirit of the season

 
Mayor’s Corner
By Mo Mosley

     Thanksgiving has come and gone for another year. I hope yours was a good one and enjoyed by you and your loved ones. We have so much to be thankful for and so many that should be thanked for protecting our rights to celebrate our holidays. Those of us, who have been in this stressful situation, know how hard it is on the individual and his/her family. When you see a veteran thank him or her.

     On December 6, 2005 the issue of trailers on the Boonstra Property will finally be settled. This has been an issue that has kept the City in turmoil for six months. There is strong support on both sides of the issue. Everyone should make their Council Representative aware of their stance on the issue. When the final determination is made I ask that both sides resolve that it is a done deal and move on. We are taking action to see that it won’t happen again. “Never” is a figment of man’s imagination, but I feel ordinance changes will take us as close to “never” as possible. I am moving on theses ordinances and we have temporary measures in place until the new ordinances are approved.

     Don’t forget the town party at City Hall on December 16 from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm. The City Tree will be lit at 5:00 PM. There will be plenty of cookies, cider and goodwill to share.

     We have a live “Fat Albert” Blue Spruce Tree, which will be decorated by City staff. When Christmas is finished, the tree will be planted and hopefully will grow to be decorated every Christmas. Stop by and have a cookie, some cider and sing a carol or two. The Mayor, all City Employee’s, and the City Council wish Merry Christmas to all.

Merry Christmas–Happy New Year and I am looking forward to good things for our town in 2006.

Featured Sponsor of the Month
Firehouse Antiques

Upcoming Events

This newsletter is published monthly by the City of Cotter and focuses on organized activities. It is edited by Mo & Theresa Mosley and Tina Berry. It is printed by Good Impressions Printing. It is also published electronically at http://www.troutcapitalnews.com.  If you have information to contribute, please e‑mail it to Tina Berry at smberry13@hotmail.com, drop it by City Hall, or mail it to PO Box 9, Cotter, AR 72626.