Spanning the gateway

— Reminiscent of the arch which spanned the highway leading east out of Gateway, a new arch is rising just off U.S. Highway 62 at the entrance to the city park.

“We used to have an arch over what used to be 47 highway,” Mayor Lida Schnitzer said. Mayor since 1989, Schnitzer was born on the land now encompassed by the Pea Ridge National Military Park.

She has lived in Gateway since she was 6 years old and remembers the former arch which was felled in 1950.

“The arch has been a goal of the community since it was knocked down in 1950,” Schnitzer said, “by a 1950 Oreo two-ton flatbed lumber truck.

Several local craftsmen are using their skills to create the arch.

Randall James of Brightwater is doing the rock work. Ricky Bobo of Springdale is crafting the metal portion of the arch. Jeff Mason of Gateway is doing the electrical work. The new arch is designed by T.J. McGuire and Associates. Angie Wofard will design the landscaping.

Renard Bray donated the rocks.

The city park land was purchased in 1998.

Gateway received a GIF Community Enhancement Grant of $12,000 which is being used to construct the arch.

News, Pages 1 on 10/13/2010