European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - March 29, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse A Trail mount Kathadin a 1 fam we March 29, 19 37 Northern accents Ere increasingly heard along Wilh Southern drawls in idea Kansas ozarks. Which has become retirement Haven for thousand because of Low taxes mild weather plea san scenery and no big City stress. The accelerating exodus by northerners Over 60 to communities like Cherokee Village Means More Home and land sales More Lite savings deposited in local Banks and More tax Revenue to our porn schools and services. Our area is much better off because the retirees Are Here says Larry Nelson president of a Bank in Mountain Home eventually within a six or Nino month period they have not Only enjoyed being around these Southern people they have become like those people they have lost the veneer the built up Over 40 years of working in the Arkansas is second Only to Florida in percentage of population Over 65, says Sandra Auburn assistant Deputy director of the slate Ollice on aging an Dadufa services. The 1980 . Census found thai 13.7 percent of Arkansas population was Over 65. Compared to 17.3 Perc Nhor Florida she says Roy smucker a former Illinois resident who is assistant slate director of the american association of retired Percer. Says the organization s stale ,-., has grown More than 86.000 to 229,500 inc 1984. A member must be at least so says Emu Eker. 71, but i d say the biggest share Are Gladys and Wayne Fry have shared the presidency of Cherokee Village s Illinois club made up of several Hundred expatriated northerners and a wooden clout a Illinois is nailed to a Post on their porch but we Are now arkansans mrs. Fry says we consider ourselves old timers. We Don t speak the Southern language but we get along really Well Wilh these local folks says mrs. Fry 69. Who moved hero in 19bo rom Plainfield. 111. You could t pay me to live in Chicago says her 70-year-old husband a retired school bus Denver who plays Goll on sunny Days and cards when it Rains. The couple s Small House is nes Llod in Woodlands developed in 1954 by John Cooper sr., whose company has profited by building communities with names like Bella Vista and hot Springs Village Cherokee Village has Mere than 24,000 properly owners some of whom Only visit the Araa once a year. At hot Spring Village which has 24-hour Security guards people leave Golf carts outside Wilh clubs in them says project of Rector Randy Brucker. You could t pull them away to go Back to Chicago or he said property taxes Are one sixth or one seventh what the Reli reas paid on their former Homes. Nelson president of people s Bank & Trust co at Mountain Home about 50 Miles Eway estimates that More than Hall of his customers Are retirement age and that up to 80 percent of the Bank s deposits Are Retiree dollars. Since 1977, people s assets have grown from $53.5 million to $126.5 million. The Liebek Neches both 63 and formerly of new Jersey built a House on live acres near Mountain Home two years ago. We first came Here and stayed three weeks at a Lis wig Mote mrs. Liob Knecht recalls. We. Knew we wanted to come Here. Different people have different needs. I m nol a shopper. I like he outdoors. We Call Mountain Home our Nelson say differences in Northern and Southern backgrounds blur with time although he has heard of same resentment by locals. I think there Are some people a minority who have retired and feel the need to push Lor everything i heave Netson says if you have one of those people talking to a Small Arkansas Farmer one is going to View the other As either Pushy obnoxious or Brash while the City boy is going to look at the Rural Arkansas Guy and say. You talk slow you think slow you must to ignorant " mrs Fry says bluntly i be told them to their aces Haf it we had t come town Bete. They would still be going to a referring to tax financed water and sewer connections the stars and stripes Page 15
