Poultry council denies ironyin praising cited watershed city
Arkansas’ chicken companies waded into the tourism business Friday by congratulating an Oklahoma town for its national fishing prestige.
The Poultry Community Council, an organization funded by Arkansas poultry companies, notified the media that Tahlequah, Okla., ranks as the nation’s 16th best fishing town in Field & Stream magazine’s February issue.
It’s a nice honor for Tahlequah, even if it’s being promoted by an unexpected source, said Ed Fite, director of the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission.
“I’m not the sharpest or the brightest crayon in the box, but I wouldn’t think Field & Stream’s list would be promoted by the poultry companies,” Fite said.
The council didn’t mention in its release that eight poultry companies are being sued by Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson, who claims they are polluting the Illinois River watershed that includes Tahlequah.
At first, Field & Stream spokesman Amanda McNally couldn’t figure why a poultry group would brag on a fishing town.
“I caught wind of that press release, and I couldn’t figure out why they’d care,” McNally said. “Now, I know.” The council had no hidden agenda, said Jackie Cunningham, the council’s director.
“Agenda ?” Cunningham said. “It’s important that people realize the river is clean.” Edmondson, who declined comment, filed the lawsuit in 2005, accusing the companies of polluting the Illinois River watershed with poultry litter. Tahlequah is the biggest town on the Oklahoma side of the watershed, which also includes large portions of Benton and Washington counties in Arkansas.
The 2006 population estimate for Tahlequah is 16, 237, according to the U. S. Census Bureau.
Kirk Deeter, an editor at-large for the magazine who helped select Tahlequah, said he didn’t know about the lawsuit.
“Tahlequah won’t stay on the list if they ruin the lake,” Deeter said.
“It wasn’t the most scientific list. It was a subjective and qualitative process.”
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