Champion News

On May 5, 1862 a small, poorly equipped Mexican Army under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French forces of Napoleon III who were trying to establish a monarchy under Maximilian of Austria. The unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla symbolizes courage, resistance against foreign intervention and Mexican American culture.

On May 6th five stalwart equestrians set out from Champion on their annual spring trail ride in fun and in memory of a great Champion Bud Hutchison. Karen Brown of Norwood was on her horse Cedar, Don Hamby of Dora on Domino, trail boss Andrew Harden of Ava on Mable, Calvin Chambers of Dora on Renegade, and Mena Dutton of Norwood on Charlie. They reported having a good time in the company of a big white dog all the way there and back.

Skyline’s Second Saturday Swap Meet happened on the 9th, always a good happening. Mothers all over America enjoyed the attention of children, grand and great ones too. We are reminded that there are only two kinds of people in the world—mothers and everyone else. So, lucky are all of us to have had one.

Birthdays to celebrate include those of a Champion cat, Ms. Bitz, who was thirteen years old on the 6th of May. We remember fiddler Candi Bartsch on her birthday, May 14th. That is the big day for Margie Carter too. She is often at the Vanzant Jam and chances are someone will sing that song to her. May 15th is for Champion granddaughter, Elizabeth Heffern, and for Champion resident, Linda Cooley. Ivan Moses out in San Diego will celebrate on the 16th as will Karen Grizwold and Champion Alvie Dooms. Alvie is still making it to the McClurg Jam and the world of music is better because of him. The 16th is also the big day for Hazel Wiltse who will be a Skyline first grader next year. Others who will be Skyline first graders are Emelia Parker, whose birthday is on May 19th. And Levi Johnstone who will have his party on the 21st. Your friends and families are happy about you. We are awash in love and gratitude in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side.

In about 1861 Emily Dickinson wrote a poem that said, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” It conveys the thought that hope is an enduring, resilient force withing the human soul that provides comfort and encouragement that persists during life’s hardest storms. Some Champions are experiencing loss, and their friends and neighbors hope for them comfort as their family navigates a new reality.

Our Skyline School’s graduation ceremony Thursday was full of Pomp and Circumstance, love and laughter. Thirteen kindergarten students—Estelene Bellefeuille, Elizabeth Johnson, Levi Johnstone, Braxton Loveless, Jaxon McIntosh, EmberLeigh Miller, Everette Nelson, Chloe Porcello, Georgia Proctor, Landon Simon, John Sudderth, Hazel Wiltse and Bline Woods—walked and skipped and danced down the aisle in their tiger red caps and gowns to the delight of their families and friends. They had their photos taken with their diplomas. Eighth graders, Hunter Hall, Kennedy Hinote, Morgan Johnson, Paige Jonas, Blake McIntosh, and Grace Spence received their diplomas and are headed off to high school next fall. Their good Skyline start will have them set up for success. The last day of school featured an awards ceremony where students were recognized for academic achievement, for significant improvement through the year, for athletic accomplishments, and for good citizenship. Their diplomas and award certificates will fill scrap books. They are the people who will be running things before long. Years hence will find them looking back with pride and nostalgia for these sweet school days made possible by the dedicated teachers and staff.

Who might have a ukulele languishing in a closet or hanging on a wall not being played? These instruments are small. They may have been purchased on a whim. Perhaps they were a bargain in a thrift store or were hand-me-down gifts from old folks looking to pare down their possessions. Skyline’s music program can use them. Little fingers will be strumming under the tutelage of Cheyenne McIntosh when school starts up again this fall. Music is good for us. Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

A Champion son refers us to a quote by Marcus Aurelius: “Don’t be overheard complaining…not even to yourself.” The reign of this Roman emperor from 161 AD to 180 AD continued an age of relative peace, calm and stability that had started in 27 BC. He had lots of things to say like, “The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” We have lots to think about these days.

A “Mayday” alert is used for life-threatening situations which may well apply this Sunday night as the weather forecast seems more exciting than we might like. Otherwise, May Day observances are more pleasant to contemplate. May first is celebrated as International Workers’ Day stemming from the 1886 campaign for an 8-hour workday. May Day also marks the return of spring and the beginning of summer when there may well be folks dancing around a Maypole somewhere. Skyline fifth grader Holden Johnson, first grader Claire Wangsgard and Skyline art teacher Danielle Campbell all celebrate their birthdays on May 1st. Dovie Dooms has her party on May 2nd, as does our friend Lee Mastin who has moved to North Carolina. Linda Heffern will celebrate on May 6th. She lives up in Springfield but has real Champion connections. Kenneth Anderson is well acquainted with Champion and will most likely be sung to at the Vanzant Jam on the 7th, though his birthday is on the 8th. On the 9th we remember Bonnie Brixey Mullens and that is the big day for Skyline first grader Mikel Kolterman-Young. Second grader Wesley Boyd will celebrate on the 11th. Your friends and families all wish for you to have beautiful birthdays and good memories.

For manicured lawns in cities and towns, Bermuda grass may be a lovely thing. For vegetable gardeners out in the country, it is a pain in a variety of places. It must be wrestled with and pulled carefully because the least little part of it left in the ground will sprout anew. We are reminded of another quote by farmer who worked behind mules as a girl and was known for her ability to throw up terraces in dry land farming out in west Texas. Exer Hector would say of anything awkward, unnecessarily complicated and difficult, “It’s like trying to put a side-saddle on a hog.” Calvin Chambers and a bunch of his buddies saddled up their four wheeling mules and made a sashay through Champion on Saturday. Hopes are he and other equestrians will join Bud Hutchison’s Memorial trail ride heading up on the Bright Side on May 6th. We are full of gratitude and optimism in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Champion Jenna Brixey received her State FFA Degree at the 98th Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia on Friday. She won State Dairy Production Entrepreneurship. Jacob’s team also received recognition, and the family made a holiday of it visiting Rock Bridge State Park and having photos taken under a 400-year-old Burr Oak tree. Congratulations to the Brixeys and to all our future farmers. We will always need you.

Glorious springtime brings ticks and with the Lone Star variety comes the alfa gal syndrome that requires keen attention to diet. The Yes Honey Company of Norwood makes sodas, sauces, syrups and dressings that are healthy alternatives to products that can cause serious health problems. Aspiring fiddler Mena Dutton has taken a job with Yes Honey, right up the road, and has good things to say about the products and the organization which innovates and advocates for a healthy, transparent approach to food. Managing dietary needs or just looking for some natural sweetness, it is nice to support local businesses.

We celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd. This has been going on for the last 56 years. The theme this year is “Our Power, Our Planet,” focusing on accelerating the transition to renewable energy for a sustainable future. Our world is changing fast in a variety of ways.

Exciting things have been going on at our Skyline R2 School as the school year is rapidly coming to a close. The last day will be May 1st. Before then Skyline Prekindergarten student Eloise Weller will have her birthday on April 23rd. Mushroom and arrowhead hunter, tree guy Jacob Moffett celebrates on the 24th. Fiddler Mike Satterfield is the proud father of Miss Willow Rose and has his big day on April 25th. We remember Gary Proctor, a Vietnam Veteran and Champion on his birthday on April 26th. Juniper Wiltse lives in downtown Champion and is an equestrian and talented guitarist with a birthday on April 28th. Champion granddaughter Taegan Krider has April 30th. Juniper is already a veteran of Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride. It will take out of Champion again at 10:00 am on May 6th. Andrew Harden heads up the ride and keeps many good memories going for Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

Something pleasant can happen on any day in Champion. Wednesday the pleasantries included a visit from Kaitlyn McConnell and her traveling companion Mike O’Brien. She opened her basket to reveal an Impossible Pie. (Page 47 in her book The Ozark Pie Project Diary, available at the store.) She joined the acapella porch choir singing “Victory in Jesus” and bought some pie supplies before she and Mike headed off to Rockbridge for lunch. J.C. Owsley stopped by later for a brief visit while out on an adventure through Douglas and Ozark Counties. He was in a hurry, so he did not buy a cowbell this time.

Thursday had jammers appreciating the updated Vanzant Community Building. The music was good and the potluck was amazing as always. Doug and Margery Larrabee are regular attendees. Doug asked about the morrell mushrooms referenced in The Champion News. His had not reappeared to his satisfaction. He should take lessons from young Blaine Woods, who had her picture taken with about half a bushel of them on Easter Sunday.

Doug was also curious about our birthday celebrations. Perhaps his name will wind up in our birthday book eventually. That is what happened to Mena Dutton. Her birthday was Friday, April 10th, which happened to be the day our first hummingbird scout showed up at an Old Champion’s feeder. We are reminded that the recipe for hummingbird nectar is one part granulated sugar to four parts water. They say boil the water to help dissolve the sugar and then to let it cool completely. Experts say never to use red dye, honey or brown sugar, as these can harm the birds. We are grateful for the entertainment they provide and for all the natural beauty we are privileged to enjoy in this part of the world.

Saturday was the first Skyline Swap Meet of the year. It happens on the second Saturday of the month from now through the summer at the corner of Highway C and 76 Highway from 8:00 am to noon or there abouts. Find baked goods, eggs, small animals, crafts of various types, garden plants, and garage sale items. It looks like the next one will be on the 9th of May, just the day before Mother’s Day. We celebrate our Mothers every day here in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Days slip by quickly in Champion.  Spring is all over us and we are dazzled by the red buds and dogwoods.  The little bit of rain has lifted our spirits and our hopes particularly as the morels are up in profusion. It is easy to lose track of things.

Pete Proctor reminded us of March 29th Honoring all who served in Viet Nam.  151,000 Missourians served. 1,141 of those soldiers are memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.

We remember dear Beverly Coffman Emery on her birthday on April 7th.  Her spirit of fun was matched with her kindness, and her many friends miss her yet.  Margie Carr also has April 7th as her birthday, and she has undisclosed family connections to The General himself.  Lindsey Short celebrates on April 8th.  Felix the Farmer will probably sing to her and make her a special card.  He is good at that.  Champion grandson Dylon Watts has a birthday on April 12th, and it is rumored that he will soon be a father.  Studebaker Bob Berry will rev up his beautiful red 1946 Studebaker pickup truck on his birthday on April 14. Skyline prekindergarten student Wesley Wangsgard also celebrates that day.  April 15th has been income Tax Day for a long time.  Champion son-in-law Dustin Cline celebrates that day and remembers his wife’s aunt Vivian Floyd with whom he shared the day.  Many remember George Gary Jones that day, a Veteran and as good a friend as anyone could ever hope to have.  John Jolly’s birthday is also Tax Day.  We remember sweet Myrtle Harris on April 19th and her beautiful flowers.  One of our favorite Fox Creek Farmers will be old enough to get his driver’s license on April 20th.  So, happy birthday to all you who are still with us and to those who are not, we are grateful to have had you in our lives.

In our Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it we watched the Easter bunny hippity hop fun for our young ones.   The religious significance of the holiday gives us hope for a loving peaceful world in the future.  Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

A Tuesday afternoon found an Old Champion sitting on the front porch listening to the birds and marveling at the approach of Spring even as the persistent drought has things thwarted so far. The promise of rain in the coming week will liven things up considerably. The big sound of the tiny Black Capped Chickadee filled the air though the little critters were nowhere to be seen. A pleasant warm afternoon became more pleasant with the arrival of a couple of big noisy road graders. Bobby Emery on one was showing a new hire to the road crew Cold Springs Road and giving him some good instruction. With several hundred miles of dirt/gravel roads to maintain it is a red-letter day when Bobby and the road guys can come our way.

It was smooth sailing down to Champion for the Wednesday Jam on the wide veranda. Thursday’s Vanzant Jam was on hold for the week as significant upgrades were in progress on the Community Building. Good things can happen at any time. Among those good things are birthdays like that of Skyline fourth grader Frederick Smith who celebrates on April 4th. The 5th is the big day for Fox Creek Cow Farmer Mandi Boehs. Carissa Rene of Hero’s Rest may tune up her mandolin and sing that song to herself on April 6th. We remember Bud Hutchison on his birthday on April 8th. He headed up a trail ride out of Champion in the spring and fall for years. These days it is called Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail ride and Andrew Harden has kept it going. Donnie Luna keeps our wonderful Skyline School going. He shares his birthday on April 9th with Candace Mayberry, Skyline’s SPED coordinator. Happy birthday to all of you. Enjoy your special days.

Saturday was a special day for seventy-seven stalwart citizens of Ava who were among the more than eight million people who took to the streets of the Nation to exercise their right to free speech. While opinions may vary widely on any given subject, the right to express them is one that was secured for us by the efforts of many generations of our brave forbearers—Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!