Champion News

Among the birthday celebrations to acknowledge is that of the Statue of Liberty which was 139 years old on October 28th.  Thank you, France, for all you’ve done for the US from the very beginning of our Nation.  Of course, we did a little to help you back in 1944.

Bob Leach has his birthday on October 4th.  He has a beautiful little mandolin-banjo that he does not play and will not sell.  Happy birthday anyway, Bob.  The 5th is the big day for Champion granddaughter Emerson Rose Oglesby and for two Skyline fourth grade students, Elania Home and Aiden Strong.  Kathy Barns celebrates on the 6th.  We remember Wayne Wiseman on the 7th and wish Bob Heffern a happy day on the 8th.  We remember Chuck Barns (Kathy’s dad) on the 11th.  That is Veteran’s Day and also the big day for a favorite west coast barber, Mel Petralia and for Skyline seventh grader Owley Sudderth.  Jill Sterling is an artist and an Arkansas watch maker.  Her birthday is on the 13th.  Carol Carnahan Barnhart has the 14th for her day, and it is also the day we remember Fern Bishop.  Rich Heffern, Bob’s older brother, celebrates on the 15th.  Joe Petralia is a Yard Vulture.  The son of the west coast barber will party on the 15th as well.  Happy birthday to all of you from your Champion friends and neighbors.  Have some fun.

We hear that The Grand Old Opry just had its one hundredth birthday.  Bravo!  Music is good for us.  Music in the pubs here in Edinburg is a mix of wonderful Scottish and Irish tunes and lots of American music.  “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “The Sunny Side of the Street” are big favorites as well as anything by Johnny Cash and Hank Williams.  We see that Tom Peters continues to share good stuff from McClurg and Oldfield and other places.  The General reports that there were 35 or 40 people at Vanzant for its Halloween Jam with fifteen in the circle.  He went as a Border Patrol agent, but did not arrest anyone, not even the circus performers.  He also reports that the Eastern Douglas County VFD chili supper was a great success with lots of people in attendance and lots of good stuff at the auction.  Good community support for our schools and our volunteer fire departments is a hallmark of Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

In olden days in Ireland, Halloween marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.  Now it is celebrated all over the place with jack-o-lanterns and all manner of fun.  Skyline School will have its “Spooktacular Bingo” on November 1st in the gym.  It starts at 5:30 and will feature prizes, treats, and spooky surprises.  Costumes are encouraged. The event is hosted by the Skyline School Sunshine Committee and proceeds will go toward Christmas boxes and student supplies.  Over here in Scotland there will be torch light parades and effigies of winter burning summer—all very exciting.  Over the internet we see more excitement as a favorite Champion neighbor, Miss B.D. Woods, won first place in barrel racing at the Cabool Fun Show.  More pleasant news from there is that the Skyline VFD annual meeting and chili supper was well attended and the chili was good.

The Prominent Champion said he waited and waited for the rain that was supposed to arrive Friday and not much happened.  The little bit of drizzle on Saturday did not do much for the rain gauges, but Sunday morning had puddles in the road up Cold Springs way and about half an inch in the measuring device.  The General boasted three tenths.  No ships will be sailing down Fox Creek, because there is no water in it.  Over here on Sunday there was a glorious orange sunrise, then fog, drizzle, brilliant sunshine, some sprinkling rain, more sun, lots of wind, then a big gray cloud to obscure the sunset.  They say all four seasons can happen in a single day.  Champions report frost in the low spots, and we all know winter is coming.  Maybe there will be enough rain so that Fred the Firefighting Goat will not be called to duty.

Sunday found J.c. Owsley at the Wesley Church in Springfield.  He was attending the Jazz Band Fundraising Concert to benefit the people of St. Louis in their recovery from the devasting tornado last May.   In Champion the Sometimes Porch Band is reported to have had a short interlude with Carissa on Wednesday. Jeff Bartch played some harmonica with The General, so the tunes are still happening on the Bright Side.  There were fourteen in the circle at the Vanzant Jam with Mike Satterfield on fiddle. Little Willow Rose appeared with her Mom to brighten up the place.  She will have her first birthday around Thanksgiving.  She likes music.  Some Spaniards from Pamplona were enjoying tunes at The Captains Bar in Edinburgh on Friday.  They have the ‘running of the bulls’ over there, but no lively pubs that satisfy their musical needs.

“What a Wonderful World” is a great song recorded in the 1960s by Louis Armstrong is also being sung well by The General himself at the Vanzant Jam.  Some of the lyrics are “The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky are also on the faces of the people passing by.”  On the streets here in Edinburgh one sees people of every imaginable hue from the darkest to the fairest.  And the number of spoken languages is astounding. The Scotts speak English, but if they do not wish for you to understand, though it is English, it is indecipherable.  We hear French and are reminded that France was our first American ally and still a good one.  Had it not been for Ben Franklin, sweet talking in Paris for nine years impressing them with our desire for independence from Britain, our Founding Fathers might have been hanged as traitors.  Franklin’s efforts and France’s distain for Britain after their own war cemented an alliance that proved crucial for the founding of our Nation.  Even though some of us do not like the sound of their language, we have to appreciate the fact that they have always been champions of human rights and individual freedoms.  They are also the first to have imprisoned an ex-president for corruption and financial malfeasance.  Sarkozy will spend five years in jail.  Even far away on distant shores there are Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride went off without a hitch!  No bad dogs, no rough creek crossings, only a mellow ramble through the beautiful countryside.  They bypassed their usual Shannon Ranch visit out of consideration for those little ground wasp yellow jackets that are likely plentiful and vigorous in weather conditions such as these. Stories about them are rampant among equestrians.  They can turn a trail ride into a rodeo.  At the end of the trail, they repaired to ice cream and pleasant palaver out on the wide veranda.  Joann Laurence had joined the regulars with her guitar for a few tunes then came Carissa Rene and Cheryl Hatch of Heroes’ Rest who added their lovely voices to some gospel tunes.  About that time too came Kaitlyn McConnell and Mike O’Brian with a pie and their usual curiosity and enthusiasm for the Bright Side.  As the day progressed Kaitlyn and Mike made their way to Mansfield to Wilder Day activities where Kaitlyn has some special history.

In years past a dozen and more riders have made trail ride, sharing their stories of Bud and adventures along the trail.  Cavin Chambers and some of his buddies had just returned from an epic trail ride up in Utah, Colorado and Kansas.  They may have been saddle-sore which kept them from showing up this time.  Karen Brown has been on a number of rides recently and enjoyed this one.  She was seen with a shovel cleaning up after her mount.  Loran Cockrum came over from West Plains for the fun of it.  He had stories to tell and good reasons to get home.  Andrew Harden was riding one of Bud’s horses.  Lots of exciting things are going on in his life. He endured some significant teasing from The General who likes to keep things jovial. 

Earlier in the day Johnny Burkdoll spent some time around the cold wood stove.  He was haggling with the Prominent Champion over some twelve-foot one by sixes.  He is making a good recovery over some health problems and enjoys being in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

In 1697, the English poet and playwright William Congreve said, “Musick has charms to soothe the savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.”  We do not know about rocks and oaks, but we know that music is a good calming force for us. The Prominent Champion reported that Johnny Cox from up around Kansas City joined The General, and Cheryl Hatch and Carissa Rene from the Hero’s Rest out on the wide veranda Wednesday.  He commented on Carissa’s beautiful voice, which it is.  The General reported that she and Cheryl were at Vanzant Thursday in the musical circle of fifteen, where Cheryl surprised and delighted the room with a beautiful rendition of “Ashokan Farewell” on her violin.  We did not know she was a fiddler!  The jam has been much in need of one, so maybe she will become a regular.  Meanwhile, over here in Edinburgh, Scotland, Paul (someone) on cello and Eddie Hanson on fiddle did that beautiful old tune in a crowded and usually very noisy pub on Friday and brought the room to a sublime stillness.

Music is so good for us that we will sing “Happy Birthday!” to Champion Leslee Krider and Skyline fourth grader Tinsleigh Miller on October 14th, to Joe Moskaly on October 15th, to Darlene Connor and Champion grandson Carson Cline on the 18th.  Your Champion correspondent will celebrate on the other side of the Atlantic on the 21st and will remember Champion Anna Henson that day.  October 22nd is for Donna Moskaly and Skyline second grader London Coon.  The 23rd is for Champion granddaughter Esther Grace Oglesby and her Aunt Breauna Krider has the 24th for her big day.  We remember the great singer songwriter, Roger Miller (1936-1992) on October 25th.  He wrote great tunes like “You Can’t Roller-skate in a Buffalo Herd” and “Dang Me.”  That is also the birthday of Skyline fifth grader Grant Strong and first grader Olyvia Wagner who moved to Champion this summer.  The 26th is for Brad Oglesby, Esther Grace’s dad, and Champion Shala Clark and the day we remember Champion Harley Krider. Harley had a wonderful singing voice.  Skyline fifth grader Kayleigha Crownover and kindergarten student John Sudderth share the 28th for their birthdays along with Nicholas Georges.  Connie Lansdown will party on the 30th and on that day we will remember Champion Royce Henson.  May the music uplift your spirits.  Tom Peters has been sharing good music online and good stories about music.  He also reports that Kaitlyn McConnell’s new book “The Ozarks Pie Project Diary” includes McClurg.  It includes Champion too and it is said that pie, just like music, brings people together.

The General reported that the Owsley family reunion was another enjoyable event.  He said there were twenty-four in attendance this year, down from the usual fifty or so of recent years.  His nieces from Idaho and Florida did not make it this time and a nephew who lives in Ava just waved as he drove by.  Cathie Alsup Reilly and her daughter Linda came over from Kentucky and said they had a great time. Johnnie and Lori Kline Cox made it down from around Kansas City for the gathering and then over to Champion for the fun of it.

Riding in taxis and buses over the ancient cobblestones here in Auld Reekie feels just like bouncing along our beautiful country lanes in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—October 6, 2025.
            “In your heart you know he’s right.” The Prominent Champion remembered Barry Goldwater’s slogan during the Wednesday chat around the cold wood stove. There was something too about Fritz Mondale, “Fritz and grits give me…something.” The General lamented having lost his “I Like Ike” button. At Sen. Hubert Humphrey’s funeral, President Jimmy Carter quoted Mahatma Gandi as he listed the seven deadly sins. “Wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice and politics without principle.” Seneca, the Roman Stoic philosopher who passed away in 65AD said, “Be wary of the man who urges an action in which he himself incurs no risk.” Politics seem to play second fiddle to sports these days. The Kansas City Chiefs have won a game, and the NFL season is well underway. The major league baseball playoffs are happening to determine who will be in the Worlds Series. Basketball, soccer and rugby can keep our attention diverted nicely, though as citizens it behooves us to be informed—awakened to what is going on in the country.
           Before long, the musicians retired to the wide veranda about the time Fox Creek farmers showed up talking about planting rye, turnips, and radishes with GPS operated tractors. Then came Lorrie with an adorable puppy she had rescued from a dumpster in Mt. Grove. She is looking for a home for the little girl dog, thought to be six or seven weeks old, tiny, maybe some Chiwawa mixed with a Beagle, a friendly little critter. Joanne Metroplos, visiting from Seattle, sat a spell on the porch. It is nice to see friends with Champion connections touching base from time to time.
            Bob and Mary left the Vanzant Jam early on Thursday, headed to Tulsa on a lark, where Bob won another ‘best of show’ prize with the 1963 Lark at the 50th Annual Zone Meet by the OK Chapter of the Studebaker Drivers Club. It was a joy at the jam to see little Willow Rose who will have her first birthday on November 28. She likes music. Her papa is a fiddler. The jam needs more fiddlers. Banjo picker Carol Green, also at the jam, will celebrate her birthday on October 6th. Betty Dye and Vickie Trippie will enjoy the Full Hunter’s Supermoon on their birthdays, October 7th. Teresa Tost and Skyline first grader Preslee Trujillo share the 8th for their big day. Champion granddaughter Madelyn Ward has October 10th to party and Steve Conner shares his birthday with kindergartner Chloe Porcello on the 11th. October 12th is for Janet Chapin, and we remember our friend Cathy Baldwin on her birthday October 13th. She and Chuck were swept away in the election day flood last year.
            We figure that the absence of something bad is the same thing as something good. Often enough we hear what is wrong, aggravating, and what needs fixing. We always have the chance to say right out loud when things are good, when someone smiled, when the sunrise was glorious, when the road was not so rough and rocky. It is still rough and rocky, Johnny and Bobby, but it is much, much better, and we appreciate the work that goes into maintaining these beautiful country lanes. Jane Goodall said, “Live in joy, even though you know the facts.” Someone else said, “I cannot do all the good the world needs. But the world needs all the good I can do.”
            The Skyline R-2 PTO hosted a splendid potluck dinner during the Fall Carnival on Friday. And what a carnival! The bounce house and all the interesting, innovative games, including “Pick Fred’s Nose,” made for a lot of fun for the kids. Grownups had a chance to enjoy other people’s cooking and to visit during the festivities. Community support for our great little school was on full display.
            Another chance to support community comes up on Saturday, the 11th, at the Skyline School. Two of the Fimon children, Landon and Dusty, suffered serious burns in a recent accident. A benefit for the Fimon Family starts at 4:00 with dinner, an auction at 5:00 and then live music by Cheyenne McIntosh and the New Grass Attack. Chris Degase will be the auctioneer, taking bids on the many donations of everything from dog food to a five-day four-night cruise. The chance to be of help when help is needed is one for Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION-September 29, 2025

          It was a red-letter day for our great Skyline R2 School on Wednesday when they boasted 100% attendance. Every single student from prekindergarten to the eighth grade were the beneficiaries of a staff dedicated to providing the education and encouragement they need to take over the running of the farms, businesses, banks, schools, hospitals, and government when their time comes. Talk around the cold old wood stove that day had to do with ‘kids today.’ The old song goes, “Why can’t they be like we were, perfect in every way? Kids! What’s the matter with kids today?” On Old Champion’s grandfather, born in the late 1880, dying in the early 1970’s, said that he was born before there were cars and he lived to see a man on the moon. Things are still changing just that fast. Old folks, as always, stay bewildered about the young in an era moving faster than they can comprehend. When we see some youngster who meets our expectations, let’s give him or her a big thumbs up, and for the others let’s give them encouragement and the benefit of the doubt. Skyline’s Fall Carnival on October 3rd will be a chance to support our precious little rural school whether we have kids there or not. Food at 5:00. Games and prizes start at 6:00.
            The musical story told at Tom’s house by twelve musicians among the thirty-six guests started with Bennett’s Reel with David Scrivner on lead fiddle. Then it was Hell Again the Barn Door when My Little Lady rode the Single Foot Horse to catch the Last Train Home, the Cincinnati Hornpipe, singing Star of Bethlehem. Such a beautiful evening at McClurg had Kaitlyn taking us on a stroll online out on the beautiful fall evening with the quarter moon shining down. We are grateful that Tom has kept the McClurg Jam alive and that Kaitlyn takes us all through this beautiful part of the world.
            Recent rains, as welcome and wonderful as they were, were not enough to mitigate our persistent drought. Fire danger persists. Hopefully that goat (Fred?), displaced by the catastrophic fires of last March, will be ready to assist our steadfast volunteers again when the need arises. Hopes are that the need will not arise, but the ample spring rains produced lush foliage that has been desiccated by summer’s heat, a recipe for combustibility. We aspire to be as fire aware as we are “Bear Aware” this time of the year. While we are at it, let us applaud and support those folks who leave their beds, their jobs, and their dinner tables to protect our lives and property.
            The little bit of rain and slightly cooler temperatures have some Old Champions out finally getting their turnips planted. They are also going through their heating systems, getting ready for cold weather, cleaning the flu and dusting the space heaters. The rapid passage of time has us moving from season to season before we know it.
           Calvin Chambers and his cowboy buddies took off on September 23rd, “on the road again,” they said. They are roaming around Brice Canyon Valley, Utah on their beautiful mounts, filling the internet with breathtaking scenes of the majestic mountains. Hopefully they will be back in time to saddle up for Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride, headed up by Andrew Hardin, on October 8th. Riders who have been doing this for long time welcome new folks on the ride to hear the old stories and enjoy being part of new ones in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—September 22, 2025
            Champion was the third spot in an epic music tour by the Schlichting couple, Steve and Sharon, from up around Osceola. They are farmers talking about how many bushels to the acre of corn they got this year and how much they enjoyed the Music at McClurg on Monday and at Roy’s Store in Dora on Tuesday. They sat out on the wide veranda and hummed along to “Wildwood Flower” and “An Old Spinning Wheel.” They have been camping on this adventure enjoying the beauty of this part of the country. Steve had a beautiful mandolin, electric, made by a skilled luthier from a chunk of walnut tree grown on his old home place. He expects that his talented granddaughter will inherit it and put it to good use. He and Sharon made their final stop Thursday evening in Vanzant, then on home to that granddaughter. Meanwhile there were lots of good stories about chicken plucking, hog scalding and coon hunting.
          On Friday the Skyline preschoolers and kindergarten students had the chance to explore the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department’s patrol car. Deputy Harley gave them a tour. Maybe he will come to the Skyline R2 Fall Carnival on October 3rd. The dinner will start at 5:00 and then the games and prizes will commence. The bounce house might be off limits for deputies.
Skyline seventh grader Myson Loveless shares his birthday on October 1st with a Prominent Champion who always gets a postcard in the mail that says, “Remember, if you act like you are having a good time, pretty soon you will forget you are acting, and you will really be having a good time.” Jana Barnes-Brixey is a Champion dairy farmer and teaches school up in Norwood she and high school senior Lydia Harden also celebrate on October 1st. That is also the day we remember Pete Mullins. He and Bonnie were regulars at the Denlow School Reunion in the old days. Ben Stewart, who lives on Fox Creek Road, will be 2 years old on October 2nd. Champion grandson William Tucker Clark was born October 2, 2015. Mahatma Gandhi was born October 2, 1869. He was a lawyer famous for leading the Indian Independence Movement. His nonviolent methods resulted in India gaining independence from British rule, though it was not easy. Unfortunately, our forefathers had to fight for our independence. Skyline sixth grader, Evan Homer, shares his birthday on the 3rd with Champion Gary Clark. The Upshaw twins were born on October 4th. We remember well and miss Fae Upshaw Krider and wish Kaye Upshaw Johnston a good and happy day in the company of her big loving family. Skyline’s head cook, Rhonda Nava will celebrate her birthday on October 5th. Happy birthday to all of you from your Champion friends, families and neighbors.
         Tom Peters said there were three generations of jig dancers at McClurg on Monday evening. The “Shepherd’s Wife Waltz” had some up waltzing and “Leather Britches” had some toes tapping. “The eighth of January” and “Seamus O’Brien” kept the evening lively. Up in Minneapolis, Willie Nelson and his boys, Billy Strings, Jessie Welles, and many others put on the 40th edition of Farm Aid. Music helps in many ways. The internet has been full of the Hootin and Hollerin Festival over in Gainesville including Bob Berry’s “People’s Choice Award” for Mary’s beautiful Studebaker Lark. The Starvy Creek bluegrass festival has been going on with all its great music. Next week the internet will be full of the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association shindig in West Plains. This is an exciting time of the year. ‘Er long Andrew Harden will be heading up Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride in Champion—October 8th. Saddle up and join a long standing tradition.
           Some Old Champions woke up Friday morning with as much as half an inch of rain. They were delighted to be awakened in the wee hours of Sunday morning by thunder and lightning and a few more tenths in their rain gauges. By Monday morning the measurement was up to two and a half beautiful inches. Cool damp days ahead have them relaxed and optimistic. Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!