Champion News

 

Gratitude and optimism define the beginning of July. Sweet family and other reunions, the pomp, pageantry, and patriotism of the Fourth of July, the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival, and the Vanzant Community Picnic together filled to wonderfully overflowing the first full week. Optimism for what the rest of the month has in store will keep us going. Farmers and gardeners are hoping for rain for their beans and corn. Cucumbers, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and squash are thirsty. That optimism accompanies planning and work.

Extensive planning and work went into the Smithsonian Folklife Festival up in Washington D.C. featuring the Ozarks. Kaitlyn McConnell shared much of the excitement with us through her online blog “Ozarks Alive!” Those of us who do not have computers, most likely have friends and families who do. Ask them to look up Kaitlyn and her blog up on Facebook. She is dedicated to sharing and preserving stories and histories of the area. Marideth Sisco, David Scrivner and the Ozark Highballers were part of the festivities that made the festival a marvelous event, sharing our part of the world with the rest of the world. Back home, the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival wound up in Conway on Saturday. If you had been missing your bluegrass friends, that is probably where they were.

Sean McCormick    Finley River Boys

Whetstone

Laura Biddick of Wild Care Oklahoma, says, “Turtle racing has an interesting history and is still popular at events and festivals across the Midwest. But animal welfare groups, conservationists, and scientists are concerned about the effects these races have on individual turtles and the species as a whole.” The late Cathy Odneal’s grandchildren and their cousins who participated in Saturday’s race at the picnic were instructed to take their turtles back to the place where they found them so they could resume their normal lives. Some of those critters may be fifty years old.

Friday night’s amazing sunset washed smiles and wonder over the Vanzant Picnic. The enjoyment in seeing old friends and making new ones is the heart of community. Romping little children, delicious picnic food of all kinds, the door prizes, raffles, games, and music made both nights memorable. Remembering the many missing for known and unknown reasons filled conversations. Catching up with everyone’s news, health, number and accomplishments of grandchildren, gardens, road conditions, plans and prospects made lively chatter. Dramatic, billowing clouds dropped just a dribble of drizzle to start things Saturday but did not dampen the spirit of the gathering. David Whetstone flew his drone over the picnic and later connected with the talented Eastern Douglas County Volunteer Fire Department photographer, David Vaughn. Thanks to the Davids, perhaps soon, on one of the Facebook pages or on YouTube, we will have the opportunity to observe the fun we had from the air. We had the joy of continuing the traditional old fashioned summer festivals and the excitement of embracing new technology, all set to the great music of Sean McCormick, Whetstone, Backyard Bluegrass, and the Finley River Boys. We appreciate the good planning and hard work of the EDCVFD for giving us a beautiful picnic. They are East Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

White River wiring high-speed Internet.

Talk around the cold wood stove in Champion Wednesday had to do with tomatoes and potatoes. Gardens are starting to produce. The Cowboy said that in years past people would have ripe tomatoes before the Fourth of July. The changes in the weather may have something to do with that, or maybe the older gardeners knew things we do not know. Jaime and Wes Woods dropped into Champion that day while they were enjoying some quality time together in celebration of their tenth wedding anniversary. Congratulations. Charlie Lambert popped in for a few minutes but did not bring his mandolin in to jam. He had been to the barber shop and said he was played out. Music is good for us. It was a treat to see Larry and Teresa Wrinkles at the Vanzant Jam Thursday. He said he drove down a creek bed to get there. The Day family, dulcimer players, also made an appearance after a long absence. They have been working hard and have not had time to practice much, so they did not bring their axes. Lorelai requested the Possum Song and Sherry complied with the five pounds in her headlights. Sherry and Ruby are part of “The Elderberries” dance group, and if one is to believe photographs in the newspaper, so is David Whetstone. Their performance at the Heart of the Ozarks Festival will be talked about for some time.

Kaitlyn McConnell is in Washington participating in and reporting on the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. She said despite the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, the festival is getting a good turnout. The internet is giving us some excellent glimpses and we look forward to seeing more about it. The Ozark Highballers, a band out of Fayetteville, Arkansas performed on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center on June 30th. You can find a YouTube video of their show online. The 30th was also the birthday of Susana Handcock who has been married to Wesley Handcock, a native of Denlow, since 1963. They live up in Wilder, Idaho. Dawn and Hovey Henson have been married quite a spell too. They are in the neighborhood attending the Mountain Grove High School Reunion. Mountain Grove is well dressed for the reunions and the 4th of July Celebration with beautiful flowers and beautiful Flags. Huzzah! It is a long trip from Houston for Dawn and Hovey, but they are likely enjoying the (relative to Texas) moderate temperatures. Saturday’s little rain showers were a real relief to gardeners. We harbor hopes for more rain and perhaps cooler evenings for the music, fun, and games of the Vanzant Picnic. Bring some pies, cakes, or cookies for the cake walk and help support the Eastern Douglas County Fire Department that does so much good for the area.

On the bright side, the lovely wildflowers growing along our beautiful country lanes get extra attention and appreciation as it is imperative to drive at a prudent seven to ten miles per hour to preserve the integrity of our shock absorbers and tires. It takes longer to get anywhere. Speed on up if you are looking to feel like a rock in a bottle and have no concern for the longevity of your rig. At times like these we remember fondly Jimmy Thompson, a knowledgeable hardworking gentleman, who was wont to go fox hunting and coyote hunting with the likes of Deward Henson, Russel Upshaw, J.T. Shelton, and others. They may not have killed many critters, but they loved to hear the dogs run through the hills. Along some of the paths north of Champion, friendly ITG Communications contractors for White River Connect are busy stringing fiberoptic cable with the electric lines. Once they get it all up and get it tested, thanks to the America Rescue Plan Act, very rural residents will be able to have truly high-speed internet, unlike the Bright Speed stuff that sometimes seems to require a kerosene pilot light and might well blow you up. Come down the wide, wooly banks of Old Fox Creek on the pavement if you can. You will find some optimistic Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

 

Summer arrived in Champion on Wednesday as it did in all the other places in the northern hemisphere. The wide veranda was full to overflowing with regular loiterers, good neighbors, newcomers, and special guests of notoriety. It began with a little music. Then newcomers were enticed to sit a spell. Hog farmers, Sandy and Erick Jones, who bought the old Heart place, had just moved in the week before from Wisconsin. Customers in and out of the store welcomed them as they were introduced, and almost all of them knew of the Heart place. There was some laughter about the ‘old place’ names, even from someone who has owned the old Ezra Henson place for 49 years. About that time our Ozarks Alive friend, Kaitlyn McConnell, stopped in for a visit on her way home from Ozark County. In a week or so she will be headed to Washington D.C. for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, where she will be sharing her knowledge and appreciation of this part of the country with the rest of the Country. She shared a copy of her “Passport to the Ozarks” with the Joneses. ‘Err long, came the Fox Creek Farmers. Wyatt and Keller entreated The General to sing their favorite song, “Go and Wash Your Dirty Feet Before You Go to Bed.” Madelyn sang along with her sweet voice on a new song she is learning about little baby ducks and old pickup trucks and shared her lovely poem “In the Meadow.”

Friends sharing stories, poetry, art, and music make for a pleasant community. A friend and a good neighbor to Felix the Farmer shared something tamed and something wild and a song celebrating the summer solstice: “So come all you roving minstrels and together we will try to rouse the spirit of the air and move the rolling sky.” We would like the rolling sky to drop some water on us. Farmers and gardeners are not looking forward to last year’s lack of rain and are not enjoying this year’s early heat. Champions are whispering hope that things moderate. The Vanzant Bluegrass Jam and Potluck is cancelled for the 6th in order to get the facility ready for the Vanzant Picnic coming up on July 7th and 8th. The music lineup includes Sean McCormick, Whetstone, Backyard Bluegrass, and the Finley River Boys. It’s going to be a lot of fun with good food and games from 6:00 to 10:00 pm both nights. See you there together with all the friends you have not seen since you were there together last year.

The All-time Winner of the Old Curmudgeon Award starts July off with his birthday celebration on the first, something he has been doing since 1939. Charming Beverly Barnhart’s party on the second will likely include some of Alvin’s 1959 high school classmates in town for their reunion. Champions expect Dawn and Hovey to show up from Texas for the occasion and to hobnob around the old stomping grounds. Local swimming holes will be full of revelers on the Fourth. The Old Tree Huggers Jamboree is a tradition for one spot and other groups will meet in their usual places to celebrate Country, kinship, friendship, barbeque and watermelon. Virginia Canada of Moline, Illinois; Davenport, Iowa; and Columbia, Missouri has also been seen in the Denlow area in the past. Her birthday is on the fifth of July. The next day is for Janet Burns, now of Little Rock, and for the Dali Lama and Walter Darrell Hayden, who lived from 1931 to 2014. He was a native of Smallett and a local celebrity who told in music the straight skinny of Douglas County politics at the time. He went on to become a respected English professor at the University of Tennessee. Connie’s Dad, Robert Brown, was 79 on July 7, 2019. The 7th is also the birthday of Sharon’s grandson Kruz Kurzt. Deward’s granddaughter up on the family Centennial Farm, will be partying somewhere around this time too. All of you, party on! You too, Loni Upshaw, up in Idaho or Alaska or wherever you may be! We know you know how to party.

July 4th became a National holiday in 1941 marking our Independence now for 247 years. Seeing the turmoil in the world, we cannot help but be grateful for our freedom and for the many who have served and sacrificed to preserve it. Jim Hightower, of the “Hightower Lowdown” down in Texas, talks about politics in terms like “Two foxes and a chicken vote on what’s for supper.” Politics are getting sort of comical and sort of worrisome at the same time, but our sense of community is strong, and we have learned to get along with people who believe differently though there may be some head shaking and eye rolling going on. “It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error.” Thomas Paine admonished us thusly way back then. We try to take it to heart without causing trouble in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

 

The old man was remembered, recognized, and roasted as he reveled in reuniting and reminiscing with offspring in person and over the telephone. Our fathers teach us things like turn the air conditioner off in the car before you shut it down. That way it will not be hard on the battery when you start the car again. Batteries often fail in the winter, but the summer’s heat is what weakens them. It takes more energy to turn over a cold engine. Also, he says to know where you are going to put it down before you pick it up and keep your hat out of the creek. He is a wise guy. He provided for us, protected us, prepared us for life with his many valuable lessons, and made our mothers happy. That is why we love him.

Darci Upshaw Cecil up in Boise, Idaho and her husband Ronald E. Cecil just celebrated their fortieth wedding anniversary. Don and Rita Krider, up in Peoria, IL have just celebrated sixty-five years of marriage. Other Old Champions just marked their fifty-third. Growing old together is a genuine gift. We just did not know it would happen so quickly. Judy and Eldon Russell were seen in photographs shared on the internet by David Vaughn Jr. of Saturday’s fish fry at the Gentryville Church. Forty pounds of fish and seventy pounds of potatoes fed over a hundred people who had responded to the invitation: “We can’t feed you if you ain’t there. Come on out and fellowship.” David is a great photographer and a vital member of the Eastern Douglas County Volunteer Fire Department. The EDCVFD will have the Vanzant Picnic on July 7th and 8th. This is a great kick off to the summer social season. There will be music, food, fun and games and the chance to see the people you only see at these great community events. Every year in Branson, young musicians gather from several states to attend a week-long Bluegrass Camp sponsored by the Ozark Mountain Music Association. The OMMA has posted a dozen YouTube videos of the 2023 camp and it makes us happy to see the old songs coming out of young people.

One of the many good pieces of information gleaned from the Wednesday gathering on Champion’s wide veranda is that rodents are not blessed with flatulence, nor can they belch. The rat that built its nest under the hood of the car, feasting on wiring and insulation has had a couple of nice dinner trays prepared for him or her. One consists of a generous dollop of peanut butter infused with baking soda and a mixture of sweetened water and vinegar. The other tray has dry instant potato flakes and serving of Coca Cola. The combinations react inside the critter’s digestive system so as to render it lifeless. Poison is not an option for people with pets, so this seems to be a good alternate method to deal with a persistent and sometimes expensive problem. Another Champion keeps a pan of moth balls under the hood of her truck to dissuade the pests. These are not exactly the same kind of rat problems that people living in high rise apartment buildings in big cities endure. We will stay here and endeavor to persevere.

The weekend’s wonderful rain has been a boon to gardeners. Weeds almost jump out of the ground into their hands and beans and cucumbers seem to grow a foot overnight. These beautiful days pass quickly. A sunny Monday morning finds the countryside humming again with haymakers going up and down, round and round with their big heavy equipment. Livestock will be well fed in the winter ahead. Summer starts on Wednesday. We are ready and we rejoice in our good fortune to be Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

 

June is the middle of the year and why we spend the long winter looking forward. Champion Brixey kids and others had a wonderful showing at the Tri County Fair. Sharry Lovan was an inspiration to a bunch of budding musicians at the Ozark Mountain Music Association Bluegrass Camp. The first announcement of the 57th annual Vanzant Picnic, scheduled for July 7th and 8th showed up on the internet. Through the mail came a notice to the Mountain Grove Class of 1959 Back Room Breakfast will happen on July 1st at the L & A Cafe on the Square. They have a request for RSVP at (417) 259-0742. We live in an interesting and exciting part of the world. Lucky us.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture has a program for black vulture control. (573) 893-1416 for information. They are increasing in population and their aggressive nature can cause problems for livestock producers. Turkey vultures are gentle and non-aggressive, usually found in large groups. The species are easy to tell apart. The turkey vulture has a read head and a white beak. The black vulture’s head is black or gray with a dark bill. One kind or the other once had a roost in the old Champion chicken house, which has since been washed away. Sometime back in 2011, at 11:05 a.m., the Cowboy, and some so called or ‘erstwhile’ friends ventured inside the shack to view the vulture hatchlings. As the Cowboy ventured closer to see the white fluffy little critters, his friends backed out and shut the door, locking him inside with the hissing little birds. The ruckus that ensued was epic with pounding and yelling and language to embarrass the clergy, sailors, and oil field roughnecks alike. How long he was trapped in there with the scary baby birds and how he got out were not part of the story, though after an undisclosed period, somehow the friendships were renewed. The incident is one of many that get recounted in the place where they happened by the very Champions involved.

June 11th is the birthday of Blaine Denlow’s grandpa Buzz! He is rarely seen without a smile—a happy guy and with good reason. The 15th and 16th are days to celebrate the birthdays of Champion grandchildren, Anastasia and Foster. Tyler, Bella’s dad, was born June 20, 1988. Tennessee newcomer, Waylon Watts, has a young Champion grandmother born on the 21st. That is a big day for Felix’s cousin, Sierra, out in Oregon. Local celebrity, Cinita Brown, author of “The Black Kettle Ride” and other works celebrating this part of the world, celebrates on the 22nd. The 24th is for Skyline cross country star Kash Hurt. Skyline prekindergarten’ Danielle Shaffer will have a celebration on the 25, as will the delightful chanteuse, Sherry Bennett. Sherry spreads musical joy. She can’t help it and we are the beneficiaries. Surely there is a video of her that we could share here, but we have been unable to find one. Enjoy her at the Vanzant Jam any Thursday evening and other places around the area. Thank you, Sherry. Skyline’s Alexander Bradley will enjoy the 28th for his big day. That was the birthday of Champion Esther Wrinkles, who is much missed, as is her contemporary, Eva Powell, whose birthday was the 29th. Here and now, far away, and long gone, your birthdays remind us of our affection for you. Past, present, and distant, to us you are Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

 

The Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association had its spring festival Thursday, Friday, and Saturday over in West Plains.  For those of us who could not attend, the internet gave us some wonderful photos and videos of music being made.  Cheyenne McIntosh, in addition to being a talented musician herself, is an amazingly patient music teacher at our Skyline School.  She has set a bunch of young guitar players on a good learning path.  It turns out she is also an excellent videographer.  Sharry Lovan, of Stringed Union, expressed her appreciation for the videos and photos, as do we.  Among the many musicians attending were those Backyard Bluegrass fellows, as well as the TLC women—Theresa, Lynette, and Carol.    Music is a great unifier.  It is medicine for many of us and a great help for Champions who are continually striving these days to look on the Bright Side.

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The John Deere Model 40 tractor was manufactured from 1953-1955 in Dubuque, Iowa.  A total of 18,000 were made with an original price of $1,500. based on the 1954 model.  One of these is to be given away at the fall show of the Ozarks Older Iron Club fall show on October 14th.  Get tickets from any club member or call (417) 259-0648. You do not have to be present to win, but the show will be a lot of fun to attend.  The pulling contests and barrel rolling events are fun to watch and there are vendors and demonstrators from the Spinners and Weaver’s Guild and others.  It is a real farm festival with a lot of nice people and maybe some music.

June is busting out all over!  It started with the birthday of Dr. Amanda Zappler, audiologist, and artist extraordinaire.  For some beauty, optimism and whimsy check out her work at https://www.arteparalavida.info/  Talented multi-media artist, Margie Cohen, up in Kutztown, Pennsylvania surely had a beautiful birthday on the 3rd.  The porcelain work pouring out of her studio is amazing.  The Vanzant bluegrass jammers will be singing a belated birthday to banjo virtuoso David Medlock when they meet again on the 8th.  Dave’s birthday is on the 6th.  Ava Hurt’s birthday is on the 8th.  She was a Skyline R2 School student in the 2nd grade and will start the third grade in a new school in the fall.  Skyliners have been having an exciting summer school session.

June 2nd, Felix the Farmer sang that happy birthday song to his grand-Papa who has fifty some odd tomato plants in his garden, lots of peppers, basil, and many other good things.  He noticed that his garlic is about ready to be harvested. The 2023 Blum’s Almanac indicates that good harvesting days will be the 11th and 12th, also the 15th-17th.  Some try their best to garden by the signs, that is, with the moon phases, but they often wind up just doing what they can when they can.  The almanac indicated that the 5th would be a good day to prune to encourage growth.  One Old Champion, while pruning the suckers from her tomato plants, accidentally pruned the top off the plant.  It is in a glass of water now where she hopes it will root.  Though Shakespeare said, “Expectation is the root of all heartache,” gardeners cannot help but be optimistic.  Richard Feynman, a noted theoretical physicist, said, “Knowledge isn’t free.  You have to pay attention.” Henry van Dyke said, “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is not.”  So, time seems subjective.  Some thought that growing old would take longer.  In Champion—Looking on the Bright Side.