Champion News

CHAMPION—October 30, 2006

        Exciting and excellent news from Champion comes from the Wes Smith family.  The exciting part is the six point buck that Wes shot Sunday morning with his bow and arrow.  It was a handsome deer that he brought down to Champion on his four wheeler a little after noon to show his neighbor.  He asked if it had been his neighbor’s pet and if it were so he feigned remorse. All present were suitably impressed with the beauty of the animal and the cleanness of the shot.  The truly excellent news, however,  has to do with Wes and Pat’s daughter Charlee.  She is one of 52 girls chosen by Missouri State University to participate in the All Star Fast Pitch Tournament recently held at MSU. There were girls from a number of schools across the area including Hillcrest , Nixa, and Republic.  There were two girls chosen from Ava and one senior from Norwood–Charlee Smith.  The game was played Monday, October 23^rd.  There were 26 girls on each team playing in rotation and Charlee did not take the field until the seventh inning.  The score was 5 to 2 in favor of the opposition.  Bases were loaded when she had her first at-bat.  The first pitch came right down the middle and she slammed it clear over the fence.  It was a Grand Slam!  At her next at-bat she hit a triple that drove in two runs.  The game ended with the score of 8 to 5 and Charlee was named Most Valuable Player.  She is being courted now by various colleges including Crowder College of Neosho.  Her parents are understandably proud and she is exhibiting her typical humility.  It’s excellent news all around.

        The mailbox at Champion News has received its first e-mail.  It comes from Vicky Czapla.  She says:  “You have no idea how my mother enjoys going to the mailbox and finding that your paper has finally arrived.  We live in St. Louis.  Reading the Herald is like being home again.  Reading about the people, family and friends, places and events allows us to keep in touch.  My mother is Inez Proctor Davis and she is the youngest child of Andrew and Mollie Proctor.  George Tom Proctor and my mother were brother and sister.  [ I am her oldest child and I ] enjoy reading your paper because it brings back so many precious memories of my childhood.

        “We spent so much time on my grandparents farm and I always enjoyed going with my grandpa to Ed & Anna Henson’s store in Champion.  Just to walk in on the old wooden floor (you knew you were home)…the smell of the old wood stove, the folks sitting around talking about crops, hunting, telling tall tales or what ever topic of the day [that] was hot, going to the back refrigerator to get a pop…(the Crush pop was always my favorite and tasted so good), picking out my favorite candy; and listening to Ed…who was always the jokester.  The Champion store was and is the lifeline to the folks down there.  Even after my grandparents passed on, we always made a special trip to go to the Champion store and see the folks and visit with Ed before he passed on and to get that cold pop.  Time moves on and we get older, but our memories never fade.  Family and friends (from today and long ago) are always welcomed to call and chat:  Inez Proctor Davis (636) 391-6594 (Home Phone).”

        Louise and Wilburn Hutchison have just returned from a holiday in Oklahoma City where they visited with Louise’s sister Doris and her husband George Gillis.  Louise and Doris attended the “Affair of the Heart Craft Show.”  This was quite a large production that took up five big buildings.  Louise reported that the bulk of the merchandise was not hand made and much of it was made in China so she did not come home with many new purchases.  Wilburn and George had a great time at the Cowboy Hall of Fame.  There were saddles there with price tags of $32,000.00 and belt buckles worth $28,000.00.  The men were not shopping but just soaking in the wonder of it all.  They had a good time.  It’s good to know that Wilburn is feeling better, as is Louise who is finally getting over a cold that has lasted much too long.

        The Champion woman who boasted of her four and a quarter pound sweet potato contrived to make pies of the monster.  It yielded two real beauties in high fluted delicate crusts made with ‘both butter and lard.’  She returned from her outside chores after the requisite hour of baking to find her oven belching the most acrid fumes.  Her whole house was reeking with the noxious odor.  While they were beautiful, the pies smelled so bad that she took them outside to cool.  From Friday afternoon until Sunday morning nothing touched the pies.  Finally, Blanche, the dog, gave the top of one of them a lick and knocked it over.  She had no taste for it though and neither did any other dog, nor possum, nor coon, nor squirrel, nor cat, nor bird.  A few unwary ants became trapped in the overturned pie and died there.  It seems that it does not take much sense to raise a big sweet potato and apparently not much sense was exhibited in reading the expiration date on the can of sweetened condensed milk used in the filling, as it was several years old.   A wise person told her that just because it’s canned does not mean it’s good forever.  The remaining pie is now ten days old and still in perfect condition in spite of having been out in the recent rains and having made numerous trips to Champion in the back of a pick up truck.  All those who have seen it remark that it is indeed a lovely looking pie.  Several lessons are to be learned here.  Boasters beware!  Pretty does not necessarily mean good, and ‘canned’ does not mean it’s good forever.

        One hundred and one U.S. Soldiers have died so far in the month of October, Champions every one.  Share your news and stories at the Champion store, at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, Mo. 65717, or online at Champion News.

CHAMPION—October 23, 2006

        The trail ride that met up at the Champion Store on Saturday the 21^st was a grand success.  There were 41 riders and 5 wagons.  Bud Hutchison was the trail boss. Residents between Champion and Drury were treated a pleasant spectacle. Someone said it came off without a hitch which is a joke, wagons notwithstanding.

        The first reported eagle sighting this year was October 8^th just west of Champion.  While there are some permanent breeding eagles in the area according to the Conservation Department, the more frequent sightings are of birds wintering here from Truman Lake and other parts north.  As the weather gets colder sightings will be more common.  Champion residents count themselves lucky to live in a place where eagles can be seen much of the year and bear as well.  The black bear was reintroduced to Arkansas a number of years ago.  They are territorial so males have migrated to this area.  There are documented reports of females with cubs in Douglas County and undocumented but highly believable reports of them from the very close suburbs of Champion.  The bears  are considered to be quite shy unless there are chickens or beehives close by.

        L. Lowell Krider is pondering a mystery.  Sunday morning he went to feed some recently weaned calves penned up just behind the old barn at the J.T. and Betty Shelton residence.  He found two calves there and twelve missing.  There was a splintered and trampled section of board fence and mangled cattle panels down in another fence where they had been wired over a gap for future gates.  It was obvious that the missing calves were severely spooked to have wrecked all this destruction because they had “settled in so calmly and so nicely to being fed,” according to Krider.  While he was surveying the scene, J.T. came out of the house and filled in some of the blanks for the farmer.  J.T. has some coyote dogs that he keeps tied up outside the house.  About 4:30 that morning they set up to howling and carrying on.  He raised the window and yelled at them to shut up to no avail.  Finally about ten till five, he got up with his flash light and went out and made them hush.  It was pitch black dark out.  By the time he got back in the house they had started in again raring and barking so he turned on the big dusk till dawn light that stands in his yard between the house and the barns.  That’s when the ruckus started.  There were buzzards everywhere.  The ground was just black with them, he said, and the air was full of them.  The walnut trees up behind the house were full of them.  They took off flying in every direction, hitting the high lines and squawking and screaming with their big old wings flapping.  “It was a wonder they didn’t break those wires,” he said.  They were trying to light on the roof of the barn, but the roof was so steep and it was so slick with frost that they would just slide down, their talons scraping on the tin.  “It was the awfullest racket you ever heard.”  Then they hit the shed roof and bounced onto the ground.  That’s where the calves were.  So it’s no wonder that the calves bolted and ran and tore up everything in their path.  The mystery is in why the buzzards were there to begin with.  This huge flock generally roosts down the creek south of Champion a ways.  Speculation by a certain well regarded bear spotter is that a mountain lion may have spooked the buzzards in the early morning hours.  Perhaps it was one of the Booger County boogers, nevertheless, it was noted that in the late afternoon all but three of the calves were back at the feed troughs.  The mystery remains.  By the time this appears in the Herald,  Elmer Banks will have heard the story and his take on it will be of some interest to local mystery lovers.

        Madelynn Jean Ward made her first trip to Champion over the week end.  Her birth was reported here last week, the time but not the date, which was Tuesday, October 17^th.  She attended a family gathering which celebrated the birthday of her Grandmother, Kaye Upshaw Johnson and her great aunt Fae Upshaw Krider.  Robert Upshaw, (much) older brother of the twins,  made some chocolate ice cream that was so good he only wished he had written down the receipt.  Somewhere between 20 and 30 people sampled it.

        Dustin Cline of the Republic area has been dawdling in the neighborhood.  He and a certain third grade school teacher were seen picking up copious quantities of walnuts.  Once again they got lost on their way home from the huller down on AB Highway.  Again the plan was to come back to Champion through Vera Cruz and to wind up on the Camp Joy road at C Highway.  This time they left the dirt road and joined the pavement at 76 Highway much closer to Ava than to Champion. Last year they found themselves on C Highway south of WW when they came to the pavement.  Mr. Cline was heard to disparage the merits of maps in favor of adventure while simultaneously blaming his charming navigator for their predicament.  She was heard to say it would have been a more interesting trip in the daylight.

        Larry Wrinkles has a funny story to tell about ‘getting’ Ed Henson one time.  Ed did not know that Larry was working at a hospital when he asked him how he had been.  Larry said, “Well, I just got out of the hospital, Ed.”  Surprised and concerned, Ed pursued the subject only to realize that he had been ‘had.’  It was a rare situation to get one over on Ed.  Larry said that there is a story about a loose mule that roamed the neighborhood and got fed at the expense of several different farms.  Perhaps someone will add details to that story.  The storekeeper at Champion said that everyone wants to read the news but nobody wants their name in the paper.  Still, news or stories of Champion and its illustrious residents past or present will be accepted at the store, at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood 65717, or on-line at Champion News.

CHAMPION—October 16, 2006

        Some of the very best news in Champion this week is the birth of Madelynn Jean Ward.  She arrived at 5:41 p.m. at Cox Hospital in Springfield.  Her parents are Phoebe and Jason Ward.  Everyone is well and happy.  Toney and Lorene Johnson of Gentryville are Madelynn Jean’s great-grandparents.  The biggest news is that Richard Johnson is now married to a Grandmother and, as it turns out, is a Grandfather himself!  Pictures are circulating on the internet that show Kaye with her first grandchild.  The tenderness of that smile is lovely.  This little girl joins a large close family and can expect a lifetime of love and support.

        There were 45 to 50 people attending the Shannon Reunion which was held at the Hayloft Restaurant in Mountain Grove on October 15th.  The reunion celebrates the descendants of Henry Wayne Shannon.  His sons, Joe and Harry, lived at Drury.  Joe was the eldest of 10 children.  The oldest in attendance at the reunion were Ruby Shannon Anderson, 95, now of Republic, MO., and Vivian Shannon, 94, of Mtn. Grove, who was married to Harry Shannon.  The youngest attending was Ruby’s great granddaughter who is 17 months old and resides in St. Louis.  Entertainment for the day was well provided by Robert Upshaw and young J. D. Shannon, son of Joe Shannon of Denlow.  J.D., it is reported, will make a fine auctioneer when he learns not to laugh so much, according to Robert Upshaw.  Robert Upshaw and Fae Krider are the grand children of Joe Shannon and Madelynn Jean Ward is the great great great granddaughter of Henry Wayne Shannon.  It’s a small world.

        The papaw parfait, the receipt for which appeared in last week’s column, was received by Champion residents with mixed reviews.  It was easy enough to double the receipt and to foist it off on unsuspecting persons.  Some polite people around the store who had an opportunity to sample the parfait said, “Well, it’s different.”  Those same persons should be alert to the fact that the frost is pinking up the persimmons and the harvest looks prodigious.  Wanda Sloan’s Persimmon Cookies receipt appears in the Tastes for All Seasons, the most recent cook book offered by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Skyline Volunteer Fire Department.  Anyone with a special persimmon receipt to share is welcome to do so.

        Eighteen degrees was the low temperature reported from a local Champion dairy barn early one morning this week.  It was good to have sufficient warning of the frost this year.  Wilda Moses brought in a sweet potato weighing 4lbs 4oz.  That may not be the biggest one around, but it’s the biggest one she has ever grown.  She is also older than she’s ever been and will have her SIXTIETH birthday on Saturday the 21^st.  She shares her birthday with the late Anna Henson.  Mrs. Henson was a large part of the business sense of  store at Champion for many years.  She had an extraordinary memory and a sense of humor that rivaled that of her husband, Ed, though it was somewhat more subtle and less often exhibited.

        Corrections to recent columns include the information that Edgar Henson and Ezra Henson were not related.  This information comes from the niece of Ezra, daughter of Deward Henson, who said that they have traced the family back to the 1700’s and found no connection between the two Henson families.  She also reported that Jess Henson had purchased the old store at Evans from the Viles family back in the 1930’s or 40’s.  She had heard that at one time that store had been on the other side of the road.

        Recently several new families have moved to the Champion area.  They have come from various parts of Florida and from areas near Chicago, from Minnesota and Wisconsin.  The families who’s roots have long been here still remember that their forbearers also came here from elsewhere.  It is to be hoped that the newcomers will feel welcome and will join in to keep Champion the most pleasant place in Douglas County.

        Anyone with good news or old stories of Champion and it’s people are welcome to leave them at the store, or mail them to Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, 65717, or e-mail to Champion News. Persimmon receipts are welcome.

CHAMPION—October 10, 2006

        The good news from Champion these days is the walnut harvest.  Prices are good and the walnuts are plentiful.

        Some industrious individuals are doing well.  Nature’s bounty is evident when marauders come in from other parts to make off with papaws, butternuts and chick pins.  Beth and Dennis Caffey of Conway, MO. spent Sunday in Champion and enjoyed the afternoon at the Krider farm.  Lengthy discussions were held concerning the relative merits of various breeds of laying hens and similar subjects.  The Caffeys supported each other in a story about one of their dogs who eats fresh vegetables.  The dog will go into the garden and pick himself a cucumber or a zucchini without disturbing the vine.  As they left it was noted that the trunk of their car was fairly burgeoning with wild local produce.

        Skyline students celebrated Columbus Day by not going to school.  There were picnics and play groups and probably a number of them shunning the beautiful weather to enjoy some much needed video gaming.  Teachers, however, attended programs designed for their enrichment and encouragement.  It is to be hoped that they gained much from the day as they are the backbone and builders of the community.

        Frost is immanent this week, they say, and gardeners are busy getting the last of the season’s harvest in.  There will be aching backs from lugging in the boxes of sweet potatoes and winter squash.  Louise Hutchison has sung the praises of  Parks Whopper tomato, saying that it produces right up to frost.  There are lots of beautiful green tomatoes on the vine to prove her statements correct.  The variety, Mr. Stripey, also has a resurgence of productivity after the heat of the summer wanes, though the tomatoes are generally smaller.  It’s a gamble to leave them in the garden.  If the frost is not too hard they will just continue to ripen, but if it is too cold they will be ruined.

        Papaws were the subject of much interest at the store this week.  Their heavy sweet fragrance is pleasant, though it is probably not a good idea to have them ripening indoors since the aroma is so pervasive.  The famous naturalist, Euell Gibbons, had a favorite papaw receipt:  “In a saucepan, mix together ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 envelope unflavored gelatin and ½ teaspoon of salt.  Stir into this 2/3 cup of milk and 3 slightly beaten egg yolks.  Cook and stir the mixture until it comes to a boil.  Remove from the fire and stir in 1 full cup of  strained papaw pulp.  Chill until it mounds slightly when spooned.  This will take 20 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator.  Shortly before the mixture is sufficiently set, beat the 3 egg whites until they form soft peaks, then gradually add ¼ cup of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.  Fold the partly set papaw mixture thoroughly into the egg whites.  Pour into a 9-inch graham cracker crust, or into parfait glasses and chill until firm.  Then lock the doors to keep the neighbors out.”  Ironically, Mr. Gibbons died from a heart attack at age 64, most likely brought on as a result of smoking cigarettes and a lack of exercise in his declining years.  He was not from around here or his old thumper would have had to work some just to get up and down the hills and he might have lived longer.  It was remarked that his premature aging did not speak well of his natural diet.

        If anyone has good news or old stories of Champion or it’s people, write it up and drop it off at the store, or drop it in the mail to “Champion Items” Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, 65717, or e-mail it to Champion News.  Otherwise be content to read of the exploits of distant dogs and dead naturalists.

CHAMPION—October 3, 2006

        Some of the excitement around Champion this week was the annual visit of the West Plains Wagon Club, with Clifton Luna of Dora as wagon master.  This year the train passed through Champion around noon on Thursday.  It proceeded north up Cold Springs Road.  There were four covered wagons and quite a large number of people on horseback.  For residents along the road it was quite a treat to see the past parading by though the origin and destination of the train were unknown.  It brings to mind the difficulties of the lives of their forbearers and makes them grateful to live in an area where such happenings are still possible.  Perhaps there will be better reporting on this subject next year.

        Hopefully someone will do some good reporting on the Pioneer Descendants Gathering.  Several people were seen taking pictures, so there is a chance that Herald readers will be treated to some sights of the event soon.  Several stories have been told about the steep dirt road that leads down to the Yates Cemetery.  They include reports of a sign that said, “Check Brakes…End of the World!”  Now days our vehicles have the horsepower to climb out of the low spots, but the old days were a different story.

        Ms. Marion Conradi remarked the other day on the bulldozing of the old store at Evans.  Many knew it as the Coonts Store.  It has fallen into disrepair in recent years and was near collapse.  The store was originally built by Jesse Henson, older brother of Edgar Henson of Champion.  W.D. Coonts bought it and ran it for many years.

        An infrequent, but a most welcome visitor and double cousin from South Texas, recently passed on the information that every hour this year 300 people in the United States have a milestone birthday.  That does not diminish the celebrating of a number of Champion residents, however, and Fay (of Champion) and Kaye (of Marshfield), with family and friends, enjoyed a good time in Mtn. Grove at the Pizza Hut over the week end.  Their birthday is the 4^th of the month.  Dillon and Dakota Watts with their mother Linda Krider Watts came from Murphysbourough, Tennessee, to spend a few days helping their Grandmother enjoy her birthday.  There were trips to Silver Dollar City and to the Pioneer Descendents Gathering, as well as a lot of opportunity to help out on the farm.  Grandchildren are some of the excellent aspects of reaching the ‘milestone’ birthdays.