December 14, 2009
CHAMPION—December 14, 2009
In Champion, as well as in all the other less fortunate places in the world, the only constant is change. Champions embrace change and encourage it in the good ways. The things that do not change in Champion are also quite good, i.e., friendliness, good neighboring, good humor, good music, good food, good grief and good intentions. Good intentions are the pavement to places not so good, they say, but in Champion good intentions eventually play out—Champions meet the new neighbor and extend a hand of friendship, or they finally get that note written to the mail carrier and tied to the bag of cookies and stuffed in the mailbox for the holidays, and endlessly on and on. Sometimes it takes a good long time for good intentions to play out, but in Champion they do. “Good grief!” It is what Oscar Krider called a “by-word,” meaning in this instance a term to express exasperation, surprise, incredulity or an expletive as in the case of a stubbed toe or knocked noggin. In the Champion sense, good grief is the kind where the empty seats at the holiday table are filled with good memories. All those departed Champions: mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, children and dear friends left Champions who remember them and honor them with love and good memories. Much of the sadness of loss gets tempered with gratitude over time and sweet smiles flit across the faces of those momentarily lost in deep thought. As to good food, even Champion kitchens with poor reputations (remember that sweet potato pie) are turning out some unexpectedly attractive and delicious dishes, breads and confections. On the subject of confections, a long time ago Wilburn Hutchison and another kid were caught stealing the divinity candy stored in the springhouse of a certain lady on Cold Springs Road. Wilburn’s punishment was to carry a hundred buckets of water, he didn’t say from where to where. He probably sang, “Ninety nine buckets of water to haul, ninety eight more buckets to haul.” Champions kept a song in their hearts even back then.
It has been good news to Champion to hear that Ruby Proctor is feeling better. She has been spending some time up at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, but it is to be hoped that she will be back home again soon. She lives in Mountain Grove, but she is a Champion thru and thru. Her folks were John and Goldie Hicks. They lived up on the side of the hill above Fox Creek just north east of Champion. They had neighbors Jim and Elizabeth Shelton. J.T. and Betty Shelton now live just about in downtown Champion. Like Wilburn, J.T. has not strayed too far from his home. There are a number of Champions in that particularly pleasant boat. This whole part of the country was at one time much more populated than it is now and back then families all had lots of kids. Ruby had eight or nine siblings, the George Proctors had ten kids, Howard Proctor, Basil’s Dad, had twelve children. There were sixty students in the Champion School and there were a lot of little schools around the county. The population has changed with a few of the old families well represented—the Hensons, Hutchisons, Kriders, Upshaws, Sheltons, Proctors, Hicks, Coonts, Brixies, Mallernees and others. The new comers are filling in the holes nicely and it may be that change will eventually fill the countryside up again. The roads have changed. There are some new ones–paved and improved and some of the old ones are overgrown and lost. Properties have changed hands and been split up and clear-cut and plowed up, but the heart of Champion is beating strong. Everybody came from somewhere and Champion feels like home.
Another Champion from just over in McMurtrey township sends seasons greetings to her Champion neighbors with the news that the bald eagles are back for the fourth year in a row. She always has interesting information to share including her appreciation for the rich bounty of wildlife in her neighborhood. A brief note from Bob Conrad said, “Just checking in—OK, Conrad Corner.” Now that is brief! Who has not seen those amazing turnips? A couple of weeks ago amid pictures of trophy deer and River’s Locks of Love was Darrell Hesterlee with two mammoth turnips. This week comes Alvin Barnhart with some even more massive! He says the Just Right variety has a sweet flavor, making them better to eat raw. Earlier this season Barnhart shared some of these beauties with a Champion who found them to be excellent. She was expecting a pithy quality and sharpness, due to the enormous size even then, but to her surprise they were crisp and bright tasting, very pleasant. It looks like turnip lovers, Lem and Ned, must have found the Barnhart’s place because the tidy rock gardens and landscaping show a degree of perfectness and attention that could only occur as the result of the boundless energy and enthusiasm of true turnip lovers.
When Pete Proctor wrote to inform Champion, Drury, and Vanzant about Ruby, he said, “She needs all of our prayers. Also I want to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to all the Veterans that served and are still serving. Bryan will be home for Christmas this time for the first time since 1993.” Champions all join Pete in his good wishes for the troops.
More good news is all about new trail through Skyline’s “Tiger Holler.” Champions are excited to tour the trail and are pleased to learn that community support is welcome to lengthen the exiting trail and to prepare more garden areas. Champions from anywhere can get more information about helping at the Skyline School, 683-4874.
Fortnight Bridge turned out to be a pretty good game. Good cards prompted a number of bid slams that were not made and three slams made but unbid. Good cards and the pineapple upside down cake made by the Norwood host, made the drive through the dense fog well worth the trouble. Vera Cruz had the high score and Brushy Knob was low. The Champion player’s ranking was, as is frequently the case, next to the bottom.
Champion children of every age are watching out and not crying against the chance that Santa really does know. Hearts are light and dreary weather has no effect. Prove it to yourself down at Henson’s Store in the heart of the Historic District. It’s on the North side of the square and situated perfectly on the broad expanse of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive. Sometimes folks go to Champion on the pretext of buying some binder twine or pistachio pudding mix, but really they go just to stand around the stove and remember. Sing your favorite song out on the porch or to yourself on your way home. “Tra la la! tra la la! la la la!” Share some memories at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or at Champion News. Look in on www.championnews.us for some pictures of the past and some hope for the future. In Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!
