Champion News

CHAMPION—December 28, 2015

        Many who were not born in Champion were drawn to the area by the abundance of clean live water.  The springs and creeks and wonderful water table are being recharged nicely and perhaps overly, but Champions will voice no complaint.  Some are marooned by high water–cut off from casual meandering and still uncomplaining, as they learn of the wild storms battering the country and hear of so many in much less fortunate circumstances.  Families have gathered at the end of the year for bonding, loving purposes and are awash with gratitude for the chance.  Others nearby are experiencing unbelievable sadness and challenges as homes are destroyed and lives are lost.  Of course, that is the way it is every day all around the world.  Champions acknowledge their good fortune, extend their sympathies, and offer their help in whatever ways they can.  A favorite Champion writes to family, “For as long as there have been people, wherever they are in the world, they have celebrated at this time of year.  Different groups call it by different names, but it is the anticipation of return of the Light of Day that brings an easing of the malaise brought about by the darkness.  We hope that your celebration is joyous and the dawning of the new light brings you all that you desire.”  Champions will add hope for the safety of everyone and hopes to stay afloat.  Vladimir Nabokov said, “Do not be angry with the rain, it simply does not know how to fall upwards.”

        December slipped by without recognizing the birthdays of Chris Dailey on the 21st and Sharon Sikes on the 23rd.  They both have strong ties to the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department.  That day was also a big one for a certain Mr. Stone and for Chace, just turned two, who shares his birthday with his dad, David Cothran.  Last week, Eli Ogelsby and his great Uncle Robert were mentioned for their special days on the 30th and 31st.  New Year’s Day is an auspicious birthday for Jan Liebert of Teeter Creek fame, and for Jacob Coon’s old dad.  Jacob will celebrate on the 3rd.  He is an eighth grade student at Skyline.  That is also the birthday of Esther Howard, an always welcome visitor to Champion, though it is seldom these days.  Then comes the 4th.  The Prominent Champion Girlfriend, Ms. McCleary, shares her day with Almartha’s bard who is ever so much older than she and not nearly so good looking.  Apples and oranges, perhaps, but both jolly.

        A bird on a swing, a braiding bird clamp, was one of several items that came in for inspection at the Wednesday gathering.  So far, no set of instructions has been found to make proper use of the curious little gadget.  Another piece for study was a sleek long-bow of the Robin Hood variety—nothing compound or recurve here, just a big, long, elegant bow.  It might take some special skill to use.  A much welcome contingent from Tennessee filled out the group—mother and sons.  These regular, if infrequent, visitors help to keep us reminded of the rapid passage of time (RPT) as the Tennessee ‘boys’ have changed from toddlers to grown men in the blink of an eye.  To the young, days pass quickly and years slowly.  For the old, days pass slowly and years quickly, though the days go by pretty fast too, or it just takes so much less to keep us busy.

        The Old Year left us with the joy and heartache that every old year has set down.  Champions carry forward the parts they like the best.  The New Year, fast upon us, will be exciting for many reasons. The future is almost always fraught with hope, and optimism is a key element for a good outcome.  “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed.  If people all over the world would do this, it would change the Earth.”  William Faulkner.  Mr. Faulkner had a lot of good things to say and the skill with words to make them understandable.  Friedrich Nietzsche said, “Sometimes people don’t want to hear the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed.”  Today it is easier than it has ever been to hear what a person wants to hear.  The internet is the great tickler of ears.  Being informed is perhaps as hard as it has ever been.  The last day to register to vote in the March 15, 2016 Presidential Primary Election in Missouri is February 17.  This is the opportunity given us by the Constitution, and a number of amendments to it, that allows us to participate in determining our future.  As voter suppression is an issue in the Country again, it might be a good idea to verify your eligibility while there is time to address any difficulties.  Register at the Douglas County Court House in Ava, or at your County Seat wherever you live.

        When the waters have receded and the roads are all open, make your way down to the wide, wild, and very wooly banks of Auld Fox Creek for a good look at the heart of a thriving rural community.  Send your news, birthdays, ideas, songs and poetry to champion@championnews.us or to The Champion News, Rt. 72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  (Happy New Year to the wonderful USPS and all your fine representatives!)  Go to www.championnews.us for a look back to earlier years.  Good luck and good health and happiness to all you fine Champions at home and abroad, “Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?…We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne”… in Champion!—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—December 21, 2015

        Champions have been watching out and not crying, not just because Santa is coming to town, but because they are alert and happy by nature.  It is a beautiful time of the year, unseasonably warm and full of all the family fun that makes the weather immaterial.  Christmas has sneaked up on some via the rapid passage of time together with the phenomena that much less is required to keep old people busy.  Ready or not, Christmas will arrive and Champions will be joyful.

        Willard Hall is an 8th grade student at Skyline.  His birthday is December25th.  Champion niece, Corinne Zappler has her birthday on December 27th.  Third grade student, Logan Hull, celebrates on the 29th.  Champion grandson, Eli Oglesby, celebrates on the 30th and his great uncle, General Upshaw, finishes off the year with his birthday on New Year’s Eve.  With a birthday so close to Christmas, and on Christmas, in the case of Willard Hall, these folks must find ways to celebrate throughout the year.  They know they are special.  Unless a person is required to spend his birthday money on Christmas presents, it could be nice to have the whole world celebrating at the same time.  Joy to the world!

        Harley and Barbara Krider were in town for a few days.  They started out at the Wednesday Soiree where they enjoyed visiting with a variety of folks gathered at the Historic Emporium.  Barbara always brings some fun to the table.  Later in the week, they hob-nobbed up in Rogersville with Champion sister, Vivian Krider Floyd.  They slipped quietly out of town on Sunday afternoon.  They have busy Christmas stuff to get done back in Illinois.  The New Year will be brighter on the Bright Side if Harley and Barbara make it back more often.

        Champion’s old friend from Nowata, Oklahoma, Ms. Ethel McCallie, has passed away.  She was a great story teller and letter writer.  The word ‘vivacious’ was probably invented to describe her.  She missed her 100th birthday by eight months.  She liked to tease her friend Esther Wrinkles about being her elder (by two months).  It was a pleasure to know her and to know Esther, who passed away in January, 2013.  Their vivid recollections of growing up in this part of the world provide a solid background and contrast for how things are today.  What a gift it would be to have those dear ladies and many of their generation with us these days to guide us, to keep good manners appropriate and to help us keep perspective when things seem to be so chaotic.  It would be great to have coffee with Esther again and talk politics.  She stayed informed, had strong opinions, and had the strength of character to say that she could still care about people who believed differently.  They were Champions like Ralph Waldo Emerson who said, “Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.”

        Pete Proctor came down to Champion on Wednesday last.  He had a flag to trade with a local who had come upon an enormous American flag in good condition.  It may wind up flapping in the breeze on a tall flag pole in town somewhere.  Meanwhile, the Champion will have a more manageable one to fly at home.  Pete is very active in the VFW, officiating for Veterans funerals, and keeping area flags flying properly.  He joined in with some of the regulars talking about the old days and the baseball games.  “Robert had the best knuckleball.”  Stan Lovan happened to stop by that day.  His extensive knowledge of the area helped confirm the location of a place called Chicken Bristle.  Wednesday is always exciting in Champion.  Thursday is exciting in Vanzant, except for this one and the next one.  The Thursday night Blue Grass Jam will resume on the 7th of January.  By then the black eyed peas will have been digested and the New Year will be in full swing.  Some good voices, guitars, banjos and fiddles, bass and the under-the-chin kind, are just the ticket for harmonious beginnings.

        Former Ava area residents, now in Springfield, were honored by their grown daughters with a celebration of the birthdays and anniversary of their parents, Vicky and David Trippe.  It was a glorious affair in the beautifully decorated Kentwood Hall as longtime friends reconnected and new friendships were made across the wide overlapping circles that this couple has generated.  That great swinging band, Hot Mulch, now the Back to the Land Band, was back together again with some fine additions and some of the great old songs like “Ozark Mountain Mother Earth News Freak.”  It says, “Well, I’m moving to the country where everything is fine.  Gonna live in a dome and drink dandelion wine.  When the collapse comes, I won’t get the blues.  I’ll have all the back issues of the Mother Earth News.  I’ll get myself a sweetie and a Volkswagens Van.  See the Real estate man and buy me some land, a few acres cleared with lots of trees—a place we can fix up however we please.  We’ll get our eggs from chickens and milk from a cow, a horse that plows, and a book that tells how, an organic garden growing comfrey and peas.  We’ll get honey from our bees and fruit from our trees.  Self-sufficient that’s the name of the game.  Gonna get myself a system self-contained.  A wind mill to give me my electricity, no phone in my dome, I’ll use ESP.”  It was an amazing time back forty years ago as ‘back to the landers’ came pouring into the country, here and all over the Nation.  They learned a lot of lessons, one being that local folks sometimes appear to be more rusticated and less sophisticated than they really are.  The poor city slicker who thinks he might get one over on a native of these parts will rue the day he tried.  The newcomers and the natives have laughed at each other and have been hornswoggled and helped in both directions, and have become friends and neighbors, have intermingled, intermarried and moved on and stayed on.  Immigrants from the cities and the strife rife back then did not find it easy to be integrated and still are reminded subtly that there is a distinction.  Everybody is from somewhere.  For all the reasons that people the World over celebrate at this time of the year one of the best ones is “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.”

        Come down to the festive, wild, wooly banks of Auld Fox Creek and warm yourself around the ancient stove that has warmed newcomers and old timers for generations.  It may be warm enough to dally out on the wide veranda of the Historic Emporium overlooking the Behemoth Bee Tree on the other side of the Square.  Any Christmas carol or any good song that you feel like belting out will be caught upon the south wind and blown all over.  Join the grateful chorus in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—December 14, 2015

Pre-Christmas mud in Champion

        Once again teachers, parents, siblings, grand and great grand parents, friends and neighbors gathered in the auditorium at the Skyline R2 School, leaning forward on their bleachers, benches and folding chairs, watching intently those precious young ones (and that particularly precious one) shine in the annual Christmas pageant, this year featuring music from “The Polar Express.”  The kids did a great job….each and every one of them.  The applause, the grins and sighs of the audience smacked wonderfully of Christmas Spirit.  Mrs. Casper has been producing magical programs at Skyline while fomenting music appreciation and confidence building performance skills for a lovely number of years now.  Take a bow, Mrs. Casper!  Excitement was already high in anticipation of the first archery tournament that was coming up on the week end in Crane.  Good luck, Tigers!  Skyline students with special reason for excitement this week include prekindergarten, Rachel Prock, and third grader, Destiny Surface, who both celebrate birthdays on the 20th.  Mrs. Barker’s sister, Loretta Upshaw, had a great birthday on the 12th.  It was said to have been so great on account of her having had the chance to entertain and be entertained by The General.  Happy days all–you Champions!

        Four notches were carved into the handle of a beautiful Colt six shooter, one of a splendidly matched pair, maybe from the 1850’s.  It is a community service that Wednesday Visitors to the Historic Emporium bring their beautiful, or historic, or interesting items to share.  It is like a revolving museum.  Finally though, something other than a gun, a bow, fishing gear or a steam driven peculiarity appeared.  A Christmas gift from 1956 was proffered for study—a toy Singer sewing machine.  Ethel Leach was able to locate the identifying marks on the inside of the wheel.  She knows about these kinds of things.  Mr. Stone said he knew where there was one just like it.  Bob Leach said that a little fine steel wool and some oil would work to get the rust off the stainless plate.  Roy Lee said to add a little vinegar to help with the rust.  Ethel has a quilting ‘dove’ she plans to bring next time.  This time, visitors Hazel Dodds and her daughter-in-law, Carol Dodds, stopped in for a sit and a chat. They have been reading The Champion News and were intrigued.  Hazel had been to Champion on a number of occasions in years past.  She came with her mother who was on a tour of nostalgia way back then.  Her mother had family ties in this area and an affection for the place, as many do.  Carol lives in Springfield but is back in this area as often as she can be.  Family connections are some of the good things Champions have going.  Hazel and Carol were on their way to Dawt Mill, on one of those nostalgic tours.  Maybe they will pass back by again and be Wednesday Visitors.  Welcome home any time of the year, you people with Champion connections and affections.

        The Champion News mailbox is receiving–Rt. 72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Recent communiques:  “11-29-15 McKinney, TX  Howdy from North Texas.  We’ve had rain since Thanksgiving…over 11 ½ inches so far…  Our yard is standing in water.  Nov. 23rd we celebrated our 50th wedding Anniversary, our picture in the Mtn. Grove News Journal.  We’re still kickin’ here, God gave me a second chance at life.  So I’m making the best of it.  My Christmas is homemade.  Made Angel ⑩, Giovani ⑨, and Natali ⑦ a homemade quilt.  Got to attend my 50th yr. class reunion in Mtn. Grove.  Class of “65.”  Tell all the Champions hello and the best of holidays.  God bless you, Always.  Still hill billies in Texas, Wesley and Karen”   This written in Karen’s impeccable script—beautiful to look at—graceful and precise.  It came with her poem “God’s Gift at Christmas” which is posted on the bulletin board at the Recreation of the Historic Emporium.  Eva Henson Phillips also writes with an elegant hand, asking, “What is going on ‘down on the farm’?  Do you cut your own tree?  We used to do that.  Mom kept them in the cold back room.  Sometimes a tree stayed until March.  We strung pop-corn and cranberries.  Had a program at Champion school.  Always fun.  Those were the days!”  She signs it “Harold and Eva.”  They live off in the beautiful area called Bella Vista, Arkansas.  Bella Vista translates to “Beautiful View.”  They like the way it looks around here too and come back as often as they can.  They have ‘family ties.’  They are Champions.

        In other news, Eulalia Jasmin e-mails to champion@championnews.us from an undisclosed location:  “Champions!  You’ve hit upon it.  Harmony is the only weapon to use against the hideous face of hatred and bigotry.  Those poor Purple People would probably have problems of their own.  Pathetic Pilgrims, like the rest of us, ponderously plugging along.  However, they are purple.  That harmony could destroy them speaks to the discordance of their existence–pitiable.”  On the same subject, a phone call from Brushy Knob was most complimentary of the notion of a space alien invasion as a tool for drawing the Nation—the world–together.  The caller spends much of his time aggravating folks on local talk radio with wisdom of the ages and folly of the times.  He referenced Edmund Burke who said, “The only thing necessary for triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.“  Another caller referenced Sheb Wooly singing about the “one eyed one horned flying purple people eater.”  Politics and purple people aside, Noam Chomsky, who just had his 87th birthday says, “…Jingoism, racism, fear, religious fundamentalism:  these are the ways of appealing to people if you’re trying to organize a mass base of support for policies that are really intended to crush them.”

        Several were late getting to the Vanzant Bluegrass Jam on Thursday because they had enjoyed the Skyline Christmas Pageant.  There was still plenty of good music and camaraderie.  Sally’s brother, the fiddler, is in a beard growing contest with his wife’s brother.  The fiddler is clearly winning, but of course he has the advantage, being musical.  The wife’s brother talks a lot (!) about music.  He and the fellows around the round table and the long table at the Wednesday confab all seem to know a great deal about music.  For example, Glen Campbell, Ferlin Husky, and Johnny Cash were all born in the same county over in southeast Arkansas.  They like Conway Twitty, George Jones and Johnny Horton.  They talked about Harrold Ralph Morrison, Marvin Rainwater and Spec Rose.  Elmer Banks, on a related subject, expressed his continued dismay that Ava Gardner had married Mickey Rooney.  Other dismay has centered on the swift passage of time and the unusually warm weather.  More seasonal temperatures will help to usher in the holiday spirit.  Come down to the broad banks of Auld Fox Creek and stand around the ancient stove to declare your place on the Naughty or Nice List.  Remember to thank your hard working, reliable and underappreciated mail carrier, who conveys your news, your checks and bills, love letters, Christmas cards, catalogues and packages.  Season’s Greetings to and from Champion!  Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—December 7, 2015

Colorful Champion!

Some old Champions were surprised the other day by a big galumphing, romping puppy–a 90 pound boxer of some kind.  He showed up in the early afternoon and spent the day following the old man to the wood shed and the garage and the old lady to the clothesline and compost heap.  He was friendly and affectionate and made himself at home on the front porch.  The old folks called down to Henson’s Grocery and Gas to inquire of a missing beautiful, friendly big dog.  Sure enough, by dark the owners called and came to pick him up.  Tank was his name and while it was lovely to have him visit, the old folks are glad they are not having to feed the immense creature, no matter how sweet he turned out to be.

Dawn Henson had a birthday on the 5th of December that managed to go unnoticed in The Champion News until now.  Hopes are that it was a great day for her.  She lives in Houston, Texas, and makes it back to Champion from time to time.  She married into that big Henson family that includes Hovey, Eva Lois, Randy and Royce.  Their Champion cousin, Deward’s granddaughter, is a frequenter of The Historic Emporium over on the North Side of the Square where Hensons are always welcome.  Eva Coyote (Kai) was born on December 11, 1975, and grew up near Ava.  Her parents are grandparents now and are still living on the farm.  The 13th is given to a River Rat by name of Richard Green.  He is dripping with Purple Hearts from his time in Viet Nam and with much fine familial affection.  The 14th is a significantly special day for a birthday.  It is enjoyed by 417 Photo Company’s own Shannon Alexander, who can make you look good, however you look.  It was also the birthday of Judy Terry Ing, the truest friend a person ever could have, tragically lost a few years ago.  She was a scientist, an artist, and a dynamo of a bright, exciting personality.  It was always a delight to remind her that she shared her birthday with Spike Jones who could gargle an aria with the best of them.  There is a new kid in town with that birthday.  She will celebrate 14 trips around the sun on the 14th and will doubtlessly dazzle us all one day.  Amanda Mastin has her birthday on the 16th.  She is doing business as Honky Tonk Clothing Company at 2800 East Battlefield Road in Springfield where style meets comfort.  Champion!  Jesse David Ing, Judy’s only son, also celebrates on the 16th.  He is a big time Hollywood movie maker now, but when he was a little boy he came to Champion every summer and jumped off that big rock at the Millpond and gathered seed ticks like all the little hillbilly children.

Seventy-four years ago, December 7, 1941, was the ’day that will live in infamy.’  The events that bloomed out of that tragedy fashioned the people who are the parents, and grandparents of middle aged people who run things here these days.  The horror of that December 7th shocked the Nation and drew us all together against the common enemy.  The military draft was overrun with volunteers as everyone stepped up to serve the Nation in whatever way they could.  The Nation was courageous and unified in the face of the great evil and we won.  Under Article 9, “The Japanese people forever renounce war and the threat of use of force.”  Tragedy today is spread uniformly across all Nations in all kinds of places—in schools, churches, shopping malls, movie theatres, health clinics, care facilities, retirement homes, restaurants, in parks and on the streets and certainly in the hidden domestic violence behind any door you may pass and perpetrated by almost anyone.  We are a more diverse Nation 74 years later.  Because we prevailed back then and continued to be a beacon, representing everything wonderful (freedom, liberty, opportunity), many of the world’s seven billion people have made their way here, even as did our ancestors from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Poland, Israel, Lebanon, Armenia, Syria, Greece, Italy, Mexico and all those other places all those years ago.  The melting pot is no fit place for xenophobia.  It is difficult for some to recognize our commonality, our mutual humanity, because it all seems so sudden.  “They” are different and “we” are afraid.  A common enemy might be the answer to unifying ourselves again as a Nation.   If so, we are ripe for a space invasion—an invasion of aliens unlike anyone on earth…greenish or purple and not very humanoid, kind of slimy and drippy and smelly, but loud and strong and terrifying, unafraid and mean.   They would be easily identifiable by their stink and therefore so easy to hate.  “Those creepy purple people scare me.”  “They are out to get our women.”  “They are so different.  Yuk!”  “They eat half of their own children—a little at a time.”  “Gross!”  “I hate them.”  “They want to take over.”  “It’s us or them!”  We would rally and reinstate the draft so that even the children of wealthy people would feel like serving honorably, and citizens of every origin would unite to protect ourselves and each other.  Perhaps these nasty space aliens could only be killed by harmony, so the industrial military complex would melt down some of its tanks to make xylophones, banjoes and dobroes.  Quartets on every street corner would join voices and watch slimy purple people sicken with smiles and evaporate—a little at a time so the last thing visible would be a tender tear then ‘Pop!’  They would be gone.  This silliness is to say, fear and division do not work to promote our pursuit of happiness or our sense of security.  The big picture is hard to see up close.  As a Nation our great hope is to find our commonality and to work together for the good of all.  Marcus Aurelius is credited with having said, “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact.  Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”

As the long slender rifle was pulled from its case on Wednesday in the Meeting Room over at the Historic Emporium, the men in the group sighed in unison, “Awwwww!”  They unanimously expressed their approval of the beauty of the gun being exhibited.  One of the ladies remarked that that is the sound women make when a pretty baby is introduced into their midst.  Perhaps the ladies will start bringing interesting items for the show and tell.  A fairly substantial rumor has it that The General himself will soon be in regular attendance.  He is about to retire for the third time and will soon have time on his hands.  He is still making coffee for the Thursday Bluegrass Jam in Vanzant so his life will not change completely.  He will just be around the house more.  Sharon may well be pleased to have a place for him to go.  Of course, her friends would like it if she would come too.  Sometimes ‘retirement’ can hit a wife hard.  He will probably have some unique items to share with the fellas and promises to bring a little culture to the meeting.  He may be the secret musical weapon who eventually saves us all from the NPP (Nasty Purple People) singing that Johnny Cash hit, “Don’t take your guns to town, son.  Leave your guns at home, Bill.  Don’t take your guns to town.  He laughed and kissed his mom and said, ‘Your Billy Joe’s a man.’”  Come down to the wide, wild, wooly banks of Auld Fox Creek to hear the rest of that tale, or take time to tell your own.  The music goes round and round in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!