CHAMPION–August 13, 2018
One driving by the Skyline VFD Picnic grounds on Sunday afternoon could hardly discern that anything had happened there at all. Everything is tidy and back to rights, thanks to the efforts of hardworking volunteers. It was a beautiful picnic. A few sprinkles on Friday night scarcely made a difference and Saturday night was warm and wonderful with a huge crowd. The music, the food, the prizes and games were all that we have grown to expect from this great event. New to the picnic this year was a five car barrel train pulled by a Farmall Cub tractor. It rolled around the grounds all night carrying kids of all ages. Friday evening Brenda Coffman Massey tried it on for size and had to be prized out of a barrel and pulled to her feet by a brave young fire fighter. She was seen riding again Saturday night, apparently having learned how to get out without assistance. Brenda knows how to have fun and how to spread it around for every good cause. The Prominent Champion took the last tour of the evening, relaxing after all his hard work. The best thing about the picnic is having the chance to get together with friends and neighbors, many of whom we only see at this event. The community comes together to support the rural fire department that is vital for the safety of our property and our lives and the fire department hosts this gathering in support of the community. It is a symbiotic relationship—win-win.
Darrell and Barbara Cooper celebrated their wedding anniversary at the picnic again. This year was their 46th. They had a good time and are planning a Wednesday trip to Champion one of these days when their schedule opens up. Barbara looks very much like her sweet mother and Darrell said she is just like Ruby, ready to go to the picnic at 3:00. The crowd sang that happy birthday song to Dean Upshaw again. His birthday is the 13th of August. He and his brothers are always some of the first to arrive. They set up their chairs to get a good view of the stage, but not too far from the concession stand. Andrew Hardin worked the P.A. system. He reported that Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride will start at the Fox Trotters Showgrounds on September 3rd at 10:00 a.m. This is a National Trail Ride. Andrew said that Bud’s Champion Ride will take place toward the end of September. He also said that he is glad to know that Wilma is getting out and about and that she has become a regular attendee at the Vanzant Bluegrass Jam. He knows that music is as good for us as a good horse.
The Champion School Reunion will be on September 1st, the Saturday before Labor Day. Nostalgia will rule as old school chums and their descendants gather together once more. They will come from far and wide: from Texas, Arkansas, and maybe Kansas, from Springfield and other places at the end of the great Champion Diaspora. They will bring pot luck dishes for a lunch (dinner) on the grounds and their lawn chairs to sit around and visit with one another, hopefully in the shade or at least on a mild afternoon. The Walk of Ages may take place in some permutation depending on the descendants of Ezra and Sylvia Henson. As the new year has begun for Skyline R2 School students, parents and grandparents are highly aware of the many benefits of our little rural school. It is one of the last such schools in the county. Our students will be coming together in future decades to remember this wonderful time in their lives. Though the world has changed a great deal since the Champion School was consolidated into Skyline, the children are the same—hungry for knowledge and the skills they will need for success in this age. Although many area residents do not have children or grandchildren in school here, they recognize that the future is in the hands of these young people. All of society benefits from a well-educated population and the community only stands to gain by supporting our little school, its teachers and staff. Champions all!
On September 2nd Vernon Upshaw’s family will be throwing a party to celebrate his 80th birthday. It will take place at the Vanzant Community Building from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00. His younger brother says that everyone will be welcome. Perhaps he will provide his famous peanut butter ice cream along with the fun. This is a busy time of the year. The Wall That Heals is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica and mobile education center. It will be on display at the Fox Trotters’ facility from September 20-23. This is a great opportunity to learn about a time that is so important to a great many Americans. Thereafter, in early October, the Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks will take place over at Chapel Grove. There will be lots of good news about that as time draws nigh. This is a dynamic, happening part of the world.
Friends gathered on Saturday afternoon to celebrate the life of Ronnie Yocum who passed away in early February this year. He did a lot of interesting living in 64 years and gathered many friends along the way. Those who became acquainted with him when he married Janice Lorrain in 2013 were sorry not to have known him longer and better. We knew that if he was OK with Janice, he was an OK kind of guy. He was into gardening, flying model airplanes and working on the cabin with Janice. Many public buildings in Ava have examples of his fine photography and graphic design skills in posters celebrating our pioneer heritage. He used black and white photos from the Historic Society as well as many of his own shots to remind us of our local past. The community will long and well remember him. Friends had stories to share—the kind of gathering he would have liked.
The mailbox at champion@champion.us received a couple of interesting notes this week. One responding to an earlier article concerning the nature of truth quoted Abraham Lincoln who said all that the South wanted the North to do was to “Cease to call slavery wrong and join us in calling it right.” Another wrote in with the advice: “If you never heal from what hurt you…you’ll bleed on people who didn’t cut you.” It is something to ponder. There are reports that the weather has moderated to some degree in the west which is helping firefighters to make progress on controlling some of the devastating fires still burning there. While we have experienced some discomfort here this summer due to the hot, dry conditions, we are acutely aware of our good fortune over all. All across the country and all across the world there are people in much less desirable circumstances. An appropriate song for this situation is “Count your many blessings, name them one by one…” in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!
