Champion News

The Champion School Reunion is coming up at the end of the month. It always occurs on the Saturday before Labor Day. Alumni, their families and friends always enjoy this gathering. It is a chance to catch up with everyone’s news and to share stories of the bygone days and of old well-remembered Champions who are no longer with us. It happens out on the wide, wild, wooly banks of old Fox Creek, at the foot of several hills, where country roads meet the pavement. Everyone is welcome.

Champions who, for one reason or another, were unable to attend the Mountain Grove Heritage Festival on Friday or Saturday have The Wright County Journal to thank for sharing so much of the festivities online. The many, many pictures and stories almost transported us. Neighbors who attended said there was a huge crowd, that the little town transformed itself into a wonderful street party, full of arts and crafts, great food and music and the sense of community that makes this part of the world a beautiful place to live.

Preserving the garden’s bounty is hard rewarding work that will pay off in the cold months until planting time again next year. While they are at it, those canners might sing, “…sowing in the noon time and the dewy eve, we shall come rejoicing bringing in the sheaves.” You can almost hear it. Can you hear it? Zachary Poteet of the Clear Sound folks can help you if you are having trouble. He is in Mountain Grove on Tuesdays and Thursdays offering free hearing tests, repairing and adjusting hearing aids. He is making friends and doing important work. Zachary was working in the Springfield office back in July when a driver confused his brake pedal with his gas pedal and crashed into a column that damaged the building. He said it was startling and they were all grateful that no one in the building was seriously injured.

A sweet surprise blew into the Champion Square on Sunday in a little red car. Kaitlynn McConnell stepped up on the wide veranda with her pie box and a pie to share. It was a Peach Macaroon pie, the 58th pie she has made from the many community cookbooks she has collected for her Ozarks’ Pie Project. It was delicious, though a couple of fellows insisted on calling it Peach Macaroni. Online Kaitlyn shared a sentiment that needs to be said often. With her permission, we share it here. “How do we overcome chasms that feel can’t be bridged? No low water crossing or iron bridge can span the divides that seem to separate us in this highly charged political world. But really, that’s not a new thing: There have always been misunderstandings, prejudices and injustices – here in the Ozarks, too. While I wish it wasn’t so, I think it’s human nature to put up barriers with those we don’t know or feel are different or wrong. I don’t know how we fix problems that ends of a spectrum feel are insurmountable. I do, however, believe that we only come closer to greater understanding by reaching out with a bouquet of love and a desire to find common ground. Believing the other side is the enemy will never help convince anyone of anything besides reinforcing hatred. I worry about those divisions in the Ozarks (and the greater world) and what that means long-term. Life has never been, nor will ever be, perfect. I’m afraid there will always be those misunderstandings and prejudices and injustices. We can’t fix how others perceive these realities, but we can look inside and be better – for ourselves, and for the world. Those thoughts perhaps aren’t only about the Ozarks. But it’s where we can start.” Another talented journalist, Molly Ivins (1944-2007) said, “Listen to the people who are talking about how to fix what’s wrong, not the ones who just work people into a snit over the problems. Listen to the people who have ideas about how to fix things, not the ones who just blame others.” Pete Seeger said, “It’s very important to learn to talk to people you disagree with.” We can agree these folks are Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!