Champion News

CHAMPION—December 1, 2014

        Champions have pushed themselves back from the table, draped their arms across their protruding bread baskets and smiled contented smiles that speak to more than the deliciousness of the food so lovingly prepared in all its bounty.  Family and friends shared their appreciation of each other with their histories, triumphs and failures, daydreams, plans, misconceptions, surprise revelations, games, laughter and music.  Those missing from the table, recently and long-gone, were honored with remembrance and those things that call for gratitude were called up again and again.  Follow that with a few days in a row of beautiful weather perfect for a walk in the woods or some chores in preparation for colder days ahead and that is a Champion Thanksgiving.

        The internet has been full to bursting with fine filial feeling for family and friends and photos to prove it.  Everyone is smiling and that takes the edge off the anxiety of the news of an ever more tumultuous and contentious outside world fraught with danger and uncertainty.  More and more Champions find themselves grateful for their relative isolation.  Hard work helps.  Harley is home for a few days doing some work on the place, replacing a water line.  It is good to see him around the Square.  His singing voice has changed from tenor/alto to a very competent bass, but he is still singing.  He hopes he will climb back up the scale in tone and volume and his friends always hope he gets just what he wants.  This waterline he is working on is on the place where Clifford and Esther Wrinkles lived for many years.  Larry Wrinkles grew up right there across the road from Henson’s Grocery and Gas.  He and Harley and Don (Punk) Hicks were a dynamic acapella trio.  Arthur Porter, their teacher, took them all over this part of the country to sing.  The blending of their voices was said to have been inspired.  They could bring tears with their harmonies.  Harley is home fixing the water line, Punk is presumably wandering around out West somewhere, and Larry is struggling with ill health and currently in Mercy Hospital in Springfield.  He has the prayers and good thoughts of all his Champion friends, hoping for a good and speedy recovery.

        J.C. Owsley writes that this year’s contribution to The Champion News “is given in memory of my professor, academic advisor, and friend Dr. Ralph C. Dobbs, who had deep ties to Fox Creek.”  Cathie Alsup Reilly contributes for Cletis Upshaw.  Owsley, Dobbs, Reilly, Upshaw, Wrinkles, Hicks, Porter, Krider, Hutchison, Johnston, Brixey, Coonts, Smith, Southerland and more, plus a whole passel of newcomers (grandparents not born here) contribute to the charming make up of “The Bright Side.”  Other neighborhoods have their supporters.  The General of Vanzant just posted a picture of the Denlow School Graduates of 1947-1948.  There are some fine looking folks there.  The General is not pictured.

        Special people have birthdays.  The generous and charming Bobette Spivey has hers on December 5^th and Ed Bell, multitalented rock and roll cowboy, on the 6^th.   Skyline School’s smiling bus maintenance man, Paul Boyd, enjoys the 7^th.  The fun loving, multifaceted Chris Tharp celebrates on December 8^th.  Richard Johnston, grandfather of Madelyn and Shelby Ward, will observe his birthday on December 9^th, as will Skyline nurse/clerk, Mrs. Karen.  Together with Mrs. Karen, the Douglas County Health Department continues the blood pressure screening there at the school on the first Tuesday of each month.  It sets a good example for the children to see people taking an active part in maintaining their own good health.  Angela Souder, the DCHD nurse who visits Champion at the Restoration of the Historic Emporium on the last Tuesday of each month, was credited for probably having saved the life of an old Champion recently. “You need to see your doctor as soon as possible,” she said.  It was a good call.  In addition to blood pressure checks, body mass index readings, and lung age analysis, she plans to make a blood sugar test available every three months.  It is a significant service to the community and Angela reports that the number of people taking advantage of the opportunity is steadily increasing.  Champion!

        Champions are looking for that ad in the paper from Shelter Insurance that will mark the arrival of the planting guide that is so specialized for this area.  Plans are to incorporate it into Linda’s regular monthly almanac on the www.championnews.us website, which is currently a combination of Blum’s Farmer’s and Planter’s Almanac and Ramon’s Brownie Calendar.  Perhaps next year it will be called Linda and Rick’s Almanac, since Rick DeGraffenreid with the Shelter folks, will help to make it happen.  Click on the link at the top of the page that says “Linda’s Almanac” and find that “This is the month to rest up for busier times ahead and to make plans for the year’s operations.  Draw out a plan for your garden, order catalogues and select varieties.  Get your equipment in shape.  As days permit, clean up your garden area.  Spread manure and phosphate aids such as bone meal, wood ashes and fish wastes on garden areas, even on top of the snow.  Start onion seeds indoors late this month.  Keep bird feeders filled with seeds, bread crumbs and related foods.  For something bright, try forcing into bloom cuttings from flowering wood plants such as forsythia, flowering quince and crabapple.  Bring inside and place in water.”  Not everyone is wise to the virtue of planting by the signs.  Decrying the practice as “pure hokum,” a recent Champion guest, Professor Hiram P. Schmeckle, was impressed by the clean country air and fascinated by the nocturnal activities of the creatures inhabiting the creek near where he was staying, but otherwise a skeptic.  He is a city slicker, moreover a most stylistically promiscuous ambassador of all city slickery, and while he is an excellent cook, he is a relative neophyte when it comes to country living.  Dr. Schmeckle and Mr. Chide (Snide) spent many hours wrangling husbandry (animal, plant and female), history, philosophy, and about anything that did not include music.  On that they agree and found much good and pleasant to share.

        The broad and bonnie banks of Old Fox Creek are the setting for one of the world’s truly beautiful places.  The Recreation of the historic Emporium on the North Side of the Square, the little church nestled under the ancient walnut trees, the meeting of country lanes at the foot of lovely wooded hills all combine to define tranquility.  Bring your own definition and share it around the old wood stove that has warmed the spot for generations.  If there is a song that makes you feel warm when you are cold, please share it at champion@championnews.us or TCN, Rt. 72, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  “I really can’t stay.”  “Baby, it’s cold outside.”  “I’ve got to go away.” “Baby, it’s cold outside” in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!