Champion News

CHAMPION—January 28, 2008

        What Champion is so old that he cannot learn something new?  It is the mark, the very definition of a Champion that he should be willing to look at things in a new way.  That is what was behind the thinking of one who has always been such a stickler for observing the no trespassing rules connected with other people’s property.  Coon dogs and feral hogs notwithstanding, he figured a person ought to stay on his own side of the fence.  He always had.  So when he took off meandering around on a neighbors place for reasons that he thought were justified he had his eyes opened.  First of all, the place had long, long been unoccupied and it amazed him that such great hunks of beauty had been so long neglected.  Then, the realization that those very hunks will not exist next week made his heart break that he had not been willing to break the rules long years ago.  Would the impending loss then be greater or less for the knowing of the place more or less?  It doesn’t matter.  The beautiful place is being chewed up and spit out like a bad plug of Red Man at the rate of about an acre a day.  It might have been better for the old Champion had he never crossed the fence.  Still his heart soared for those moments of discovery and that can’t be discounted.  It is a conundrum.  Champion is full of them.

        A few years ago in this part of the world there was a great convergence of cicadas one summer.  The ones who emerge every year, joined the ones that emerged every five years, joining the ones that emerge every seventeen years and there may have been another batch as well.  Champions may remember that the noise in the evenings was just astounding.  It blocked out every musing that a thoughtful person might have had and was the talk of the whole area.  Someone said that it was like living in a science fiction story.  This comes to mind in connection with the Great Ground Hog Day Convergence which will occur spectacularly on Saturday this year.  The expectation of Champions for the coveted invitation to the Spotted Hog Ground Hog Day Parade is palpable.  The great fear is that it will be snowed out.  Nevertheless, the recent revelation that Ike was a Champion has sparked great interest.  It seems that he had made a raid on Spotted Hog before rendezvousing with Betsy up in Pike County.  He had forsaken the lead mines of Douglas County for the gold of the west with Betsy as his inspiration and sweetest companion.  Their journey was well documented and fraught with much hardship.  He is reported to have said “Dear old Pike County, I’ll come back to you.”  Says Betsy, “You’ll go by yourself if you do.”  The gist of it was a divorce and, having no family in Pike County, it is figured that he returned to Champion or to Spotted Hog.  Some say that his legacy is the surly attitude of disappointment that makes those folks so fractious over there.  A resident of Tar Button Road has reported that the Brushyknob sign has been missing for some while.  That brings to mind the great controversy of the Champion sign last year.  It was the subject of much discourse even to the distant reaches of Tennessee.  While blame was never actually assigned to Spotted Hog, it was generally believed that the jealousy over not having their own sign had sparked the larceny.  In any event, the Brushyknob sign is gone.  As to the Great Ground Hog Day Convergence, Charlene Dupre and Judith Parsons are both celebrating birthdays that day and it is the best part of the whole affair that they are such splendid Champion neighbors.  Happy Days, dear Ladies.  Huzza! and many happy returns to you.

        A pleasant note arrived from Champion’s friend Darrell Haden over in Tennessee relating to the World War I hero Sergeant Alvin York.  He sent a clipping from The Messenger of Union City having to do with the York Institute in Jamestown, Tennessee.  York founded the school after returning from the war with the idea of providing the children of rural Fentress County with a good education—something that had not been available to him when he was a child.  The original building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  It is in poor condition currently and there is a movement to restore it.  Mr. Haden said that they had attended an alumni banquet at the York Institute with a friend a few years ago.  There, they had been introduced to Sgt. York’s daughter and at Pell Mell, Tennessee, they met two of her brothers who have them a tour of their parent’s home.  He says that the York Institute is a lovely building worth the saving.

        The other evening by chance, young Specialist Todd E. Davis, age 22, of Raymore, MO, had his picture on the news on the Lehrer Report on Channel 21 TV.  That program makes it a habit to show the pictures of the fallen soldiers when their deaths are confirmed and their pictures are available.  His picture showed a full bodied, blonde healthy looking specimen of virile young manhood.  He was a real Champion and one to whom his country has a debt of Love and Gratitude.  The US Service People doing their dangerous duty around the world are worth the saving and certainly worth the acknowledgment of their Nation.

        As the fever swells for the Skyline Chili Supper someone asked about how much good these benefits do.  It happens that the benefits staged for different people in the Skyline/Champion communities have long reaching effects.  They really benefit people.  Larry and Rita Hicks were supported in dealing with some serious medical expenses in a benefit organized by Dale Melton last April.  Mrs. Violet Melton made a beautiful Rose Quilt that was raffled off to a most delighted winner.  Young Allen Melton, a fifth grader at Mountain Grove Middle School, spent some of his art class on Friday making a thank you card for Larry Hicks who was throwing a Doughnut Party for his family, friends and acquaintances this past week end.  The card said, “Thank You, Larry!  Doughnut think that we doughnut like doughnuts!”  Recently Lannie Hinote, Skyline’s inspiring eighth grade teacher was also the subject of a benefit there to help with medical expenses.  Anyone wishing to contribute to that excellent cause can still do so by contacting Helen at the Skyline School (417) 683-8458.  Skyline student, Douglas Dobbs, won the pony that was raffled off at Ms. Hinote’s benefit.  It had been donated by Buzz and Sharon Woods.  He named it “Dynamite” for reasons of his own, according to his Grandmother, and he keeps it on the farm of some nearby cousins and everyone is getting a chance to enjoy the shaggy pony.  It’s lovely.  Champions and Champion Neighbors are very interesting, diverse and giving people!  The Skyline VFD Ladies Auxiliary chili supper scheduled for the first of March will give everyone the chance to get acquainted with them and to join in the fun of giving.

        Conundrums or reports of convergences or recollections of any old ill tempered Champions named Ike can be reported to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Any recollections of Sweet Betsy from Pike, any pictures of the Spotted Hog Ground Hog Day Parade or any information about the missing Brushynob sign can be e-mailed anonymously to Champion News.  Feel free to mull over the various virtues of staying on your own side of the fence versus trespassing with purpose at Henson’s Store on the public square in Champion where everyone is welcome and where Champions are ever Looking on the Bright Side!