Champion News

Conditions were perfect for Bud Hutchison’s Annual Spring Trail Ride from Champion on Wednesday.
Left to right:  Dana, Caleb and Andrew Harden, Kay Rex, Bob Wheeler, Loran Cockrum, Jacquelyn Svobda, Juniper Wiley, Don Hamby, and Kyle Benson.

The long and short of Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride on Wednesday: Ten saddled up; Nine left the Champion Square; Seven returned. About ten that morning the riders took their places in front of the Champion Store for their traditional photograph, then Andrew led them north. Gravel in the parking lot proved uncomfortable for the right rear foot of Don Hamby’s mount and it was discovered the horse was missing a shoe. So, Don joined the loiterers in the shade of the wide veranda for a good three hours of yarn spinning and reminiscing. Larry Warrick came over from Wasola to hobnob with the porch full of locals. Some of what went on: Don’s father had told him that a mule will wait his whole life to kick you once. Then, there was a story about a counterfeiter who was trying to change $18.00 bills down in Arkansas and was asked if he wanted two $9.00s or three $6.00s. Sad songs suggested were Marty Robbins’ “Little Joe the Wrangler” and “Lorena,” a song so sad that commanding officers forbade it to be sung during the Civil War, as troops were prone to turn homeward. Then, there was a ballad about a true event concerning a side of bacon called “The Swirl Hole Hill.” Book recommendations were “Hicks from the Sticks” about Bradleyville’s basketball team and their 64-game winning streak that brought them to the state championship in 1960, and “Song of a Woods Colt,” poetry by Billy Edd Wheeler. Champion is a genuine seat of learning.

About the time Mr. Gray stopped in to discuss his recreational tomato plants with the Prominent Champion, trail boss, Andrew Harden, called for Mr. Hamby at the store to report that a horse had strayed away and to be on the lookout. Don loaded his horse in the trailer and headed east to meet the riders. He located his runaway Appaloosa, which had escaped from Kyle Benson, and loaded it and Calvin Chambers’ Gin, ridden by Jacquelyn Svobda and headed back to Dora. Directly, long after a while, seven of the riders came ambling into the square looking for ice cream. They had lunched at the scenic overlook near the Shannon Ranch and reported unanimously to have had a beautiful ride. The Harden family was planning to do some weed eating at home that afternoon. Loran Cockrum had a ‘go-pro’ camera on his cowboy hat and went back to West Plains to download his video. Kay Rex and Bob Wheeler headed back to Ava and Juniper Wiley rode home just a little way up the hill.

A General reminder: “The annual Denlow/Fairview School Reunion will be Saturday, 27 May 2023, at the Denlow Baptist Church and cemetery. Ed Williams will be providing fried fish and chicken for lunch. Everyone else should bring a side dish and/or dessert. Donated items will be auctioned off around 2 pm. Johnny (IOU) Cox will be playing guitar and singing accompanied by the Fox Creek thunder road high flying unstrung band. I hope to see you all there.”

Sharry and Jack Lovan celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary at the Vanzant Jam on Thursday. This is a busy time of the year for Sharry’s band, Stringed Union, and all the local bluegrassers. The Spring Social Season is well underway. A benefit for Sandie Emery Saturday night at the Vanzant Community Building proved the reputation of this part of the world as being generous and supportive of its citizens. As usual, Teresa Wrinkles shared some of her famous pies, two of which sold for a cool $1,000.00 each. Esther would be proud. Her own pies often brought a very pretty penny for good causes. So, the tradition goes on—people helping people—Champions! Looking on the Bright Side!

 

Aging rural Champions are getting in touch with themselves, not so much as might be considered introspection, but of tick inspection. Much of the aggravation associated with the itching is directed at The General who routinely relocates Vanzanticks to the west side of Fox Creek. Friends and alumni of the Denlow and Fairview Schools will have the opportunity to call him to task for that and other shenanigans at the Denlow School Reunion on Saturday the 27th. Folks will come from Iowa, Arkansas, St. Louis and other places for the potluck luncheon followed by serious socializing, auction fun in the pavilion, and the chance to discuss history with the gentleman. Monday he was trimming weeds up at the race track memorial, expecting an onslaught of tourists over the Memorial Day weekend.

Summer school is well underway at Skyline. Teresa Wrinkles has spent lots of time in school. She is retiring this year. Her birthday is May 22nd. She is still making Esther’s coconut pie recipe. Prekindergarten student Jennings Harley may not be in summer school but will be celebrating a birthday on the 24th of May along with Chase Cauthron’s mom. Skyline staff member, Leslie, enjoys Mountain Dew, caramel popcorn, and Snickers. Her birthday is May 26th which happens to also be that of lovely Lena Bell. She has been seen waltzing with Jerry Wagner and is known to be a staunch defender of her infamous younger brother. Ed Henson was born May 23, 1903. The many stories about him around Champion are full of good humor. Memories of him still bring smiles. Smile for Brylee Clark, born May 28, 2010. That day is also a big one for Dale Thomas and Jessie Mae Miller, though we will not ask in what years. Happy birthday to you. Have some fun.

Back in the early 1950s the Maxwell House Coffee people sponsored a radio show “Life with Luigi.” It always started with a letter to Luigi’s mother: “Dear Mama mia,” and would go on to tell the story. That was the way an old Champion began every letter to her until her mother, a fan of Luigi and Pasquale, passed away in 1975. An excerpt from another letter, postmarked May 13, 1993, begins: “Dear Mother, The birds of morning have been singing for quite sometime and even if you had never seen the sunrise or even heard of morning, you would know that something really groovy is fixing to happen.” The phone lines were smoking on Sunday with declarations of love and devotion for the all the dear ladies. A lovely geranium in a beautiful blue pot, hand painted by a sweet young friend, has topped the holiday off in a marvelous way. On behalf of many mothers, thank you all for your loving gestures.

Wednesday’s treat came with a Champion visit by Bob and Ethel Leach. Like everyone, they have been busy this spring, but they plan to be back in the Historic Emporium more often this summer. The band will have to update their Gene Autry songs. Tom Petty said, “Music is probably the only real magic I have encountered in my life. There’s not some trick involved in it. It’s pure and it’s real. It moves, it heals, it communicates and does all these incredible things….” Bob might like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. He knows a lot about music and still will not sell the beautiful little mandolin banjo that sits languishing on his mantle unplayed. Alas. Perhaps Bob and Ethel’s neighbors, Richard, Dawn, Lorelei, and Wade, will find time to play out on the wide veranda this summer. They are a dulcimer family.

Miss Denlow’s dad, freshly home from an East Texas hog hunt, stopped by to lend a much needed hand to some old folks wrangling a washing machine. It did not take long, but it was a great help. We are blessed to have good neighbors. The memorial trail ride named for Bud Hutchison heading up in Champion Wednesday looks like it will be blessed with good weather. The riders always have a good time and come back to the store with stories to tell and a serious hankering for ice cream. This is one of the traditions that keeps Champions Looking on the Bright Side!

 

Hark! The merry month of May is all over us. We have had May Day, Cinco de Mayo already. Mother’s Day is coming up, then Memorial Day. Preschoolers have graduated to kindergarten, from there to first grade and on and on through high school and beyond! A pioneer of America public schools in the 19th century called education the “great equalizer of the conditions of men.” Champions value our little rural Skyline R2 School. Even those of us with no children, grand or great grandchildren enrolled understand the importance of an educated citizenry. We are so impressed with the dedication and hard work of our school board, our administrators, teachers and staff and our wonderful Skyline students, who will be in charge of the world soon. That they then may recall their unique rural beginnings gives hope for the continuation of this kind of community. Congratulations to all you matriculates. The Saturday of Memorial Day weekend will see attendees of the Fair Grove and Denlow Schools having their reunion. The celebration is open to friends and neighbors and to people who just wish they had gone to school there or who have no reunion of their own to attend—always a pleasant gathering.

The Woo-Hoo Girls are likely to make an appearance at the Vanzant Jam again one of these days. A chance run-in with Bobbi Gast confirms as much. She and MaryJo Jolly are hoping to make it to the jam some Thursdays this summer. Bobbi says she has really missed it since she moved farther away and since the pandemic. She asked to be remembered to everyone and was glad to know that the music circle is unbroken. She and MaryJo and their friend Treva Harris were recently in Branson expressing their ‘woo hoo’ enthusiasm for Elvis which captured The King’s attention. There are photos. A lovely meal at Paula Dean’s place at Branson Landing was another highlight in the weekend that she described as ‘crazy fun.’

Audrey Hepburn said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” The meteorologists will have us believe that we are now free of the fear of frost. Cautious locals will start their transplanting of tender plants on the 13th, 14th, 17th, and 18th. The long awaited best time of the year is here even though mushrooming has been pitiful, and the ticks are being plentiful. Alas. Hummingbird entertainments during our rest periods divert attention from our worries to the wonders of our wonderful world.

Wesley Boyd was a Skyline prekindergarten student this year. His birthday is May 11th. The 12th is for Conner Jonas who was an eight grade student and now off to another school. On the 14th we remember our friend Candi Bartsch who passed away recently. She played “Old Indiana” in G on her fiddle and made many friends with her thoughtful kindness. Champion granddaughter Elizabeth Heffern and Linda Cooley share the 15th for their birthday. Famous local luthier, Alvie Dooms, has the 16th for his big day. He may be part of the proof that music can be a positive effect on longevity. He has a very long history in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!