Champion News

                  If Wilbur, our Champion groundhog, had been up early on Sunday morning he would not have seen his shadow and so farmers could figure it to be safe to begin plowing and planting. Had he slept a little later, he would definitely have seen his shadow and so would return to nap again for six weeks. Our wonderful highspeed internet (Thank you White River Connect!) tells us that the week ending in Valentines’ Day will be cold, wet and snowy, thereafter we may expect mild weather leading up to spring. Last week’s ice is now serious mud with some of the same kind of exciting slipping and sliding on our much-traveled country lanes that the ice gave us. The General reported, “Some fool attempting to bypass the road closure sign got stuck in my front yard. He was caught red-handed and received an immediate firm lecture.” He went on to say that after leaving it there for a couple of days he was able t shovel it out. farmers with big equipment were seen harvesting gravel from the great banks of it deposited during the election day flood. The gravel may go to fill mudholes and ruts, and if so, bravo!
                   February birthdays to celebrate include Skyline seventh grader Addison Carroll on the 1st along with Champion Glen Cooley, Champion grandson Zack Alexander, and Sarah Cloud. Angie Heffern, Connie Grand, Catherine Mallernee and Charlene Dupree all celebrate on the 2nd. The 2nd is also the day we remember our friend Judy Sharon. We miss her. Denlow’s premier cattle farmer has the 3rd for his party. The November flood deposited great sandbanks on some of his fields and took down lots of fences. Farmers are the hardworking people who keep us fed. The Cowboy celebrates on the 7th. He is a fan of ‘The Youn and the Restless’ and has been since before he stopped getting on horses. Skyline’s prekindergartner Ember Leigh Miller has the 8th for her big day and Jonas Makenzie, a fourth grader, has the 9th for his. Happy birthday to all of you.
                     Skyline students are enjoying Super Bowl Send-Off Spirit Week. The Super Bowl will offer some good diversion from current events. Until then Cathie Alsup Reilly might suggest a You Tube episode of “Twin Chefs Milkshakes.” Enjoy watching brotherly love in action along with competitiveness, camaraderie and humor as they make brownies, or meatloaf, or pings in a blanket. It is like turning off the news and visiting with your favorite uncles. Thank you, Cathie.
                    We started this week on Monday with a trip to the Denlow Cemetery to say goodbye to Larry Wrinkles, raised in Champion, son of Clifford and Esther Wrinkles. Family, friends and neighbors gathered on that hillside on an unusually warm and beautiful February day to bid a Champion farewell. On Friday we will go there again to remember Beverly Barnhart, married to Alvin for 63 years. We miss our friends and neighbors who have been with us as Champions–Looking on the Bright Side!

                       Champions were happy to end last week with burns’ Night on Saturday and to start the new week with the KC Chifs putting on their CHAMPIONS t-shirts after the big game with the Buffalo Bills.
                       On Saturday Robert Burns (January 25, 1759–July 21, 1796) was remembered for sayings like “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” and “O, wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us!” not to mention “Should old acquaintance be forgot?” We Champions remember well our many old acquaintances and speak of them often around the same old wood stove where we once visited with them. On Wednesday the talk was of the trio of singers that included Champions Harley Krider, Larry Wrinkles and Punk (Eldridge) Hicks. There may be a recording of them somewhere. Everyone who remembers them says they were wonderful. Arthur Porter taught them their sweet harmonies and in later years when he was ailing, these fellows went to see him and ang for him again. We miss Harley who passed away just after his 78th birthday back in 2023. Larry is still over in the east end of the county aggravating Teresa. Wes Lambert came for a spell on Wednesday and said as far as he knew Punk was in a nursing home out in Oregon somewhere. Wes also reported that Charlie Lambert was doing ok. Veronica had brought him to Champion a couple of weeks before. But back to Burns’ Night, “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne.”
                        A favorite part of the exciting football game was the first few seconds after it was all over. Seeing rivals embracing each other, consoling and celebrating each other with love and respect is heartening. Some of them may be friends, may have been on the same team together at some point or alumni of the same school or got to know each other by reputation. That they leave the frenzied aggression of the game behind when the final whistle blows reminds fans that they are all players–gladiators. The smiles, relief and resignation mixed with the crown noise and confetti seemed to have them all unified. Examples of this kind of genuine sportsmanship could serve us well in our social and political arenas. It is nice to see somewhere, even for just a few seconds on our televisions.
                      Vanzant’s Jam was a doozy on Thursday, much enhanced by Kelly Hines. He shared advanced notice of the HOBA festival coming up in June. He played an excellent rendition of “An Old Spinning Wheel” on the banjo. He has also shared the love of bluegrass with Cheyenne Mcintoshes’ music students at Skyline School. He and Alan Strickland, Tyler Chatham, Gene Collins and Sharry Lovan, all better known as Stringed Union make the visit to Skyline every year. Sharry grew up in a gospel music family and once said that they had sun in every little church in this whole part of the world. She has a a glamorous chef job at an elegant hunting resort while being a doting grandmother, a motorcycle enthusiast and at the same time dealing with significant health issues. She is another of the strong Champion women who keeps things going. Her Champion friends wish her well and speedy recovery. There were fifteen in the music circle at Vanzant that night and a score or more soaking up the music on the sidelines. The six o’clock potluck is a family dinner every week with everyone’s favorite dishes and the joy of sitting at the table with friends. Everyone is welcome. With all the mayhem and suffering going on all around the world, joy is a precious commodity. One says, “Defiant joy is not only necessary, it’s also the only flavor of joy available.” Manufacture you on flavor of joy if you can. Love and gratitude are the big watch words in Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

                   Champion’s week started with a snow blanket and ended with some prodigious mud. McClurg’s own Tom Peters came over Wednesday to see what the Bright Side was all about. We hope he will be a regular visitor, maybe bringing an instrument to play. He has kept the McClurg Jam going for several years now and seems to enjoy it. He is originally from Illinois but has made a good home in these parts for some while and is helping to carry on some valuable traditions.
                  Thursday saw a very welcome ‘first footer’ at the door. Caio Cesar Marcelino, a contractor with the White River Connect folks, came to install the wonderfully high-speed internet for some old folks who have been struggling with the BS for years. The ‘first footer’ gift of Jalapeno Jelly made him smile. He said he thought about his Monther in Brazil. She loves to make jams and jellies, but jalapeno is new to him. He said there are many wonderful fruits growing where his Mother lives and she makes excellent use of them. He agrees that this highspeed internet helps us stay connected with oved ones, but that it does not replace their hugs. He is a guitar player who says he knows a few chords. He concurs that music is good medicine and is appreciative of the important role it plays in bringing people together. He lives over around Branson so most likely he will have a jam to join. Hopefully, he will find one like the Vanzant Jam, where there were thirteen in the music circle Thursday and smiles all around the room. There are plenty of reasons to be happy.
                    Champions gathered in numbers on Saturday to celebrate the birthday of arguably the hardest working woman in Champion. Many friends and neighbors shared the cakes brought by Ethel Leach and Reba Bishop and many other tasty treats. Mike O’Brian came with Kaitly McConnell, who was just back from Spain. She brought a bunch of tiny cornmeal pecan pies for our enjoyment. She and Mike are always welcome visitors. David Richardson shared some memories with a Champion back when he was a young curly headed policeman, and she was walking the streets of Mountain Grove with a mail bag. They are both grandparents now. Time flies. David enjoyed the party but had to leave early to make it to a music jam in Hartville as part of the Whetstone Band. There were many expressions of appreciation for Betty and all that she does for the community.
                   Mrs. Henson shares her birthday on the 19th with J.c. Owsley, a Champion up in Cross Timbers. The 20th is for Blaine’s grandma Sharon Woods and for Alvan Barnhart. Alvin was at the party Saturday sharing news of Beverly’s declining health. Good thoughts go to Beverly. Skyline fifth grade student Paxton Elgie shares his birthday with wild woman Brenda Coffman Massey. Eighth grader Jersey Hall shares a birthday with seventh grader Blake McIntosh on the 24th. The Cowboy’s sweetheart, Joyce Coonts, enjoys the 26th for her big day and Skyline alumnus Kay Alexander will party on the 7th. We remember fondly Dwight Collins on his birthday on the 29th. Sherry Bennett’s daughter Loneda and James Brixey were both born on January 30th. Jacob Brixey just celebrated his 15th birthday in the first Archery tournament of the season. Saturday’s celebrations ended with another KC Chiefs’ victory.
                   This week starts with brutally cold weather. It is particularly hard on farmers and others who have to be out in it. Thank you for all you do for the rest of us and be safe. It just takes a second for something serious to happen. We cannot imagine what all may happen in the near and distant future, but we can nurture some joy and optimism, being grateful for our blessings and hopeful like Champions–Looking on the Bright Side!

                What might be more beautiful than a big full moon shining down on a deep clean snow? All the fun of the snow for frolicking and for children’s excitement and awe marked a lovely way to begin the new year. Blaine Denlow and her Mom got to snowslide, riding in a kayak pulled by a rock and roll horse named Steel across the frozen fields, laughing all the way. Snowman building competitions produced a great variety of interesting constructions including men, deer, girls, rabbits, and a tall fly fisherman. There were igloos built. People who do not have to go out in it for their jobs, or their farm chores appreciate the luxury of making leisurely observations about how the topography of the hills and hollows shows up so splendidly under a blanket of snow. The same scene appears differently according to the season, the weather conditions, the time of day, the memories and history of the place, and the state of mind of the viewer. “And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” Louis Armstrong sang that for us. For all you locals who missed our snow event while you were off on cruses or in Costa Rica, Arizona, Majorca, Barcelona or Florida, you missed it!
                     Champion Ruby Proctor (Feb 19, 1925–Jan. 10, 2014) once said that when she was a girl in Champion, there would be snow on the ground sometimes from Thanksgiving to Easter. The weather is changing.   It is generally understood that change is hard.  There are many ways to think about it. “Be the change that you want to see in the world,” is one of the good ones and another is “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change.” “All things are difficult before they are easy.”
                  Twelve days into the new year and some Old Champions have yet to have their first “First Footer.” In some places in the world the first family member, friend, neighbor or stranger to enter the door of one’s house in the new year is celebrated and presented with a gift. For one old pair of Champions their hopes are for the White River Connect technician to be their ‘first footer.’ There is a jar of jalapeno jelly waiting as a gift for that person. That person will be bringing such an update and quality enhancement to their cyber world that distant kin who make their living online can come for extended stays. City dwellers on holiday out on ‘the farm’ fairly brim with energy and enthusiasm.
                  Many here in the beautiful Ozarks have friends, family or other connections to folks in California. Even if we do not have those personal connections, we have concern and compassion for those suffering unimaginable loss. Recover will be long and arduous, though it has often been seen that in the worst of circumstances, the best in people ascends. The world is full of catastrophes. Let us help in whatever way we can. Flags at half-staff in honor of President Jimmy Carter remind us of his commitment to humanitarian aid wherever it was needed. He was a farmer and a friend to man–a Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

          The New Year came in a lovely way in Champion. It was a Wednesday, always a good day. Among those present was Deward’s granddaughter and her farm hand who operate their Century/Centennial Farm. The Cowboy who hasn’t been on a horse in years had to leave in time to get home for “The Young and the Restless.’ The General, fresh off a birthday celebration celebrated by most of the world with fireworks, came in smiling and in the company of Brenda Massey’s lovely sister. Fence building Denlow cattle ranchers and their pig farming neighbors joined other local yokels around the ancient wood stove. A young Arkansawyer had a little Austin guitar and picked some nice Johnny Cash Folsom Prison licks. The Prominent Champion always request the Unicor Song, but no one has come up with any of the verses yet, jus the ‘green alligators and long neck gees’ part of the chorus. Sandy and Carissa performed a beautiful duet in German about a traveler from town to town who sand his songs and then moved on, his choice, perhaps unremembered. Kaitlyn’s sweet potato pie was a real hit. Her Champion friends love to see her coming with that pie basket, though she is very welcome even without it. It is said that the way one spends New Year’s Day is the way he will spend the year. If so, we count ourselves supremely lucky.
           The Eighth of January is Earth Rotation Day, which commemorates the day in 1851 when it was proved that the Earth rotates on its axis. It is also the name of an old fiddle tune that is also known as “The Battle of New Orleans,” a city much in our thoughts these days, also the birthday of Elvis (1935-1977). Elisabeth Johnson Lawerence has a birthday on January 9th. Bob Liebert of Teeter Creek, and the late Wilburn Hutchison were both born on the 11the of January. Wilburn liked the song “The Eastern Gate” and told a story about himself and Fleming Gear having seen a dirigible over the field where the Skyline School sits now. Herbalist and master gardener Edie Richarson can be celebrated on the 12th. At her L and E Organic Farm she has springtime plantes started already. The 13th is for Dianne Wilbanks who used to travel behind white mules. Blaine Denlow’s mother and her great grandfather, Norris Woods, shared a birthday on the 13th. Norris played a wonderful banjo–a favorite tune was “Life is Like a Mountain Railway.” Skyline 4th grader Joshua Eaves as hte 14th for his big day and Miley Schober has her birthday on the 16th. Miley’s cousin Reese Kutz has the 17th of January for his big day. Somewhere out west an old friend known as Brook Quiet Timber celebrates that same day. Jacob Brixey is a local dairy farmer and cattleman. He shares his birthday with Marybeth Shannon, married to a guy call Sparky, and with Skyline 6th grade student Railynn Dixon on the 18th. We start the new year grateful to celebrate all the people who touch our lives in a positive way. Happy birthday everyone!
          Winter took its own sweet time getting here, but it is here now. Be safe if you must travel. School closings make for happy kids. By the time this is in our rural mailboxes out her in the middle of Booger County, we will have experienced a wide variety of winter weather. While some of us are lucky enough to spend these frigid days around a cozy fire, there are many hardworking individuals out there in it. Farmers still have their chores. There are folks working to keep our electricity going and our roads safe and our volunteer firefighters are always ready to help when we need them. Thank you all. Cold winter days inside around the fire give us a chance to do what Kurt Vonnegut said, “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or thing at some point, ‘If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.'” We know what is in Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

         A few quiet days between the holidays allow for reflecting, planning and bird watching. The feeder provides enough entertainment to make those chores around the kitchen sink more pleasant. Occasionally a sudden mass flurry into the brush points to the presence of a hawk. The natural world outside our kitchen windows–a good place to look for harmony. Old hippies are still looking for ‘peace, love, and understanding,’ and for better days ahead for everyone. January is almost here. By the time this is in ink many will have had their black-eyed-peas and cornbread. Why black-eyed-peas? An old farmer said it is in hopes that we might eat this well through the year.
        January birthdays start with Champion Arne Coon and Teeter Creek’s Jan Liebert on New Year’s Day. Kabela Clark was born on 01-02-2012. The 3rd is for Jacob Coon and for Greta Thunberg who said, “No one is too small to make a difference.” Sami McCleary and Lee Ray celebrate on the 4th. Skyline first grader Amelia Johnson will party on January 5th and the 6th is for Felix the Farmer, born in 2018. Thank you all for giving us more reasons to celebrate in January.
         The KC Chiefs did not disappoint on Christmas Day. We can approach the New Year with hope and optimism, not just for the Super Bowl, but for the world in general. Boxing Day found the internet full of family photos celebrating another beautiful Christmas. Sweet smiles came with the satisfaction that the special gifts carefully chosen were well received. A few days of leftovers gave cooks a little break while they assessed the success of this year’s roast beast with all its accompaniments. Some are just giving their scales a sidelong glance, promising to step upon them again sometime late in January.
        Ending the old year, looking back through the archives here in The Champion News, we learn that old people have a wonderful advantage in life. We can close our eyes and wait a few moments, taking a few deep breaths, and open them again on a whole new perspective. The ability to see life happening through the eyes of others is a gift. It comes with experience and is called empathy. Champion grandchildren have experienced the fading of a dear grandparent, maybe some of their first experiences into sadness. Fathers are themselves re-blossoming as they watch sons bloom. Suffering siblings are endeavoring to persevere. Distant young family members are growing, thriving, striving and succeeding in their exciting eclectic lives. They keep connected and seem to revere the old folks, looking for family history, keeping memories alive. It is joyful to know they are pursuing the good lives the old folks hoped for them. A gentleman friend from the Yukon Territory, Canada says, “Sadness may knock at your heart’s door many times a day, like an uninvited guest seeking entry to your most tender space. But don’t let it make you mis joy’s gentle knock–those precious moments come less often, and you must embrace them when they arrive.” He lives 2,600 miles away but sounds like a real Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

          Early in the morning on December 21st, about 3:00 a.m. our time, at the prehistoric stone circle known as Stonehenge, hundreds of people gathered to sing and dance in celebration of the winter solstice. Rejoice! Our days are getting a little longer day by day. At noontime here, Champions gathered for a potluck dinner at the Historic Emporium to celebrate the solstice and the joy of community and renewing old acquaintances. Fifty plus people feasted and visited, met old friends and made new ones. Almartha’s first gentleman spun yarns about his two two-year-old pups and bragged about besting his lovely sister in their yearlong weekly scrabble game. A rousing ‘happy birthday’ song for Butch Stone rocked the joint. He was there with Dawn and their daughter and grandson visiting from Colorado. Butch had quite a hand in building The Champion Store. It must be said that is is much more than a building. And the continual hard work that goes into keeping this vital center of the community going does not go unappreciated.
          By the time this is in ink we will know who was naughty and who was nice. The tissue paper, gift bags and boxes that littered the floor have probably been delt with. The joy of Christmas with its religious significance and sweet family time marks the high point of the year. Some mandate that Christmas decorations be packed away by New Year’s Eve. Others leave a few ornaments up all year to keep them reminded of the beauty of the season and precious memories going all the way back to childhood. If you have had the opportunity to attend a school Christmas program, you cannot have left without a sense of optimism and delight. To hear those little ones belting out their songs and reciting their parts in the play, you see bright young people learning how to cooperate and to be part of something bigger than themselves. They are the farmers, teachers, doctors, bankers, musicians, artists, mechanics, and community leaders who will be running things in just a little while. We applaud their sterling efforts and count ourselves lucky to see them in action.
          An unprecedented amount of seasonal silliness had the Vanzant Jam jamming Thursday. Fourteen players filled the circle. They and the onlookers were all decked out with headdresses of Christmas trees, antlers, and Santa hats. David Richardson’s “Where’s the line to see Jesus” was a favorite and just one of the many Christmas songs around the circle. A rousing “Happy Birthday, dear Mary” celebrated Mary Goolsby. The evening ended with some raucous bluegrass and good cheer. Thursday, after Christmas on Wednesday, is Boxing Day and Vanzant will have its Jam! Perhaps someone will instigate that song for The General himself who celebrates his birthday on December 31st. He was recently online recanting a statement he had made concerning the Winter Solstice of 2019. He said, “Fact checkers prove it to have been parsley wrong.” His previous piece allowed that “The winter solstice causes the north star to be so high in the sky you have to look south to see it. And the ‘Big Dipper’ appears to be only half full.” He said the alert from the Vansant Metro Meterollogical Observatory would expire during the New Year’s Eve party. He has indicated that he will not make it to Champion on New Year’s Day, though the store will be open for business. He may be recovering from the whole world celebrating his birthday with fireworks and firewater.
          We can take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism. Groucho Marks said, “I’m not crazy about reality, but it’s still the only place to get a decent meal.” Someone else said, “Time is free, but it is priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t save it, but you can spend it. Once you have lost it, you can’t ever get it back.” You will be making good use of it if you wander down to the end of the pavement to the wide, wild, wooly banks of Old Fox Creek where country roads meet, and the watchwords are Love and Gratitude–Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!