Champion News

 

Wednesday, May 15, found the Champion Square full of horse trailers and horses. They came from Dora, Macomb, Ava, Norwood, Fordland, West Plains, Mountain Grove, Pontiac, Edgar Springs, and Theodosia. The riders, Calvin Chambers, Cash Depriese, Lynn Johns, Andrew Harden, Caleb Harden, Juniper Wiley, Cody Greenfield, Bob Wheeler, Kay Rex, Loran Cockrum, Frank and Conny M., Corey Finch, Jennifer Wolf, Debi Sims, Jeff Alcorn, and Don Hamby made a twelve-mile loop in about four hours, then repaired to the wide veranda for ice cream and yarn spinning. Reports mentioned no bad dogs or mishaps and the mild and pleasant weather made for a beautiful ride. Many of these folks had the pleasure of riding with Bud Hutchison over the years. Andrew Harden has been leading Bud Hutchison Memorial Trail Rides out of Champion in the spring and fall since his passing in 2018. Bud would be pleased to see the young folks on this ride doing what he loved to do.

Mothers could hardly get anything done for all the phone calls, visits and emails commemorating their special day on Sunday. It turns out that we owe them our lives. It does not matter how old we are when we lose our parents, we feel like orphans. How we would love to go back and ask questions. Those of you lucky enough to still have your folks are admonished not to lose the opportunity to ask those questions now. They have stories to tell that you may not have heard.

A whole bunch of us are in our third trimester, that is if we think one hundred years is our possible life span. It goes with the territory that we lose loved ones all along the way. It hits hard, even when we know it’s coming. The parts they played in our own lives tie them to us in memory and our love for them encourages us to love life as they did. We celebrate them, appreciate them, emulate the things about them we loved. Honor them with our own living.

The soft soothing sounds of the singing cicadas made us mindful of the miracles of nature as if the aurora borealis was not enough. Some of us do not have a horizon to gaze upon because there are hills and trees in the way. The brilliant undulating colors were obscured. Even so, Champions enjoyed some especially lovely skies during the solar storm. As to storms, bigger than golf ball hail beat the daylights out of some windshields, some roofs, some Thermopane windows, flowerpots, and garden plants. Even so, Champions are awash in gratitude that it was not worse. Storm stories were shared among friends at the Second Saturday Skyline Swap Meet while they shopped for plants, pigs, ammunition, cinnamon rolls, crochet booties and lots of other things—a nice day. It is good to see progress being made on the firehouse too.

Birthdays to enjoy this part of May start with Teresa Wrinkles on May 22nd, along with a good neighbor, Keller Boehs. Jennings Harley, a kindergarten student at Skyline celebrates May 24th, the same day as Chase’s Mom. Lena Bell Wagner has the 26th for her big day. That may also be the big day for John Webber. Ed Henson was born May 27, 1903. Eva Clark’s mother was born that day some years later. Presleigh Miller was a first grader this year at Skyline. Her birthday is May 28th. Brylee Clark was born May 28, 2010. Dale and Betty Thomas hosted the Pioneer Descendants Gathering ‘down at the end of the world’ for many years. They did a lot of work through the whole year to make that happen. Dale’s birthday is May 28th. Jessie May Miller was born on that day quite a few years earlier and her presence at the Denlow/Fairview School Reunion has been one of the reasons it has always been such a lovely occasion. The reunion will occur as usual on the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend. It is just a week from Saturday. The General entreats scalawags, scoundrels, and scholars (former student) to attend with family and friends. Everyone is welcome, even Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

The merry month of May is full of excitement with birthdays, graduations, and Mother’s Day. The second Second-Saturday Swap Meet at Skyline happens this week at the corner of 76 and C Highways from 8 am until noon. It was well received and well attended last month with hardly any advertising. This time Helen says there will be raspberry plants and other good things. Even if you are not in the market for baby ducks or goats, jewelry or cinnamon rolls, it is a chance to meet neighbors and enjoy another lovely spring morning. While you are there, check out the progress on the new Skyline VFD Firehouse going up across the road. It will be a significant improvement for the community. The planned meeting room might be a spot for a shindig someday.

Andrew Harden says that Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride is still on schedule for Wednesday, the 15th. He says he will make a trial-trail ride Saturday to be sure. It is exciting to see the square full of horse trailers and to see folks that only show up at Champion once a year. They saddle up and ride off about 10 in the morning and amble back in around 2 or so for ice cream. The reports of the adventure they share out on the wide veranda are of great interest to the porch jockeys who may not have been on a horse for decades.

Along with all the much-needed rain in Champion has come welcome visitors. Wednesday before last, Kaitlyn McConnell of “Ozarks Alive” stopped in with an oatmeal pie she was concerned about sharing, but then discovered that it would have been alright. She renewed some old acquaintances and made some new ones. Her friends here will welcome her, with or without pie, any time. Meanwhile, she is putting more miles on her car traversing the Ozarks for the joy of celebrating its past, present, and future. Last Wednesday, Ken and Barbie of Mountain Grove, out on a lark, succumbed to the lure of the Bright Side. It was a lovely day for a drive and a welcome opportunity to satisfy their curiosity about the fabled hamlet at the end of the pavement. Hopes are they will make it a Wednesday habit. They already have made new friends and made the acquaintance of The General.

The designated whistleblower in the Vanzant Chapter of the Booger County Advisory Committee has revealed that the body has yet been able to solve any local problems. He says they are, however, uncanny with their ability to create problems for good solutions. He harkened back to last year’s meeting of the Booger County advanced technology and waste management fact-check team where, “as usual, after all was said and done more was said than done.” Otherwise, Thursday’s jam at Vanzant is a welcoming community. Some fiddlers would certainly be welcome.

The prognostication for more mild weather pleases gardeners who say it is too wet to plow. All winter’s whining about drought is over and mud takes its place for complaint. By contrast, we have little reason to complain as we look at the storm damage many have endured. The world is in an uproar with terrible natural disasters and the ravages of war with its far-reaching implications. Meanwhile, we are mindful of many who are dealing with serious health issues and continue with our wishes for speedy recoveries and good outcomes for all our families and friends going through hard times. Compassion and optimism are some of the good watch words in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Champions have stopped fretting over the drought and are putting effort into becoming accepting of the mud. While they try to count and name all the different colors of green showing up in the wonderful wild, they remember that it all looked like a big gray brush pile just a few weeks ago. Things change, sometimes slowly and sometimes rapidly. Weather is an issue that people living out on the surface of the planet must endure. J.C. Owsley over in Cross Timbers said, “My pouting may have paid off. The rain gauge has three inches in it now and it’s still raining. My investment in fertilizer on hay fields may pay off this year.” The General of Vanzant said “I don’t know of any tornado or wind damage. The thunderstorm moved through the metro area quickly. We got 2 and .7 inches of rain.” Teresa Tost keeps us alerted to dangerous weather. We appreciate her warnings, updates, and radar explanations. Clever Creek went from dusty dry last week to a raging torrent on Friday and by Monday just a wide damp ditch with random puddles. T. S. Elliot said, “April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.” It has been especially cruel to many across the country whose lives and fortunes have been dramatically altered by recent storms. We count our blessings and hope life gets better for those folks.

We cannot leave April without saying, “Happy birthday, dear Willie (Nelson).” He is 91 years old now and still sharing music and a positive perspective on the world. He said, “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” “We are the same. There is no difference anywhere in the world. People are people. They laugh, cry, feel, and love, and music seems to be the commons denomination that brings us all together. Music cuts through all boundaries and goes right to the soul.” Even bluegrass jams have some Willie in them.

El Cinco de Mayo is on Sunday. It is not really a Mexican holiday, but just a celebration of the victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Mexico has an interesting history. Linda Heffern up in Springfield is a history buff who could likely shed light on that whole era. Her birthday is May 6th. Skyline School’s first grade student Dahlia Winter will celebrate on May 8th. Champion grandson, Jay Williams, was born May 7, 1990. We remember Champion Bonnie Brixey Mullins on May 9th. She and Pete loved the Denlow School Reunion and have both been missed there in recent years. Skyline kindergarten student Wesley Boyd has his birthday on May 11th. The 12th is for another Champion grandchild, Alex Williams, born in 1989. Nurse Candi Bartch is no longer with us, but she was often at the Vanzant Jam with her fiddle and her kindness. Her birthday was May 14th. Elizabeth Heffern, Champion granddaughter, shares her birthday with a Champion grandmother, Linda Cooley on the 15th. Grandmother Karen Griswold shares her day with Champion Grandfather Alvie Dooms on May 16th. Every string playing musician in this part of the country knows Alvie or knows about him, a local treasure. Albert Einstein said, “Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.” So, happy birthday, you Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

A sunny afternoon found a couple of hundred people milling around on a hillside in north Ava. They were there reminiscing and celebrating the life of a dear fellow whose good humor and good heart touched them all. Though he will be much missed, any old fiddle tune will bring him sweetly to mind.

Where are those April showers? March winds have overstayed their welcome. That the weather is just weird in these parts these days is preferable to it being catastrophic and destructive as in numerous other parts of the country. We count our blessings and knock wood. The origin of that activity seems to go back to ancient pagans who worshipped and mythologized trees. Touching them could bring protection and show gratitude that would bring good fortune. The Gaelic May Day festival Beltane celebrated on May 1st, marking the beginning of summer, is another of those ancient beliefs that find their way into our modern world.

Skyline seventh grader, Jordan Ellingsworth, has his birthday on April 23rd. His big day is a palindrome 4-23-24—the same read backwards. It will not happen again. Jacob Moffett will enjoy the same anomaly the next day. He got his birthday present early—a turkey on the 19th. Ruby’s son, Gary, will celebrate on the 26th and Juniper Wiley, an eighth-grade student at Skyline, will still enjoy her palindrome on the 28th. Champion granddaughter Taegan Krider will be celebrated on the 30th. Third grader Holden Johnson will have his birthday on May 1st, the last day of school.

Summer school is slated to start on May 6th with all kinds of fun planned in the program. Our Skyline School’s central role in the community played out in a sweet way on Saturday with the fundraiser benefit for the Crews family. Mrs. Crews said that she would rather have met all these nice people under different circumstances but was so appreciative of the community support during this difficult time. Terri Ryan said, “Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Crews Family. Every dollar donated went directly to them, which means so much. I think the fundraiser was a huge success!!!” Many local merchants contributed merchandise and services, dedicated volunteers organized the event and did all the work, then the people arrived, friends, neighbors, new commers, and old timers.

The first alert for an important annual event comes from The General himself: “Denlow/Fairview School reunion, on Saturday, 25 May 2024, Memorial Day weekend. The scalawags, scoundrels, and scholars (a.k.a. formers students) are inviting themselves, their families, and friends to their annual school reunion to be held at the Denlow Baptist Church and cemetery. Master chef Ed Williams will again prepare fish and chicken under the close supervision of Sonja (his boss). Attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish and/or desert. Coffee and soft drinks will be provided. There will be an auction for any donated items/treasures. Hopefully, the Kentucky colonel (auctioneer) will be here with his lovely (ahem) beautiful wife. (P.S./FOOTNOTE: If you have been or have never been to one of these school reunions – you may be entitled to compensation).”

The quote of the week comes from a guy named Francis. “Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself, and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is…Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.” He sounds like a Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

The joke was that Friday the 13th was going to happen on Saturday this month.  Perhaps it was an April Fool’s joke.  In any event, the Second Saturday Skyline Swap-Meet came off beautifully on Saturday the 13th.  There were chicks and eggs and little baby ducks, jewelry, jam, popcorn, cookies, cinnamon rolls, puppies, bunnies, kitties, creeping phlox, aloe vera, baby goats, and much more.  Ten vendors set up for the first of these events, but the community response was such that we can look forward to May 11th with the expectation of lots more support and fun.  It is great to see this kind of thing happening again and lovely to meet up with friends and neighbors on a beautiful spring day.  We can look forward to hearing more about it on the radio on KKOZ.

Another good thing coming up is a benefit for the Crews family who lost all their possessions in a tragic fire back on March 30th.  It will take place on Saturday, April 20, at the Skyline School starting at noon.  There will be a silent auction from 12:00 to 2:00 with pies and desserts and a variety of other things that the community will donate.  Enjoy a lunch buffet of hamburgers and hotdogs, sides, and drinks.  Volleyball tournaments and prize drawings will add to the fun. Contact Talisa Harvey at (417) 259-0154 or talisaharvey1989@gmail.com for more information or for what you might be able to do help.  We are reminded that everything can change in a second.

Income Tax Day hits some heavy and others not so much.  If Elon, Jeff, Mark, and others of their income bracket paid their fair share along with monstrously huge corporations, imagine the good that could be done.  Meanwhile beautiful things can happen on any day.  Down in Louisiana a Champion great, great niece made her way into the world.  Her brother Georg calls her Bertie, but she will get another name.  Other good things come with the memory of a good friend, George Gary Jones, whose birthday was the 15th of April.  He passed away a few years ago but is often in the good thoughts of many friends whose lives he touched.  Back in the 70s he had a big truck he called ‘Coming-at-cha.’  He had a big personality, a great laugh and was competent in every endeavor.  We miss you, Mr. Jones.

The warm days have gardeners trying not to be too early in their planting.  The chance of a freeze persists.  A good weather forecast and a trip to one of the great garden centers in the area will keep their enthusiasm up despite the ticks which are already being a nuisance for some.  They seem to attract and gather them just stepping out to the garden or to the clothesline.  They are the little crawling dark spots in an otherwise beautiful time of the year in a beautiful place.  Maybe some itching musician will write a song about them.  Music is good medicine.

Interesting quotes this week include one from Kurt Vonnegut who said, “You meet saints everywhere.  They can be anywhere.  They are people behaving decently in an indecent society.”  Another guy, Paul Hawken, said, “What I see in the world are ordinary people willing to confront despair, power, and incalculable odds in order to restore grace, justice, and beauty to the world.”  A favorite one comes from a peanut farmer who said, “I have one life and one chance to make it count for something.  My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.”  He sounds like a guy who would be willing to pull you out of a mud hole—a real Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Plentiful, interesting information and reports about today’s solar eclipse have been big news and will continue to be for a while yet. It has been enjoyable. As for much of the rest of the news, some of the persistent partisan political poppycock and primacy of fact is interesting. For example, in the Skyline R2 school board election, The Prominent Champion cast the 80th and final vote. Steve Moody, Samantha Adler, and Wes Woods won their seats and will be doing good work for our great school. Politicking will be pervasive from here on out for a while. Civility is the watchword in Champion where candidates for the District 2 Commissioner’s seat stop in to explain their philosophy and their qualifications. We are fortunate to live in a part of the world where we have a say in what happens out on our beautiful country lanes. They are particularly beautiful now with the redbuds, the dogwoods beginning to open, the little wild purple phlox, and all the other wild treasures.

In addition to politicians, Wednesday had some pleasant and interesting visitors from Idaho spending time in Champion. Another bunch of pleasantness came to the Vanzant Jam along with Joann Lawrence and with Toni the equestrian who plans to be there on a regular basis henceforth. A call is going out for fiddlers for the jam. Music has significant positive properties however you find it. “Keep a little song handy, wherever you go, and nothing can ever go wrong.” That thought is attributed to Rude Valle in 1932, but it has merit today.

Mushroom aficionados are having their hay day and hummingbird scouts are checking us out to see if we are ready. We are ready! Bees are buzzing in the dandelions and redbuds. Gardeners are out there doing what must be done to give us the potatoes and onions, turnips, and beets. The tender stuff that cannot stand a freeze will go in later. The almanacs tell us that the 13th and 14th will be good days to plant flowers and other above ground crops. These are good days to start seedbeds too, or you can go see Sue or some of the other wonderful nurseries in the area. Our first Skyline area swap-meet farmer’s market is happening Saturday from 8:00 to noon. Helen Batten says there will be eggs and chicks and sweet Williams. She is hoping that some other participant will have some creeping phlox of the pink variety to sell or trade. It looks like there may be some nicknacks and whatnots. The folks at the Brushy Knob Church at the intersection of Highway C and 76 have donated their parking lot for this venture. With good luck and good community support, we will enjoy second Saturdays at Skyline all spring and summer. See you there.

Tennessee Champion grandson, and now father, Dillon Watts celebrates his birthday on April 12th. He will probably go fishing. On his birthday on the 14th, Bob Berry will likely drive around in his pretty red Studebaker truck, like himself a 1946 model. Another Tennessee gent, Dustin Cline has a birthday on Tax Day, the 15th. He might be in a race car somewhere, or behind a desk. Happy birthday to all of you. While acknowledging special people in our lives, special thanks go out to grown Champion children who come back to help the old folks. Sons and daughters who show up know what is needed and how to make things better. Love and gratitude go together. Meanwhile, we shall gaze at the beauty around us and hope for peace and ease to all the suffering in the world. Blessed in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!