Champion News

 

The fall festival season is officially open according to “Ozarks Alive!” All kinds of things are going on. The Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival has happened and the HOBA festival will start in West Plains on the 26th. Studebaker Bob Berry won a trophy at the Southern Cruisers Car Show on Saturday, reported by and photographed by Mary Goolsby who has a Studebaker of her own, a top-of-the-line 1963 Lark. The Mountain Grove square was full of beautifully restored classics and a few old rust buckets, all with their hoods up and many with old guys standing around pointing at points of interest, harkening back to their own experiences with various vintage rigs.

Bob and Mary are frequent attendees at Thursday’s Vanzant Jam where there will be only one more such gathering this month. The 40th Annual Fall Bluegrass Festival will start in West Plains on Thursday the 26th, so the Vanzant Jam will pick up again on October 3rd. Several of the regular Vanzant musicians will be featured on stage there, and many of the regular pot-luck attendees will be in the audience at the HOBA (Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association) Park at 900 Bluegrass Lane on the south side of town. There will be toe tapping and pleasant reunions among bluegrass friends and fans.

The America’s Cup parking lot “Helping the Heroes” benefit for Hero’s Rest was lively with some booming gospel music and good food. Maybe all over the country neighborhoods step up to support their local good causes like Champions—like good citizens, good neighbors. Spokesperson Carissa Rene reports: “Another successful Helping the Hero’s event is in the books! The second annual Helping the Hero’s fundraiser was held last Saturday at The American Cup. Once again, numerous businesses sponsored prizes and locals bought raffle tickets to support Hero’s Rest and honor first responders and veterans. New this year was an opening prayer from Pastor Terry Ramming, live gospel music by The Batchelor Family, and BBQ by Sheriff Sonny Byerly! Together, $3,803 was raised for Hero’s Rest! We are grateful for each and every one of you who bought tickets, donated, and volunteered to put on this event. A huge thank you to Dennis Martin for organizing this event two years in a row and also to Pam Martin for coming out to serve up the delicious BBQ’s”

September 16th has Mexico celebrating independence from Spain since 1810. The 17th is September’s full Harvest Moon. We remember Louise Hutchison on her birthday on the 21st. Champion granddaughter Zoey Louise and great niece Penelope were both born on Louise’s birthday. The 22nd marks astronomical autumn—the autumnal equinox. “Searching for Booger County” author Sandy Chapin has the 24th for his big day. Graeme Laird over in Edinburgh will enjoy a pint on the 26th. Cathy Reilly will party on the 26th and we remember Lucile Gayman on the 29th. The 29th is the big day for Becky Heston down in Austin, Texas and for Skyline sixth grader Melanie Hall. Prekindergartner Jaxson McIntosh will celebrate his birthday on the 30th. Happy Birthday to all of you.

Cathy Alsup Reilly was able to correct The General, saying that it was Mike Reilly and not Mickey who had stated that hummingbirds leave these parts on September 15th. The General said, “At 0712 this morning 23 hummingbirds bid farewell to the Vanzant metropolis and, flying in V formation, circled the city and flew off in a southwesterly direction. The rear guard of five departed precisely 47 seconds later. If I deciphered their flight plans correctly, their eta at Del Rio, TX will be around midnight on 19 Sep.” Cathy said, “Our hummingbirds are still here and if they are like past years, they will still be around a few more days. Even though I have placed a calendar out for them apparently these KY hummingbirds can’t read. They’ll probably even fly north when they do.”

Playing sports, like playing music, has long-term, far-reaching benefits for young people. Local Bears, Panthers, Pirates, Lions, Tigers and Eagles are finding themselves in the papers. Scrapbooks are being filled with the heroic exploits of our local athletes. There is no glory in defeating a weak opponent. Certainly, the first two games of the Kansas City Chiefs have been very close exciting competitions. Heart rates increased dramatically among some who struggled to stay in their chairs during the recent mêlée with the Bengals broadcast on their televisions. They will be tuned in to NBC at 7:20 PM on Sunday the 22nd to see how they do in Atlanta. In these tumultuous and unsettling times, sport offers some diversion and respite for Old Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!