Champion News

“The storm in its fury broke today.”  That happened Sunday and while Champions have not reported significant damage, many neighbors near and far were not so lucky.  Friends checked in with each other and counted many blessings.   Concern and compassion for those suffering go along with the counting of blessings.

Some of the good news concerns Calvin Chambers and his horse herd.  As of Saturday, the 19th, his herd had increased by six beautiful little horses, among them a white one, a spotted one, and a palomino filly.  On Good Friday he and eleven others made a 9.9-mile trail ride before the rain started in.  His trail ride reports are the ones that spark envy in the hearts of people who have not been on a horse in thirty years and were then walking funny for a while after they got off.  Champions are looking forward to Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride which will take off out of the Champion Square on May 14th.

Good Friday was also the day the third little reindeer baby joined the Prescott Family Reindeer Farm.  Photographs of these gangly and adorable little critters are some of the good reasons people open Facebook on their phones and other devices.   Farmers out on 76 Highway around Fox Creek have deep green fields filled with lots of black cows and many little black calves. They graze peacefully, overlooked by a hillside full of dogwood trees, a lovely sight.  Best hopes are that in these torrential rains the creek did not deposit tons of sand on the fields again the way the election day floods did back in November.  That is when a young farmer had his johnboat washed away.  Maybe someone way down on Fox Creek south of Ava has found it.

More loveliness came with a surprise anniversary party for Kaye and Richard Johnston. They both grew up around these parts and managed to tie the knot back in 1977.  Kaye is one of the Upshaw clan whose ancestors were early settlers.  Richard’s family has deep ties too, to Brixeys and Proctors.  His Mother, Lorene, left a treasure trove of Champion lore in newspaper clippings carefully saved over many years.  The anniversary party was not a surprise for Richard, but Kaye did not find out about it until that Saturday morning.  Their daughters orchestrated this beautiful affair starting back in March.  The Vanzant Community Building was packed with friends and family congratulating them.  Lots of good food, good memories, and sweet reunions made an afternoon the happy couple will not forget. The morning rains gave way to a beautiful day for a beautiful family.

Back in early February, Steve and Sharon Schlichting were visiting in the area and took a liking to it.  Sharon says, “Sometime real soon we are gonna take in a McClurg Jam on Monday and then Roy’s Store on Tuesday night, the Champion at noon on Wednesday and the Vanzant Jam on Thursday night, and camp somewhere in our pickup camper shell.”  They will be welcome, and then on Friday, perhaps they will enjoy the Whetstone’s music at the Senior Center in Mountain Grove in the morning where they can also enjoy a lovely lunch.  Then they could have supper at The Barn in Ava and enjoy an eclectic jam there. On Saturday they could enjoy a jam at the Red’s Pizza Joint in Norwood.  Probably any number of places sharing good gospel music on Sunday morning will be open to them.  Their new Champion friends will hope Steve will bring some of those instruments that were handmade from his family’s walnut tree.

Those of us old enough to remember Audrey Hepburn (May 4, 1929–January 20, 1993) recall her great movies and her humanitarianism.  She famously said, “As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands—one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.”  She was English.  Voltaire was a Frenchman (November 21, 1694-May 30,1778) who said, “If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize.”  Aldous Huxley was another Englishman (July 26, 1894-November 22,1963) who wrote Brave New World in 1932.  He said, “Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored.”  Facts are not generally ignored in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

The big ‘pink’ full moon, wonderfully visible in a clear sky, ushered in true hints of spring on the wings of hummingbirds. They are coming home. Coming home feels good, if it is from far away after a long time away, or just home from town or school. Home and family are great blessings. We have much for which to be thankful.

New friends are also blessings. Julie Heyer and Tom from up Webster Groves way shared a beautiful book with The Champion News. Leland and Crystal Payton, of the Lens and Pen Press in Springfield, have written “Mystery of The Irish Wilderness.” The Irish Wilderness is over around Birch Tree in Shannon and Oregon Counties—16,500 acres of Mark Twain National Forest. There is exciting reading ahead for Old Champions and 86 color photographs to enjoy. Champions wonder if the Paytons are kin to Reverend Payton who has lots of music on the internet under the name of “Reverend Payton and His Big Damn Band.” It turns out the Paytons are acquainted with another new friend, Tom Peters, over in McClurg, also a great purveyor of lively music. So, thank you, Julie, for making good connections.

Kaitlyn McConnell was able to save her grandmother’s spinning wheel from the auction last summer after her grandmother passed away. It is from the 1800s and just needs a replacement part that is available to be able to spin her cotton and wool. Dawn Stone will teach her how to spin and she will have yet another connection to her family past and the history of this part of the world we all find so special.

Champion grandson Dillon Watts had a birthday on April 12th. Studebaker Bob Berry celebrates on April 14th. On April 15th we sing that song to Dustin Cline, and remember Vivian Floyd and George Gary Jones, a couple of very interesting people, as was Myrtle Harris whose birthday was on the 19th. Wyatt Boehs was born April 20, 2010. That will make him 15 now. Time flies. Skyline 8th grader Jordan Ellingsworth has his birthday on the 23rd and the 24thi is for Jacob Moffett who will be looking for arrowheads. Mike Satterfield will enjoy his birthday on the 25th. He brings little Willow Rose to the Vanzant Jam sometimes, making everyone smile to see such a beautiful five-month-old baby. She looks like her Mother. We remember Champion Vietnam Vet Gary Proctor on the 26th. Juniper Wiltse, a resident of downtown Champion enjoys her birthday on the 28th, and Champion granddaughter Teagan Krider has the 30th for her big day. Birthday celebrations give us the chance to acknowledge the important people in our lives.

The first Second Saturday Skyline Swap Meet happened on Saturday the 12th. The next one will be May 14th, from 8 a.m. to noon at the Brushy Knob Church on the corner of C Highway and 76. Last year there were chickens, rabbits, goats, arts and crafts, baked goods and plants and all manner of things.

Champion Brixey Future Farmers of America have Farm Management Teams that are headed to the State FFA convention. The 97th Missouri State FFA Convention will be held from April 23rd to 25th, in Columbia at the Columbia Convention Center. Jana Barnes-Brixey says, “The Farm Management team got 2nd place at districts. They wanted to beat Herman, but they got 1st.” Jenna is on the team with Lydia Harden, Lane Watkins, Conner Jonas, all Skyline alumni. Jacob Brixey was on the Meats Team and they got 3rd place at districts. Soils and Agronomy Team members will also go the State Convention. These young folks are learning the nitty gritty and the business end of farming that will be feeding the nation in years to come. We thank them in advance!

The Prescott Family Reindeer Farm just celebrated the birth of a new little reindeer named Sven. He was born on April 7th, weighing 13 pounds. He is a cute addition to the reindeer family and will be a big fellow by Christmas. In a recent election held at the Junction, Mike Prescott was unanimously elected Mayor of Vanzant, which would have been a crushing defeat for The General had he not been wildly excited about shedding the heavy mayoral yoke so as to concentrate on all his other responsibilities as historian, genealogists, meteorologists and full time purveyor of fun and optimism for the area encompassing Vanzant, Denlow, and Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Storms have blown in so much grief and sorrow so much loss to so many.  Time, money, and effort will improve things.  This part of the world leads much of the world in willingness to help neighbors in distress.  Find a way.  Chip in. Even just a little help makes a difference.

Currently Champion is enjoying 12 hours and 59 minutes of daylight.  Gardeners are saying it’s too wet to plow, but they are glad for the moisture.  If hard work made you rich, every farmer would be a billionaire.  An Old Champion’s grandfather (Arch Hector, Jones County, Texas) declared he would put his cemetery lots in ‘The Soil Bank.’  The Soil Bank was a USDA program back in the 1950s that reduced production of surplus commodities, helped to maintain farm income and conserved soil.  The family cotton patch got planted in peanuts and then plowed under.  Hopes are that the Agriculture Department does right by its current obligations, honoring contracts.

April 4th was the birthday of Skyline 3rd grade student Fredrick Smith.  Multi-talented Champion Miranda, born in 1984, celebrates on the 5th.  Carissa Rene at Hero’s Rest has the 6th for her big day.  She has a beautiful voice and can bring a tear to your eye with “The Travelin’ Soldier.”  The 7th is for Beverly Coffman Emery, Vanzant’s own Gipsy and fun monitor.  That is also the big day for far off Upshaw kinfolk, Margie Carr who has jumped out of airplanes just for the fun of it.  On the 8th we remember Bud Hutchison.  It will soon be time for his Memorial Trail Ride out of Champion, always a stellar event.  A friend of Bud’s wrote this: “Bud grew up in the Champion community and always liked and rode horses.  He told me of a mare he had when he was young that would kick straight back with both hind feet when he would flank her.  This was ideal for a teenage prank during a church meeting.  Bud admitted that the story was true of him backing his mare up to the church building and flanking her and she kicked the building with both hind feet during the church service.”  The friend went on, “Bud was a good friend and a good man and in later years went inside of the church houses.  This story and others are treasures and Bud shared many of his stories while we rode the roads near Champion in years past.”  Champions will look forward to sitting on the porch watching the trail riders go ambling up the hill and come back again across Fox Creek with their stories and their hankering for ice cream.

Herbie Johnston has a new fiddle!  He says it is old and sweet.  It is loud.  He hopes to be able to play it as well as it deserves.  Many of his fans believe he will have no problem doing so.  He is also appreciative of Thomas A. Peters, who is sharing a great deal of wonderful local music on the internet.  Herbie said Tom was going to make him famous.  Tom shared an exciting Monday at McClurg with young Simon and his sister Hattie Barry tripping the light fantastic to some great tunes.  Old folks out on the other end of the county appreciate the videos and very much appreciate that this great jam goes on.  Thanks, Tom.

We also very much appreciate the VFW.   Post 5993 is located on the northwest corner of the Ava square.  Linda Clark says, “It is named after Adrian Owen, post Champlin for years.  Billy Holt is the current Post Commander.  Gene Clark is Post Quartermaster, and Tommy Roberts is Post Adjutant.  The Post and Auxiliary have a lot of great people willing to serve the Veterans in the area.  The Post has made All State or All American the last five or six years.  All of the members are happy to help out any local veterans in need.”

Three and a half million people are said to have been on the streets all over the country on Saturday to have their voices heard with messages like “We wouldn’t have so many needy if we didn’t have so many greedy.”  George Orwell said, “Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” And Harper Lee said, “The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”  Champion!—Looking on the Bright Side!

          Tuesday still had people talking about the severe weather in the area during the previous week. Out in the foyer of the Town and Country Supermarket one gentleman said he and his wife were feeling very lucky not to have lost the enormous walnut tree hanging over their house. He said they have a deck to enjoy but the squirrels like to sit high in the trees hulling their walnuts, dropping the trash down on them as they try to relax. From there he shared his recipe for squirrel. He said to clean it and part it out, roll it in flour and put it in a skillet with about ‘this much’ water (he used his fingers to represent about two inches) put it on the stove slow and it makes its own gravy. He smiled in a way that smacked of reminiscence and expectation. He said he had eaten raccoons and rabbits but had never tried groundhog. Someone else said when her Mother asked, “What’s for supper?” she would say, “Cold coon and collards.”
           Skyline’s Archery coach, Melissa Willhite, (Happy Birthday, Melissa, on the 30th) reported that her students, 5th grader Chase Cauthron, 6th grader Railynn Dixon and 7th grader Paige Jonas used their spring break to compete at the 2025 Missouri National Archery Championship at the Branson Convention Center. She thanked the many local sponsors of the Skyline Archery Program whose contribution to the success of these archers is invaluable. Melissa said through their level of achievement, “they gained a wealth of experience, fun and drive to make lasting memories to pass on to their families.”
            Linda Clark shared some good information about a couple of good guys. They are Gene Clark, her charming husband, and Tommy Roberts. Those gentlemen were up in Jeff City at the Capitol being honored on the floor of the House of Representatives for their service with the VFW. Tommy was also honored for being a veteran of the Vietnam War. They received framed citations, had their pictures taken with dignitaries, and enjoyed touring the capitol building, with all its statuary and beautiful ceilings. Veterans are well represented in Ava. The mission of the Veterans of Foreign Wars is to foster camaraderie among Veterans of overseas conflicts, serve Veterans, the military, and communities, and advocate on behalf of all Veterans, ensuring they are respected, receive their earned entitlements, and are recognized for their sacrifices. (The Champion News always capitalizes the words ‘Veteran’ and ‘Mother.’ It is our policy.)
            A Champion writes that lilacs are blooming up on Tar Button Road. She says the nights are above 55 degrees. She still has not seen May apples but thinks a little rain will bring them out. All this comes with a picture she shared of her first morrell. It is tiny, so she will just watch it for a while. “It’s starting!” she says about Spring. Sunday’s rain was most welcome, though some folks got more hail than they would have liked. Gardens are calling.
           Tom Peters posts that Monday’s jam at McClurg had fourteen musicians and forty folks (people) total. A Kansas City visitor that Tom had not seen in a long time was wearing a Rosedale t-shirt had him craving Kansas City barbeque. He is supporting the Benefit Fish Fry for Jeff and Rachel Barry and their children which will happen at St. Leo’s Catholic Church on April 11th. Spread the word. Tom had shared a video of Glen Dale Robertson playing “Battle Hymn of the Republic on his banjo at the Oldfield Opry. It was a splendid rendition of a good patriotic song, which brought politics to mind. If one were to ask an Old Champion’s Mother about how to go about fixing the messy unwieldy politic of these current days, she would probably say, “It would be sort of like putting a sidesaddle on a hog, but it probably could be done if you were acting like you had good sense.” She would suggest a good read of the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise therof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” We are reminded that April Fool’s Day is all about fun. Look for reports of pranks next week. Fun is what we are all about in Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

           How many people can fit into the Vanzant Community Building? If the building could speak, it would have a lump in its throat and a sweet happy tear in its eye for the love and support of the community and the surrounding communities filling it to the brim. Dignitaries, luminaries, emissaries, artis, musicians and the great hoi polloi mingled and remembered seeing each other there at other times. This time the Pie Supper auctioneer skillfully admonished bidders, “Don’t stop now!” and they did not. This young man, Brady Shaffer, had a great voice and a pleasant way of keeping the bidding going. Tasty pulled pork sandwiches and hotdogs fueled the crowd, and the result of the auction was a substantial sum to benefit the place where we have picnics, baby showers, weddings, family reunions, funerals, benefits of all kinds, funerals, yard sales, political rallies and were some folks go to vote.
          The biggest fire in Douglas County history encompassed 1,386.4 acres and was fought by all the area Volunteer Fire Departments. Those firefighters and first responders leave their jobs, their dinner tables, and their beds to protect our lives and property. Fortunately, there has been no loss of life or major loss of property and no reports of injuries. We have many reasons to be grateful, even amid the struggles and turmoil of modern life. Low humidity, lack of rain, high winds, accidents and careless people all make it a dangerous situation. The Red Flag is not an invitation to burn. We will all be grateful for some real rain.
           The windy week had limbs and pinecones littering our country lanes and had old gardeners transplanting little seedlings inside out of the gusts. The sea of daffodils has suffered in the wind and lack of rain, looking a little bedraggled, but beautiful yet. Redbuds are beginning to bud and other pink and purple trees along with all those Bradford pears are blossoming. Soon the dogwood trees will pop out in the woods assuring us that Spring is here.
             We are glad for all the activities of Tom Peters who has been sharing The Oldfield Opry and tunes like “Blue Night” “Wildwood Flower” and “Summertime.” We was a Red’s Pizza in Norwood on Saturday with Herbie Johnston and a number of others doing lots of great picking and Dennis Shumate singing The Blue and the Gray.” This Monday he said, “Over 40 people at McClurg tonight, including some grad students of Dr. Cameron LaBarr from MSU. Santiago came all the way from Argentina. It’s his first visit to the Ozarks.” Many of us online got to enjoy all those wonderful dancers and fiddlers playing “Fort Smith” “I’ll Fly Away” “Wes Mur’s Tune” “That’s Earl” and more. “Hell Up Mud Creek” Thank you, Tom!
            Woody Guthrie said, “Life has got a habit of standing hitched. You got to ride it like you find it. You got to change with it. If a day goes by that you don’t change some of your old notions for new ones, that is just about like trying to milk a dead cow.” Highway Patrol Trooper Hogan, as in Hogan’s Heroes, was unable to locate the great big black mama cow with a broken leg laying off in the ditch on 76 Highway on Thursday night. Standing across the west bound lane the cow did not see the little Ford Escape coming over the rise at 40 miles an hour–blam! By morning the carnage had been cleared. There is a seriously wrecked car, a calf without a mama, and a farmer without a cow, but things could be worse.
            Skyline and Norwood Archers had a good time at the State Level Archery Competition in Branson. We look forward to hearing about their experience from their point of view. Parents, friends, and kin folks have the point of view awash with pride. Every one a Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

We celebrate our first responders and all those who work to keep u safe and to help in the aftermath of tragedies.  Watching the radar on Friday night had Champions holding their breath, at the same time grateful for safety and anxious for those in danger.  With floods and fires, sandstorms and tornadoes and people in the path, we hope to comfort and console and help where we can.
Skyline R2 School student birthdays are 4th grader Lillith Jeffery on March 16th, 7th grader Wyatt Carrol on the 20th, 3rd grader Aliyiea Trujillo on the 27th, and 6th grader Tucker Johnson on the 30th.  The birthdays of three more special people all occur on Marach 23rd.  Those folks are Donald Powell (who can repair your washing machine or almost any appliance and who has a lovely singing voice), Elva Upshaw (who does good work in Ozarks Healthcare and happens to be The General’s fair daughter) and Judie Pennington (who has black bears visiting her every year and who suggests that the real luxuries in life are time, health, a quiet mind, slow mornings, ability to travel, rest without guilt, a good night’s sleep, calm and “boring” days, meaningful conversations, home-cooked meals, people you love and people who love you back.)  Happy birthdays and happy every day to all of you!
This week Skyliners enjoy Spring Break.  Spring arrives on Thursday.  Gardeners are already ready.  March 13the marked the day of the first tick of the year crawling on and Old Champion who was happy to get his potatoes in the ground on St. Patrick’s Day. Tom Peters shared the “Irish Washer Woman” as a tribute to St. Patrick.  Old folks who cannot make it to the McClurg Jam on Mondays very much appreciate being able to join the fun, even if it is just online.  Thanks also go to the good cattle farmers who are willing to share that good stuff the cows made last year for the fertility of the soil.  Music and the tiller, shovel and rake are some of the tools that help us grow our own food and help us keep grounded in turbulent times.
Julie and Tom Heyer, Champion friends from Webster Groves up in St. Louis, were on their way to their country place in Thornfield Thursday and stopped by to have lunch and visit in Champion.  Julie brought a beautiful pecan pie to donate to the fundraiser for the Vanzant Community Building.  It is made with pecans from Alabama.  It is frozen to be thawed for the benefit on the 22d.  It comes in a good pan that you can bake your own pies in and with a neat cover that will let you take your pie to your friend’s house or to your mother’s house.  Bake a pie or come and be a high bidder on one of the amazing home-made pies at the auction.  Doors open a 5 p.  The auction starts at 6 pm.  The fun goes on and on for a good cause.
A note from Julie on Saturday said, “Friday night’s wild weather–the southern horizon was lit up four hours with lightning, yet we heard very little thunder.  The sky overhead was clear.  We watched Orion on its journey.  Then the full mood came up.  Wow!  We stopped at Rockbridge for a fish sandwich on Saturday and heard the news that Bakersfield got hit hard.  We saw a lot of damage in Rolla along 63 going north to 44 on our way home.”  We hope the next time Tom and Julie come to visit things will be less ‘eventful.’
Eventful events concern some citizens.  If you are concerned, reach Senator Hawley at 202-224-6154 and Senator Schmitt at 202-224-5721.  Our district 8 Congressman Smith is at 573-335-0101.  There are any number of Public Servants obligated to serve our best interest.  They work for Us and are charged to do good by us.  Dolly Parton said, “If I ever was good, I was as good as I ever was.”  Spoken like a Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

          We are reminded that the Red Flag warning is not an invitation to burn. An explosion of daffodils along country lanes at old home places and places where people have not lived in generations brightens any day tripper’s day. Exploring some of Douglas County’s four hundred miles of dirt road is a sweet springtime pastime. The question begs: should one pick up the litter coming out of the window the truck up ahead and follow the truck to return it? Probably not. We want to say, “Trash litters.” And we expect to hear, “Who you callin’ trash?” Then there is the bright blue beer can that has been on the side of the road since last summer that a Champion drives by on every outing. It has become a landmark and has maintained its bright blueness through the election day flood and two snowstorms.
          Ten archers from Norwood will be going to the State Level Archery Competition in Branson during March 19-22. Their sponsor and coach is Jana Barnes-Brixey. Jacob Brixey scored 291 in 3D for first place in the Marionville tournament and is one of those going to State. Chase Cauthron, a Skyline 5th grade student, has qualified for state level for both the Elementary and 3D divisions. For the Middle School level: 6th grader Raiylnn Dixon has qualified for both the bullseye and 3D divisions at the state level and 7th grader, Paige Jonas, has qualified for the bullseye state level division. Melissa Willhite oversees the program at Skyline. She says the 24-25 Archery Team consists of two levels” Elementary and Middle school. “Our Elementary individual level students are 5th Graders: Evan Homer, Chase Cauthron, Lauren Collins, Paxton Elgie, RyAnne Harvey, Brantley Kilgore, Jaxton Harley, and Aubrey Lewis. Our Middle School individual level students are 6th Graders: Railyn Dixon, Ely Young, Serenity Merryman, Tucker Johnson. 7th Graders: Paige Jonas, Morgan Johnson, Kennedy Hinote, 8th Graders: Jordan Ellingsworth, Isabella Peters. Archery, like music, teaches the life lesson that focus and practice move a body forward toward whatever goal one has in mind.
           Ilene Woods and Elaine West Woodward made a rugged four-mile hike at the Bryant Creek State Park on Friday. It was sunny and 70 degrees. That same day, Calvin Chambers and fourteen other riders rode 10,9 miles on the NTR at the North Fork River Ranch. These beautiful days have even sedentary senior citizens strolling about in the evenings after supper. The time change is not a problem for old folks who do not have to rush off to work on Monday morning. This Monday afternoon Kathy Love’s letter to the editor in the Heral with questions for our congressman was a treat to read. Kathy is part of the Voters for Positive Action out of Rolla. She asks good questions. Champions appreciate Thomas Peters for sharing the McClurg Jam online as it happens. This Monday evening, we heard a rendition of “Monkey in a Dog Cart,” which was requested by Festus. Other tunes were “Tat’s Earl,” “Oyster Girl,” and “Down Home Waltz,” where we saw Ruby Adams and Stephen Assenmacher cutting the rug with gusto. Tom is writing a biography of Red Foley who wrote may good songs including “Too Old to Cut the Mustard.” Tom’s visits to Champion are always welcome.
             The pie supper to support the Vanzant Community Building is coming up on March 22nd. The doors will ope at 5 m for pulled pork and other good things and the auction will begin at 6p;m. Pie supper auctions have proven to be our communities’ favorite way to support our communities. The long history of goodness that has come out of that building is one that needs to carry on. We need a place to vote, to congregate, to celebrate, to come together to help each other, to make music and have fun. Vanzant–sister city to Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!