Champion News

                   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!

               The full Cold Moon showed up on Saturday night, a day early, to illuminate a heavy, dense fog, turning Champion into something like a pre-dawn luminous pearl. Every season has its beauty and winter’s appears in contrast among the tall bronze waiving grasses, the pale greens of foraged fields, and the evergreens. We are living in a beautiful part of the world even with all the shades of gray and brown.
Dusty Simon is a kindergarten student at Skyline. His birthday is December 18th. On the 19th, Skyline will have its Christmas program, this year jingle all the way to Frosty Fun. Everyone is welcome. It starts at 6:00. Chances are very good that Cheyenne McIntosh’s guitar students will be performing. Last week at school a stray sheep fount its way onto the school grounds. Your investigative reporter learned the sheep belonged to Donna Clark, who was alerted and retrieved her animal before the day was over. The episode provided some excitement for the student body as well as for the staff.
               Mary Goolsby loves Studebakers and music and shares her birthday on December 20th with Possum Trot fiddler Herbie Johnston. Chances are pretty good that the Vanzant Jam will be rocking “happy birthday, dear Mary!” Paige Jonas is a seventh grader celebrating on the 21st. That is also the day we remember another favorite fiddler, Jerry Wagner, who sang, “Just Bumming Around.” Braxton Loveless, in prekindergarten has the 22nd for his big day and fifth grader, Chase Cauthron, shares his birthday with his Dad on the 23rd. Longbow master, fletcher and flint Knapper, Butch Stone, also celebrates on the 23rd, as does Blaine Denlow’s great grandmother, Sharon Sikes. Blaine’s other great grandmother, Ilene Woods, ran 8.3 miles on her 83rd birthday back on the 12th, which was also the big day for The General’s fair daughter, Loretta.
              Christmas Day is the big day for Grannie Grunt, Joanne Anderson enjoys her birthday then. Champion grandson, Eli Ogelsby, has the 30th of December for his birthday and the year ends with a celebration for young Arvin Schroder, a Champion, and for The General himself. Happy birthday and Happy New Year. God bless us every one!
Suzie Freeman draws and paints her own Christmas cards every year. This year it says, “Wishing you all the timeless treasure of Christmas and warmth of home, the love of family and the company of good people! Season’s Greetings to Missouri!” She signs it, “The Freemans Wesley and Karen in Texas.”
               The shortest day of the year will be Saturday, December 21st. Thereafter, the days will be getting a little longer one day at a time. Saturday will also be a fine day for a noontime potluck dinner where everyone is welcome. Maybe Jody Henson will be there. She writes that she and Royce would have just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary and says how much she misses him. There are many with deep ties to Champion. Hopes are they will join some of the new folks to the neighborhood and longtime locals for the joy of celebrating Christmas with old friends and new ones in a place that is more than special for all of us–Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!

The investigative reporter for The Champion News did not follow up on the report of a surprise visitor to the Skyline R2 School on Thursday. Forty-six people responded to the on-line post of a photo of a sheep on the playground at one of Douglas County’s two remaining rural schools. Did it follow Mary to school? Why this day? An update appeared saying, “Sheep has been picked up by owner.” Those forty-six were hoping for more information. Tune in next week for answers. Meanwhile, tune in on December 19th, for the Frosty Fun Christmas Concert at Skyline. Jingle all the way, starting at 6:00 pm. “See you there!” Christmas makes children of all of us. We cannot help it.

Champions home at last from distant travels are optimistic that the internet they experienced in hotels, airplanes, and in various cities across states and oceans will one day be available out on hillsides and in deep valleys right in the heart of Booger County. White River Connect will connect us. And in a trice we will be able to learn things like this: Voltaire said, “Common sense is not so common.” Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Alex Ellie said, “Work harder than you think you did yesterday.” Newt Gingrich said, “Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” Ann Landers said, “Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.” Robert Heinlein said, “Progress isn’t made by early risers. It’s made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something.” George Carlin said, “May the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house.” Dr. John said, “Ya never too hot, never too cold, never too young, never too old, never too skinny, never too fat, never too dis, never too dat, ya just where ya are and dat’s where it’s at.” We can also learn that plateaus are the highest form of flattery and all kinds of interesting things.

Sometimes people with birthdays in December are expected to use their birthday money to buy Christmas presents for other people. That may not be the case for Skyline fourth graders Levi Hall and Westin Nava who both celebrate on December 10th. Felix’s Aunt Kai Parsons has her birthday on the 11th. The 12th is for Blaine Denlow’s great grandmother, Ilene Woods. She shares the day with The General’s fair daughter, Loretta Upshaw. Kennedy Hinote is in the seventh grade with a birthday on December 13th. The 14th is for famed photographer, Shannon Alexander, and for the famous musician and band leader, Spike Jones, who was born in 1911. He made music with slide whistles, and cow bells, and he could gargle a good tune. However you go about singing that “Happy Birthday” song, sing it with gusto to show your dear ones and friends how much they are appreciated.

Christmas songs were being practiced at the Vanzant Jam back before Thanksgiving. That holly jolly weekly event happens on Thursdays with a potluck supper at 6:00 and music starting at 7:00. Everyone is welcome. The music circle varies in size but is always full of good cheer and the good music that is some of the good medicine that helps us be optimistic Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!