Champion News

The fortieth and final Denlow—Fairview School Reunion occurred on the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend. Somewhere between 30 and 50 people attended and among them four alumni—Frankie Proctor, Robert Upshaw, Kenneth Anderson, and Pete Proctor. One of them speculates that there are about seventeen students still living, though some of them have never attended the reunion. The Denlow School closed its doors in 1955. The first reunion was held in in 1987 with 250 in attendance. Though the numbers have dwindled, the nostalgia, the fun and feeling of community persists. Pete and The General waxed eloquently over the old school days and a bevy of beauties, Elizabeth Lawrence, Debora Barker, Phoebe Ward, Elva and Loretta Upshaw, and Tanna Wiseman, reprised their cheer squad from the late 1980s. Ed Williams and his staff provided the main course and the tables were filled with all the favorite potluck dishes that cause us to overeat. The dinner will continue next year under a new and as yet not determined name, and the community feeling will carry on. The Memorial Day weekend was designated as the most appropriate time for the reunion for a number of reasons, not the least of which had to do with the many Veterans who had attended the school as children. It is said that a true tribute is in living a life worth the sacrifice made by our Veterans. It has been said that there is good in this world, and it is worth fighting for.

Some of the good things to celebrate are the birthdays of the grandpapa of Felix the Farmer on June 2nd, and of banjo expert, David Medlock who will celebrate on June 6th, which is the kickoff day of the 43rd Annual Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association Spring Bluegrass Festival. He will have fun. On the 7th we remember Champion Wayne Sutherland who was 85 in 2015. He is well remembered for his good humor and is much missed by his many friends and family members.

In these fast moving, tumultuous days, an Old Champion insisted that there are plenty of things to aggravate us and to complain about, but when things are good, we ought to say so. So spread the appreciation around any chance you get the way we do in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Because of the early deadline all the exciting news about the Denlow/Fairview 40th School Reunion will have to wait for the next edition. Expectations are that it will be/will have been another lovely affair. Stay tuned. Memorial Day barbeques, picnics and parades give us a chance to gather to celebrate all those who have sacrificed their lives in the U.S. Military during our two hundred fifty years as a nation. Many folks make a tour of all the local cemeteries to pay homage to their friends and loved ones resting there. It seems the longer we live the more people we know who have moved on off into the afterlife. Rest in peace.

When Tom Peters posts a video of elders dancing at the McClurg Jam on Mondays, it turns out they are Elders! Jane and Andy Elder are regulars at McClurg and reported that there was a rousing happy birthday chorus for Alvie Dooms who had just turned 96. They paid a visit to Champion on Wednesday just for the fun of it. They made some new friends, enjoyed the picking and singing, and had the opportunity to observe a tick struggling to get out of a white enamel ash pan by the old wood stove. It came in on a piece of early morning firewood. The General named the tick David after his fellow guitar player who has great curiosity about them. He kept asking, “What do they eat?” They eat blood, David. He thinks a song should be written about ticks.

Among those polled, it seems that the favorite ground beef to fat ratio is about 80/20, though a few are 90/10 people, while Donnie Strunk thinks 83/17 is about right. He, like the pollster, probably enjoys fish as much as ground beef…maybe more. It might be a seasonal thing, but it is clear that cowboys like to go fishing.

Skyline’s Summer Learning Academy had students learning about tie-dyeing and some carpentry skills building bluebird houses, and about weathering, erosion, rivers and mudslides. They also enjoyed a program presented by Mrs. Rebecca from the Missouri Extension office through the 4H program on insects. School is out and all the joy of summer is upon us. As children, summer seems to stretch out into the far distant future. As old folks, it slips by in a trice. We are grateful for every beautiful day in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

The Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd, will again find former students of the Denlow and Fairview Schools gathering at the Denlow Church and Cemetery. This is the 40th year of this event. Former students, their descendants, and everyone else with ties to the community are welcome. Lunch will be served at 12 noon. Ed Williams and staff will provide the main course of the meal. Attendees are encouraged to bring a side dish or dessert. A prominent alumnus says, “Thank goodness descendants of former students show up for this reunion as there are not too many former scholars still around. Denlow’s last school year was 1955, Fairview was 1958.”

Memorial Day on Monday unofficially marks the beginning of the summer season. Officially it became a federal holiday in 1971 and celebrates and honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military. 620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War and were honored with Decoration Day. Today we decorate and contemplate our many losses.

In 1896 the US Postal Service began rural free delivery. It is a vital public service. Route 72 is about 120 miles long, much of it on gravel roads. We celebrate and appreciate our rural mail carriers. We also celebrate Teresa Wrinkles on May 22nd. She has moved away but is still remembered for her wonderful pies. Keller Boehs is glad school is out. His birthday is also the 22nd. Skyline Jennings Harley’s birthday on the 24th. Jennings will be in the third grade when school starts. Chase Cauthron’s mom also celebrates on the 24th. The 25th is for Leana Bell Wagner. Skyline Counselor Leslie Top will enjoy the 26th for her birthday as will John Webber. On May 27 we remember Champion’s Ed Henson, born in 1903. The 27th is also the day all her children and grandchildren celebrate Paula Mudd. Brylee Clark is one of those great-grandchildren. Her birthday is on the 28th, the same day as Presleigh Miller’s who will be in the 4th grade at Skyline. Dale Thomas also has the 28th for his big day and it is the day we remember Jessie Mae Miller who was born in Denlow in 1926.

When, in the course of human events, we are called far away for family events joyful or somber, returning home marks the high point of the trip. Driving back into the Ozarks this time of the year we love all its ups and downs, its curvy undulations, amazing deep lush green foliage and oxeyed daisies sprinkled along the roadways. We have precious memories of our family time, but we know there is no place like home. Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

On May 5, 1862 a small, poorly equipped Mexican Army under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French forces of Napoleon III who were trying to establish a monarchy under Maximilian of Austria. The unlikely victory at the Battle of Puebla symbolizes courage, resistance against foreign intervention and Mexican American culture.

On May 6th five stalwart equestrians set out from Champion on their annual spring trail ride in fun and in memory of a great Champion Bud Hutchison. Karen Brown of Norwood was on her horse Cedar, Don Hamby of Dora on Domino, trail boss Andrew Harden of Ava on Mable, Calvin Chambers of Dora on Renegade, and Mena Dutton of Norwood on Charlie. They reported having a good time in the company of a big white dog all the way there and back.

Skyline’s Second Saturday Swap Meet happened on the 9th, always a good happening. Mothers all over America enjoyed the attention of children, grand and great ones too. We are reminded that there are only two kinds of people in the world—mothers and everyone else. So, lucky are all of us to have had one.

Birthdays to celebrate include those of a Champion cat, Ms. Bitz, who was thirteen years old on the 6th of May. We remember fiddler Candi Bartsch on her birthday, May 14th. That is the big day for Margie Carter too. She is often at the Vanzant Jam and chances are someone will sing that song to her. May 15th is for Champion granddaughter, Elizabeth Heffern, and for Champion resident, Linda Cooley. Ivan Moses out in San Diego will celebrate on the 16th as will Karen Grizwold and Champion Alvie Dooms. Alvie is still making it to the McClurg Jam and the world of music is better because of him. The 16th is also the big day for Hazel Wiltse who will be a Skyline first grader next year. Others who will be Skyline first graders are Emelia Parker, whose birthday is on May 19th. And Levi Johnstone who will have his party on the 21st. Your friends and families are happy about you. We are awash in love and gratitude in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side.

In about 1861 Emily Dickinson wrote a poem that said, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” It conveys the thought that hope is an enduring, resilient force withing the human soul that provides comfort and encouragement that persists during life’s hardest storms. Some Champions are experiencing loss, and their friends and neighbors hope for them comfort as their family navigates a new reality.

Our Skyline School’s graduation ceremony Thursday was full of Pomp and Circumstance, love and laughter. Thirteen kindergarten students—Estelene Bellefeuille, Elizabeth Johnson, Levi Johnstone, Braxton Loveless, Jaxon McIntosh, EmberLeigh Miller, Everette Nelson, Chloe Porcello, Georgia Proctor, Landon Simon, John Sudderth, Hazel Wiltse and Bline Woods—walked and skipped and danced down the aisle in their tiger red caps and gowns to the delight of their families and friends. They had their photos taken with their diplomas. Eighth graders, Hunter Hall, Kennedy Hinote, Morgan Johnson, Paige Jonas, Blake McIntosh, and Grace Spence received their diplomas and are headed off to high school next fall. Their good Skyline start will have them set up for success. The last day of school featured an awards ceremony where students were recognized for academic achievement, for significant improvement through the year, for athletic accomplishments, and for good citizenship. Their diplomas and award certificates will fill scrap books. They are the people who will be running things before long. Years hence will find them looking back with pride and nostalgia for these sweet school days made possible by the dedicated teachers and staff.

Who might have a ukulele languishing in a closet or hanging on a wall not being played? These instruments are small. They may have been purchased on a whim. Perhaps they were a bargain in a thrift store or were hand-me-down gifts from old folks looking to pare down their possessions. Skyline’s music program can use them. Little fingers will be strumming under the tutelage of Cheyenne McIntosh when school starts up again this fall. Music is good for us. Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!