Champion News

CHAMPION – June 4, 2007

        Champion has seen a lot of grandchildren and great grandchildren in the past couple of weeks.  The Tennessee boys stayed through Memorial Day to help their Grandmother celebrate at the Denlow School Reunion.  Mrs. Eva Powell had four grandchildren and one great grandchild visiting on the third.  Great granddaughter Serena had a mishap when the kitten she was carrying accidentally touched an electric fence.  She has some deep scratches on her arm and a new set of experiences to take to kindergarten with her.  Her cousin, Derek, was heard telling her about his kindergarten days.  That was a long time ago and now he is getting ready to do some traveling that will take him all the way to Timbuktu!  Really!  It is a good sized town (about as big as Springfield) in the West African country of Mali and has long been the metaphor for remote, exotic places.  Champions wish safe journeys to all their precious travelers from Champion to Timbuktu and beyond.

        Neighbors Duke and Connie over in Drury certainly threw a lovely Bluegrass Festival.  There were rain showers from time to time, but nobody’s spirits were dampened and the music was wonderful.  Skyline VFD Auxiliary ladies had a good time and hope to be asked to participate again next year.  Some of those ladies, (Louise, Sharon and Ruth) put in some very long hours.  There were a couple of menfolk involved in the process as well, but they shun the limelight!

        An e-mail came to the Champion News box that goes like this:  “Greetings from the western edge of the Ozarks–Scotts Valley, CA.  This ol’ barefoot plowboy grew up in Ozark County, between Old Romance and Almartha.  The Navy took me out of the hills in 1945; while in the service I met a young lady and we eventually “slipped into the double harness”–city girl and country boy–that was 60 years ago.  We subscribe to the Herald and I began noticing your articles sometime ago.  Now, I read these through every issue.  I don’t know where Champion is located, but notice your address is Norwood.  Fifty years or more ago, one of my sisters and her husband operated a store in Norwood for a period of time, perhaps three years.  One of the items of interest in your article recently was the “Missouri Song List.”  May I propose a candidate for the list:  “Company’s Comin’,” by Johnny Mullins, of Springfield, who grew up around Cassville.  It was written in 1954 and recorded that same year by West Plains boy Porter Wagoner and which, I believe, may have been Porter’s first big hit on his road to success.  A couple years ago, I saw one of Porter’s albums advertised and which still listed “Company’s Comin’ ” among the songs.  This song is nominated as it was written and recorded by Missourians and is still quite popular.  You perhaps are aware that Johnny wrote many songs, several of which were recorded by country music artists, including “Blue Kentucky Girl,” written for and recorded by Loretta Lynn in 1964, and again by EmmaLou Harris in 1979 or ’80 and for which Johnny was nominated for a Grammy award (he didn’t get the award, just a free trip to Hollywood.)  I suppose I should mention Johnny is married to my niece Peggy, from the Noble/Nottinghill area of Ozark County and who lives in Springfield.  Unfortunately, Johnny is now quite ill and in a care center.  Thanks for your time.  By the way, I also put out an e-mail letter periodical which goes to family and friends in about twenty states and some foreign addresses.  It is called a “Humocom” with comments, musings and humor.  Peace and blessings, Al and Wanda Nance.” 
        It is exciting to hear from far off Herald readers, and good to know there is interest in the Missouri Song List.  “Keep a little song handy wherever you go, and nothing can ever go wrong.  Keep a little song handy and sure as you know, the sunshine will follow along.  Any little single jingle that sets the toes a tingle is welcome when you mingle in any single throng, so keep a little song handy wherever you go, and nothing can ever go wrong!”  That’s that Rudy Valley song that Chimera Bea Latent liked so much.

        Corporal James E Summers III, 21, of Bourbon, MO, was one of five soldiers who died May 28, in Abu Sayda, Iraq, of wounds suffered when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 6^th Squadron, 9^th Cavalry Regiment, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Cavalry Division, Ft. Hood, TX.  As of June 4^th there have been 3,495 US Service Personnel who have lost their lives in the conflict in Iraq.  Love and Gratitude for their service is the by-word in Champion.

        Linda, survivor of the Bad Sow of Spotted Hog and proprietor of the Plant Place in Norwood, has the June Almanac out that says the 7^th and 8^th will be good days for planting late root crops and also good for vine crops and for setting strawberry plants.  The First Ripe Tomato In Champion Contest is getting some interest.  Some are just sure Louise will win, but there may be some stiff competition from unexpected sources.  Many Champions are “making hay while the sun shines.”

        It is to be reported that when Robert Upshaw got up to make his speech at the Denlow School Reunion, he said, “Well, Hello, all you thieves and thugs, scoundrels, bootleggers and bushwhackers of Denlow!”  When he realized that he was not talking to his regular crowd he modified his speech to match the group in front of which he stood.  The day was full of fun and stories including one from an unnamed source about Ed Henson who was heard to have said something like, “Well, Dean, if you want to train a dog, you’ve got to be smarter than the dog.”  Mr. Henson had a genuinely sweet smile and a most infectious laugh.  The spirit of good natured fun that he exemplified has spread from Champion to all its good neighbors.

        Gardening tips, songs, good natured fun, travel reports and close calls are being received at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO. 65717.  E-mail to Champion News or hand deliver those things or any kind of good neighbor gossip to Champion’s seat of urban culture, Henson’s Store, in picturesque downtown Champion.  CHAMPION — LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.