Champion News

The Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association started the weekend on Thursday! The Vanzant Jam took a pause to join the fun. The HOBA show schedule included a favorite bunch, Stringed Union. 5-South, The Armer Sisters, The Wild River Band, Heartland Express, Route 3, Borderline Bluegrass and Lindley Creek together with any number of local musicians jammed day and night all the way to late night Saturday. Cheyenne McIntosh and Estella Genise Eldringhoff were there to record the presentation of the Colors by the local Veterans’ Honor Guard to begin the festival. The HOBA folks kindly posted videos of wonderful performances and jam camp life. Tim Tamburino of the Midwest Bluegrass Directory shared an hour and twenty-two minutes that let us feel like we were there. Thanks to all you incredible musicians and technologically savvy individuals for sharing this lovely Spring Bluegrass Festival.

Meanwhile, Lynnette Cantrell of the group TLC tells us about a Summer Acoustic Jam happening on the Mountain Grove Square Monday nights from 6:00 to 8:00. She says bring your instruments and a chair. Music is good for us. Tom Peters over at McClurg, posted a video on Monday of Andy (Crazy Legs) Elder clogging to “Jack Danielson’s Reel” and of dancers enjoying “Polly’s Waltz.” Friends were happy to see Alvie Dooms in the audience in the photo Tom shared about the unusual circumstance of having two dobroes at the jam. Music is good for us.

Last month’s Second Saturday Skyline Swap Meet met all expectations. Chickens, ducks, beautiful bunny rabbits, crafts, popcorn, eggs and gorgeous garden plants were just part of what vendors had to offer. Hopes are that the rain expected for this Saturday will hold off and that the word will get out. Word is out about demonstrations in West Plains and Ava on the 14th. The 15th will be an opportunity to demonstrate our love and appreciation for all our fathers. They set good examples, provided sustenance, encouragement, and affection. Good guys. If you are lucky enough to still have one, give him a hug. Happy Father’s Day.

Back before the internet and television, in 1923, Will Rogers said, “We will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.” In 1929 he said, “No man is great if he thinks he is.” In 1931, he said, “Ten men in the country could buy the world and ten million can’t buy enough to eat.” In 1935 he said, “Remember, to writhe to your Congressman. Even if he can’t read, write to him.” He had a lot of interesting things to say about politics and government. He was an interesting fellow, born in 1879 over in Oologah, Indian Territory. After graduating from military school, he got in the livestock business in Argentina. He transported pack animals across the South Atlantic from Buenos Aires to South Africa for use in the Boer War (1899-1902). He worked in Wild West shows and became a star in the Ziegfield Follies in 1917 where he began to spear with humor the efforts of the powerful to trample the rights of the common man. What might he say about the world today while twirling his lariat and chewing on a blade of straw?

Harsh weather happening all over the place has us worried for our neighbors and grateful for our own good fortune as we can easily look around to find many in much more dire circumstances. There are roughly three hundred miles of dirt/gravel roads in Douglas County and roughly is the word. The hard-working gentlemen out on the road graders are doing the best they can to keep up with the washed-out roads, undermined concrete slabs and seriously damaged bridges. Under ideal circumstances these are challenging jobs, but with months of extra rain, altogether unnecessary hail and rampant winds, we will just be glad to be able to get out to go anywhere. So, thank you guys for doing what you can.

While we are thanking folks, the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department has been doing some good things too. Just last week they joined with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Missouri Conservation in responding to campers submerged in flood waters at Veracruz. Everyone was safely rescued. We consider all those stalwart first responders to be genuine Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!