September 22, 2025
CHAMPION—September 22, 2025
Champion was the third spot in an epic music tour by the Schlichting couple, Steve and Sharon, from up around Osceola. They are farmers talking about how many bushels to the acre of corn they got this year and how much they enjoyed the Music at McClurg on Monday and at Roy’s Store in Dora on Tuesday. They sat out on the wide veranda and hummed along to “Wildwood Flower” and “An Old Spinning Wheel.” They have been camping on this adventure enjoying the beauty of this part of the country. Steve had a beautiful mandolin, electric, made by a skilled luthier from a chunk of walnut tree grown on his old home place. He expects that his talented granddaughter will inherit it and put it to good use. He and Sharon made their final stop Thursday evening in Vanzant, then on home to that granddaughter. Meanwhile there were lots of good stories about chicken plucking, hog scalding and coon hunting.
On Friday the Skyline preschoolers and kindergarten students had the chance to explore the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department’s patrol car. Deputy Harley gave them a tour. Maybe he will come to the Skyline R2 Fall Carnival on October 3rd. The dinner will start at 5:00 and then the games and prizes will commence. The bounce house might be off limits for deputies.
Skyline seventh grader Myson Loveless shares his birthday on October 1st with a Prominent Champion who always gets a postcard in the mail that says, “Remember, if you act like you are having a good time, pretty soon you will forget you are acting, and you will really be having a good time.” Jana Barnes-Brixey is a Champion dairy farmer and teaches school up in Norwood she and high school senior Lydia Harden also celebrate on October 1st. That is also the day we remember Pete Mullins. He and Bonnie were regulars at the Denlow School Reunion in the old days. Ben Stewart, who lives on Fox Creek Road, will be 2 years old on October 2nd. Champion grandson William Tucker Clark was born October 2, 2015. Mahatma Gandhi was born October 2, 1869. He was a lawyer famous for leading the Indian Independence Movement. His nonviolent methods resulted in India gaining independence from British rule, though it was not easy. Unfortunately, our forefathers had to fight for our independence. Skyline sixth grader, Evan Homer, shares his birthday on the 3rd with Champion Gary Clark. The Upshaw twins were born on October 4th. We remember well and miss Fae Upshaw Krider and wish Kaye Upshaw Johnston a good and happy day in the company of her big loving family. Skyline’s head cook, Rhonda Nava will celebrate her birthday on October 5th. Happy birthday to all of you from your Champion friends, families and neighbors.
Tom Peters said there were three generations of jig dancers at McClurg on Monday evening. The “Shepherd’s Wife Waltz” had some up waltzing and “Leather Britches” had some toes tapping. “The eighth of January” and “Seamus O’Brien” kept the evening lively. Up in Minneapolis, Willie Nelson and his boys, Billy Strings, Jessie Welles, and many others put on the 40th edition of Farm Aid. Music helps in many ways. The internet has been full of the Hootin and Hollerin Festival over in Gainesville including Bob Berry’s “People’s Choice Award” for Mary’s beautiful Studebaker Lark. The Starvy Creek bluegrass festival has been going on with all its great music. Next week the internet will be full of the Heart of the Ozarks Bluegrass Association shindig in West Plains. This is an exciting time of the year. ‘Er long Andrew Harden will be heading up Bud Hutchison’s Memorial Trail Ride in Champion—October 8th. Saddle up and join a long standing tradition.
Some Old Champions woke up Friday morning with as much as half an inch of rain. They were delighted to be awakened in the wee hours of Sunday morning by thunder and lightning and a few more tenths in their rain gauges. By Monday morning the measurement was up to two and a half beautiful inches. Cool damp days ahead have them relaxed and optimistic. Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!
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