Champion News

CHAMPION—September 19, 2011

          Hardly had the dust settled from the Champion School Reunion when the West Plains Wagon Club came clippetty-clopping in to town.  This year there were thirteen wagons and someone said about twenty out-riders.   When asked about adventures and excitement along the way, Wagon-master Clifton Luna said that without those things the trip would be no fun, though he did not elaborate on just what those things were.  Others in the group alluded to someone having been kicked in the ribs over by Dora somewhere and not being able to make the train after all.  (These were not Mr. Luna’s ribs.  His were broken a few weeks back and he says they are mending just fine.)  Someone mentioned a runaway wagon down a steep bank owing to something black having been dropped on the ground and then there was the dump truck.  Several mentioned a big truck that came bearing down on them suddenly from over a hill and it was touch and go about whether or not it would be able to stop in time.  It was agreed that it would have been catastrophic and most likely would have taken out half the train.  Nancy Webster will have some movies of the trip to share soon and Champions are excited to see them.   A great deal of excitement was generated by the new store building over on the North side of the Square.  Folks who have been making this ride for many years say they miss the old building but that the new one really looks like it belongs there and it was observed by many that it looks built to last.

The Champion School Reunion is still on the minds of many.  Tom Cooley was hurt that his name had not been mentioned in the paper after the reunion when he had clearly been there.    It seems that he signed up for the drawing of the door prizes, but did not sign the register of those attending.  Arlene had not been able to make it to the reunion and without her lovely presence; Tom seemed to just disappear into the crowd in spite of his hat with his name written across the front of it.   It was a glad happenstance that they were taking their visiting friends out on a tour of Champion on the day that the wagon train came through town.  Marsha and Larry Benson visit every year from their home in Ellijay, Georgia.  Marsha says that the name of the town is from a Native American word for where two rivers join.   The river formed by the two meeting there at Ellijay is the Coosawatee River.  The town has an apple festival every October since their county is the Apple Capital of Georgia.   Next year Champion friends will be looking for apples when the Bensons arrive.   Back to the Reunion and a correction, Greta Cope could not possibly have been a teacher at the Champion School because she was just a little kid—about the age of certain Hutchisons who are still considered to be much in the prime of their lives.  It is the kind of mistake that only a newcomer of the rankest sort could make.  Greta’s parents are Wayne and Francis Sutherland and they were students at the Champion School.  Greta lives over by Hartville and hopefully will be back for next year’s reunion which will be a big one—thirty years!   Pictures are still being circulated and the glow of this reunion is fresh in many Old Champion hearts.  A note from Cathy Mallernee says that she is sending pictures of the Henson family to their cousin who lives over on her old family home place just North of Champion.   She said that she and her husband H.J. Mallernee, Jr. lived in Denlow and his parents owned the Cold Springs Store back then.  She knew Eva and Royce Henson as they went to Ava Hi together.   A note from Eva Henson said how much they had enjoyed the reunion and seeing old classmates, and the new store.  “Champions can be so proud and warm themselves by the wood stove this winter.”  Royce and his wife Joe Henson came back over from Springfield to enjoy the wagon train on Thursday.  They might be back again when Bud Hutchison has his trail ride in October.  Royce was still chuckling about having buried Bud’s dog in the Valentine box,  not that it was funny that Bud’s dog had been run over, just that Champion still has so much going on after all this time.  “Everything exciting happens in Champion,” he said, or words to that effect.  Russell and Sue Upshaw came to view the wagon train as part of their continuing celebration of their 55^th wedding anniversary.  Champion!

Pete and Kate Proctor had a good visit with their son Bryan and his family over the Labor Day week   They are back home in Virginia now as Bryan gets ready for another deployment.  He is about to complete his 19^th year in the Service.    Pete said that the VFW did a Flag Ceremony for the 9/11 Remembrance.   Pete and Joe Kelley from the VFW Post 3770 presented the POW/MIA missing man Table at the Skyline School on the 16^th of September.    Champions are grateful to have Pete to keep them informed about the Nation’s Veterans and those serving currently.  It is a small percentage of the population that does such an important job for everyone.  Champions all!

The sudden wonderful change in the weather will have Champions back out in the garden getting those fall things in the ground.    Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that from the 27^th through the 30^th will be an excellent time for planting those above ground crops that can go in now, particularly the leafy vegetables.  Get a look at that almanac before it is out of date.  There is a copy on the refrigerator in Henson’s Store located again on the North Side of the Square in Historic Downtown Champion just south of the ellijay of Fox Creek and Clever Creek.  Find the almanac posted at www.championnews.us.  Send any Champion news, stories or inquires to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or to Champion at getgon.net.  “There’s some cotton thread and needle for the folks away out yonder, a shovel for a miner who left his home to wander, some rheumatism pills for the settlers in the hills.  Get along mule, get along.”  Another long year stretches out before the next wagon train is due.  It will seem like no time at all, meanwhile, head on down to Champion for a Look on the Bright Side!