Champion News

CHAMPION—October 10, 2006

        The good news from Champion these days is the walnut harvest.  Prices are good and the walnuts are plentiful.

        Some industrious individuals are doing well.  Nature’s bounty is evident when marauders come in from other parts to make off with papaws, butternuts and chick pins.  Beth and Dennis Caffey of Conway, MO. spent Sunday in Champion and enjoyed the afternoon at the Krider farm.  Lengthy discussions were held concerning the relative merits of various breeds of laying hens and similar subjects.  The Caffeys supported each other in a story about one of their dogs who eats fresh vegetables.  The dog will go into the garden and pick himself a cucumber or a zucchini without disturbing the vine.  As they left it was noted that the trunk of their car was fairly burgeoning with wild local produce.

        Skyline students celebrated Columbus Day by not going to school.  There were picnics and play groups and probably a number of them shunning the beautiful weather to enjoy some much needed video gaming.  Teachers, however, attended programs designed for their enrichment and encouragement.  It is to be hoped that they gained much from the day as they are the backbone and builders of the community.

        Frost is immanent this week, they say, and gardeners are busy getting the last of the season’s harvest in.  There will be aching backs from lugging in the boxes of sweet potatoes and winter squash.  Louise Hutchison has sung the praises of  Parks Whopper tomato, saying that it produces right up to frost.  There are lots of beautiful green tomatoes on the vine to prove her statements correct.  The variety, Mr. Stripey, also has a resurgence of productivity after the heat of the summer wanes, though the tomatoes are generally smaller.  It’s a gamble to leave them in the garden.  If the frost is not too hard they will just continue to ripen, but if it is too cold they will be ruined.

        Papaws were the subject of much interest at the store this week.  Their heavy sweet fragrance is pleasant, though it is probably not a good idea to have them ripening indoors since the aroma is so pervasive.  The famous naturalist, Euell Gibbons, had a favorite papaw receipt:  “In a saucepan, mix together ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 envelope unflavored gelatin and ½ teaspoon of salt.  Stir into this 2/3 cup of milk and 3 slightly beaten egg yolks.  Cook and stir the mixture until it comes to a boil.  Remove from the fire and stir in 1 full cup of  strained papaw pulp.  Chill until it mounds slightly when spooned.  This will take 20 to 30 minutes in the refrigerator.  Shortly before the mixture is sufficiently set, beat the 3 egg whites until they form soft peaks, then gradually add ¼ cup of sugar, beating until stiff peaks form.  Fold the partly set papaw mixture thoroughly into the egg whites.  Pour into a 9-inch graham cracker crust, or into parfait glasses and chill until firm.  Then lock the doors to keep the neighbors out.”  Ironically, Mr. Gibbons died from a heart attack at age 64, most likely brought on as a result of smoking cigarettes and a lack of exercise in his declining years.  He was not from around here or his old thumper would have had to work some just to get up and down the hills and he might have lived longer.  It was remarked that his premature aging did not speak well of his natural diet.

        If anyone has good news or old stories of Champion or it’s people, write it up and drop it off at the store, or drop it in the mail to “Champion Items” Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, 65717, or e-mail it to Champion News.  Otherwise be content to read of the exploits of distant dogs and dead naturalists.

CHAMPION—October 3, 2006

        Some of the excitement around Champion this week was the annual visit of the West Plains Wagon Club, with Clifton Luna of Dora as wagon master.  This year the train passed through Champion around noon on Thursday.  It proceeded north up Cold Springs Road.  There were four covered wagons and quite a large number of people on horseback.  For residents along the road it was quite a treat to see the past parading by though the origin and destination of the train were unknown.  It brings to mind the difficulties of the lives of their forbearers and makes them grateful to live in an area where such happenings are still possible.  Perhaps there will be better reporting on this subject next year.

        Hopefully someone will do some good reporting on the Pioneer Descendants Gathering.  Several people were seen taking pictures, so there is a chance that Herald readers will be treated to some sights of the event soon.  Several stories have been told about the steep dirt road that leads down to the Yates Cemetery.  They include reports of a sign that said, “Check Brakes…End of the World!”  Now days our vehicles have the horsepower to climb out of the low spots, but the old days were a different story.

        Ms. Marion Conradi remarked the other day on the bulldozing of the old store at Evans.  Many knew it as the Coonts Store.  It has fallen into disrepair in recent years and was near collapse.  The store was originally built by Jesse Henson, older brother of Edgar Henson of Champion.  W.D. Coonts bought it and ran it for many years.

        An infrequent, but a most welcome visitor and double cousin from South Texas, recently passed on the information that every hour this year 300 people in the United States have a milestone birthday.  That does not diminish the celebrating of a number of Champion residents, however, and Fay (of Champion) and Kaye (of Marshfield), with family and friends, enjoyed a good time in Mtn. Grove at the Pizza Hut over the week end.  Their birthday is the 4^th of the month.  Dillon and Dakota Watts with their mother Linda Krider Watts came from Murphysbourough, Tennessee, to spend a few days helping their Grandmother enjoy her birthday.  There were trips to Silver Dollar City and to the Pioneer Descendents Gathering, as well as a lot of opportunity to help out on the farm.  Grandchildren are some of the excellent aspects of reaching the ‘milestone’ birthdays.

CHAMPION—September 25, 2006

        Some of the good news around Champion these days is that Mrs. Eva Powel is home and feeling better after a short and productive hospital stay last week.  Her friends and family are happy to see her out and about.

        To correct the errors of last week, those ladies named Louise who celebrated their birthdays did it on Thursday the 21^st.  Zoey Louise of Austin, TX had her party on Sunday with balloons and chocolate cup cakes.  Louise Hutchison had dinner out in West Plains and enjoyed the company of her husband, Wilburn, who is said to be feeling better.  She said that Ed Henson used to call her up at 6 a.m. every New Year’s Day to ask her if her refrigerator was running.  She would say it was running and he would say, “Well, you better catch it!” and then he would laugh like it was the first time he had pulled that prank.

        Pioneer Days are being held at the Yates Cemetery all day Saturday and Sunday the 30^th of September and the 1^st of October.  From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  There will be live music and old time exhibits and demonstrations.

        A nice letter has arrived from Mrs. Eva Lois Henson Phillips who now lives in Okalahoma City.  She moved to Cold Springs from Iowa in 1941 when she was six years old.  Her parents were Ezra and Sylvia Henson.  They were distant relatives of Ed Henson.  They bought their farm from Cleve and Lottie Riley.  She attended all eight grades of school at Champion.  Vivian Mallernee Robertson was her first grade teacher and Opal Proctor was her seventh and eight grade teacher.  Her brothers Royce, Kenneth and Randy also attended Champion school.  Eva said that she had some sad memories of the farm including five milk cows struck by lightening and killed.  (A large sycamore tree met a similar fate this last Thursday just a mile or so north of her old home place.  It was wildly twisted and blown apart.  About an inch and a half of rain came along with that bunch of weather so that part of it was good.)  In 1946, Sylvia Henson was writing the Champion Items for the Herald.  She made note of the birth of a set of twin girls into the Upshaw family on October 4, 1946. Those girls will have a special birthday this year!

        The 28th Brixey Reunion was held September the 9th at Wagon Wheel Park, Drury, Mo. Those attending were:  Sylvia, Joe, Audrey & Kayelun McClellan, Willow Springs, Mo., June Chambers, Willow Springs, Mo., Robert Dean Brixey, Norwood, Mo., James and Jana Brixey, Norwood, Mo., Shirley Brixey, Springfield, Mo., Ernie and Sheryl Williams, Battlefield, Mo., Jeff and Bev Schellenger, Douglass. Ks., Ralph and Arlene Mullens, Lincoln, Arkansas, James and Mary Gwen Brixey, St. Pauls, North Carolina, John and Jan Brixey, Rock Island, IL., Richard and Kaye Johnston, Marshfield, Mo., Robert and Sharon Upshaw, Vanzant, Mo., Elva Upshaw, Springfield, Mo., Reitha (Andrews) Forrest, Ava, Mo., Bob, Mary, and Bill Camdenton, Mo., Douglas, Susan, Tessa, Trace Chambers, Fayette, Mo., Calvin Chambers, Dora, Mo., Dwayne Brixey and Pat Cohn, Florida, Ruby Proctor, Mtn. Grove, Mo., Charles and Kay Brixey, Umberton, North Carolina, Charlie and Mary Brixey, Moline, IL., Pete and Bonnie Mullens Wichita, Ks., Pete Proctor Mtn. Grove, Mo., Lorene Johnston, Marshfield, Mo., Ed, Sonja, Zack, Allison Williams Seymour, Mo. Mae Lemons and son-in-law Mtn. Grove. Mo., Russell, Dean Upshaw Mtn. Grove, Mo., Lon, Fae, Krider Norwood, Mo., Teahna Oglesby and Eli Perry, Mo., Tanna, Foster Wiseman, Marshfield, Mo., Phoebe Ward, Marshfield, Mo., Staci Krider Norwood, Mo. and Dustin Cline Republic, Mo.

CHAMPION—September 18, 2006

        To correct the errors of last week, the real news is that Mrs.  Linda Cooley is recuperating at home from her knee replacement surgery.  The physical therapy is slow but progress is being made.

        The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Skyline VFD met at Henson’s store on Tuesday evening to discuss the recent picnic and to make plans for upcoming events.  Letters were signed by the attending members thanking the White River Electric Cooperative and the Ozark Correction Center for the support they provided.  The point was to recognize and acknowledge their help.  Subsequently a number of members recalled the significant contribution of two young ladies to the success of the concession stand this year.  Elizabeth and Lorren Mastrangelo worked tirelessly both evenings providing much needed back-up services in the cook shack.  Their efficiency and good humor made the event much less arduous for workers who have carried the load year in and year out.

        It is agreed that an infusion of youthful enthusiasm is a good thing.  Additional business included a phone conference with Mrs. Esther Wrinkles who reported on the success of the quilt drawing.  It was revealed that only one quilt has ever earned more for the fire department than the hand pieced beauty offered this year.  Ms. Wrinkles sold the lion’s share of the tickets as usual and so it is well noted that the experience and enthusiasm of seasoned members is also a very good thing.

        Ed Henson had a dog named Toby.  He was yellow–a stray dog that was around for a few years they say.  George Tom Proctor was a regular visitor to the store at that time and it was his habit to drink a carton of chocolate milk while he was visiting.  He always left a little in the box for the dog.  Toby would watch patiently until George Tom set the box down and then he would carefully take it out under a walnut tree to enjoy his portion in solitude.  He held the box between his front feet and licked the contents out through the little opening.  People say his eyes kind of glazed over while he savored his milk.  Toby just disappeared one day.  Nobody knows what became of him.

        Donald Krider is about to have a birthday.  He was born in 1927 but nobody seems to know how old he is.  He lives in Illinois and is the big brother of Vivian, Harley and Lonnie.  He keeps busy, they say, playing bluegrass music and singing for the senior citizens in his home town.  He also takes care of a house guest who is in his 90’s.  Youth is a relative thing and Donald has some relatives around these parts who wish him well.

        Two lovely ladies, each named Louise, will share a birthday on Wednesday the 21^st.  Zoey Louise of Austin, TX will be three years old and Louise Hutchison will be happy to celebrate her birthday with Wilburn who is said to be feeling better.

        Four tenths of an inch of wonderful rain fell into Betty Henson’s rain gage Sunday.  Anyone with items to be included in this column or stories about the old days around here is welcome to drop them off at the store.

CHAMPION—September 11, 2006

        It was good news to learn that Mrs. Glenda Cooley has been transferred from St. Louis’s Barnes Memorial Hospital to Springfield to a Rehabilitation Center for physical therapy for an anticipated stay of about two weeks.  Her recent knee replacement surgery is reported to have gone extremely well;  better than expected, they say.  Many are wishing her a speedy recovery.

        Wilburn Hutchison is making steady if slow progress toward feeling better.

        The Skyline VFD Ladies’ Auxiliary is planning to have its regular meeting at Henson’s store on Tuesday the 12^th.  It is very much hoped that Mrs. Esther Wrinkles will be sufficiently recovered to attend.  The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the recent picnic.  Members will assess the success of the various venues and make plans for future improvements.

        The Brixey Reunion was very well attended.  Forty-nine plus attended both Friday and Saturday at the Wagon Wheel Park in Drury.  They came from North Carolina, Kansas, Florida, Illinois, as well as Missouri and other undisclosed places.  They shared a lot of good food, fellowship, and photographs.

        There is a story about a hunting expedition undertaken by Ed Henson and his friend Oscar Krider that has circulated over the years.  Just how it happened has not been clearly explained (So if you know details, please fill us in), but the gist of it had Ed looking way down under a rock ledge just in time to see a skunk spray.  While there was some humor in the situation, it is said that Ed and his eye-sight suffered significantly for a time. Perhaps Oscar’s great grandsons will learn the full story one day.  Two of those charming young fellows, Foster and Eli, cut some lively capers for their grandparents over this last week end.  Again, anyone with a tale to share about the local old days is encouraged to do so.

CHAMPION—September 04, 2006

Saturday was a perfect day for the 24^th Annual Champion School Reunion.  About forty people met on the old school grounds under a huge walnut tree to enjoy an excellent covered dish dinner, some good music and the pleasure of renewing acquaintances.  Many of those attending were alumni of the Champion #47 School District which last held classes in 1959.  There were some notable and lamentable absences such as that of  Ms. Esther Wrinkles who is mending from an injury to her foot and Wilburn Hutchison who is said to be feeling better but not quite up to par yet.  A pleasant surprise, however, was the arrival of former teacher, Mr. Arthur Porter.  Mr. Porter who currently resides in Seymour, taught at Champion in 1958 and 1959.  It was a one room school house and he taught all subjects including music.  Three of his students, Harley Krider, “Punk” Hicks and Larry Wrinkles, sang together as a trio under Mr. Porter’s direction and it is said of them that their voices blended so beautifully as to bring tears to the eye.  Mr. Krider was the only one of the trio present at the reunion this year and he and Mr. Porter enjoyed lengthy reminiscences.

Ruby (Slat) Davis of Huntington Beach, California celebrated her 95^th birthday on August 31^st.  She was Goldia Krider’s sister and is the last one of her family of twelve brothers and sisters.  She is the aunt of Vivian (Krider) Floyd, Donald, Lonnie, and Harley Krider.  Several nieces and nephews flew out to California for the party.  She is a very special lady.  She was raised at Brushyknob and went to school there.  She left Missouri at an early age.  She had two sons and made California her home.

Anyone who has information for the Champion ‘items’ is welcome to write it up and leave it at Henson’s Store with Betty Henson.  The notebook is there ready for anyone to write down a story or a memory of Ed Henson to share.  He teased everybody equally whether stranger, new-comer, or old timer.  One spring when a fellow was in the store complaining about the whip-poor-wills being so noisy, Ed said, “Well, do they holler after dark up at your place.”  The fellow allowed that they did holler after dark and so much so that a person could hardly sleep.  “After dark?” Ed asked. “Why, yes, they do!” the man replied.  “That’s funny,” Ed said.  “Around here they holler ‘Whip poor Will! Whip poor Will!’ ”

The Brixey Reunion will be September 9^th at the Wagon Wheel Park at Drury.  It is hoped that all the family and friends can come visit and have lunch at noon.

CHAMPION—August 28, 2006

        News has reached the Champion community that its former long time resident, Mrs. Clifford Wrinkles, has suffered a mishap that has resulted in a plaster cast on her foot together with admonitions to stay off the foot for two weeks.  This will work a hardship on Ms. Wrinkles who is routinely more active than most.

        Harley and Barbara Krider are home at Champion from their Illinois residence and plan to stay through the Champion School Reunion to be held Saturday, September 2^nd.  They will tend to their property and enjoy visiting with family and friends.

        A notebook is being made available at the Henson store for the use of anyone who has a story to share about the late Ed Henson.  For example, he once told a young new-comer who was working up her first garden to be sure to wrap her seed potatoes in newspaper.  This, he explained, was to keep the dirt out of their eyes.  Mr. Henson’s humor and good natured friendliness are largely responsible for shaping the general pleasant character of the Champion community.

        Jackie Coonts was heard to say that the seed ticks are currently out in force.

        “If truth is once deserted, unity and peace will not last long,” said Matthew Henry.