Champion News

             The first daffodil booms began opening on the last day of February making Champions happy at the prospect of spring. Sunny days out in the garden lift spirits better than anything inside on screens possibly can. Honest hard work with our hands in the soil and good music in our heads is good medicine to stave off anxiousness, sadness, and worry about things over which we have no control. The Blum’s Farmers and Planters Almanac says that good days for starting seed beds will be the 7th, 8th, 17th, and 18th. That might be a good time to start some tomatoes and certainly a good time to plant pepper seeds. Deward’s granddaughter plans to grow a lot of peppers this year, but the Prominent Champion tells her not to bother because he will have a superabundance of them.
             It was an encouraging sight Wednesday afternoon up on Highway 76, just west of the old Coffman place, when an eagle in all its majesty soared away from the dead armadillo on the side of the road. Two of our favorite things are our beautiful bald eagles and dead armadillos. When we see an eagle, we often think of Marian Conradi who loved them, often including their pictures in her correspondence. Armadillos first moved into the United States in the 1850s from Mexico and finally made it into Missouri about forty years ago where they have been wreaking havoc on hay fields and yards. The Missouri Department of Conservation says it is okay to shoot them on your own property if they are causing damage.
             Skyline fifth grade student, Lotus Winter, had her birthday on March 1st. Fifth grader Ryanne Harvey and mandolin maven Dennis Shumate both celebrate on the 3rd of March. The birthday song was sung at the Vanzant Jam on Thursday in honor of Dennis and Ruth Collins who had her birthday back on February 24th. The 4th is for eighth grader Grace Rystad. Linda Heatherington and Krenna Long both around Norwood share their birthdays on the 5th with eighth grader Gabriel Castillo. Sue Murphy also plays the mandolin and sings with a strong clear voice. Her birthday is March 8th. In a chance encounter with her recently, she said she hopes to be back at the jam one of these days. Kay Dennis will party on the 9th. She enjoys a frequent swim over in Seymour. C.J. Castillo is a second grader with a birthday on March 11th. We remember Champion Geoff Metroplos and Cathy Odneal on March 12th. The were both farmers, hard-working people with lots of skills, both guitar players.  Geoff was a master at whatever he laid his hand to. Cathie was undaunted by mechanical tractor problems and worked them out herself. We remember L.R. Johnston on the 13th and miss him and his tenor banjo at the Vanzant Jam. He was a Champion who loved the old songs and passed that love along to more than one aspiring musician. Trinity Castillo, a sixth-grade student at Skyline has her birthday on the 13th. We celebrated our friends and families on their birthdays and remember dear ones who have passed on.
            Dawn Henson down in Houston, Texas says she thinks their winter is over. It was close to 80 degrees when she was writing. She and Hovey were sad to hear of the passing of Beverly Barnhart and of Gary Proctor and had hoped their condolences had been received. She also said that they were entertaining the idea of trying to make it to Mountain Grove in July for the reunion. She did not know if it would be possible. A favorite Champion musician, far across the wide ocean to the east, says to do what you can do now so you can do what you can do later on, or more eloquent words to that effect. We shall endeavor not to rule out possibilities while we continue to proceed with caution, consciousness, determination and empathy as Champions–Looking on the Bright Side!

                 While farmers and merchants, truck drivers, mail carriers, health care professionals and others doing important and necessary work continued doing what needed to be done, some Old Champions were hold up warm and cozy during the week of extreme weather. They watched old movies and opened boxes of forgotten memorabilia, worked on unfinished projects, started new projects, wrote letters and did a lot of cooking and eating. Lucky are those snowbound with people they like. The days seem t pass slowly. When you live way out in the country, you can turn the music up as loud as you want. While inconvenient, the days were not unpleasant.
The rising temperatures are raising spirits. Sunday in the 60s found adventurers out on their side-by-sides, buggies and four-wheelers exploring beautiful country lanes, muddy already but not nearly as muddy as the will be when the thaw is complete. Dee mud stories of old will likely be told again around the old wood stove as rain is expected on Wednesday. Back in the late 1970s a county gravel truck was mired down on Cold Springs Road in the aftermath of a Valentines’ Day party just after a thaw from a deep snow and a little rain. The truck was said to have just wallowed over on its side.
               Saturday, March 1st, Sue’s Greenhouse will open for the spring season. It is a warming notion. She has been working since December getting everything ready. She has her seeds ready and has added some additional herb seeds to her stock. In a couple of weeks, she will have berry bushes and perhaps some fruit trees. A stroll through the greenhouse is aromatherapy and frequently the chance to visit with friends who are there for the same reason.
Edie, over at L and E Organic Farm has also started lots of seedlings and has enormous leaves of her Indian Green Malbar spinach already providing wonderful salads for herself and her handsome honey, Lee. Edie is an herbalist who makes natural remedies and a wonderful tonic called Super Power. Lee is a beekeeper producing Lee’s Bees’ Honey, in addition to being an excellent luthier. He has repaired and donated instruments to the Skyline School Guitar class taught by Cheyenne McIntosh. We celebrate garden goodies, honey, music and the promise of spring in just 27 days.
               Saturday, March 22, 2025, there will be a pie supper to raise funds to keep the Vanzant Community Building doors open and operating. Pulled pork and other food will be available before the auction begins. Doors open at 5 pm with the auction beginning at 6 pm. There has not been a fundraiser for the community building since 2011. Funds have run out. This has been the accommodating venue for many benefits–benefits for victims of house fires and heath issues, as well as birthday celebrations and celebrations of life. It is a polling place and a place for politicians to rally. The Thursday night Vanzant Bluegrass Jam every week and the Vanzant Picnic every summer are some of the glue that connects Ava, Mountain Grove, Norwood, Willow Springs, Dora, Prior, Champion, Gentryville and probably Spotted Hong and other sweet spots. Come together to help keep a part of the history of our community alive and thriving! It is a pie supper, so maybe Kaitlyn McConnell will be there. Her Ozark Pie Project is producing a cookbook soon. She may have some of Esther’s and Teresa’s recipes that brought substantial auction money for many good causes over the years.
                Sunday marked the anniversary of the day the flag was raised on Iwo Jima in 1945. The American victory there significantly weakened the Japanese early warning system and helped hasten the end of World War Two. The country was allied with Great Britian and the Soviet Union at that time. Times have changed and some of us old folks recall the warning of Nakita Khrushchev way back in 1956. Look it up and look up to enjoy these beautiful blue skies and the optimism of Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

               The buzzards are back. Surely that is a harbinger of spring. They are beautiful at a distance with their soaring flight–not so pretty up close, but that is subjective. They have their work to do and it is an important service they provide. Daffodils are poking up bright green through the brown grass and that gives us more optimism. Champions had half a dozen visiting robins on Sunday, bobbing along through the garden. They give is more hope, which they say springs eternal.
                Last Friday’s Valentine celebration, replete with fresh flowers and chocolate, included wonderful declarations of love. One of those borrowed from Roger Miller goes: “Roses are red; violets are purple. I love you and maple surpel.” Andrew Kuster operates Tri County Drone LLC, a very interesting enterprise. He celebrates his birthday on Valentine’s Day. Douglas County historian Cinita Brown shares her birthday on the 15th with Skyline School’s prekindergartner Everett Nelson. The 17th is for Linda Clark who photographs the moon through the threes. The 18th has Skyline students fourth grader Rayleigh Harvey, and second grader Perry Banks celebrating birthdays. That day is also a good one for Pete Proctor and Madelyn Boehs. On the 19th we remember Champion Ruby Proctor and dear friend, Trish Davis. Mike Powers shares his big day on the 20th with Skyline prekindergarten Jaxon Farris and fourth grader Jaylee Sudderth. Joanna Bell will be celebrated on the 21st and the 23rd is for Champion Stacy Krider Kline, now living in Tennessee. The 24th is for super gardener, Arnie Ahlstedt. Skyline first grade student Zachary Harvey’s birthday is on the 28th. Frankie Proctor will not have a birthday this year because our calendar does not have February 29th on it. Happy Birthday to all of you!
                Saturday had Champions around the old wood stove talking about the cutest grandbabies in the world, donkeys, and the great achievement of Champion archer Jacob Brixey. Don and Reba Bishop made a most welcome appearance. Downsizing and disposing of a lifetime of accumulated and inherited treasures was a topic of discussion–an onerous task. Cold weather has given some old Champions time to get started. One opened a box of old papers to find a “Life ” magazine from May 20, 1946. It is a little ragged around the edges, but complete. It cost ten cents. A story about a boy lifting a calf every day for 201 days was illustrated with two pages of pictures. The calf weighed 75 pounds to start with and 365 pounds when he lifted her for the last time. Stories about the ‘black market” and the coal strike that was halted after the U.S. economy started to shut down were some of the serious topics along with a report that Nazi women who had been guards in the concentration camps, were in prison gaining weight. Politis and world events seem very much like what we are seeing today. It is a big magazine with lots of colorful advertising and a story about a nine-year-old boy who had swallowed eighteen glass marbles. The x-ray picture took up most of the page. The fashion of the day was elegant and modest by today’s standards. Downsizing and disposing of treasures might be hampered by interesting finds. A week’s worth of seriously cold weather will be well spent. Stay inside if you can and reminisce
                    Monday, we celebrated the birthday of George Washington, now the federal holiday called Presidents’ Day.
We might wonder what George would have to say about these days. Some of his famous quotes are: “It is far better to be alone, than to be in bad company.” “Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.” “There is nothing which van better deserve your patronage than the promotion of science and literature. Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.” We are happy here in Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

             Wednesday at Champion was another of those interesting days. A couple celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary had enjoyed a few days at the River of Life cabins over in Dora and on their way home, some four or five hours away, stopped in to sit around the stove and visit. They had heard about Champion from Kaitlyn McConnell at Ozarks Alive. Steve and Sharon Schlichting are big bluegrass fans and enjoy a jam anytime they can find one. Steve does not play, but he has a guitar and a mandolin made from a walnut tree that grew on his family farm. He is a retired truck driver and a coon hunter with a lot of stories to tell. He said his own Mother, when asked about his pedigree, said, “He’s half hound dog and half Indian. If he isn’t sitting on his ass howling about something, he’s on the warpath.”
                Angela McKay teaches sixth and seventh grade students at our wonderful Skyline R2 School. He birthday was on Thursday. She said it had been a lovely day with cards and singing from her students. “My son-in-law baked me a strawberry shortcake! My favorite!” More good news comes as Champion, Jacob Brixey has qualified for state in his archery tournament in Mt. Grove on Saturday with some great scores. Calvin Chambers did a nine-mile ride on Saturday with eleven of his friends. He said they did not see the sun, but their spirits were not dampened.
               Chief’s fans may have their spirits dampened a little, but they will get over it. Sports have been a good diversion from calamitous world events. Since the future is murky at best, we can look backward for some inspiration. Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.” He also said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Theodore Roosevelt said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Another president said, “The best form of government is that which is most likely to prevent the greatest sum of evil.” Another one said, “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.” Ideas are plentiful in Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

                  If Wilbur, our Champion groundhog, had been up early on Sunday morning he would not have seen his shadow and so farmers could figure it to be safe to begin plowing and planting. Had he slept a little later, he would definitely have seen his shadow and so would return to nap again for six weeks. Our wonderful highspeed internet (Thank you White River Connect!) tells us that the week ending in Valentines’ Day will be cold, wet and snowy, thereafter we may expect mild weather leading up to spring. Last week’s ice is now serious mud with some of the same kind of exciting slipping and sliding on our much-traveled country lanes that the ice gave us. The General reported, “Some fool attempting to bypass the road closure sign got stuck in my front yard. He was caught red-handed and received an immediate firm lecture.” He went on to say that after leaving it there for a couple of days he was able t shovel it out. farmers with big equipment were seen harvesting gravel from the great banks of it deposited during the election day flood. The gravel may go to fill mudholes and ruts, and if so, bravo!
                   February birthdays to celebrate include Skyline seventh grader Addison Carroll on the 1st along with Champion Glen Cooley, Champion grandson Zack Alexander, and Sarah Cloud. Angie Heffern, Connie Grand, Catherine Mallernee and Charlene Dupree all celebrate on the 2nd. The 2nd is also the day we remember our friend Judy Sharon. We miss her. Denlow’s premier cattle farmer has the 3rd for his party. The November flood deposited great sandbanks on some of his fields and took down lots of fences. Farmers are the hardworking people who keep us fed. The Cowboy celebrates on the 7th. He is a fan of ‘The Youn and the Restless’ and has been since before he stopped getting on horses. Skyline’s prekindergartner Ember Leigh Miller has the 8th for her big day and Jonas Makenzie, a fourth grader, has the 9th for his. Happy birthday to all of you.
                     Skyline students are enjoying Super Bowl Send-Off Spirit Week. The Super Bowl will offer some good diversion from current events. Until then Cathie Alsup Reilly might suggest a You Tube episode of “Twin Chefs Milkshakes.” Enjoy watching brotherly love in action along with competitiveness, camaraderie and humor as they make brownies, or meatloaf, or pings in a blanket. It is like turning off the news and visiting with your favorite uncles. Thank you, Cathie.
                    We started this week on Monday with a trip to the Denlow Cemetery to say goodbye to Larry Wrinkles, raised in Champion, son of Clifford and Esther Wrinkles. Family, friends and neighbors gathered on that hillside on an unusually warm and beautiful February day to bid a Champion farewell. On Friday we will go there again to remember Beverly Barnhart, married to Alvin for 63 years. We miss our friends and neighbors who have been with us as Champions–Looking on the Bright Side!

                       Champions were happy to end last week with burns’ Night on Saturday and to start the new week with the KC Chifs putting on their CHAMPIONS t-shirts after the big game with the Buffalo Bills.
                       On Saturday Robert Burns (January 25, 1759–July 21, 1796) was remembered for sayings like “The best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” and “O, wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us!” not to mention “Should old acquaintance be forgot?” We Champions remember well our many old acquaintances and speak of them often around the same old wood stove where we once visited with them. On Wednesday the talk was of the trio of singers that included Champions Harley Krider, Larry Wrinkles and Punk (Eldridge) Hicks. There may be a recording of them somewhere. Everyone who remembers them says they were wonderful. Arthur Porter taught them their sweet harmonies and in later years when he was ailing, these fellows went to see him and ang for him again. We miss Harley who passed away just after his 78th birthday back in 2023. Larry is still over in the east end of the county aggravating Teresa. Wes Lambert came for a spell on Wednesday and said as far as he knew Punk was in a nursing home out in Oregon somewhere. Wes also reported that Charlie Lambert was doing ok. Veronica had brought him to Champion a couple of weeks before. But back to Burns’ Night, “We’ll drink a cup of kindness yet for Auld Lang Syne.”
                        A favorite part of the exciting football game was the first few seconds after it was all over. Seeing rivals embracing each other, consoling and celebrating each other with love and respect is heartening. Some of them may be friends, may have been on the same team together at some point or alumni of the same school or got to know each other by reputation. That they leave the frenzied aggression of the game behind when the final whistle blows reminds fans that they are all players–gladiators. The smiles, relief and resignation mixed with the crown noise and confetti seemed to have them all unified. Examples of this kind of genuine sportsmanship could serve us well in our social and political arenas. It is nice to see somewhere, even for just a few seconds on our televisions.
                      Vanzant’s Jam was a doozy on Thursday, much enhanced by Kelly Hines. He shared advanced notice of the HOBA festival coming up in June. He played an excellent rendition of “An Old Spinning Wheel” on the banjo. He has also shared the love of bluegrass with Cheyenne Mcintoshes’ music students at Skyline School. He and Alan Strickland, Tyler Chatham, Gene Collins and Sharry Lovan, all better known as Stringed Union make the visit to Skyline every year. Sharry grew up in a gospel music family and once said that they had sun in every little church in this whole part of the world. She has a a glamorous chef job at an elegant hunting resort while being a doting grandmother, a motorcycle enthusiast and at the same time dealing with significant health issues. She is another of the strong Champion women who keeps things going. Her Champion friends wish her well and speedy recovery. There were fifteen in the music circle at Vanzant that night and a score or more soaking up the music on the sidelines. The six o’clock potluck is a family dinner every week with everyone’s favorite dishes and the joy of sitting at the table with friends. Everyone is welcome. With all the mayhem and suffering going on all around the world, joy is a precious commodity. One says, “Defiant joy is not only necessary, it’s also the only flavor of joy available.” Manufacture you on flavor of joy if you can. Love and gratitude are the big watch words in Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!

                   Champion’s week started with a snow blanket and ended with some prodigious mud. McClurg’s own Tom Peters came over Wednesday to see what the Bright Side was all about. We hope he will be a regular visitor, maybe bringing an instrument to play. He has kept the McClurg Jam going for several years now and seems to enjoy it. He is originally from Illinois but has made a good home in these parts for some while and is helping to carry on some valuable traditions.
                  Thursday saw a very welcome ‘first footer’ at the door. Caio Cesar Marcelino, a contractor with the White River Connect folks, came to install the wonderfully high-speed internet for some old folks who have been struggling with the BS for years. The ‘first footer’ gift of Jalapeno Jelly made him smile. He said he thought about his Monther in Brazil. She loves to make jams and jellies, but jalapeno is new to him. He said there are many wonderful fruits growing where his Mother lives and she makes excellent use of them. He agrees that this highspeed internet helps us stay connected with oved ones, but that it does not replace their hugs. He is a guitar player who says he knows a few chords. He concurs that music is good medicine and is appreciative of the important role it plays in bringing people together. He lives over around Branson so most likely he will have a jam to join. Hopefully, he will find one like the Vanzant Jam, where there were thirteen in the music circle Thursday and smiles all around the room. There are plenty of reasons to be happy.
                    Champions gathered in numbers on Saturday to celebrate the birthday of arguably the hardest working woman in Champion. Many friends and neighbors shared the cakes brought by Ethel Leach and Reba Bishop and many other tasty treats. Mike O’Brian came with Kaitly McConnell, who was just back from Spain. She brought a bunch of tiny cornmeal pecan pies for our enjoyment. She and Mike are always welcome visitors. David Richardson shared some memories with a Champion back when he was a young curly headed policeman, and she was walking the streets of Mountain Grove with a mail bag. They are both grandparents now. Time flies. David enjoyed the party but had to leave early to make it to a music jam in Hartville as part of the Whetstone Band. There were many expressions of appreciation for Betty and all that she does for the community.
                   Mrs. Henson shares her birthday on the 19th with J.c. Owsley, a Champion up in Cross Timbers. The 20th is for Blaine’s grandma Sharon Woods and for Alvan Barnhart. Alvin was at the party Saturday sharing news of Beverly’s declining health. Good thoughts go to Beverly. Skyline fifth grade student Paxton Elgie shares his birthday with wild woman Brenda Coffman Massey. Eighth grader Jersey Hall shares a birthday with seventh grader Blake McIntosh on the 24th. The Cowboy’s sweetheart, Joyce Coonts, enjoys the 26th for her big day and Skyline alumnus Kay Alexander will party on the 7th. We remember fondly Dwight Collins on his birthday on the 29th. Sherry Bennett’s daughter Loneda and James Brixey were both born on January 30th. Jacob Brixey just celebrated his 15th birthday in the first Archery tournament of the season. Saturday’s celebrations ended with another KC Chiefs’ victory.
                   This week starts with brutally cold weather. It is particularly hard on farmers and others who have to be out in it. Thank you for all you do for the rest of us and be safe. It just takes a second for something serious to happen. We cannot imagine what all may happen in the near and distant future, but we can nurture some joy and optimism, being grateful for our blessings and hopeful like Champions–Looking on the Bright Side!