Champion News

Steve Moody on stage and the Veterans from the American Legion Post 30 in Mountain Grove, kicking off
the Holt 4-H Picnic with the National Anthem and the presentation of the Colors.

The longest lunar eclipse of the century was visible in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Africa and Asia and the final stages were visible in parts of South America, but not in Champion or any part of North America. The moon, however, shown in its full splendor between the clouds and after they had dissipated and moved on. Mars the Red Planet glowed–a brilliant red dot. Celestial events offer us an expanded perspective–a good thing. Marvelous weather made for a great Up and At It 4-H Holt Picnic. Sherry Bennet, Sharry Lovan, David Vaughn Jr. and Pete Proctor posted pictures and reports on the internet for those who were unable to attend–great music, great food, games with good friends and neighbors—-all for a good cause. The young folks of the 4-H Club pledge: “My Head to do clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, my Health to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world.”

Sonja Hodges is a Health Educator with the Douglas County Health Department. She was at Henson’s Store on Friday doing blood pressure screenings and promoting a program to help prevent type 2 diabetes. Risk factors for people 45 years old and older are: being overweight, having a family history of type 2 diabetes, being physically active fewer than three times a week, or having had gestational diabetes or having given birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds. The health department is offering a free Prevent T2 program. Contact DCHD at 417-683-4174 for more information. Sonja says having prediabetes means your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. This raises your risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. It is not just a matter of having better quality of life—feeling better, but the financial costs are significant to you and to your overall community.

Poverty charges interest. If you cannot pay to clean your teeth, next year pay for a root canal. If you cannot pay for a new mattress, next year perhaps you can pay for back surgery. Low wages are not good for anyone. The statutory measure, Proposition A (Right to Work) is on the ballot because hundreds of thousands of people in Missouri signed a petition to give voters a choice in the matter. There is some evidence of economic advantage in right to work states. But evidence is lacking that right to work, rather than other factors, is the cause. The whole point of the bill is to diminish permanently the power of unions. There is no evidence what-so-ever that unions pose a threat to the people of the state of Missouri. They only pose a threat to the profits of greedy corporations. Unions have always been a benefactor for every worker in the state, regardless of union affiliation. Work place safety, hourly wages, benefits, 40-hour work week, paid vacation, fair bidding and a long list of positive working conditions all come directly from collective bargaining by strong worker unions. The ballot language is designed to be confusing. The gist of it is if you own a helicopter, this bill is for you. If you cannot afford a helicopter then you cannot afford to pass this bill. President Ronald Regan said, “Where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost.” One Old Champion has new-found appreciation for the gentleman, a union member and former union president.

Cathy and Bonnie

Cathy Odneal did not know if she would be able to stay for the whole evening at the Vanzant Jam on Thursday, but she did. After her fancy procedure up at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, she was cautioned to ‘take it easy’ for a while. She is following directions, but she was ready to be out among friends again and to enjoy the music. She said she left feeling better. That seems to be the case for many of us. Music has healing properties and the wonderful pot-luck is the best meal of the week for a number of bachelors. Supper is at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7. Everyone is welcome. Bring your acoustic instruments and your singing voice and have some wholesome fun at the Vanzant Community Building every Thursday.

The summer picnic season is on. We have just enjoyed the Vanzant Picnic and the Holt 4-H Picnic and now the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Picnic is coming up on the 10th and 11th of August. Merchants are already setting aside nice things to share for door prizes. The picnic grounds are being groomed and excitement is building. In addition to providing some great family activity and entertainment, the proceeds from the picnic go toward operating expenses of the fire department. This is a vital organization for the community. Our firefighters are all trained first responders. They protect our homes and property and are there for us when we have serious health issues or accidents. The picnic is a great way to show your support and appreciation for our volunteers. They are all Champions.

Gardeners are busy with the harvest. Beans and black-eyed peas are going in the jars. The garlic braids are hanging and herbs drying against the winter when they will help us remember glorious summer. A few beautiful cool days have had some old folks out planting for a fall harvest…more cucumbers and squash. Perhaps some beets and greens can go in soon. Meanwhile, a big sliced tomato on the table at lunch is a wonderful treat. Cool weather has encouraged weeding that might otherwise have gone undone or have been done under duress. The garden always has some chore ready to be done.

School will be starting again soon. Hopes are that teachers and staff have all had a good break and are ready to get back to the important task of educating our young people. We need bright, critical thinkers to take over. Soon enough they will be running the world, a very different world than the one where we old retired people grew up. Thanks to the hard work and caring of our education professionals, they stand a pretty good chance of salvaging some of the messes we have made. The ‘Save a Label’ program is still going on. All those bar-codes from the Best Choice and Always Save grocery products can be redeemed for cash that gets put to good use in our little school. Most of the General Mills products have Box Tops for Education coupons that are worth $.10 each. Just collect them and the bar-codes and drop them by the school or send them in the mail: Box Tops, Skyline R2 School, Rt. 72 Box 486, Norwood, MO 65717.

Happy birthday to Clark Shannon on August 3rd. Some of his friends call him Sparky behind his back. In the U.S. there are about 10,800 births per day. Jim Reeves sang, “Welcome to my world. Won’t you come on in. Miracles, I guess, still happen now and then” in Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!

A very tidy Champion garden!

It was a hot game of ‘burn out’ on the Champion Square Wednesday.

What a joy it is to gather with old friends and new ones to celebrate the life of a mutual friend. Neither a birthday party nor a wake, it was just a party in acknowledgement of what good friendship means. In his presence, friends regaled him and each other with particulars of adventures they had shared and with the many instances when he was exactly the help that was needed. He has always been generous with his time and his many skills, as well as his excellent good humor and kindness. All of that goes along with a wide streak of orneriness and a keen wit. When it comes right down to it, we all have a limited time here and we never know when it is going to be over. A full life full of friends is worth rejoicing anywhere along the path. Mr. Jones—a Champion!

The tragedy on Table Rock Lake breaks our hearts for those who have lost loved ones and makes us more keenly aware of the preciousness of our own family and friends.

School will be starting again soon. Summer is slipping away. Skyline’s teacher, Mr. Prock, celebrated his birthday on July 20th. Eighth grade student, Grace Crawford, celebrates on the 25th. Teegan Cannucci, in the 5th grade, shares her birthday on the 27th with 4th grader, Jaci Borders. Teacher, Mrs. Sartor, celebrates on the 29th and 1st grader, Eugene Elliot, has his day on the 30th. Other birthdays include those of Ethan Alexander and Zee Heffern who had their observances on the 19th. John Webber parties on the 25th and probably other times as well. Roberta, the beautiful maker of pies and great music, will have that song sung to her on Thursday, though her birthday is on the 28th. Karen Ross, our intrepid Rt. 72 mail carrier, will have her birthday off from work on Sunday the 29th. Elitta January was born August 1, 1938 and passed away on September 24, 2011. Her friends remember her well and speak of her often. Talented, attractive, and bright Champion grandson, Seamus Alexander, has his birthday on August 2nd. The third is for an old boy, R.D., who will be 66! Like the old boy says, “Everybody’s got to be somewhere.” He has breakfast with important people on a regular basis and is likely to spin yarns based in local history. For example, he said that Uncle Hutch had recently put new windows in a rent house when he got news that the house had burned. “My windows too?” he said. Sweet Lena’s infant brother had been passed through the window to safety and there was no loss of life. That must have been seventy years ago, more or less. My, how time flies!

To be joyful in the struggle is an admonition well expressed. In a time when anti-intellectualism and anti-science run rampant with truth decay, it is a challenge to stay positive. With ample information available at our fingertips, it is more import than ever to apply the concepts of critical thinking, i.e. reasoning and logic to new or unfamiliar ideas, opinion, and situations. Child psychologists say that critical thinking is integral to children’s mental growth as it makes them differentiate right from wrong. It enables them to remain clear, accurate and relevant while mulling over an issue. Fact is something that has actual existence—a piece of information presented as having objective reality. Mathew Henry was quoted in the first issue of The Champion News on August 28, 2006. “If truth is once deserted, unity and peace will not last long.” Henry was born in 1662. His ‘Complete Commentary on the Bible’ is available on-line. The free press is called The Fourth Estate in reference to its de facto position as an additional check on executive, legislative and judicial powers. It is not a part of the government, but it serves a regulatory purpose on both private and public enterprise. Truth still struggles to survive amid blurred reality. As for unity and peace, they may recover with some rehabilitation. Champions are compulsively optimistic. Your vote matters. If it did not, there would be no effort to suppress it. Billionaires would not try to buy it and other countries would not try to hack it. Use it August 7th and every chance you get.

Wednesday was one of those delightful summer days—not too hot—not too humid. The horseshoe pitch was still too muddy for action after the recent rains. Yet, the wide veranda at the Recreation of the Historic Emporium was full to capacity as spectators enjoyed the spectacle of a couple of “boys of summer” playing “burn-out” on the square. Baseball is said to be the most sophisticated of all the gladiator sports. It might be a stretch to call either of these fellows ‘sophisticated,’ but they have both traveled extensively and seem to have well developed world views, albeit different ones. Baseball is a fine American pastime. Gardening is another. Like fishing, gardening is a perpetual reason for optimism. It is also a gamble that the hard work will pay off before the bugs or weather or rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs or deer get the harvest. As gardeners get older, the paths in the garden get wider and the beds get narrower. Still, every little bit of home-grown food is nourishing in ways that cannot be replicated in grocery store food. Canning kettles and pressure cookers are already getting a work out. It is a blessing to get to live the country life.

The Vanzant Bluegrass Jam was another delightful evening. Having missed the week before due to the picnic, musicians were ready to jam. It was a real treat to see Wilma Hutchison in the company of the fair Lena Wagner. Sitting there with Janet Johnston, they were like a trio of high school girls–their laughter its own music. The duo of Bobbie and Mary Joe almost had to be called down for their raucous enjoyment. Bob Berry warned them that they would wind up in The Champion News. That did not seem to be any kind of deterrent for their jubilant behavior. A new study has discovered that music therapy reduces depression and raises self-esteem in children and adolescents with behavioral and emotional problems. Imagine what it can do for the rest of us! An old song says, “’Oh where are you going?’ said the soldier so free. ‘I’m going to the river. It’s sparkling for me. I’m going to the river down by that great spring just to watch the water glide and hear the nightingale sing.’” Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Janet Johnston, Wilma Hutchison, and Lena Wagner–“Girls just want to have fun.”

The Vanzant Picnic got off to a good start Friday.

The Champion News subscribes to an email from Merriam-Webster called Word of the Day. On July 2nd the word was ‘canicular.’ It means of or relating to the period between early July and early September when hot weather occurs in the northern hemisphere. The canicular season has been tempered by sudden showers. One visited the Vanzant Picnic on Saturday evening. The Prominent Champion Girlfriend, ring-toss volunteer said, “It was a loving feeling having the rain come down and people still wanting to play the game, and, yep, we let them. We stopped playing when the lightning came and the picnic was called off at 9 PM. I was wishing for nice slow, steady rain overnight and cooler temperatures.” The heat did not appreciably impact the fun quotient at the picnic on Friday either. Pete (Lyman) Proctor was there with the American Legion Post 30. They presented the Colors at the singing of the National Anthem. Pete asked that all the Veterans in the crowd raise their hands. It is inspiring to see how many of our friends and neighbors have stepped up to serve. He said, “Thank you for your service and welcome home.” There was a great deal of welcoming as old friends reunited to catch up on their news, to issue their health reports, and to compare the merits and talents of their respective grandchildren. Teresa Wrinkles had help in the bingo parlor and did a lively business. Brenda Coffman Massey kept her great smile beaming from behind the steaming funnel cake cauldron. All the hardworking volunteers seemed to be having as much fun as the rest of us. With the good food, great music and all the drawings and games, these picnics are canicular high spots.

Sweethearts, Savanna and Travis

Elizabeth Bock and River Stillwood whooping it up.

Dean knows all the words to all the songs!

Gardeners are pleased with the little pop-up showers when they linger a little while over the summer crops. It is preferable that they come with not too much wind, as it is a chore to stand the corn back up and it beginning to ear. Those luscious early crop cucumbers are about over now and little replacement plants are ready to go in the ground. There are a number of crops that can be planted in late July that will have time to yield. Look on the seed packet to see how many days to maturity and decide. It seems that the garden produces more than food. There is some comfort that goes along with the exercise. In times such as these it is pleasant to be doing some simple, basic chores. It is quiet except for the raucous song birds early in the morning.

Ruth Fish Collins and granddaughters

Good news comes from Elmwood, Illinois. Native Champion, Harley Krider, is home from a hospital stay where he had an overhaul on his heart. Reports are that he is making a good recovery. He is receiving calls and restoring his sense of humor. Champion neighbor, Cathy Odneal is also home again after a similar journey. She was in St. Louis at the Barnes hospital for a fancy procedure. She says that not moving around for a few days in a row really takes a toll on a person’s strength. Her friends know that she will do all the hard work it will take get strong again. Their Champion friends and family wish them good luck in their healing processes. They have good support systems and Cathy was quick to say the Barnes nurses and staff were all wonderful to her. Everyone has or knows someone who has significant health issues. It is part of that phenomenon known as the ‘swift passage of time.’ Good luck to all of us. Tina is one of the nurses who work for the Douglas County Health Department. She will be in Champion from 8:30 to 10:30 Friday morning, July 27th doing blood pressure checks and blood sugar tests. She will be there the last Friday of every month. It is a great service to the community—helping us take care of our health. Champion!

The General said, “Everybody had a good time at the 2018 Vanzant Picnic, but some may not remember.”

A person can go on-line or stop at the court house to see a sample ballot for the August 7th primary elections. It is good to have the chance to read those propositions in advance. They are often written in such a way as to make you think you are voting one way when, in fact, you may be voting against your real choice. It is a privilege to vote—to participate in our democracy. Opinions are like ‘noses,’ they say, everybody has one. Back in 1987, President Ronald Regan spoke about the Fairness Doctrine of 1949, which required the nation’s radio and television stations to “afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance.” He said, “This type of content-based regulation by the federal government is, in my judgement, antagonistic to the freedom of expression guaranteed by the First Amendment.” Now days, an Old Champion woman, who has for decades been apt to spit on her own kitchen floor at the very mention of his name, finds him almost reasonable. His repeal of the Fairness Doctrine, however, has put us in the awkward position of being bombarded by bias. It is reminiscent of the stark description of cult brainwashing. We cherry pick information to support our preconceived versions of “truth.” When it comes right down to it, my prejudices are better than your prejudices.

Bristow, Oklahoma’s Tom Paxton wrote the song “My Dog’s Bigger Than Your Dog.” He was a fan of Woody Guthrie, who wrote many good songs that seem applicable today. Woody died in 1967. On the 50th anniversary of his passing his daughter, Nora Guthrie, said she had been surrounded by her father’s songs for her entire life. She listed a few of the teachings that his songs have imparted: “We belong to the family of man. We are against racial injustices. We are against social injustices. We are against greed. Fight fascism. We support and respect the workers in the world who built this world, and everyone has or should have, a good job of work to do. Learn history. Children are to be respected, and adults could learn a lot from children. True love makes you want to be a better person. True love makes you want to jump up in the morning and do something good. Each person is unique and each individual has something wonderful to offer. Our religion is so big that no one is excluded from it, and no one can get out of it! Learn as much as you can about the world. Give as much as you can to others.” Nora says the list goes on. The song that comes first to mind when we think of Woody Guthrie is “This Land is Your Land.” The last verse says, “In the squares of the city—In the shadow of the steeple—Near the relief office—I see my people –And some are grumblin’ and some are wonderin’—If this land’s still made for you and me.” Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Picnic Fun
Front row smiling:  Linda Clark, Barbara Anderson, Kenneth Anderson
Behind them…Upshaw brothers David, Dean, and Dailey

Felix Parsons at 6 months.

It was a grand birthday celebration for the Nation last week. The crowd swelled to near fifty over at the Brush Creek Farm where The General cranked home-made ice-cream until everyone had his fill. Birthdays which have slipped by The Champion News include that of Beverly Barnhart, who celebrated with Alvin on July 2nd. That was also the birthday of Skyline 3rd grade student, Jasmine Hutson. Virginia Canada, who now lives closer to us up in Columbia had her special day on the 5th. The Dalai Lama was seen on-line celebrating his birthday with Willie Nelson on the 6th. Janet Burns was probably partying that day as well. Young Felix Parsons was six months old on the 6th. He weighs over 17 pounds now and is one of those very young people who seem to have the wisdom of all the ages in his eyes. Walter Darrell Haden was born July 6, 1931. He passed away in 2014, and his friends wonder just what kind of song he would be able to write today, considering that his tune, “All the Late News From the Courthouse,” created such a stir in Ava that it was banned from the radio back in the day. Kruz Kutz has a great grandmother who lives on Cold Springs Road. His birthday is the 7th of July. That happy birthday song resounded at the Vanzant Jam on Thursday for JoAnn Newberry, celebrating on the 9th. Skyline kindergarten student, Bentlee Seaborn has a birthday on the 10th and second grader, Jude Hicks will have his birthday on Bastille Day, July 14th. Down in Texas, the fair Sophia Zappler will be 16 on the 13th. Your Champion friends and family wish all of you a Happy Birthday and a great year ahead.

Lucas on the keyboard.

Some thought that the Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival would decimate the music circle at Vanzant Thursday, but it proved not to be the case. While a number of regulars were absent, newcomers and musicians, seldom seen, filled in the ring nicely. A ten year old keyboard player named Lucas from Chandler, Arizona was a big hit. He is the grandson of J.P. and Rosa Roy of Drury. He played a lively and complicated piece on his Yamaha electric keyboard which impressed even the most accomplished musicians in the house. Young Thomas Jarnagin had a busy day and was passed out cold in his Mother’s arms until his Dad, Todd, sang, “You are My Sunshine.” That woke him up, but before long the two year old was ready for bed and called it an early night. His Granddad enjoyed the visit. He had been looking forward to it for a long time and will fairly well tell you that Thomas is the world’s best grandson. Dwayne Collins was pretty happy to be in the presence of his twin granddaughters. They will be in the neighborhood for a few weeks, making the whole place prettier. They love to hear their beautiful Grandmother sing. It is most encouraging to see young people enjoying and participating in the traditional music of this part of the world. Talented young folks like Dave Bean, Bo Parker, Elias ‘Banjo,’ and Darrius of Cabool, all of whom played that night, will carry it forward and keep the music going. Good cooks and good neighbors will keep the potluck supper going as well as the fellowship.

Young Thomas in his Mother’s arms.

Good news comes from Barb Krider up in Elmwood, Illinois: “Harley had a great day yesterday. Tubes out. Walking and talking. Much more alert. Can talk on the phone and appreciate visitors.” Friends and family in Champion who have been following his progress are all encouraged. Barbara might get some well-deserved rest now. Encouragement is being applied to Cathy Odneal as well. She is off to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for some sophisticated heart surgery on Tuesday. Her community will give her time to recuperate, but will be looking forward to seeing her at the jam in a couple of weeks or as soon as possible. She will miss the Vanzant Picnic this year, happening Friday and Saturday, the 13th and 14th. It is always a lovely affair. Preparations for it are well underway. Those of us who just attend these great country funfairs may not be alert to the planning and hard work that goes into making them happen. There will be music, good food, games, and the chance to see all those people you only see at these events. It is a win-win situation. The spiffy new bingo parlor is sure to get some good use. Thanks to all the community minded volunteers there is fun to be had!

On a hot, sunny afternoon, Jonnie, the fierce yard dog, barked up a stranger who had come with an invitation to attend a movie up at the Springfield Expo Center. “The story of Jonah—A Lesson in Courage and Mercy” surely is an exciting tale. After three days in the belly of the great fish, our hero hit the ground running to Nineveh, where he did a bang up job of doing the work he had tried unsuccessfully to avoid. In conversation with the stranger, it was agreed that it might be timely to have a school of those great fishes to swallow up the whole of today’s regime for long enough to have those politicians once again enthusiastic and repurposed. When spit out upon Freedom’s Shores up there on the Potomac, they would all leap headlong, fervently resolved to represent the best interest of all the electorate. What a fantasy! They say the Book of Jonah highlights the sometimes unstable relationship between two religious needs: comfort and truth. These days we have the odd phenomena of the interchangeability of opposites. We think truth is verifiable. It makes us uncomfortable to think it mutable or subjective. If these kinds of thoughts give you a headache, go out into the garden. Tomatoes are beginning to ripen. Potatoes are coming out of the ground. Kitchens are overflowing with peppers, cucumbers, and squash from the early gardens. Later gardens will be producing when the early ones are played out. A few drops of rain from time to time help, but there is still watering and weeding to do. Out there, alone early in the morning when it is nice and quiet, sing “Sleepy-eyed John he stole a goose. The goose flopped but she didn’t get loose. Said John to the goose, ‘If you don’t be still, I’ll miss my supper down at Candy Hill.’” Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

A sudden, summer Sunday shower in Champion!

All roads lead to Champion!

The first chirp of the katydid was heard Thursday evening over in Champion East. They say that the first hard freeze will, therefore, be four months hence on October 28th. Champions have known of a first frost as early as September 27th. On these scorching days, it is hard to think about a hard freeze. We still have the 4th of July, the Squires Picnic, the Up and At It Holt Picnic, the Vanzant Picnic, the Skyline VFD Picnic and any number of other things to do before then, including the Champion School Reunion and the Second Annual Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks on October 6th and 7th. The swift passage of time mixed with summertime fun makes it all seem like a whirr. Over in Edinburgh, Scotland residents were sweltering as the temperature climbed to an all-time high of 77 degrees. It is all relative. A relative over there was said to have become so warm that he took off his hat.

Good news comes from Kriders up in Illinois. Brothers Harley and Donald have both been hospitalized with heart troubles and, as of Friday, they are both stable and improving. Barbara says that the thoughts and prayers helped. Their friends and families back in Champion are glad to hear it, and, as always, hope for the best.

Thursday’s Jam at Vanzant was another lovely evening. The music was enjoyable and the gathering of families and friends and neighbors enjoyed a delicious pot-luck supper and a good time visiting with each other. Kenneth and Barbara Anderson are being regular attendees now that they are home for good. They sat with Bob Berry and Mary Goolsby for supper and much laughter was heard coming from that table. Bob and Mary are busy showing Bob’s beautiful old cars at the various car shows in the area. It turns out that retired people can wind up being more active than when they were working for a living. Many of the musicians will be absent next week as they will be off at the 33rd Annual Starvy Creek Bluegrass Festival. It is near Conway, about 50 miles north of Champion. It runs from the 5th to the 7th, but campers like to get up there early with their RV’s and settle in for the fun. It will be hot, so one in the know says she thinks they will jam all night and sleep during the day. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, The General will hopefully reprise his splendid rendition of “Under the Double Eagle.” Last week it was erroneously reported as having been “Down Yonder.” His repertory is more expansive than one might think as he freely admits to listening to music from France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Greece, Turkey and other places. For familial harmony he keeps his accordion and his banjos in a separate building there at the family compound. There is a joke going around that says perfect pitch is when you throw a banjo into an accordion. A sense of humor is a valuable commodity in these worrisome times.

The photograph of the mystery item submitted for identification by Jordan’s own J.C. Owsley was examined carefully by a number of knowledgeable individuals on Wednesday in the meeting room at the Historic Emporium. Much as had been speculated, it was deemed to be a black smith’s tool designed for handling hot things. While none had seen anything exactly like it, it was similar enough to things they had seen to make the judgement. The combined knowledge of the Champion Panel of Experts is unfathomable!

Kenneth (Hovie) Henson and Dawn have driven the 700 miles it takes to get from Houston to Mountain Grove in order to attend the Alumni festivities associated with having graduated from high school there a long, long, long time ago. Alvin Barnhart had leaked the information that the Alumni Breakfast would be held Saturday the 30th and Hovie got wind of it all the way down in Texas. He said he read it in The Champion News and he also expressed curiosity and amusement that people back here in the hills know about Edmund Burke and Machiavelli. He lollygagged around in Champion on Friday enjoying the memories of the old store in the comfort of the Reconstruction of the Historic Emporium. He had stories to tell about Ed Henson and his own dad, Ezra Henson. They were both named Henson, but were not known to be related. He visited the folks who own his old home place now and had stories to tell about digging the 18 inch deep ditch for the water line from the spring, 450 feet up the hill, all the way down to the spring house. He said a lot of that digging was through rock. Hovie and Dawn will have a nice few days ahead of them with all the renewing of auld acquaintances at the school gatherings and then a get together in Springfield with Royce and Jody. Harold and Eva Henson Phillips will meet up with them there for a family to-do on the Fourth of July. Family! Huzza!

In 1776, the Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies regarded themselves as a new nation and were no longer a part of the British Empire. All manner of fireworks, parades, family gatherings, bar-b-ques, picnics, and swimming hole adventures will commemorate Independence Day. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall of all these gatherings just to see how people are feeling about The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave these days. Quotes from those politicians Hovie mentioned might be food for thought at this time. Niccolo Machiavelli was a senior official in the Florentine Republic. He died at age 52 in 1527. He said, “The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.“ He also said, “Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception.” Edmund Burke was an Anglo-Irish statesman born in Dublin. He died in 1797 at age 68. He said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” He also said, “Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” Back here in the hills we have the internet, though it is slow by comparison to much of the rest of the country. We also have books and wise people. A neighbor did recently say, “The vacuity stuns at times.” Still, we can research for ourselves and learn things like other verses to our patriotic songs: “Oh beautiful for heroes proved/In liberating strife/Who more than self, our country loved/And mercy more than life/ America, America may God thy gold refine/ Till all success be nobleness/ And ev’ry gain divine.” Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!

Champion Road Rabbits

A few days of cooler temperatures and much needed rain has done wonders for gardens and gardeners.  It is a relief to have some respite from the heat though Champions are apprised that it will return if not with a vengeance, certainly with vigor.  Inside plans for those days include deferred house work, correspondence, crafts, music and daydreaming.

Someone in the audience said, “I don’t think I would like to be thirty again.”  That person may have found that it is pleasant, after all, to be older.  It is an arguable point, but kind of pleasant to think that some are enjoying the aging process.  The reflection was sparked by the revelation that Sherry Bennett would celebrate a birthday on Monday.  The General took it upon himself to lead that special song.  Later on he did a bang up job of “Down Yonder.”  It was a nice beginning for a good evening at the Vanzant Jam, particularly with the presence of a couple of young fellows.  It is reaffirming to have talented young people interested in the ‘old’ stuff and willing to carry it on authentically.  Thanks, Bo and Elias!  Old and new, music is a connection.  A favorite red head sings a fairly new song with the refrain:  “And if they found the fountain of youth, I wouldn’t drink a drop and that’s the truth.  Funny how it feels I’m just getting to my best years yet.  The older I get.”

Whatsit?

J.C. Owsley, a staunch supporter of The Champion News, sends in a photo of an item that has come into his possession.  He does not say where it came from or how much it might weigh, just that it is about 20 inches long and the tines measure about 3 inches.  He is optimistic that its utility will be revealed by the panel of experts routinely gathering in the Meeting Room at the Historic Emporium on any Wednesday.  (A wild guess is that it is some black smith tool.)  Champions are optimistic that he may make a surprise visit just to lighten the mood and amp up the intellect.  The Bright Side could be brighter.

The Skyline Volunteer Fire Department Annual Picnic will be August 10 and 11 this year.  It speaks to the rapid passage of time.  Esther Wrinkles, who was one of the originators of the organization, often said that she wished the August election came after the picnic so that the politicians would have the opportunity to address constituents and would, therefore, wind up contributing substantially.  Esther was community minded and a regular poll worker.  It would be interesting to hear her ‘take’ on the wording of Proposition A, a referendum ordered by petition.  See if you can figure out exactly what the question might be and what it might mean.  As it will appear on the ballot:  “Do the people of the state of Missouri want to adopt Senate Bill 19 (“Right-to-Work”) as passed by the general assembly in 2017 which prohibits as a condition of employment the forced membership in a labor organization (union) or forced payments of dues in full or pro-rata (fair-share); make any activity which violates employees’ rights illegal and ineffective; allow legal remedies for anyone injured as a result of another person violating or threatening to violate employees’ rights; and which shall not apply to union agreements entered into before the effective date of Senate Bill 19?  State and local government entities expect no costs or savings.”  Esther was an outspoken conservative and an astute observer.  She would see right through this thing.  We miss her keen insight, her coconut cream pies, her good humor, and her kind heart dedicated to family and community.  Her birthday was June 28, 1917.  A Champion!

“Mid Continent Nail laid off 60 of its 500 employees last week,” George Skarich, the company’s executive vice president for sales, said Thursday.  “Another 200 layoffs could come in the next two weeks.”  Tariffs placed on imported steel and aluminum products are cited as the cause.  There are about 15 nail companies left in the United States and Mid Continent makes 50 percent of the nails produced in America.  All of Mid Continent’s nail manufacturing in the U.S. takes place in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  The far reaching ramifications of their random acts may not be apparent or of concern to powerful people who may never have had to work for a living.  Harley Davidson jobs are being lost up in Wisconsin as a result of trade disputes.

Champion’s first ripe tomatoes.

The First Ripe Tomato in Champion Contest has been won by Deward’s lovely granddaughter.  In years past the winning tomato had to be brought to the Recreation of the Historic Emporium and there shared with whoever was present.  Go to www.championnews.us to see previous tomato contest winners.  These days, a photograph on line from a reliable source is sufficient.  Neighbor Smith suggests the tomatoes need to be examined for authenticity, though that examination might be the end of the tomatoes.  The winning gardener also keeps a flock of beautiful chickens of which she is very fond.  The story of The Little Red Hen offers a moralistic tale of the importance of hard work and the shame, as well as consequences of laziness.  The story has a new twist that is likely to be entertaining to many.  “And who will disinvite the lying bigot?”  “I will!” said The Little Red Hen.

The champion@championnews.us mailbox has been busy this week.  From a reader in Pennsylvania,  “When we hate the opponents of justice and mercy, we create a bond between ourselves the wrongdoing they perpetrate.  We must rise up within our righteous anger and behave like civilized humans.  This is nearly an impossible feat, but we are here to do the impossible.  There is no other way to defeat the darkness than to shine a light.”  A guy named Quaker Jo said, “Anything you allow your government to do to other people, they will eventually be able to do to you.”  Another warns that while the big circus is going on, behind the scenes every aspect of government that works for the benefit of the population is being dismantled.  In her first year as Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos has proposed drastic cuts to funding for public schools and gutted protections for survivors of campus sexual assault.  Another, defending herself from being ridiculed as a ‘liberal,’ writes, “Every child of God should have a liberal heart.  You must be very generous in giving as you have been blessed by the Almighty God.  When you sow into the lives of others, your soul shall be made fat with pleasure from God and will also be enriched with more grace.”  The best we can do is to stay informed and to exercise our voting franchise.  Meanwhile, civil discourse with people who believe the complete opposite thing is still possible.  We can disagree without being disagreeable.  Rudy Valley sang, “Keep a little song handy wherever you go and nothing can ever go wrong.  Keep a little song handy and sure as you know the sunshine will follow along” in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Jonnie’s First Day at Mill Pond

”Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer…”  Here they are in Champion!  We have reached the season long before the Summer Solstice.  That will be here on Thursday night, which, they say (whoever they are) will be the coolest day of the week—just in the low 80s.  Lovely.  Until then, our days will be getting longer.  Here in Missouri our longest day will be 14 hours, 52 minutes and four seconds long.  Over in Edinburgh, Scotland, the day will last 17 hours, thirty six minutes and 41 seconds, roughly two and a half hours longer than our day here in the warm, humid Ozarks.  Champions there will holiday at Portobello Beach enjoying the soft whisper of the waves rolling in as they have forever and as they will continue long after we are gone–kind of comforting.  Old timers here will be out early getting the heavy work done.  They lollygag during the middle of the day doing an exercise called “pre-covering.”  That is resting up for the work ahead.  They may get down to the creek just to sit with their feet in the cool water.  Evening chores include a little bit of watering and light duty puttering in the garden.  They say, (them again) that if you see a pretty garden, there is someone in it.  Haymaking has kept some Wednesday regulars away from their Champion recreation.  Alas!  Others may be absent as they prefer not to have to defend their opinions concerning the world situation.  It is awkward.  The horseshoe pitch gets a lot of action these days.  The mutually recognized strength and skill of the competitors, together with their inherent good nature, has, so far, kept the competition friendly, at least overtly.  No raised voices from the pitch have made it into the cool atmosphere of the meeting room and wagering has not yet become any kind of problem.

Meetings have been underway for some while now in preparation for the second annual Pioneer Heritage Festival.  Details are being worked out concerning the music, the food, the vendors, the demonstrations, a talent show, various contests, and all the logistics for what will be an exciting event on October 6th and 7th this year.  It will be held at Chapel Grove out on beautiful Highway 14 just east of Bryant Creek.  The organizers have a great Face Book page called Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks where you can find out all kinds of information about the happening and see some great pictures and stories from last year.  The thoughtful planning going on now will result in good family fun this fall.

Summer school will soon be over.  Kids will be loose on the countryside for the summer time fun that occupies so much of what we recall as having been some of the best times of our youth.  Teachers and staff will get a little break, but the full time process of educating our precious children is ongoing.  Higher learning has been linked to things like democracy, equality, deductive reasoning—good things.  Efforts to defund public education and to delegitimize higher education promote the notion of a population easily managed.  Champions, disinclined to be managed, stand behind our vital little rural school as it turns out tomorrow’s solid citizens.  Go, Tigers!  There is a garage sale being planned for the end of the summer.  Stay tuned to TCN for more details.

Some of the Hopper Family cooling off at the Mill Pond.

Conversations among friends meeting at the Mill Pond to while away a hot afternoon covered a lot of subjects.  The following research was the result of some of those exchanges:  The difference between an immigrant and a refugee is that the immigrant has the choice.  The refugee is seeking refuge and cannot go back to the place he fled.  “We must always take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”  This is a quote from a Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech made in 1986 by Elie Wiesel, noted Holocaust survivor and an award winning novelist, journalist, and human rights activist.  The world population is currently reported to be 7,632,819,325.  It grows by many more human beings every second.  A hundred million people are homeless worldwide.  There are 65.6 million forcibly displaced persons across the world.  Sources for these numbers are readily available.  The math works out to say that for about every 7,600 people in the world, there are about 166 who are in desperate need of some kind of help—about 8 people out of every 360.  If the unfortunate people were dispersed evenly across the globe, Douglas County would have about 300 distressed people in dire need.  This is a part of the world where we help our neighbors.  The Statistical Atlas shows that there are 780 people on food stamps in Douglas County.  We have a history of caring for each other and an infrastructure set up to do that.  Champions know that fortunes shift and change.  We do not judge those in less desirable circumstances because we could well be there ourselves tomorrow.

Joseph Goebbels, on the other side of the Holocaust said, “Make the lie big, keep it simple, keep saying it and eventually they will believe.”  “A lie told once remains a lie, but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.”

The Vanzant Bluegrass Jam goes on at the Vanzant Community Building every Thursday.  A fine pot-luck supper at 6 o’clock is followed by two great hours of music starting at 7.  There were nine guitars, three banjos, three mandolins, one bass and one fiddle last week.  Everyone is welcome and everyone with an acoustic instrument or a voice is welcome to join in the music.  Sometimes the whole crowd will sing along and those moments are wonderful.  Friends and neighbors get the chance to share the week’s happenings, garden reports, and reminiscences.

A note comes to champion@championnews.us from a distant reader.  She says, “My father passed away at 73—much too soon.  I never heard him say a cruel thing.  I never knew of him lie or lift a hand in anger.  I never knew of him to be unkind to anyone, to consider himself better than anyone or to behave in any way contrary to his idea of decency.  He was self-effacing, generous, and full of compassion, music, and laughter.  He loved his family and told us so.  We miss him every day.“  Fathers the country over were accorded well-deserved attention and accolades on Sunday.  Their examples of steadfastness, responsibility and good behavior stand us in good stead today.  Thanks, Dad.  “In a vine covered shack in the mountains, bravely fighting the battle of time, is a dear one who’s weathered my sorrows.  Tis that silver haired daddy of mine.” Champion!  Looking on the Bright Side!

Champion Wildflowers