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CHAMPION—December 28, 2013

        Those few days between Christmas and New Year’s Day are typically busy ones in Champion.  Bright sunshine and warmer temperatures have encouraged gardeners and other industrious people to finish up a few projects, to get done some of those things that were going to be accomplished before the year was out.  The year is just about out and all the friends and family who are still loitering about depleting the pantry can easily enough be Tom Sawyered into helping out.  “Here, get a hold of the other end of that, would you?”  The hobnobbing, guffawing, knee slapping, singing and yodeling do not have to stop just because the old vines and stakes have to come out of the tomato patch or some stalls need mucking.  Many hands make the work lighter.  The law of ‘centergy’ says that two people working together can accomplish more than two individuals working alone.  Whether it has to do with competition or companionship, the time certainly goes faster with help.  Near Downtown Champion, there are forty-four identical sheets of good tin, twelve foot long, just lying there for the taking.  A couple of sturdy, enthusiastic fellows with hammers, crowbars, hoof pincers, fencing tools and magnets could make short work of it.  The tin has only been nailed down one time and only into oak.  Inquire at the Emporium if you have a truck and a trailer and nothing better to do.

Parking on the Champion Square on Boxing Day.

        Activity around the Facebook page The Champion News (like it) is connecting Champions in unexpected ways.  Sharon Tate Williamson said, “There’s no place like home!  I claim Drury and Champion.”  She lived here during the 1940’s and 1950’s.  “My daddy, Amos Tate, taught school a few years there before he carried the mail out of Drury for many years.  I went to Champion in the 2^nd and 3^rd grade and lived either there by Champion or over closer to Drury until I graduated from high school.  I get to Champion usually a time or two a year.”  Sarah Cloud writes, “Enjoying the views and the news of one of my favorite childhood places.  In all the grandeur that is Southern Utah, it just doesn’t hold a candle to the Ozarks.  Love to all.” Connie Sue Coonts Riddell refers to a photo of the interior of the Mercantile  and  asks “Where’s the old timers spitting and chewing and whittling?   I don’t see any Coonts there having coffee.”  She was assured by return message that one of that ilk is routinely there, more often than once a week.  Connie Sue would most likely really appreciate that epic poem “The Near Drowning of Cowboy Jack.”

        It was lovely to read a hand written note in their Christmas card that Bonnie and Pete Mullens had a good holiday and are hoping to get to Champion one day soon to see the New Store. (She can go online to the Champion Snapshots on the sidebar at www.championnews.us to see Henson’s Grand Opening 2011.  David Richardson from Norwood did a great video of the event.)  Bonnie wrote to say they have lost several loved ones this year yet they feel blessed by the addition of three great grandchildren:  Miles Perry Mullens, October 26^th, Lexie Rae Niblack, November 5^th, Korbin Blake Gunther, December 7^th.  The 27^th of December is the birthday of Corinne Zappler.  Big parties were being planned for her in Austin, TX with fireworks off the 360 Bridge and a bonfire at home after a sumptuous feast.  Warm wishes go out to a sweet niece—a grandniece really.  Champion grandson, Eli Oglesby, celebrates his birthday on December 30^th.  These young Champion boys and girls grow at an incredible rate.  His great uncle, The General will again see the old year out as he seemingly effortlessly accomplishes three score and eleven.  The birthday calendar flips to 2014, and the first of January celebrates sweet Jan Liebert, the electric bass playing rock and roll grandmother of Teeter Creek fame.  Arne Coon enjoys that day as his special one too and his son, Jacob, a fifth grader at Skyline will have his party on the third.  Jacob was one of the shining stars vocalizing at the Skyline Christmas Program.  He shares his day with Champion nephew Leland Isley, a wailing guitar player and an excellent fellow all round.  “May your days be merry and bright and may all your birthdays be a delight!”

        Timber thieves beware!  An update from public records available at the Court House and online informs interested parties that a date has been set for the arraignment of the individual charged with the recent theft of 90 oak trees from private property adjacent to the Mark Twain Nation Forest in Eastern Douglas County.  The arraignment will be held on January 23rd at the Douglas County Court House.  At that time the accused will be able to plead guilty or not guilty and will be given the opportunity to secure the services of an attorney.  The machinations of the Justice System are an interesting study for any citizen, tree hugger or not.  Stay tuned for further updates and illusions to the pernicious effects of the lure of mammon on every part of society.

        Champions gathered on Boxing Day for some quality post-Christmas socializing in the meeting room at the Historic Emporium.  Mr. and Mrs. Portell of Far North Clever Creek, chatting with a conspicuous regular at the table, were joined by an old guy in a bright plaid shirt with a dachshund.  The absentee farmer came in and then others.  Bob and Ethel Leach, prominent Champions of the West West Branch of North Fox Creek made a regular visit to brighten up the already bright place.  When asked if they had been affected by the great August 8th flood, Ethel said that their place is higher and that branch was not so full, but her sister who lives further down the creek came within about an inch of having water in her house.  Her dog almost drowned until she could get him untied. The conversation continued among the group with more adventures of narrow escapes and great feats.  A great feat had been accomplished on Christmas Eve by Drayson’s old Dad, home for the holidays, as he parked that long, long trailer truck on the South East side of the Square.  It is a magnificent machine, red with lots of shiny chrome.  While it was being admired, the ever effervescent Ms. McCleary arrived with her own sparkly new wheels to show off.  Santa must have been impressed.

        The beauty of the holidays has to do with family and friends drawing close and saying right out loud what they feel all year.  Sweet memories of Christmases past make the present a precious commodity as thoughts of dear ones missing from the table this year add the solemnity that gratitude requires.  The year ahead will hold what it holds. Happiness is the byproduct of doing what you like.  Make up your own songs and sing them out loud to whosoever will listen.  Love and Gratitude are the by words in Champion—Happy New Year from the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—December 21, 2013

        The shortest day of the year is overflowing with good news in Champion.  The aquifer is being replenished with the stuff that makes cold springs gush and spirits are being replenished with the Love and Gratitude that is so freely shared this time of the year.  No amount of gloom seems to dampen the Champion.

        The young Tigers of Skyline performed admirably at their Christmas program.  There were some real stand outs, bright spots, sure to be stars in the bunch.  Their parents and grandparents can tell you who they are.  The Youth Empowerment Program kids made some quite clever snowmen which they sold to help them finish the greenhouse they are building.  They have a grant to get them started with the project and they are working hard to raise the rest of what will be needed.  This greenhouse promises to be a great learning tool.  After the program some great community spirits officiated over the pie auction.  More than one observed that this particular auctioneering grandmother might take it up as a profession.  She is that good and the funds she helped raise will help the greenhouse grow.  More good news came concerning the Skyline-R2 School Foundation.  Teri Ryan has written to the board, “It’s been wonderful when reading with preschoolers to hear them talk about getting the DPIL books at home. Several parents have mentioned how much they enjoy getting the books to read with their children. They seem surprised that they are such good books. The program should give our students a good foundation in literacy.”  The excited board member passing the news along shouts, “I THINK WE’RE DOING SOME GOOD!!!!”  The DPIL is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library which sends a free book every month to a child from newborn to five years of age.  Pick up applications for the program at Henson’s Grocery and Gas in Champion or at the school.  Support the Foundation anytime with a donation in any amount to The Skyline R2 School Foundation, Rt. 72, Box 486 Norwood, Mo 65717.  How often do you hear anyone shout, “I THINK WE’RE DOING SOME GOOD!!!”?

        Champion tree-huggers of all kinds will be pleased to know that the timber thieves of Eastern Booger County have been brought to task!  The Forest Service received an anonymous tip that timber was being harvested.  A stalwart Forest Ranger blocked the exit of the loaded semi-tractor trailer truck and held it at bay until arrived Sargent Vernon Johnson.  Investigation ensued which has culminated in charges being brought against lumber businessman Bobby Davis of Willow Springs (not R.D. Davis of Ava).  The three men who were found working with Davis at the scene on December 13^th were not charged as the Sheriff determined that they were only showing up for work.  This is not the only timber related case that Prosecutor Wall has pursued recently and the efforts of the entire team are much appreciated by land owners, preservationists and Champion tree huggers at large who will continue to follow the story.  Davis will be in court on Monday.  It would be interesting to see if he could look Bob Austin, the owner of those 90 big old oak trees, in the eye.  Santa knows.

        Management at Henson’s Downtown G & G are pleased to announce a new product line available on shelves there.  Champion Hydraulic Fluid, Champion Brake Fluid, and Champion Antifreeze are now part of the standard inventory and in addition to sharing the splendid moniker they have the added advantage of being less expensive on account of the good business practices of said management!  This is not a seasonal gimmick, dear patrons.  It is the everyday best practices in Champion!

        The General and his lovely Missus were front row center for the Skyline Christmas Program.  Attending too was Danny Hull, somehow acquainted with the General.  He grew up over north of Mountain Grove and had high school chums in the audience and grandchildren performing.  He was sporting a letter dated 1938.  It was a receipt written to Mr. Chester Wright indicating that his 540 pound calf had sold at auction in St. Louis for 3.5 cents a pound, netting him $16.45 after the deduction of the $.80 commission paid to Fred C. Carter.  Mr. Carter wrote, “Cow steady.  Thanks a lot.”  The price of beef has gone up.  Quite a number of folks at the school program would ordinarily have been enjoying the Vanzant bluegrass jam.  Mandolinist/chanteuse, Sue Murphy, said that the jam still had a good crowd and that everyone had an enjoyable time.  They will be there again on the day after Christmas.  Pot luck at 6:00 p.m. and then the music begins.  The Vanzant Community building is on W Highway off of 95 right there by Esther’s house way over in the far suburbs of East Champion.

        “The Way I Heard It” is the name of a CD put out by the State of The Ozarks String Band some while back.  It has 25 tunes, everything from Midnight on the Water to Redwing.  It was a gift that will keep on giving.  When Linda was a young girl living in Australia she and other 12 year olds would sneak out at night and meet up on the school ground where they would sing, “Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon, all I want is loving you and music, music, music!”  This time of the year is full reminiscence.  Christmas Day, in addition to the deep religious significance for many, is held in esteem as the best day of the year.  It is the day that people choose to remember in detail.  The music, the food, the hugs and kisses, the stories shared and all the Christmas ties that bind go a long way toward making the rest of the year palatable sometimes.  Sunday is the birthday of Pat Metroplos.  Her friends and family will acknowledge that starting on her birthday every year the days get a little longer and the nights a little shorter.  What a gift!

        Enumerate your gifts by mail at Champion Items, Rt. 72, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or by email at champion @ championnews.us.  Look in at www.championnews.us and like The Champion News on Facebook.  Come down to the Re-creation of the Historic Emporium.  Climb the grand staircase where many a family photo has been snapped, up to the broad veranda overlooking the scenic square and the wide wooly banks of Old Fox Creek.  Recite your many blessings there or hum some nostalgic ditty softly to yourself.  You could just take a moment away from the holiday jingle jangle to be quiet and still in one of the world’s peaceful places—Champion!  Merry Christmas from the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—December 16, 2013

        As dazzling sunshine and warmer temperatures turn pristine snow to nitrogen rich ground water, homebound Champions are looking forward to getting out in the brief respite between snow and the deep mud that the week end’s promised rain will bring.  There are adventure stories being told of narrow escapes and odd slips and slides that are topped off with great gobs of gratitude that bones are yet intact and rigs still roll.  Champion!

        Skyline Tigers are ready to roar.  Not everyone is back in school yet because some of the dirt roads are still too tricky to navigate and “safe” is well known to be far better than “sorry.”  The warm up is just in time to give the students a few days to rehearse the Christmas program that has been rescheduled for Thursday, December 19^th.  The program starts at 7:00 p.m. Batteries in cameras are being checked because the program only happens once a year and for some parents and grandparents of prekindergarten and kindergarten students it is a milestone.  Hearts will be swelling and little unexplained catches will occur in the back of throats as precious offspring transition into big school kids.  Last year the General was almost inconsolable.  This year, before the program, the Y.E.P. kids will be selling some cute snowmen that they have made.  After the performance there will be an auction of homemade pies and baked goods to benefit the Youth Empowerment Program.  It is shaping up to be a splendid affair.   Go Tigers!  Christmas break is scheduled to be from December 23^rd until January 3^rd.  They will be ready to get back on the books by that time.

        Young people named Leo and Olivia will be eating cake and singing to their mother on the 16^th.  The 18^th is set aside to celebrate Jesse David Ing.  He is a world citizen, a bright exciting appreciator and advocate of all that is good and tasty.  He learned how to be that way from his own dear mother, a comadre for all time.  Destiny Surface, Skyline first grader, shares her birthday with the lovely Mary Goolsby who may make an appearance at the Skyline VFD Auxiliary chili supper in March.  Her many friends hope it happens and that she will bring Bob with her.  Auxiliary members, Chris Dailey and Sharon Sikes are celebrating birthdays on the 21^st and the 23^rd.  Chris shares her day with sixth grader Logan Brown as the world celebrates the ‘beginning’ of winter with them.  Sixth grader, Willard Hall, gets to have his birthday on Christmas.  Lucky guy!  Probably his folks do something for him in July just so he knows how special he really is.  Special is the word for Corinne Zappler.  She spent a happy month in Champion during the summer and her old auntie and uncle miss her still.  Her birthday is on the 27^th.  She keeps rosin on her bow and music in her heart.  She is a natural Champion that way.  Logan Hull has his birthday on December 29^th.  He will be in the first grade group at the Skyline Christmas program.  Eli Oglesby will be nine years old on the 30^th of the month.  Some grandmothers and friends are wondering just how that happened.  It is the swift passage of time that gets swifter as time goes by.  The General is in a blur for sure, as he marks the accumulation his three score and eleven years on the last day of December.  Happy Birthday to all and to the General, good night!

        Elizabeth Johnston will soon have one foot in a cast if all goes well.  Her friends and family are thinking about her with their best thoughts.  Meanwhile, that other foot can still pat and it is the suggestion of some that she spend part of this down time with rosin on her bow and scales on the fingerboard of that fiddle.  Music is said to have healing properties.  At the very least it has a distracting element that allows a sufferer some respite.  Dr. Terry Harville of Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Medical School says that for as long as there has been music, and medicine, people have noticed that when patients listen to music—or better yet, play it—they are calmer, complain less about pain and are more receptive to doing the things they need to do to get better.  Researchers regard music therapy as a tool of great power in many neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s because of its unique capacity to organize or reorganize cerebral function when it has been damaged.  Some music lovers are trying to get a head start and say, “Let the reorganization begin!”

        Champions do not take the wonderful rural mail delivery for granted.  It was just such weather as this recent bout that set dear Cletus Upshaw on his downward slide.  He never fully recovered from falls on the ice out on old Route 2.  He was a fountain of historic information and good humor.  Good humor is the hallmark of Karen Ross as she deftly navigates new Route 72.  In the most ideal conditions any job that requires driving the twists and turns of these State and county roads is a dangerous one.  Postal patrons keep their flags up as they send out Christmas greetings to family and friends.  Champions extend greetings to the messenger as well to express appreciation and good wishes for safe travels.  Young Drayson Cline has hit the road again.  He has gone a’truckin with his Pappy and his beautiful Mom.  His Aunt Tanna was rocking him the other day and singing, “I been everywhere, man” since he has already been to Wichita and Nashville.  Some folks never get to Nashville!  He will spend some time over on Cripple Creek with cousins who will start him on his banjo lessons right away.  He definitely has rhythm and his Grammy says he laughs right out loud now.  He will be home for Christmas.

        A new batch of Champion post cards has just been delivered to Henson’s Downtown G & G.  There are four in this series and they are available at a very nominal price.  The improved quality of these cards is the result of doing business locally.  The folks at Precision Graphics really know their business.  It is always a pleasure to find just what is needed close to home.  Bring your Christmas cheer, your exciting tales of near misses and other wintry escapades down to the Recreation of the Historic Emporium over on the North Side of the Square.  It is not too late to get on the ‘nice’ list for Santa.  “Ho ho ho, who wouldn’t go?….“ down to the magnificent wild and woolly banks of Old Fox Creek to Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—December 9, 2013

        A prominent Champion reported a temperature of three degrees Fahrenheit.  The report was made Saturday though by the time this is in ink he may have lowered his bragging rights.  That sounds contrary to the Champion credo of looking on the bright side.  He is, by some reports, at least as contrary as he is prominent and unpredictable.  One time Ruby Proctor said that the winters used to be colder here.  She said that there would be snow on the ground from just after Thanksgiving almost until Easter.  The amount and duration of this snow cover is not unprecedented it just has not happened this way in a long time.  A charming neighbor who lives on ancestral property over the hill says in her lovely Christmas card that no two days are alike.  She has no livestock to tend now.  It is the first time in 250 years that her family land has not had a cattle operation.  “Before that,” she said, “The Indians and buffalo roamed.  Before that probably the dinosaurs and trilobites.”  For others of us unacquainted with the trilobite, it is a fossil group of extinct marine arthropods, distant relatives of the lobster and the tick.  Distant relatives and friends, now hillbillies in North Texas, Wesley and Suzie Freeman, write to say “Hello and Merry Christmas to all the Champions!”

        The Wednesday morning barbershop jam had banjo and guitar music interspersed with hunting stories.  Wayne Anderson told a story about turkey hunting and being crouched down low behind an old log, sitting very still while he called.  Directly he sensed rather than heard something behind him and turning slowly discovered a Shetland pony about two feet from him.  The good looking young guitar player (Wayne is also very good looking.) had a number of very exciting bobcat, fox, coon, and turkey hunting stories, some of which included llamas and goats.  The music was terrific with The Cherokee Shuffle, among others.  Both these fellows have beautiful instruments.  It is likely that their skill could produce wonderful music on about any kind of instrument.  It is sure that the most incredible and valuable of instruments is held sad hostage by an inept player.  Practice! Practice!  That may not be so much fun for a music lover snowed in with a neophyte string player.  Sherry Bennett said that her good neighbor, Dennis Shumate, plowed her driveway.  Musicians are often some of the nicest people around.  Champions!

        It was great to get a note of support for The Champion News Online from Bonna Mullins over in Wichita, Kansas.  She and Pete get over to this part of the country as often as they can.  They come to the Denlow School reunions, all the Brixey family reunions and sometimes just for the fun of it.  They had their 58^th wedding anniversary back in October.  They went sight-seeing in some of their old stomping grounds and spent the day in Eureka Springs.  They get around.  They have grandchildren who write to them, “Thank you for setting such a good example!”  Bonna is some kind of briar patch kin to Richard Johnston, who has a birthday on the 9^th of December.  He and Kaye are hosting Elizabeth while she recuperates from a surgery on her leg.  They are probably all having a good time enjoying the weather together.  Congratulations and good luck!

        Emily Dickinson was a major American poet known for her reclusive lifestyle and her brilliant, posthumously published poems.  She was born in Massachusetts on December 10, 1830.  She wrote close to eighteen hundred poems during her relatively short lifetime of only fifty-five years.  Many of these, including “Because I could not stop for Death,” dealt with the theme of mortality.  She lived in seclusion and never married.   Ms. Dickinson would probably not have liked having her birthday celebrated.  Some people are like that.  Then, some people are lawyers.  Steven Wright says that 99% of them give the rest a bad name.  Ava has three prominent barristers celebrating birthdays on the 11^th of December.  The contentiousness of their profession probably keeps them from carousing , though as one assumes the mantel of ‘Grandfather’ perhaps mellowness will ensue.  It is sure that Eva Coyote (Kai) Parsons Fouke will be partying down out there in sunny and warm California.  Her Mama and Papa over west of Ava will sit in their warm kitchen looking out at the snow and remember their little girl so precious then, precious still.  Royce and Jo Henson have their wedding anniversary on the 15^th of December.  They’ve been together years and years and still are smiling!  The fourteenth winds out a week of celebration.  The day belongs to the living Shannon Alexander.  He is a great photographer, father, spouse, son-in-law and fun lover.  That day also posthumously goes to Spike Jones, born in 1911.  As Spike Jones and his City Slickers, he toured the country with “The Musical Depreciation Review” and punctuated his versions of popular ballads and classical works with gunshots, whistles, cowbells and gargles.  A great Texas woman, Judy Gale Terry-Ing, the dearest friend one could have, was born the fourteenth and left the world much too soon.

        Recent world events, the coldness of the weather and the nature of the season might have all hearts a little more open and compassionate.  A news bulletin was reported from Washington recently to the effect that a 45 minute video posted on Tibetan websites had a Buddhist extremist group threatening to “soon inflict a wave of peace and tranquillity on the West.”  Champions stand ready!  Bring it on!

        Look for some good pictures of Champion in the Snow on line at www.championnews.us.  Send your ideas about a compassionate look at world events to Champion @ championnews.us or to Champion News, Rt.72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  When the roads clear up, come down to the bottom of the lovely hills where country roads meet on the wide banks of Old Fox Creek.  Sing “I traced her little footprints in the snow.”  She was headed to Champion to Look on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—December 2, 2013

        Those wonderful hugs among friends and kin are the core of the holidays.  Heart to heart they say, “I love you.”  Old Champion tree hugger friends gathered once again down under the hill and feasted mightily.  One stately gent wearing a dynamite antique geometric tie with a diamond stickpin as big as your thumb, graciously opened doors, retrieved dropped items and contributed panache to the affair as well as a glorious salad.  His brother brought roast leg of lamb and roast beef with homemade horseradish sauce.  There were two enormous turkeys cooked to succulent perfection together with all the trimmings that one might imagine all the way to pumpkin and pecan pies.  Twenty or so revelers caught up with friends they had not seen since the Fourth of July or longer and new friendships were discovered.  Some tall young men were just kids a couple of years ago –students now embarking on exciting lives. Young Zack Alexander, who is seven, was everywhere, not underfoot, just everywhere seizing the day.  Olivia, who is about ten, and the hostess (gracious and sweet) yanked on a big wishbone but were not able to get it to break.  Perhaps they will let it dry out and try again.  The youngest attending this year was Olivia’s brother, a two year old named Leo. Their Grandfather, Toby Masten, was not present due to ill health.  He has since passed away.  Many of those gathered were well acquainted with him and there was much conversation about him that day.  One day maybe the grandchildren will hear a recording of the Abandoned Cadillac band.  It was comprised of a couple of guitars, a bass, a drummer and Toby on saxophone.  He had music in his heart and a great zest for living.  For the gratitude part of Thanksgiving, his friends are grateful to have known him.

Champion Tree Hugger Friends

        Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade made for exciting background noise to people who were busy cleaning house and cooking.  On Black Friday the local community radio station did a live broadcast of the 5^th Annual Black Friday Parade in downtown Cabool.  Colorful descriptions of the floats mixed in with many local high school and middle school band and choir performances made the radio some nice background for a day’s activities.  The “Roots and Branches” radio host told a funny story about his holiday with an old friend down in Arkansas.  Reports were that the Krider festivities up in Rogersville with Vivian Floyd were well attended.  Donald and Rita Krider came down from Illinois to join Harley.  Fae Krider was nursing a sprained ankle and did not attend, but was happy with leftovers and good reports of family fun.  Foster and Kalyssa went to see their grandparents Wayne and Bernice Wiseman.  Steve and Darlene Connor had a yard full of people visiting as travelers passed by.  Mark and Gretchen up at the Cobb house at the New East Dogwood School site had cars in the yard from Kentucky. Others postponed the celebration to the week end and made a nice two day affair of it.  Champions are thankful year around.

        December the tooth (second) is the birthday of Bostonian Charley Burlile.  His ornery sister, Jeanne, is spreading the news because this it is a significant milestone. (60!)  It is a long way to Boston and he does not get down this way often.  When he was here early last spring he remarked on the beauty of the area at a time when the fields green from hill to hill.  He liked the pleasant far views before the foliage fills in.  He would like it now too as the leaves are mostly gone and the underlying topography is revealed with its undulations and surprising number of habitations. He will forgive his sister for snitching about his birthday because her particular brand of orneriness is part of what makes her an asset to the community at large.  The fourth of December belonged to another great asset.  Lonnie Krider was born on that day in 1941.  He has been gone for some while now, but he is well remembered and missed.  He sang, “Precious Memories, how they linger!”  Businesswoman A.B. Spivey is the kind of grandmother who will let a granddaughter bake chocolate barbeque pie while she is wearing her new princess dress.  Her birthday is on the fifth and her many friends say, “Have a great one!”  Philosopher and musician, Big Ed Bell will have Friday to enjoy his birthday.  He was born in 1958 and has in-laws living in Downtown Champion.  Skyline School’s invaluable Paul Boyd will get to celebrate on Saturday when school is out.  Sunday the 8^th will be a big one for Veracruzer Chris Tharp, but he is one of those guys who celebrates year round.  Happy days one and all!

        Champions of a certain age are well acquainted with Frank Cappra’s movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.”  It will probably be seen many times through the holidays as it is a favorite.  In it Uncle Billy, mistakenly hands over the weekly bank deposit of the Bailey Building and Loan to old man Potter.  Potter realizes soon enough that he has $8,000.00 that does not belong to him, but he holds on to it and the story plays out.  It ends with the townspeople coming up with the money to save George Bailey from disgrace and ruin.  Everybody feels good about George being hailed as ‘the richest man in town.’  Potter did not give back the money.  The story is reminiscent of current banking shenanigans as well as the behavior of certain large corporations whose employees are eligible for food stamps because they earn so little even working on Thanksgiving Day.  Then there is the matter of the great timber thievery in eastern Douglas County.  A National Forrest Ranger blocked the big logging truck from leaving through the Mark Twain Forest the other day with a load of 40 and 50 foot red and white oak logs.  They were cut without the permission of the owner of the land.  Who knows how many loads went out before they were discovered?  What about the money for those logs?  Where did it go?  Who hired the loggers?  There are canceled checks somewhere or do sawmills pay out in big wads of cash?  Bamboozlers seem to be running amok in rural areas as well as in the big towns.

        Come down to the end of the pavement with your tales of deeps woods bamboozlement and find sympathizers.  Share grievances, gratitude, joie de vivre, and appropriate music at Champion @ championnews.us  Sit around in the meeting room at the recreation of the Historic Emporium just off Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive and discuss the pros and cons of being an ‘enlightened’ populace.  “Let the light from the lighthouse shine on me” over here in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—November 25, 2013

        Champions understand gratitude.  Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday in these parts.  Feasting with family and friends is ideal any time but the idea that people across the whole Nation are doing it at the same time seems to make it special.  “It’s hard to say grace and sit in the place of someone missing at the table.”  That is a line from a song that sums up the difficulties that arise when the first holiday rolls around after losing a loved one.  Larry and Teresa Wrinkles and Lonnie and Vera Mears are experiencing the first Thanksgiving without Larry and Lonnie’s Mother, Esther Wrinkles.  Irene Dooms is missing her sister and Ruby Proctor is missing her dear friend.  That is the way it is for people everywhere.  On the special feast days a moment apart to remember dear ones past is a moment well spent.  Esther shared a pink Christmas cactus with a Champion friend, but it always starts blooming just before Thanksgiving.  She was a Champion and Ruby is yet.  Happy Thanksgiving.

Patricia Metroplos has nice things to say about Myron Jackson and KZ88 radio out of Cabool.  The station produced a memorial tribute to her son, Geoff.  Her daughter, Joanne Metroplos, who lives in Seattle, contacted Jackson and made arrangements for the memorial to be presented on the first anniversary of the day her brother passed away, November 16, 2012.  Family members and friends submitted their memories and thoughts about him which Jackson read, interspersed with Geoff’s favorite music.  Pat was pleased with way it turned out and will be getting a CD of the program for a remembrance.  Geoff had an eclectic appreciation of music.  He played guitar for his own enjoyment.  Champions remember him as a fun loving, hardworking, energetic man with a gravelly voice and a large skill set.  He could do about anything.  Had illness not already overtaken him, Geoff would have been the one to climb the tower when the radio station suffered storm damage last year and needed some maintenance.  He was a fearless kind of guy, a fan of Community Radio and expanded thinking.

        Skyline School promotes expanded thinking.  In addition to being the wonderful rural school that is shaping the future Champions of democracy, it provides some excellent community services.  Secretary Helen Batten writes that the Douglas County Health Department comes to the school the first Tuesday of each month and has free screenings available to the public.  She says they always do BMI, blood pressure and carbon monoxide.  If they have the kits, they do sugar and cholesterol screenings but not every time.  They are at the school from 8:30 until 11:00 in the cafeteria.  Area residents appreciate access to these amenities. The little school is a treasure even for people who do not have children at home any more.  Some of them will be looking forward to the school holiday programs just for the chance to see what the future holds in store and to remember their own long past youth.

        Mark Twain was born November 30, 1835.  The many acres of National Forest that bear his name in this part the country keep him in mind as people drive almost anywhere through a spectacular countryside.  He was born in Missouri and Champions are proud to call him one of our own.  Champion is the kind of place where one can easily imagine Samuel Clemens standing around the stove spinning yarns, spreading news and philosophy all over the place the way Lee Ray, Elmer Banks and other prominent citizens do.  What would he have to say about timber thieves winding their big old semi double clutching e-flat trailer trucks and monster tiger-cat dual arch grapple log skidders through his pristine, Federally protected woods to make off with 40 and 50 foot oak trees that clearly belong to someone else?  There will doubtlessly be some lively discussion about the practice down at the Recreation of the Historic Emporium.  They say the identity of the thieves will be disclosed when they are indicted.  Champions will be watching the papers.  Twain said those who do not read the newspaper are uninformed and those who do are misinformed.  Who knows what he would have had to say about the World Wide Web and the mingling of real and unreal information in both venues?  Words are important.

        Cold, wet weather might be making hunting season more memorable for some Champions.  They will have stories to tell when their teeth stop chattering.  Hopes are that all the wounded critters will be found out in the woods and that all the holiday travelers will safely reach their destinations.  The Underhills of Champion South will host a grand banquet of unrelated people.  Vivian Floyd will have the Krider bunch at her place again and young Drayson will be the center of attention for family who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting him.  Some households will be singing together and dusty instruments will be coming out from under beds to get tuned up again after a long silence.  They say that Dillon Watts is being conscientious about his banjo practice and playing and that he has potential to be very good.  It looks like he is line for the musical talent of both his grandfathers.  Perhaps his next trip over from Tennessee will find him playing with his late Granddad’s friend, Wayne Anderson.  His great uncle, the General, met up with him at the store last spring and the lad was already showing great promise.  It is reassuring to old folks when young folks like the old fashioned stuff that was new when they were the young ones.  Tune into “Roots and Branches” on Thursday mornings, 10:00 a.m. to noon to enjoy some of the oldest and most obscure old time country, folk and bluegrass music that you will ever hear.  Find a link to Listen Live KZ88.org on the website at www.championnews.us.  Toes will be tapping.

        Send examples of expanded thinking, favorite tunes and reminiscences of old time Thanksgivings to Champion Items, Rt. 72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or to champion @ championnews.us.  When the roads dry up and the sun comes out drive down to one of the world’s truly beautiful places.  It is over the river and through the woods at the bottom of several hills, where the pavement ends and country roads converge on the wild, wide, wooly banks of Old Fox Creek—Champion!  Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—November 18, 2013

        The full moon in November is one of the sights that make the Ozarks in general, and Champion in particular, one of the loveliest places available to visit by land or sea.  The moon comes up over a hill through the forest fringe of leafless trees while on the other side of the valley Venus gleams brilliantly.  Hunters are hunkered down around camp fires, their Coleman lantern shining like beacons through the brush.  Some of them will wake up stiff and sore in the morning and be glad to head down to the Historic Emporium for some coffee and a good warm up around the stove.  They are some of Champion’s favorite visitors, wearing orange and driving slowly.  They infuse the area with their currency and soak up some of the beauty of a placid rural reality.  Then they drive off with the deer that would be eating the spring planting.  Good luck!

        Foster had some good luck and shot his first deer on Saturday—a nice size doe.  Among those who congratulated him online were Lucy Foster Miller, Dailey Upshaw, Sheila Marso Crewse, Beka Morrison, Bernice Wiseman, Kaye Johnson, Marlene Frazo, Anna Johnson, Wilma Ash, Ron Wiseman, Wilma Darlington, Gordon Watts (who said ‘Tell him I read about it in the paper all the way in Tennessee.”), Christy Berry, Jill Mallory Cline, Teahna Oglesby, and Larry A. Powell II.  Of course there were numerous actual handshakes and pats on the back in Champion.  His Mother said she was proud of him, but it makes her a little sad to see how fast he is growing up.  His cousin, Drayson Cline, is soon to be three months old and Champions can easily remember when Foster was just that size.  Time is fleet.

        Neighbors over in Illinois had some hard luck as tornadoes tore through the Midwest on Sunday.  On Monday morning the news reported six fatalities in the area and a great number of injuries, plus the loss of many homes and businesses.  Their Champion family and friends were glad to hear that Harley and Barbara Krider and their family were all safe there in Peoria.  Hopefully, they will still be able to make the trip down to spend some time in their Champion home for Thanksgiving.  They will have stories to tell and, like everyone here, plenty of reason to be grateful.

        This week’s birthday celebrations start out with Elva Ragland’s on the 19^th.  She is a live wire.  She grew up around here, went to school in Champion married a rail road man and moved off to California for a long time.  She has been home for a number of years now and her Champion friends are glad.  The 20^th was the birthday of David Lynn Hicks.  He was born in 1956 and just passed away on November 10^th this year.  He was a musician with the sweet kind of music making smile that so many of those people carry with them.  The 23^rd is shared between Leland Trujillo, a kindergarten student in Skyline, and a happy Grandmother in Champion South.  Her grandchildren are Seamus, Elizabeth, Zachary and Ethan.  The woman sets the standard for how grandmothers are supposed to be.  Waylin Moon is in the seventh grade at Skyline.  His birthday is the 24^th.  Levi Hicks, fourth grader, celebrates on the 25^th.  Faith Crawford, in the first grade, and teacher Lannie Hinote both enjoy the day before Thanksgiving as their birthday this year.  It is the 26^th.  Sometimes the whole Nation celebrates with them when their birthday is on Thursday.  Uncle Al the Lonesome Plowboy sometimes had pumpkin pie instead of cake.  His was the 27^th.  Ally Smith, second grade and Billy Strong in pre-kindergarten have the 29^th.  Kindergarten student Lane Watkins and third grader, John Rhodes both have the 30^th as their special personal day.  Let the joyful acknowledgments of having been being born commence!

        The famous American historian Professor Joyce Appleby said that America had four times more newspapers in the early 1900’s than any other nation.  She indicates that Americans are curious and interested in being well informed.  The internet and World Wide Web have changed the dynamic of information gathering and dissemination.  Whatever a person’s bias or inclinations are, he or she can find material on the internet to support it and back it up, truth, not necessarily withstanding.  It is easy to see how misinformation can slip-slide slimily off the internet and right into the printed word which some are happy to wad up and stick in the wood stove to get the kindling going.  Some people still rely on the daily or weekly press for a guideline concerning what is important.  “If you can speak about what you care about to a person you disagree with without denigrating or insulting them, then you may actually be heard and you might even change their mind.”  That is a quote off the internet said by some anonymous person.  The futility and despair that many seem to be feeling is causing them to be unable to distinguish between appearance and reality.  Certainly civility is being lost.  Steven Wright said to borrow money from pessimists, because they do not expect it back.  “If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain,” he said.  Also, “To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.”  Champions get their news from many sources.  Some of those sources come bow-legging into the store and stand around the stove to share their outpourings of knowledge.  Others sit at the liar’s table which is round and has no corner into which one might get backed.  “What’s new?”

        Linda’s Almanac from over at The Plant Place in Norwood says that the 21^st and 22^nd will be good days to apply organic fertilizer.  The 23^rd through the 27^th will be good for destroying weeds.  It is nice to have a guide, but gardeners mostly just do what comes next when they can get around to it.  The Almanac has moved on the website at www.championnews.us to the very top of the page on the right hand side.  It is handy and helpful.  Find a copy of it on the bulletin board in Henson’s Downtown G & G on the North Side of the Square.  Drop a note to Champion Items, Rt. 72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or to champion @ championnews.us with your research into truth, organic fertilizer, or why musicians are often such pleasant people.  “When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed, when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings…”  That will be easy to do in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—November 11, 2013

        “In the Garden of Delight” was written by Lily Hardy Hammond in 1916.  It looks like it will be a very interesting read.  It is thought that this book is where the phrase ‘Pay it forward’ may have been coined.  It is certainly a Champion notion.  It is an old concept that goes back to Athens in 317 BC when it appeared in a play by Menander.  Two thousand, one hundred and one years later on April 25, 1784, Ben Franklin described the idea in a letter saying, “It is a trick to do a deal of good with a little money.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote about it in an essay in 1841.  Now it is showing up in The Champion News as Pete Proctor reports a lovely incident.  He and Phyllis were in West Plains enjoying dinner the other day as a celebration of their first wedding anniversary when a man and his wife and daughter approached them and thanked Pete for serving our Country.  The waitress stopped by later to tell Pete and Phyllis that their bill had been paid by the family who had just left the restaurant.  Pete was touched.  It is the kind of experience that Champions hope for all the Veterans and for all those serving currently at the behest of the Nation.  They pay it forward in ways that cannot be imagined by to those who have them to thank for peace and freedom at home.  Champion Veterans!

        What a treat it was to have Raymond and Esther Howard in Champion again.  They visited with friends on Sunday and posed for a picture under the big walnut tree over by the church.  Raymond is getting ready for his birthday next week.  Thursday the 14^th is the day and he will be 91 years old.

Raymond and Esther Howard of Marshfield made a Sunday visit to Champion to attend church and to visit with longtime friends.

Paul Morgan will be 83 on the 13^th.  Foster and Kalyssa’s Granddad, Wayne Wiseman, had his birthday last Thursday.  He was 80.  Raymond teases Wayne saying he is a week older because his birthday is first.  Those guys have known each other for a long time.  Raymond was pleased to see several big reds while he was visiting.  He and Lonnie Krider used to hunt squirrels together.  The conversations they had about it were certainly lively enough, it is a sure thing they enjoyed the hunt.  It would be a fairly sure bet that if Howard is there, fun is afoot.  It must have been fun for young Richard Heffern to get an early first birthday present in the form of a little brother.  For a few days from the 8^th to the 15^th he and Robert are the same age and then Richard jumps forward for a year.  Cake and ice cream for a week!  Future ccustodians of democracy currently attending Skyline School will have birthday celebrations this week.  First grader J.D. Borders celebrates on the 9^th.  Sherman Hall who is a sixth grader will have a great birthday this year.  It is a special one–11/12/13!  Raven Hull is in the second grade with a birthday on Saturday the 16^th.  More ice cream, please.

        Linda’s Almanac from over at The Plant Place in Norwood indicates that the 21^st, 22^nd and 30^th will be ideal days to prune in order to encourage growth.  Those will also be good days to apply organic fertilizer. By the time some old Champions get to that wonderful pile of old horse manure that is waiting for them over in Coonts holler it is liable to be frozen hard.  The days just slip away.  It seems that there is always something to do in the garden.  Linda’s Dad, Chuck Barns, had his birthday on November 11, 1916.   He passed away in 2002.  He was a good story teller and a pretty interesting bridge player.  He had an exciting life doing heavy construction and living all over the world.  His garden experience included raising artichokes in Tasmania.

        Kaye Johnston and Fae Krider visited with Ruby Proctor in the Cabool Nursing Home the other day.  Ruby moved there after a short stay in the hospital in Springfield. She was reported to be doing well and was in the sitting room when the sisters arrived.  Pete indicated that she had a good week and she gave him a big smile when he visited.  Ruby has one of those smiles that makes a person feel good without a word being said.  Her Champion friends all wish her well.  She, like many, is probably thinking about and missing her old friend Esther Wrinkles who passed away back in January.  They grew up together in Champion and were baptized on the same day in Old Fox Creek when Ruby was seventeen.  Browse through the Champion Snapshots section of the website www.championnews.us to see pictures of Ruby and Esther together.  They are the very image of a lifelong Champion friendship.  While out on that site look at The Dairymaid in Champion Connections to see Taegan (Peanut)’s trip to Tennessee. She had a good time and it looks as if she enjoys traveling.  The Dairymaid does a great job of documenting the family.  It is good to see photos of those cousins on their own turf, though they are always welcome in Champion.  Technology used in this positive way can keep families close and informed about each other.  Out in the big world technology often isolates people making them ‘alone together’, as everyone stares at a screen or device of some kind with no interaction among them.  It is not that way in Champion.

        “We’ll not soon recover from the eventual earthly loss of people like you.  Lord, delay that day.” This inscription on the back of a family photograph on loan from the Royce Henson family is a poignant thought.  It brings to mind the notion that today is the day where living takes place.  Champions do a good job of living in the present.  They reference history for comparisons between past and present to conclude that some things are better today and some are not so much.  The scientist and humorist, Steven Wright, says that a conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.  He also says that experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it.  Comparisons, conclusions and life experiences are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or at champion @ championnews.us.  Bring them with you to discuss around the old stove in middle of the Recreation of the Historic Emporium over on the North Side of the Square.  Sing, “We’ll meet again, don’t know where don’t know when, but I know we’ll meet again some sunny day” in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—November 4, 2013

        Some would say that the autumn colors have ‘peaked’ in Champion and in the area overall.  There is more uniform brown as the various oaks russet together.  Then right between an old cedar and a fresh pine dazzles out something brilliant apricot gold and there are the dogwoods, glorious in every season. It all changes second to second with fluctuations of the light.  It is difficult to keep an eye on the road for looking at the forest.  Bud Hutchison and a bunch of his friends were horsing around on old Ivy Lane on Saturday.  They have the right idea about how to enjoy this extraordinary part of the world.  They are right out in it quiet, slow and easy.  The horses seem willing to accommodate motorized traffic but they probably like the road all to themselves.  Anyway a person gets to Champion is a good one.

        Royce Henson’s birthday caravan came rolling into town mid-morning on Saturday and toured the Recreation of the Historic Emporium over on the North Side of the Square.  There were twenty some odd of them who gathered in the old Champion School house for stories of the bygone days, for a look at some great family photos that Jo had sent in advance, and for some new family photos.  Royce said that as a kid in school he would never have imagined that the old building would ever have electric lights and gas heat.  Everything was lit with or run on kerosene in those days and the school house was heated by a big wood stove.  In the days before insulation, the children probably dressed warmly and they almost certainly burned a lot of wood in that stove to keep the two rooms comfortable.  Eva Henson Phillips and her husband Harold Phillips came up from Bella Vista, Arkansas to help her brother celebrate his 80^th trip around the sun.  Eva has her own set of memories of the school.  The caravan rolled out in time to make its luncheon reservation at Rockbridge and reports are that the day was a great success.  Champion!

        Skyline School Counselor Joy Beeler had a birthday November 3^rd.  She shares the day with Kellie Perryman, second grader.  That is also the birthday of young William Litchfield.  He was eight on Sunday.  Another second grader, Hailey Hall had her day on Monday the 4^th.  Miss Emerson Rose Oglesby has her special day on the 5^th.  Then her truly great aunt Sharon Upshaw will celebrate on the 6^th.  The General will not miss this one.  Linda and Charlene over at The Plant Place in Norwood will help their sister, Kathy, celebrate on the 6^th.  They will probably play cards.  Mason Solomon who is a kindergarten student at Skyline has his birthday on the 7^th.  Woodworker extraordinaire, Bob Underhill from Champion South was born in 1946 and so finally is as old as some of his friends.  Not everyone likes to have his picture taken or to have his birthday celebrated.  Those folks get celebrated on the sly by people who love them.  It shows up in a smile or a hug.  For those who do very much like birthdays, Rock On!

        The Eastern Douglas County Volunteer Fire Department had a great chili supper Saturday night.  The food was very good.  Backyard Bluegrass was up to their usual standard of great.  A critic would say, “Wonderful fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and bass and wonderful harmonies!”  Sherry Lynch’s husband got up and did his version of the “Hillbilly Auctioneer” which was quite a crowd pleaser.  The next thing you know he was up there doing the job.  He makes it a lot of fun and is very clever about eliciting that next bid.  The business community together with the fire department membership and friends donated some great items that went up on the block.  These little rural fire departments are what keep country people safe!  It is good to see the community come out to support them.

        The General is in a quandary.  At the chili supper the other night he was invited to attend a poetry reading –a night of poetry and quiet jazz with some chilled white wine and brie-casual attire and an incitement to participate.  At this his heart fairly leapt!  At last! The General has spent many a mile solitarily in his truck reciting Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s, “The Arrow and the Song.”  Many are familiar with the opening line, “I shot an arrow in the air…”  Crude parodies aside, the sweet sentiment is not likely to be elocuted by himself as the salon is to be held on Super Bowl Sunday.  It must be a chore to be a Renaissance man.  Go to the website at www.championnews.us to read a copy of the poem.  It expresses well the Champion ideal.

        Many Champions have their archery farm tags.  At the price of bullets these days bagging the turkey or the deer with an arrow seems somehow more economical.  That may not be the case.  The Skyline School has a good archery program and a great place to practice.  Mountain Grove students have had a successful archery program, but budget cuts are causing the school to consider doing away with it.  Some parents are getting together to have a benefit to help preserve the program on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Saddle Club Building at the Fairgrounds.  They will get started at 8 in the morning.   It looks like there will be something for everyone with a bake sale, chili, and a large multi-family yard sale.  The proceeds will support the archery program that serves kids who might not be football players, who might even be girls who do not play basketball.  It is good to see every child get a chance to participate in sports.  Softball was the big school sport in Champion as many an old timer will tell you.  Some of them will be shooting their arrow of good wishes that way.

        At any given moment Champions know people who are ailing.  Ruby Proctor is reported to not be doing well these days.  Russell Upshaw is improving.  Toby Mastin is hanging in there.  Richard and Kaye have had a bug and many others may be suffering in ways that may not be apparent.  When people we love are unwell or hurting, it is in our hearts that our thoughts and prayers would wrap around them, comfort and support them and make them and all those who love them feel better.  It is a Champion effort.

        As the swallows return to Capistrano, so do the turkey vultures to Champion.  They have been around, but this time of the year it seems they are legion in their coming and going.  A prominent Champion was entering the Emporium the other day just as another such was trying to leave.  Each had a hand on the door knob with the door in between.  They got to pulling and pushing until the door was about to bend, “Betty!” says he, “There’s a big wind about to bend your door!”  It turns out the wind was on both sides.  Send your own such charming antidotes or buzzard stories to champion @ championnew.us or to Champion Items, Rt. 72, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Come down to the bottom of several hills where country roads meet on the wild and wooly banks of Old Fox Creek to one of the world’s truly beautiful places and enjoy the sites.  Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—October 28, 2013

        Champion is a truly enlightened place in a part of the world that paradoxically prides itself on being the least progressive area in the Nation.  Actually, the quote was, ‘the most willfully unprogressive.’  A person can get into trouble misquoting.  Phyllis Winn wrote to ask that John Buchan get the credit for his wonderful quote: “The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable and a perpetual series of occasions for hope.” The charm of Champion is that there are very few outhouses to be turned over on Halloween.  Indoor plumbing is progressive.  It has been some while since any occupied outhouses were turned over or unoccupied ones moved backwards 3 feet, or blown up with dynamite.  Those kinds of Halloween pranks might have been more common back during the day when people had outhouses.&bnsp; Pranks are probably pulled on line now.  Boo!

        As to pranks, a Champion named Mr. Smith had an uncle who once put a cat in a mailbox.  When the mailman opened the box sometime later, the excited cat made a nasty tear through the car.   This uncle was frequently in trouble for being a trickster.  The mailman was Homer Akers.  He had a reputation himself of being a reckless driver.  If the chickens happened to be out in the road when Homer came by often as not they could just be dressed out and fried for supper.  There are many interesting stories about this mailman.  His son, Bill, married Myrtle Brixey.  She grew up in North Champion and her Dad was Alfred Brixey.  Champion’s current favorite mailperson (Hello, Karen!)  brought a nice letter from Myrtle Brixey Akers the other day.  She included an interesting article from The Ozark Headliner written by Paul Johns in his column Ozark Moments.  The article was about the history of that “Every time I go to town, the boys keep kickin’ my dawg around” song.  It is the one that says, “Makes no difference ifin he’s a hound, you gotta quit kicking my dawg around.”  She said that she could remember her Dad singing that song and playing it on the harmonica.  She said that she is 91 years old so “that was long ago.”  indeed.  Her Dad had moved to this part of the country from over by the Kansas line back in the early thirties.  One of his great grandsons says that he was what would be called a ‘truck farmer’ today.  He cut sprouts and planted his tomatoes in new ground every year.  He had a flatbed truck full of bee hives one time and the guy at the filling station said, “Take the gas and go!”  He kept the bees near the spring and had the first running water inside his house in this whole area.  He built a stone house near the spring and had a ram that brought the water up beyond the house and then down through the faucet!  Imagine!  He was a fiddle player up until the arthritis got bad.  He passed away in 1957.

        Karen brought a letter from Ethel McCallie from over in Nowata, Oklahoma.  It has the story of how her Dad, Blake Haden, wound up in jail in Reedley, California in 1930.  It was a misunderstanding and he was in there for ten days.  Out of it came a poem which concludes, “Pray that I will walk the pathway, in the strait and narrow way./Shunning all the snares, and pitfalls scattered all along the way./Oh! My soul now feels so happy, All my sins are washed away./Pray that I will do His bidding, till my body turns to clay.”  Read Ethel’s latest letter and get the full story and the poem in full at www.championnews.us.  Find Ethel McCalie in the Oklahoma Friends section of Champion Friends.  Look at the post of October 21^st to see pictures of Bud Hutchison’s Fall Trail Ride.  Featured there are pictures of J.C. Owsley’s big horse, Baby, and Domino the appaloosa as well as a certain Champion cowboy.

        Birthday cards and notes came pouring into Champion this last week.  It turns out that there are a lot of people who are now 67 years old!  Champions called Harley Krider up in Elmwood, IL on Sunday to wish him a happy birthday.  He is older.  He and Barbara will be home for Thanksgiving and their neighbors will be glad to see them.  Connie Landsdown celebrates her birthday on October 30^th.  Wilburn and Louise will enjoy seeing their charming daughter having a good time.  She has a gorgeous smile and a wonderful laugh.  Some of her friends are planning to ….‘oops!’ The thirtieth is also the birthday of Royce Henson.  He and his family have a big celebration planned for Saturday the 2^nd of November.  The entourage will tour the old Champion School and then head down to Rockbridge for lunch.  It sounds like it is going to be a nice day.  They will certainly enjoy the glorious fall foliage as a backdrop for a stunning day.  Family celebrating is a Champion concept!  Cheyenne Hall has her birthday on Halloween.  She is in the fourth grade at Skyline School.  Sixth grader Keith Lamborn also celebrates that day as does superintendent Jeanne Curtis.  Maybe on Thursday 85 students and a dozen or so preschoolers will say, “Happy birthday, Ms. Curtis!”   Mr. Quick Draw Felipe Heston has his own Halloween-birthday traditions and his Champion friends wish him the very best!  It will be jack-o-lantern pie for birthday delight.  Somebody will surely take a jack-o-lantern pie to the Thursday Bluegrass Jam at the Vanzant community building.  If not Thursday, then perhaps on Saturday when the Eastern Douglas County Volunteer Fire Department will have its fifth annual chili supper and auction benefit dinner.  Dinner starts at 5:30 and at 6:30 the auction gets under way.  It all happens there at the community building in Vanzant. There are likely to be some interesting items on the block again this year.  Some creative friends of the Skyline VFD are looking forward to the chance to support their neighboring fire department.  It is called ‘mutual aid’ and it is a good thing.  Friends will be looking for Russell Upshaw at these events hoping to hear he is feeling better.

        Some old Champions are putting their garden to bed for the winter and are thinking about what a sorry squash crop they had this year with the squash bugs killing the plants before they had made very much at all.  One answer to their question about how to prepare for next year’s squash patch is to clean the future patch down to the bare ground and keep it that way through the winter with no mulch on it, nothing under which a squash bug could hide.  Then there are some ideas about killing all the first ones you see early in the spring as a way to control all the summer’s generations of them.  Any ideas about preparing a good squash patch for next year would be welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or at champion @ championnews.us.  A consultation with Linda over at The Plant Place in Norwood will likely yield some good information.  A person would like to talk with Alfred Brixey about it, but there is only so much ‘new ground’ to be had.

        Join Lee Ray from Almartha on almost any morning (Wednesdays mostly) down at the Recreation of the Historic Emporium over on the North Side of the Square.  He’ll be sitting around the stove with Elmer Banks and Butch Linder talking about resurrecting dead flies and any number of other things.  It is a storyteller’s paradise.  Sometimes the fun spills out on to the veranda where if a person knew just where to look he could see the spot where Geoff Metroplos built an outhouse for the convenience of visitors to the community.  It washed away in the flood of 2002.  Alas!  Progress in Champion!  Looking on the Bright Side.