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CHAMPION – September 17, 2007

        Kalyssa Wiseman has made her first trip to Champion to visit with her Grandparents and Aunt Staci.  She came with Foster and her folks.  Her great aunt Vivian Floyd was there as well as great aunt Barbara Krider and great uncle Harley.  Faye said Kalyssa has long pretty fingers that come from the Upshaw side of the family.  On Sunday everybody had a good visit with Esther and Raymond Howard down again from Marshfield.  There were some stories overheard about Raymond’s bee keeping days and bees flying out of his shirt when a hive went wild on him over at Richard Johnson’s house.  More will have to be learned about that.  Esther’s red hat and sweet smile had everyone in a cheery mood.

        The squeak of saddle leather and rattling of wagon harness broke Champion’s stillness on Thursday last.  When the wagon train rolled into the square it was greeted by a number of people curious about the wagons and the stories of the trail.  A couple of Champions exchanged glances and made a tacit agreement to politeness when Wagon Master Clifton Luna asked one if “the West Plains Wagon Club train isn’ about the biggest thing that happens in Champion?”  Being from over in Dora, he is not acquainted with the furious hubbub of activities around Champion.  The person he addressed told him, “Yes,” that the wagon train following right on top of the Champion School Reunion did represent some of the busiest times of the year.  That person didn’t mention the regular parades, ceremonies and celebrations that hardly let the dust get settled from one to the next.  One of the wagons had a sign that said, “This wagon runs on oats, don’t step in the exhaust.”

        A conversation with Esther Wrinkles revealed the passing of her friend, Charmain Young from Mountain Grove.  Ms. Young had been ill the last few months.  For many years she had cared for her mother and for her invalid husband.  Her mother passed away about a year ago and then her husband about six months ago.  Esther used to make pies for her and they had been friends for many years.  They had met back in the 40’s.  The young people used to go to all the pie suppers and picnics around.  At one of those pie suppers at Champion, Blaine Dobbs got drunk and kicked the back door in at the school.  This was the old school building before it burned.  They had him arrested and it was a good thing for people to know that they didn’t put up with too much foolishness in Champion.  Still there was mischief anywhere there was a bunch of young people.  Esther said that around Halloween there were some that would always tip Ed’s (Henson) toilet over.  One time he waited in there with a shotgun.  She didn’t say how that turned out.  She did say that some of them put Clifford’s plow up in a big tree. At a picnic in the area now where V highway meets the county dirt road, Blaine Dobbs hit Fait Upshaw in the head with a rock about as big as a fist.  Esther said a lot of the old picnics that used to be held at Brown’s Cave and other places had to be stopped because of the drinking.  She had been visiting with some friends who told her a story about some old time backwoods people who didn’t get to town too often.  One of these fellows took a notion to go to town and while he was walking down the sidewalk he saw a mirror in a store window.  He looked at it and thought, “Why, that’s a picture of my old Dad!” so he bought it.  On his way home he got to thinking that his wife didn’t ever care for his old Dad that much so he decided to hang the picture in the barn.  Every day he would go down there and look at the picture.  His wife got suspicious and when he was off in the field one day, she went down to the barn.  “Huh,” she said, looking at the mirror, “so that’s the old critter he’s been hanging around with!”

        Alexander the Great Bull has arrived on Barbara and Harley’s farm.  ( A Prominent Champion says, “Things happen when Harley’s home!”)  The bull is an 18 month old black angus bull raised by Jack Williams from over at Mountain Grove.  He wasted no time in exiting the trailer and making himself at home in the pasture.  It is yet to be seen if he is indeed a Great bull.  That is an auspicious name.  Barbara said that there had been a lot of shooting of the bull prior to the purchasing of the bull.  Meanwhile down at Henson’s store, Elmer Banks was talking about an old neighbor of his who had published in the paper a notice that a certain cow was molesting his homestead.  He didn’t like the cow, nor did his wife, nor his dog.  He said it was a pretty heifer with a tag in her ear and he gave the tag number.  He said that within a certain time the cow needed to be claimed or it would be enjoyed by the entire community in a barbeque.  Well, he knew the whole time whose cow it was and as a matter of fact it belonged to Elmer Banks and Elmer had been running cattle on the man’s place.  All he had to do was call Elmer on the phone!  Instead he published the thing in the paper for people all around the county to read.  Elmer put up with no small amount of hoorawing about it.  There was another Champion in the store who had a sad bull tale.  A neighbor of his had a no-account bull and when his bull crossed the fence to help the no account bull tend to his business the good bull took a bullet.  It was a sorry affair all around, a sad one too.  Someone remarked to Foster’s old Dad when he came into the store dressed in his camouflage, that they had seen turkey gobblers big as emus over yonder.  It is to be hoped that that very someone hadn’t spooked his chances of shooting one of them!  Maybe of an evening he’ll get another chance if folks will just stay home.

        Faye and Kaye, raised as good girls to respect their elders, are being respectful of their sister-in-law who had her birthday on August 25^th.  Tanna’s birthday got overshadowed by the birth of her daughter Kalyssa, but she isn’t complaining.  September 21^st   Louise Hutchison will have a big celebration of some sort to celebrate her seventy second birthday (Who would believe it?) and she shares her birthday with Little Zoey Louise down in Austin who will be four years old.  That’s the wedding anniversary of Tanna and Roger.  Sharon and Farel will be celebrating one of those soon.  Everybody’s getting excited about the Pioneer Descendents Day down at Yates in a couple of weeks.  So as far as the eye can see Celebration is the Watch Word in Champion.

        On the 21^st, the VFW Post 3770 out of Mountain Grove will have a flag presentation including a POW-MIA flag at the Skyline School.  Pete Proctor will officiate and the ceremony will be at 11 o’clock.  Champions will be thinking about their soldier, Raul, and the families of the now three thousand, seven hundred eighty two of his fallen comrades.  Love and Gratitude are the other Champion Watch Words.

        Watch words, gobbler and bull stories, examples of friendly hoorawing are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717.  Squeaks, rattles and stories of the trail are welcome at Champion News.  To observe the frenetic festive activities at Champion, just take a seat on the porch at Henson’s Store in beautiful downtown Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION – September 10, 2007

        The good news in Champion this week is that things are finally settling down over the hubbub the reunion.  Stragglers are showing up a week late to hear tales of all the good times they missed.  While they were missing the Champion’s Reunion Good Times they were busy living their own good times, however, and they look no worse for the wear.  Even Champions can’t be everywhere at once!  Many are planning for next year already.  Mrs. Ruby Proctor remarked that she had very much enjoyed the whole affair and that she was pleased to see Barbara Pippin (…..) there for the first time and enjoying herself so much.  Ms. Proctor said that she had planned to bring her Bible with her to the reunion.  It is one that she bought out in Oregon (probably in the 1940’s) that survived the tornado that about blew her away on Christmas Eve 1982.  She said that the back was torn off of the Bible but not a page was missing or torn, that it was found laying open and not one of the clippings that she had kept in it was missing.  It was one of the very few things that survived that awful storm.  Of course, Ruby and her son Gary survived and that was just a an extraordinary piece of luck!  Anyway, she forgot to bring the Bible with her this time, but there will be a number interested in seeing it Next Year.

        Champion’s friend Ethel McCallie stopped in to Champion on Labor Day.  She was in the neighborhood, having attended the Haden-Kay-Sellers reunion in Ava.  She said that the music at their reunion was just wonderful.  (It should be with all those Hadens!)  She was touring around the country side with her young cousin and his wife who live just over between Seymour and Ava.  They had recently returned from a trip to Guatemala to visit their daughter.  It was a very enlightening trip and they had good pictures to share.  Ms. McCallie lives fifty miles north of Tulsa and says that while they have had some nice rain up there they have not experienced the flooding that some parts of Oklahoma have seen.  She says her house is on a hill.  She had her 90^th birthday on August 11^th and had hoped to run into Mrs. Esther Wrinkles while she was in the neighborhood, since she had read about her celebration back in June. Darrell Haden sent a note saying how much he had enjoyed his sojourn to Champion.  He also said how happy he was to have received the news of Woody Van Eaton.  He said, “I hope Mrs. Stoner in Springfield knows I appreciate my friend’s address.  I haven’t seen him since 1953.  We served in the U.S. Army at Ft. Leonard Wood.  He used to give me a ride to the Mansfield-Ava exit on some week ends.”  Old Friendships…friendships from long ago and lasting friendships forged long ago are some of the very best part of life.  Some Champions are getting older and they seem to be keenly aware of the importance of the special people in their circles.

        New Friendships are being forged all the time.  Granddaughter day brought young people together from far flung places.  Little Kalyssa and Jenna will know each other as they grow up and may become friends.  Ruby Proctor and Esther Wrinkles have been friends for more than sixty years!  Raul Moreno, Jr., Champion’s young US Soldier Friend in Afghanistan, is forging new friendships as he is in that hard and dangerous place.  It is hoped that he and his Brother and Sister Soldiers will spend long hours off in the future reminiscing about their time there and finding the good in the circumstances that brought them together.  It is to be hoped that the Love and Gratitude expressed to them by the Whole Nation will have played a part in helping them move on to happy, safe, productive lives.  Wounded over there so far in Afghanistan and Iraq are well over twenty seven THOUSAND U.S. Soldiers.  “Isn’t that 2,700?”  No.  The number has three zeros making it twenty seven thousand.  That is just a current ‘reported’ figure.  Sad lessons from wars past are reminders that each of those numbers represents someone’s precious person and there are many more precious persons wounded than are ever acknowledge.  Champions are full of Love and Gratitude.

        Good Champion news is that Kalyssa Wiseman is home from the hospital with her family.  She is almost two weeks old now and big brother Foster really likes her.  There are already some very sweet photos circulating of the two of them and of them with Mom and Dad, Tanna and Roger.  Jenna Kaitland Brixey is home too!  She came home to the farm on Sunday and seems to have things under control there.  Janna and James have already found that a trip to town is a new experience with a baby.  They say that Grandpa Dean is taking to his new role pretty well.

        The Pioneer Descendents Gathering is just around the corner!  It will be held on the 6^th and 7^th of October and if it is anything like last year’s event it will be fantastic!  The gathering is promoted by many of the descendents of Tom Brown and John Burden.  There will be a host of exhibits and demonstrations of old time crafts and skills and admittance is free.  There will be some advertising in the next few weeks that will describe the expected fun of this much anticipated shindig.  The sesquicentennial is also just around the corner!  (Champion is reported to have four corners since the ‘square’ is so frequently mentioned, although their precise location is a matter of conjecture.)  It has been a treat to see the Herald’s photos of the Centennial Fashions.  Imagination and Modesty played a fine part in the design and execution of those lovely clothes.  Someone remarked that with the ease of doing laundry these days it would seem that people would be interested in wearing ‘more clothes.’  This week’s Music Appreciation:  “A-round the corner.  Be-neat the berry tree / A-long the foot path Be-hind the bush / Looking for Emily!/ I told my Emily to go away / But now I’m sad she didn’t stay. / And tomorrow night if she / Comes a-looking round for me / I’ll be sittin’ ‘neat the bitter berry tree!  A-round the corner.  Be-neat the berry tree / A-long the foot path Be-hind the bush / Looking for Emily.”   The First Champion who sings that song down at the Pioneer Descendents Gathering will get a free souvenir photograph to commemorate the occasion!

        Charlene is home from Virginia for a while!  She’s got Olivia with her and there is all manner of Grandmother and  Granddaughter fun going on.  Linda’s Almanac from over at The Plant Place says that the 13^th to the 17^th of the month will be excellent for planting any crops that yield above ground.

        “Just think of the ink!” someone remarked about the length of two weeks worth of Champion items stacked up on one page in the September 6^th issue of the Herald.  This particular batch of Champion Items saw its first ink back on August 31^st, 2006.  The column had been dormant for a while and previously had been written by Esther Wrinkles.  After she had moved over to Vanzant she kept it going as Vanzant/Champion for a while, but Champions were just laying low news wise and it’s hard to get the straight skinny on things from a distance, so Champion went unsung for a little while.  With the exception of about two years Esther has written about Champion and Vanzant for the Herald since she was twenty years old.  That’s close to seventy years!  It has been suggested that the current columnist might try to be more sparing with the ink.  Perhaps it will last longer.  One year down and sixty seven to go!  Things are getting pretty exciting around the Herald anyway with Ms. Fish’es impending nuptials!  Look for things to be wonderful and out of the ordinary.

        Wonderful, extraordinary things, lovely songs, the straight skinny of any hubbubs, shindigs, gatherings, reunions, sojourns and nuptials are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717.  Examples of Champion Friendships are eagerly requested e-mailed to Champion News.  Editorial comments concerning length or content can be directed to someone who cares at the Herald.  Fashion Commentary or charming old Champion stories may be shared in person at Henson’s Store on the north side of the Square where Stragglers are Always Welcome Home.  Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Champion – September 2, 2007

        This week in Champion the Very Best and Most Lovely News is the birth of two new little Champion lasses!  They are not twins but quite distant cousins born within a few hours of each other on Friday, August 31^st, 2007!  Their Mothers are fine and so are they!  Jenna Kaitland Brixey was born about one in the afternoon and is the daughter of Janna and James Brixey of Champion.  She is the first grandchild of Dean Brixey and will just have to get used to it.  Kalyssa Ariel Wiseman was born a little after six in the evening and is the daughter of Tanna and Roger Wiseman.  Kalyssa has a big brother named Foster Emit and Champion grandparents, Faye and Lonnie Krider.  She is the first granddaughter in the family.  The four grandsons were all around to welcome their new cousin including, Dakota and Dillon from Tennessee and Eli who may have the sweetest smile and the deepest dimples that ever come to Champion.  Dakota, who is now taller than his Mother, had great adventures to relate concerning his summer trip to Alaska.  He did a lot of fishing and learned a lot about bears and gold mining.  He’s a good storyteller and a nice brother and cousin to the younger fellows and now Kalyssa!

        The Champion School Reunion was a lovely gathering.  There were some notable absences for one reason or another and some unveiled remarks about ‘silver threads among the gold.’  The food was plentiful and tasty.  The music lifted spirits and the visiting and catching up was what the whole thing is about.  Those attending were: Mary Graham and Robert Graham and Elva Ragland of Drury; Elsie Curtis, Debbie Massey, Barbara Cooper, Linda and Daniel Kingston, Lonnie Krider, Betty Henson, Wilda Moses, Darrell Cooley and C.D. Upshaw of Norwood.  From Mountain Grove came Tom and Arlene Cooley, Ruby Proctor and Pete Proctor, Bertha Wood, Rita Coble, Frances and Wayne Sutherland (and daughters Greta of Hartville and Shirley of Nashville, TN), Sue and Russell Upshaw, Dean Upshaw and Juanita and Kenneth Anderson.  From Ava came Karen and Leavon Lambert, Irene Dooms, and Billy J. Lambert.  Rogersville sent Vivian Floyd and from Seymour came Jerry E. and Shawna Smith.  Tommy and Barbara Southerland came from Branson.  Esther Wrinkles came from Vanzant.  Peggy Hancock Carrera came from Twin Falls, Idaho.  Glenna and Wm. Robert Henson came from Springfield.  Gainesville was represented by Barbara Boam.  There were others in attendance as well and everyone had a good time.  The new signs had gone up just in time for everyone to find the way Home.  They will stay up for those who were not able to make it to the reunion this time but still want to come Home ….sometime….anytime.

        Friday was a big day for Champion marked by a visit from Betty and Darrell Haden.  They were on their way to the Haden-Kay-Sellers Reunion in Ava and stopped in Champion for some ice-cream and conversation.  They were expecting their reunion to be a good sized affair with Carl Haden Junior making an appearance from Springfield.  He was part of the Happy Haden Family that did a lot of entertaining around the country ‘back in the day.’  It is a matter of great delight that Mr. Haden left a copy of “Beyond the Missouri Sky” for Champion enjoyment.  It is an instrumental music compact disk with Charlie Haden on bass and Pat Metheny on acoustic guitars and other instruments.  Both the artists grew up in small towns in Missouri and Metheny said in his album notes “Missouri.  For me, as a kid growing up there, it was a place to dream.  A place to sit out in the backyard and consider the possibilities of life and music….”  He sounds like he was born and raised in Champion!  He also said, “But as much as I loved it there, I was also filled with a restlessness and curiosity about the whole world that I knew existed beyond that Missouri sky.”  Champions are an adventurous lot!  Among the tunes on the album is Roy Acuff’s “The Precious Jewel.”  It is a tragic, sweet love story that many may recall.  They chose the songs with beautiful melodies and chords that inspired them for this album.  They range from traditional old pieces to film themes and original compositions.  It is a most pleasant listen and Champions are welcome to enjoy it.  It will be good to hear about the music at the Haden-Kay-Sellers Reunion.

        The news from Last Week was that a couple of weeks earlier Linda and Glenn Cooley’s wedding anniversary was reported here.  Their accomplishment was underreported by a decade!  They’ve had their knot tied since August of 1962!  That’s forty-five years—not the reported thirty five.  Congratulations to a fine pair of Champions!  This error is regrettable, but somehow it represents a balance of sorts since there have been random and unfounded accusations of ‘embellishment’ to the news in these columns.  Someone suggested that might be why they don’t always appear!

        Notes go out from Champion to it’s soldier SSG Moreno, Raul / 4-319^th  /TRSABER / FOB NARAY / APO 09354.  No news has come from him for a while, but he stays in Champion thoughts and best wishes as do all those serving abroad in dangerous situations.  Love and Gratitude is due them from their whole Nation and it is due to the survivors of the Three thousand seven hundred and thirty nine American Service People who have given their all in Iraq.  It’s good news to hear that Pete Proctor and the fellows from VFW Post 3770 of Mountain Grove will be presenting a Patriotic program for the students at Skyline School sometime in September.

        It was reported last week that once again Louise Hutchison and Sharon Sikes are doing all the work!  When the Skyline VFD Firefighters hosted a class at the Fire House on Mobile Water Supply on Friday and Saturday(the 24^th and 25^th of August), they and a few others of the Ladies’ Auxiliary were busy preparing food for the students which included a big lunch on Saturday.  Betty Dye, Ruth Hamilton, Karen Griswold and others contributed food and assistance in getting the men fed.  The Firefighters always appreciate the contributions of the Auxiliary and it is generally acknowledged that the Skyline Fire Department enjoys solid community support.  Assistant Fire Chief Mark Arnold of the Thayer Fire Department instructed the Skyline Firefighters and members of other local fire departments in the most efficient use of the tanker and pumper trucks in order to maintain a continuous water supply for use in extinguishing fires where no local water is available.  The Skyline Fire Department covers an are of 125 square miles of its own territory and offers Mutual Aid to all surrounding fire departments.  Attendees remarked that having the opportunity to learn and practice the correct procedures in a non emergency situation greatly improves the efficiency and effectiveness of such tactics in the field.

        Exciting things, musical things, reports of hardworking people, and Brand New People are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717. Underreported things (accusations of embellishment notwithstanding) and requests to borrow the CD ‘Beyond the Missouri Sky’ can be e-mailed to Champion News.  As always, Henson’s Store is a good place to spin a yarn about the old days and the old ways to keep nostalgia humming along. As Champions have come home to roost they are…. LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

Darrell and Betty Haden made a trip to Champion in September 2007.  They were in the neighborhood to attend the Haden Family Reunion which occurs the first week end in September every year.  Walter Darrell Haden grew up over by Smallett and has kept his enthusiasm for his home place with a subscription to the Douglas County Herald and frequent visits to the area.  He has been a regular Champion Correspondent since this version of the “Champion Items” first appeared.  Encouragement from a Folklore expert and accomplished author is encouragement indeed.  He is past President of the Tennessee Folklore Society and his prose has appeared in the Tennessee Philological Journal, the White River Valley Historical Journal, the Secret Place, and the Douglas County Herald; his poetry in the Denver Post, the Chicago Tribune, Springfield (Mo.) Daily News, Colorado Springs Free Press, and Towers Magazine; his songs recorded and published by major companies in Nashville, Tennessee.

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CHAMPION – August 27, 2007

Excitement in Champion is running high!  The Champion School Reunion is about to happen and soon Champions from all over will be congregating on the old school grounds.  The weather is auspicious for such a gathering with milder temperatures and the grass greened from recent rains.  People will start arriving by ten or so on Saturday morning with lawn chairs and dishes for the pot-luck lunch.  There will be music and wonderful fellowship as people catch up on the past year’s news.  Some of those stories about the old timers may surface for the edification of some new comers to the beautiful place.  Someone asked how many Champions it will take to reach from one side of town to the other.  The signs do not appear to be more than a hundred yards apart.  Measurements might be taken.  Someone else said that now that everybody knows how to get to Champion and how proud Champions are of their signs, that it will just be a matter of time before they go missing.  Surely not!

        In response to an inquiry last week by Darrell Haden about Wood Van Eaton, the Champion e-mailbox received this message from Patsy Stover of Springfield:  “I was born in Ava, however have never lived there.  I still have many family members and friends in Douglas County.  My maiden name was Robertson.  I especially enjoy your column that does so much for your community and its history.  This week you mention news about Wood Van Eaton.  I don’t know if this was in jest, but if not:  He lives in Mansfield on U Highway near the Wright/Douglas County line (near my parents Gene and Lorene Roberson).”  The news has been passed along to Mr. Haden, so perhaps old acquaintances will be renewed.

        A couple of weeks ago Linda and Glenn Cooley’s wedding anniversary was reported here.  Their accomplishment was underreported by a decade!  They’ve had their knot tied since August of 1962!  That’s forty-five years—not the reported thirty five.  Congratulations to a fine pair of Champions!  This error is regrettable, but somehow it represents a balance of sorts since there have been random and unfounded accusations of ‘embellishment’ to the news in these columns.

        A Champion writes to Champion’s soldier in Afghanistan:  “Dear Raul, We haven’t heard from you for a while and we just imagine that is because you are very busy and that you don’t have a lot of leisure time to be writing.  Whatever is going on, we keep you in our thoughts and hope that you are well and safe.  Here in the Ozark hills the weather is finally starting to cool down a little.  We have been blessed with some rain after a long dry spell and everyone’s spirits are lifted because of it.  We look forward to hearing from you whenever you have the time, but please write to your family first.  We know that they are missing you.  For Your Service to Our Country we send you our Love and Gratitude.  Sincerely, Your Friends in Champion.”  Staff  Sergeant Raul Moreno Jr. is Champion’s soldier through the Adopt A US Soldier program.  He is in a forward operating base near the border with Pakistan in Eastern Afghanistan. His mailing address is:  SSG Moreno, Raul /4-319^th, TF SABER / FOB NARAY/ APO AE 09354.  People from all over the ‘free’ world are serving together in the coalitions in Afghanistan and Iraq.  On July 14, 2005, KY3 News reported that a newlywed and former Ozarks resident had died in Iraq.  He was 22 year-old Sgt. Timothy James (T.J.) Sutton.  He was a 2001 graduate of Fordland High School and was based out of Fort Carson, Colorado.  He died when he drove his HumVee over a land mine in Baghdad.  As of August 26^th there have been 3,732 US Service People to loose their lives in Iraq.  356 US deaths have occurred in Afghanistan as of August 13^th.

        Once again Louise Hutchison and Sharon Sikes are doing all the work!  When the Skyline VFD Firefighters hosted a class at the Fire House on Mobile Water Supply on Friday and Saturday, they and a few others of the Ladies’ Auxiliary were busy preparing food for the students which included a big lunch on Saturday.  Betty Dye, Ruth Hamilton, Karen Griswold and others contributed food and assistance in getting the men fed.  The Firefighters always appreciate the contributions of the Auxiliary and it is generally acknowledged that the Skyline Fire Department enjoys solid community support.

        An old man who calls himself a Curmudgeon was sitting on a Champion porch this week talking to a young man who has been thinking about joining the military service.  The Curmudgeon said that while he was not a party to this incident he did remember hearing about it when he was a kid.  “When them Dough-Boys came back from World War One all shot up, burned and blind from the mustard gas they went to the Government for the help that they was promised they would get if they got wounded over there.  When they couldn’t get nobody to talk to them they marched up in front of the White House.  Well, the folks in the White House called the National Guard on them and shot ‘em up some more.”  This sounds like the historic event known as The Sad Tale of the Bonus Marchers.  The Bonus Army was the American Expeditionary Force that fought in Europe and was promised a bonus upon their release because they had been willing to serve at a reduced pay rate.  The depression intervened and when the unemployed veteran soldiers began to ask for their bonuses early they were refused.  They marched in protest and President Herbert Hoover ordered the U.S. Army to run them out of downtown Washington.  The troops were commanded by Douglas Mac Arthur, and his subordinate officers including Dwight D. Eisenhower and George S. Patton.  According to the Washington Post, “There were perhaps as many as 60,000 members of the “B.E.F.” (the Bonus Expeditionary Force) in Washington at that time.  They were racially integrated.  Veterans congregated by their state of origin, and there was no color line.  Nor was there when Mac Arthur — ignoring the objections of D.C. Police Chief Pelham Glassford and defying Hoover’s order not to proceed across the Anacostia River — attacked the bonuseers with full-strength tear gas and then burned their tents and shacks.  Four people were killed.”  The impact of these events subsequently caused a different approach toward the veterans of WW Two.  Still, it is to be noted that Our Veterans do not always receive the treatment that they deserve after they have completed their Service.  The old Curmudgeon wound up his tirade to the young man by suggesting that while the Military Service is Honorable, “a body should volunteer and go work in a Veterans Hospital for a solid year before he joins up.”

        The Missouri Song List has been neglected.  A person keeping all these songs in his head would stay busy smiling and being glad to live in a place that inspires such music!

1. The Missouri Waltz
2. Meet Me in St. Louie, Louie
3. I’m Goin Back to Whur I Come From
4. The Westphalia Waltz
5. The West Plains Explosion
6. My Missouri Home
7. Kansas City, Here I come
8. May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You
9. Walking in the Sunshine
10. Keep a Little Song Handy
11. Company’s Comin’

        There are probably a lot of songs that relate to Missouri that are not on this list.  Champions are musical.  Toes tap in these parts.  There is humming at the clothes line, in the milk barn, in the hay fields and feed lots.  Whistling and yodeling happen spontaneously and a car trip is just an opportunity to belt out a favorite song.   News has come that Young Foster has a new favorite — “Working Man Blues.”

        Exciting things, musical things, reports of hardworking people, and of old Curmudgeons are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717. Underreported things (accusations of embellishment notwithstanding) can be e-mailed to Champion News.  As always, Henson’s Store is a good place to spin a yarn about the old days and the old ways to keep nostalgia humming along.  As Champions come home to roost they are…. LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

CHAMPION—August 20, 2007

        For forty days and forty nights Champion baked!  Brown leaves curled and crunched in the parched grass underfoot and dust plumes billowed high behind even a slow moving truck.  Overnight it changed and once again Champion is lush and green—full of relaxed and optimistic people.

        It was an all day celebration as the new Champion signs went in on Monday.  Ms. Stephanie Stogsdill of District 8 of the Missouri Department of Transportation did not have to bother calling (and did not) and still the place was all abuzz watching the single MODOT employee install TWO signs.  Previously Champion had one sign with writing on each side.  Now there are TWO signs with writing on only one side each.  They have been placed judiciously on either side of town so that both coming and going visitors to Champion will know where they are and where they have been.  It is marvelous!  Champion Parade Committee members were careful to clean the right of way after the celebration, so there is no sign of the balloons and confetti nor of any of the soggy sheet music that may have blown off the music stands of the brass band as strains of “America the Beautiful” and “We Are The Champions” wafted over Fox Creek between rain showers and thunder rumbles.  At nightfall only a few strands of crape paper were left to remind locals of the riotous antics of the day.  As usual the speeches went on a little long and may have been a bit overblown with hyperbole, but the fireworks and refreshments made up for the long-windedness of local dignitaries and everyone was glad for the rain to ameliorate the fire hazard.  All in all a lovely time was had and once again Champion is Sitting Pretty!

        The Skyline Picnic is still much the topic of conversation.  It was good to see Pat Bryan on that Saturday evening.  He spent some time near the kitchen on the flat place where he could maneuver his walker without much difficulty.  Louise Hutchison said that she and Sharon Sikes had a wonderful visit with him.  She said that he expects that it will still be a year before he can get back in the UPS truck to run the Champion/Skyline route.  It seems miraculous that he has been able to make such excellent progress after the devastating accident that occurred back in May when he was struck head-on by a driver who had crossed the center lane over on Highway P.  The driver who has taken his place with UPS for a while is also a very pleasant fellow, but it will be a joy to have Pat back on the route.

        Esther Wrinkles from over in Vanzant reported a conversation with Pete Procter of the Mtn. Grove VFW.  He was surprised to see his picture in the paper and pleased to have his Post 3770 recognized for its support of the Skyline FVD.  When the Fire Department was first getting started Eual Smith and his wife, Freda, used to come to every picnic and always presented a check to the Fire Department on behalf of the Mtn. Grove FVW.  Since Mr. Smith passed away, Pete Proctor has done those honors.  Mrs. Wrinkles also said that there was a full house over at the North and South on Sunday.  Bertie makes an excellent dressing with her secret receipt and Esther was sorry to have shown up a little latte to get any.  Wally and Bertie, proprietors of the North and South were also at the Skyline Picnic and had one of those souvenir photos taken.  They have a pair of sweet smiles!

        A card has come from Darrell Haden over in Tennessee.  He said that they will be attending the Haden-Kay-Sellers Reunion which is held annually on the last Saturday before Labor Day.  That is the same day as the Champion School Reunion which he said they would ‘crash’ if they were not otherwise obligated.  He also said, “I do remember going to school at Ava High with Champion teacher Arthur Porter.  He, his father, Everett, and sister, Nola Jean, could make the hair stand up on the back of one’s neck with their fine harmony on “Old Daniel Prayed.”  Does Woody Van Eaton live somewhere between McComb and Norwood”  He was my friend from 1952-1954 at Ft. Leonard Wood.”  The Champion sign has gone back up, so Mr. Haden should be able to find the beautiful berg that he has come to know through these ‘items’ with no difficulty.  From the Norwood exit off Highway 60, he can go South on Highway C.  In about 12 miles he will come to the intersection with Highway 76 where the Skyline School sits.  About three miles farther on C Highway he will find WW Highway.  A left turn to the East will bring him to Champion in about two miles.  Just before the pavement ends at the Fox Creek slab he can glance to the right and see Henson’s Store and the little church that was the Champion School in years gone by.  He will be in the Heart of Champion at that moment.  Champions will have the Welcome Mat out!

        It is a small world.  Travel has become relatively easy.  Well, it can still be a pain, but it’s not like the old days when 76 Highway was as muddy, rocky track.  It was a real boost to this area when the roads were paved.  Some Champions think there is probably enough pavement now, but they like it that they can go anywhere they please.  (Mrs. Eva Powell’s grandson Derek, has just been to Timbuktu!) “Neighbors” are just the people who live next door.  There have been 4,005 coalition deaths—3,707 Americans, two Australians, 168 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvian, 21 Poles, two Romanians, five Salvadorian, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians—in the war in Iraq as of August 20, 2007.  A neighbor from Pineville, MO, Private 1^st Class Christopher L. Marion, died there on February 22, 2006.  In Afghanistan there have been 650 coalition deaths—423 Americans, one Australian, 70 Britons, 67 Canadians, one Czech, four Danes, nine Dutch, two Estonians, one Finn, 10 French, 21 Germans, nine Italians, two Norwegians, one Pole, one Portuguese, four Romanians, one South Korean, 21 Spaniards, two Swedes—in the war on terror as of August 19, 2007.  Champion’s neighbors are a diverse and interesting lot and their soldiers join with those of their neighbors to do what the leaders ask of them.  They are all patriots and Champions and Love and Gratitude is their due the world around.  The world also seems small because information is now available to ordinary people in ways that have never been available before.  The population of Ava in the 2000 census was 3,021.  Just in Douglas County Champions have about 13,648 neighbors.  An official census of Champion might be an interesting pursuit.  Would the counting be done by voter registration or by proximity to the epicenter of the town.  Perhaps there is enough information available already.  Champions’ opinions are welcome.

        Gardeners who were able to nurse their tomato plants through the intense heat now find their beautiful tomatoes splitting!  It’s always something.  A recent afternoon had a few gardeners meeting down at the Mill Pond to discuss their relative garden situations and to share produce.  That is to say, Linda shared a lot of wonderful peppers, beets and okra.  Her almanac from the Plant Place declares that the 24h and 25^th will be a good time to plant above-ground crops and the 28^th and 29^th will be good for root crops and vine crops for those thinking about a nice fall garden.  A neighbor from far away remarked at the beauty of place wiht the bluffs and the trees and the pleasant temperature down by the water.  Young ones, loose from school for the afternoon, splashed and squealed and made a memory of a perfect summer afternoon.

        Memories of perfect afternoons, celebrations, opinions about a Champion census, news about Champion’s interesting neighbors or ordinary people (whoever they may be), secret receipts, hearsay of any pleasant sort is welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO. 65717.  Examples of things sitting pretty, things that make the hair stand up on the back of one’s neck or any news about Woody Van Eaton may be e-mailed to Champion News.  Report those things in person if that seems best, though there is no real need to say a word at Henson’s Store.  Meditation benches are available inside and out for anyone who enjoys just soaking up the pleasant ambience or reflecting on days gone by or planning Something Wonderful in Champion—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

CHAMPION—August 13,2007

        Whew!  What a Picnic!  Temperatures sizzled and still they came!  Attendance was down a little on Friday night for the Skyline VFD Picnic, but Saturday was a rip roaring event!  Volunteers needed a few days to recover from the preparations, the picnic itself, and then all the work of shutting it down and cleaning everything.  Sunday and Monday saw a lot of volunteers resting on their laurels and talking on the phone to each other about what fun it had been and how glad they are that it is over for the year and what changes and improvements will be made for next year.  A year passes quickly in these parts.  A young fellow said that that wasn’t ‘laurels’ that his Pap was resting on, but was his back-side!  “Laurels” is just a nice way of saying ‘back side’ around here.  It’s a euphemism.

        School busses are running again.  How quickly the summer has flown by!  Skyline students and teachers are back at it again and ready to have another great year.  There are some new children in the neighborhood and chances for some new friendships.  Ms. Curtis and all the excellent Skyline staff are helping the students make some wonderful memories for the future while they prepare them to succeed as they move on to higher education.  The Champion School Reunion will be held on the First of September.  Old friends will gather to reminisce and to catch up on the news of the past year.  The festivities get started fairly early in the day and folks bring a dish for a pot luck lunch, and lawn chairs for comfort under the big trees.  There is always music and good fellowship.  The yarn spinning is of epic proportions.  Mrs. Ruby Proctor and Mrs. Esther Wrinkles enjoyed each other’s company at the Picnic Saturday night.  They have been friends since the early 1930’s when they went to school at Champion.  Mrs. Proctor said that Champion used to have wonderful picnics long years ago.  They had a big wooden dance floor down by the creek and Johnny Hatfield used to come and wrestle his bear there.  She said he lived somewhere down on Fox Creek below Oscar Krider’s place and had a pet black bear.

        School is starting for others too.  Charlee Smith, daughter of Wes and Pat Smith of Champion will be starting at Crowder College in Neosho this year.  She will leave on Sunday the 18^th and Pat and Wes will have to learn how to get along without her around the place.  They have had practice in having daughters move away.  Their first daughter is in Springfield with their 4 month old grandson their middle daughter is in Mountain Home with their 3 year old granddaughter and another grandchild on the way.  Charlee’s softball talent together with her excellent academic record have won her a full scholarship at Crowder.  She hit more home runs for Norwood High School than any other player there in history.  Her first college game will be in Springfield on September 28^th.  Champions imagine that her parents will be in attendance.

        No news has come from Champion’s soldier this week.  He is Staff Sergeant Raul Moreno and he is stationed at a Forward Operating Base at Naray Afghanistan near the Pakistani border.  That part of the world is hot, not just temperature wise, but politically as well.  Champions don’t complain about the weather here and they keep Raul in their best thoughts.  His address is SSG Moreno, Raul / 4-319^th, TF SABER / FOB NARAY / APO AE 09354  Email:  raul.morenoju(at)us.army.mil.  The Plant Place in Norwood donated 200 bags of daffodils to be planted to show support and respect for the troops.  They were given away as free gifts at the Skyline VFD Picnic this year.  Raul and all his fellow soldiers serving in dangerous foreign places can benefit from the good thoughts of people here at home.  Champion found Raul through the Adopt A US Soldier program on line at www.AdoptaUSsoldier.com.  It is an easy thing to do and the opportunity to be of cheer and comfort to those who are doing their Country’s work is not to be missed.  Three thousand six hundred and ninety US service personnel have lost their lives in Iraq since that conflict began.  The number of wounded may never be known.  In May 2007, Staff Sergeant Russell K. Shoemaker of Sweet Spring, MO was killed there.  To his family and to the families of all the fallen and wounded ones, Champions express their Love and Gratitude.

        Mrs. Eva Powell’s grandsons were with her at the Skyline Picnic.  Derek had stories to tell about his travels to Africa and to Paris this summer.  He had pictures on his lap-top of himself in Timbuktu!  There were pictures of him with giraffes and camels.  He is quite and adventurer, but it sounds like he was glad to get home and he and Brian are always welcome and happy visitors to Champion.  There were some great pictures taken of them at the Picnic with their sweet Grandmother.  They are all Champions.

        Linda and Glenn Cooley of Champion celebrated their 35^th wedding anniversary on August 12^th.  J.T. and Betty Shelton celebrated their 47^th anniversary on the 15^th of August.  Champion is a place that likes to commemorate its excellent occurrences all year long.

        Betty and Dale Thomas enjoyed themselves at the Skyline Picnic.  They are getting ready for the Pioneer Descendents Gathering that they will host down at Yates on October 6^th and 7^th.  There will be a lot of exhibitions and demonstrations and it promises to be a lively affair.  Champions are looking forward to it.  It is such a gift to the Present to be reminded of the Heritage of this Lovely Place.  When somebody asked, “What is all the big deal with our Heritage anyway?  What difference does it make?”  Somebody else said that if you don’t know where you have been, you don’t know where you are going.  Abraham Lincoln once told a biographer that his worst fear for America was that the Revolutionary experience would dilute as the country grew older.  His parents remembered the Revolution as a part of their own experience.  He remembered it as a vivid part of his parents experience.  His fear seemed to be that the struggles of the Founding Fathers would become just so much boring history like the struggles of the ancient Romans and the Freedom they won with such difficulty would be taken for granted by future generations.  Champions do not take their Freedom for granted and they are happy to recognize the hard work and skill that it took to survive in this part of the world just a couple of generations back.  The Douglas County Sesquicentennial Celebration is coming up soon also, so there will be ample opportunity to wax nostalgic all the way through October.

        Examples of epics, what sizzles, what needs waxing, commemorating, celebrating, emphasizing or euphemizing may be sent to Champion Items at Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717.  Those things or reasons to be glad that school has started can be e-mailed to Champion News.  As the Missouri Song List has been much neglected due to all the Picnic Folderol, anyone is Free to burst into spontaneous song on the porch at Henson’s Store where the “H” stands for Heritage.  CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

CHAMPION – August 6, 2007

        Congratulations to Champion Grandparents!  Lilly Ann Hamilton was born in Springfield on Friday evening, August 3^rd to Coy and Kristy Hamilton of Marshfield.  She weighed close to eight pounds and has a beautiful head of black hair.  Her grandparents, Ruth and Rob Hamilton were on the scene and are still walking on air over the new arrival.  Rob said this was the first time he has got to hold one of his grandchildren when they were newborn.  The others have been a month old or so before he could get his hands on them to start the spoiling.  Lilly has three cousins, two boys and a girl.  They all live over in Oklahoma, but that’s not too far away to be close.  Someone said that closeness has very little to do with geography, particularly these days with so many technological advances within easy reach.

        The “dawg days” of summer have lumbered into Champion and have unceremoniously flopped down on the porch, panting with tongue lolling out and not enough energy to snap at the flies!  It’s a caution.  It gets about this warm every year and many can remember temperatures much higher.  Champions are not really complainers.  They just make the most of every situation.  Like Ed Henson’s dog, Toby, who would wait around for George Tom Proctor to share a carton of chocolate milk with him on a warm afternoon.  Someone said that along about the end of January days like these will be remembered fondly.

        Years ago Fox Creek ran most of the time.  It didn’t take too much rain for it to run high over the road there just East of Champion Proper.  In the mid 1980’s the Champion-Skyline communities decided that it would be a good idea to have a fire department on the West side of that creek since the Eastern Douglas County Fire Department had a long way to go around to serve these people when the creek was up. With the hard work of some dedicated Volunteers by 1987 the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department was in full swing.  Twenty years later Fox Creek rarely gets up anymore but the Skyline VFD is still a vital and going concern.  Now it has over 200 members and covers an area of 125 square miles in addition to providing Mutual Aid to all its surrounding fire departments.  Auxiliary Ladies hosted an Italian luncheon for the Volunteers and Firefighters who met on the picnic grounds on Saturday the 4^th.  The ladies cleaned and organized the kitchen while the men-folk manicured the grounds and began setting up the various games and booths in preparation for the Picnic which will be held on the 10^th and 11^th.  In addition to the good food and hard work, there was an ample amount of fun.  There are some exciting (by local standards) new attractions that will surprise Picnickers this year.  It will be plenty warm too—just the right kind of weather for getting out to enjoy the festivities.

        The Champion School Reunion is coming up the Saturday before the Labor Day week end.  This year it will be on September 1^st.  “Bringing back forgotten memories and refreshing those which still linger is what this book, Champion School Memories, is about.”  That is a quote from the forward of the book which was compiled in 1985.  It is 108 pages jam packed with history, records, reminiscences and photographs.  Most Champion School Alumni are probably familiar with it, but those who are not may peruse a copy at Henson’s Store.  Included in the book are hand written letters from many of the Champion teachers.  First it has to be noted that the penmanship in all the letters is just excellent.  That seems to be an art that is loosing ground these days.  Betty Dean Keller who taught first through fourth grades from 1942 to 1944 said, “Many amusing and memorable things happened during those years, but to me the happiest of the memories are of having been a small part of so many lives.  Especially when I think of the many intelligent and useful citizens that have gone forth in so many walks of life and have accomplished so much in this busy and complicated world of ours.  To have shared only a small portion is such an honor.”  Arthur Porter, who taught from 1957 to 1959 said, “Many of my week ends were very exciting because most every student spent a week-end with my wife, Gustava, and me.  Usually two, three, or four came at the same time.  We worked on Saturday, went to Church on Sunday, and then to Uncle Charley’s country store to get some pop, peanuts, ice cream, etc.  Larry, Harley and Eldridge came together to spend the week end with us and it was during their visit that Larry received some unforgettable experiences.  When entering the kitchen to meet Gustava, Larry missed the kitchen step.  He fell and slid across the floor one way, while his lunch bucket flew another.  Next the boys went outside to play on the seesaws and Larry fell off the seesaw while high in the air, backwards.  Larry decided to stop playing with Eldridge and Harley and went to lay down in my trailer, not knowing it would dump until Eldridge and Harley dumped it, turning Larry upside down.”  Larry still lives in the area and can often be seen at local gatherings.  Eldridge (a.k.a. “Punk”) is seen from time to time.  Harley lives off in Illinois and makes it back to Champion to visit fairly often.  It is to be hoped that he will make it back for the reunion this year.  Those three were quite a popular vocal trio.  Arthur Porter was their music teacher and they were a great delight to him.

        It is good news to Champions to hear that Pat Bryan, the UPS driver who was so seriously injured a few weeks ago on Highway P East of Ava is making a good recovery.  The driver who has replaced him says that Pat is doing well and that he expects to be driving again one of these days off in the future.  It will be recalled that he was injured when a vehicle crossed over the center line and hit the UPS truck head-on.  Even the most cautious and experienced driver cannot control the actions of other people.  These are such beautiful roads, but they require vigilance.  Pat called the other day to say that he will be at the Skyline Picnic Saturday night.  It is great that he is getting out and Champions will be glad to see him!

        Highway WW has had it’s face lift.  It has been patched and paved, oiled and graveled with new yellow stripes running right down the middle of it.  It is in wonderful shape.  One of these days the “Champion” sign will go back up and Champion will be sitting pretty once again.  No word has come yet from Stephanie Stogsdill of MODOT concerning the date of the sign replacement, however, all preparations have been made for a gala ceremony to occur at a moment’s notice.

        A Champion writes to Champion’s soldier:  “Dear Raul,  It was so nice to hear from you and it is especially good for us to know that in spite of the fighting and hardships that you endure you are still able to recognize the beauty of the place.  A friend e-mailed that it is 122 degrees there.  We hope she was exaggerating.  I have no good advice for you concerning home buying.  It seems like prices are really falling in different parts of the country so it maybe a good time.  Buying property can be pretty tricky and you have to be careful of variable rate interest loans and requirements for balloon payments, etc.  You are very wise to research the process.  Good luck with it.  How old is your daughter?  We know that you must get very lonesome for your family.  You know that they are missing you too and one of these days you’ll all be together again.  We will hope it is soon and that you have a happy life together.  Your package is going in the mail today so I guess you can look for it in a couple of weeks.  It has a little bit of everything in it and we hope it is a help to you.  Keep a happy heart!  We send Love and Gratitude from your friends in Champion.”  His address is SSG Moreno, Raul / 4-319^th, TF SABER / FOB NARAY  / APO AE 09354  Email raul.morenoju(at)us.army.mil.  As of August 5^th 3,671 US Service People have lost their lives in Iraq including Staff Sergeant Gina R. Sparks of Drury, Missouri. who died October 4, 2004.

        Linda over at the Plant Place in Norwood has been busy transplanting the Cole crops for us for the fall.  When she had to go out of town for a couple of days to take her Granddaughter, Danielle, to meet her Dad, she took the baby seedlings with her!  She couldn’t leave them unattended so the broccoli and cabbage will have been to the Lake of the Ozarks!  Funny.

        Funny things, Congratulations, examples of walking on air, and reminders that the weather could be worse can be sent to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Old school day memories and people who will be sights for sore eyes can be e-mailed to Champion News.  Any of those things or any interesting trips made by garden plants or produce can be reported in person at Henson’s Store in the Prettiest Little Spot in the Country…..CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

CHAMPION—July 30, 2007

        Great news in Champion is that Foster’s parents are feeling better.  The lad spent a couple of days with his grandparents during the week while his folks recuperated.  Part of that time was spent hanging out at the store with his Granddad, Doug & Jackie learning how to spin yarns.  He helped with the hay and proved himself to be an excellent kitten wrangler.  Cousin Dillon has also been down of the farm.  He and his Mom came in from Tennessee and spent a few days while Dakota made a fishing trip to Alaska with his other Grandfather.  It is always a pleasant time to have Linda home.  She enjoys milking and her folks enjoy her company and the help.

        Neighbors over on EE had a wonderful picnic!  Saturday night it was estimated that there were four to five hundred people there!  Some one said that the Holt “UP’N AT’T” 4 H Picnic has been going on for 57 years!  The Champion community was well represented.  Some Champions have been attending for most of those years!  When a particular Mr. Upshaw was asked if he had made ice cream for the affair, he said, “Well, I offered to but they said they had had some over at Vanzant and they thought they would just pass.”  Everyone was glad to see Mrs. Esther Wrinkles there.  She is a great appreciator of the local good music and there was plenty to be had there.

        Eighteen people, Firefighters and Volunteers, met up at the Skyline Picnic grounds on Tuesday the 24^th to discuss the Picnic upcoming on the 10^th and 11th and all the work that has to be done in preparation for it.  It was good to see that the new freezer is doing it’s job so that there will be plenty of cold treats for Picnickers to enjoy.  Local merchants are being generous in donating items for the door-prize drawings.  There will be some new activities this year combined with all the old favorites.  Plans were made to cut the grass short and treat the grounds for ticks and chiggers.  The Fire Chief said he has never had a single chigger bite!  (Must be they come in multiples!)  Anyway there won’t be any of those critters around come Picnic Time!  New members and volunteers are excited to pitch in and be a part of what promises to be a lovely Picnic.  New neighbors up on the High Road on the Pleasant Ridge have a swing set in their front yard!  It will be interesting to see how many personal invitations to the Skyline Picnic will be extended to the new family in the neighborhood!  Champion is a friendly place!

        A letter arrived on the 26th from Raul!  He is Champion’s adopted soldier serving in Naray, Afghanistan.  He says,  “Dear Champion,  Well it is nice to hear that you are playing bridge.  I hope that you won.  Well sorry that I have not been able to write to you sooner.  Reason was that we were on black out (where they shut the internet and phones off).  I don’t mind the article that you posted about the letter I wrote to you.  In fact, I think it was a good thing that way people can see a little bit of the hardship that me and my Soldiers have to go through on a regular basis.  I have to say ‘Thank You’ once again for your concern of my Soldiers and me and my family.  I want to say thank you to everyone there at Champion and your supporters for every thing that you have done, to include keeping us in your prayers.  I have to say that this country is Beautiful, aside all the fighting and shooting.  My FOB is in a valley.  When the sun rises and sets the light on the mountains looks beautiful.”  He goes on to say that he will try to send pictures and that his wife and daughter will be moving to a different house soon.  He says that he and his wife are thinking of buying a house in McAllen, Texas and is wondering if anyone has any advice to give as far as what to look for and what questions to ask.  He wonders if anyone knows of a good book or website to learn about buying a house.  There are some envelopes addressed to Raul at Henson’s Store.  It just takes a regular 41 cent stamp.  His package got off to him on Wednesday, full of beef jerky, tuna, crackers and various other things.  He’ll have pictures of Champion, notes from Champions and an idea of what the community is all about.  His address is SSG Moreno, Raul / 4-319^th, TF SABER /  FOB NARAY / APO AE 09354 /  Email:  raul.morenojr(at)us.army.mil  People all over the country are reaching out to help those serving their nation in dangerous places.  It speaks well of Americans everywhere.  3,652 US Service People have lost their lives in Iraq since the conflict began, including Lawrence Parrish of Lebanon, MO who died there  October 7^th, 2006.  As of July 24^th, 2007 at least 346 members of the US Military had died in Afghanistan.  Love and Gratitude to them and to those they leave behind is a given.

        Wilburn allows that he’ll probably get a third cutting of hay in October and that he has had trouble with the hay being too thick and heavy.  It’s hard on his equipment.  Such problems!  Others are being over run with huge squashes.  Cucumbers are coming out of some Champion ears and the few ears of corn that the raccoons don’t get are just luscious.  Water bath canners are bubbling over-time and the “shh shh shh” of the pressure cookers guarantees that green beans and stewed tomatoes will fill pantry shelves.  In late winter when everything is drab and brown, these glorious summer days will be appreciated when those jars are opened.

        Granddaughter Day was a grand success!  Grandmothers and Granddaughters met at Vera Cruz on Monday afternoon just for The Fun Of It and for no other reason.  Among them were Danielle from Kansas City and Sierra from Portland, OR, who have been going to the Mill Pond with their Grandmothers most summers since they were babies.  Danielle is 12  years old and Sierra is 10 now.  They became acquainted on Granddaughter Day and learned that they have many common interests such as cats and Mardi Gras  beads.  They may become life-long friends.  Grandmothers who live too far from their Granddaughters could suffer with great bouts of loneliness and jealousy but they content themselves with observing at a little distance the joys of their Grandmother Friends.  Patients is one of those qualities often attributed to Grandmothers.  There must be some kind of trick to it.  Linda’s sister Charlene from over at the Plant Place and the Gift Corner in Norwood sent a note from Virginia where she is taking care of her Granddaughter, Olivia, while her Mother, Sherrie, who is in the US Navy, is serving on an aircraft carrier in the Middle-East.  She says, “Hi ,I really enjoyed hearing from you and reading your “Champion” articles.  I feel like a celebrity now I’m in the paper!  Alls fine here.  Olivia and I have been playing and talking and having a good time.  Of course I miss being home and she misses her Mommie.  I have been working in the yard some.  I turned over a little patch in the back yard for a vegetable patch and transplanted some tomato plants sewed a few green beans and planted some basil plants.  So you see I still have my hands in the dirt to some extent.  We’ve had a little excitement here.  They had strong wind the other day and it blew a tree down in the back yard which broke through the fence.  Of course Buddy and George immediately found the hole and now can get out of the back yard.  They don’t go far but I don’t like them running loose.  Olivia and I have made a little playhouse for her in the garage.  I have bought a shelf and a little kitchen cabinet for her a garage sales (what else).  So, we go out there quite often and she plays while I clean up my garage sale finds and price them.  I hope to be coming home with Olivia September 5.  I hope it will still be warm enough to go down to the creek with Olivia.  She talks about going to the beach and playing in the sand so hopefully we will be able to do that. .I’d better go wake up Olivia and get started on another day.  Charlene”

        “Where in the world is the Amicable Asylum of Champion?” ask a regular reader of the Champion Items.  “I been living around here all my life and I never heard of such a thing as that.”  The term was meant to describe Champion as a Friendly Place—a Sanctuary.  Living in this Beautiful Spot it is easy to forget that much of the rest of the world is covered with concrete and crowded with unhappy people.  Champions do not take their good fortune for granted.  Sometimes an Itinerant Musician will pass through spreading sweet sounds and good will, full of stories from the Big World.  It is exciting out there and he reports even handedly the miraculous and delightful things together with the dour and dreary.  He is a great, marvelous disruption and a ravenous appreciator of  garden produce!  There Is No Place Like Home.

        Clichés of all sorts, excellent disruptions of daily routine, or any kind of Trick for gaining Patients is welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Big garden bragging or any kind of Good Champion Gossip is welcome at Champion News.  Any of those things or yarns about Champion’s old timers or the old days can be spun in person at Henson’s Store…in the Friendly Refuge of CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!

CHAMPION – July 23, 2007

        Good news in Champion takes many forms.  The ‘second cutting’ of hay is a wonderful thing.  Last year by this time things were parched and dry and the first and only cutting of hay was slim and dismal.  Next year is a mystery yet and that’s the best way.  Richard and Kay were down visiting from Marshfield all smiles talking about granddaughter Madelynn Ward and her sweet antics.  Her cousin, Foster Wiseman, is making a good recovery from his recent bout with a stomach flu.  That’s very good news because he is such a Ray of Sunshine nobody wants to think of him as not feeling well.  Dustin Cline was in the neighborhood from Rogersville, working on a painting project and a personal agenda involving a local Beauty.  He is energetic and optimistic, both excellent qualities.  She is thoughtful and patient…… admirable traits as well.

        More good news is going on in local gardens.  Neighbor Bob Berry over in Gentryville said that he never saw such a good year for potatoes.  He planted one short little row this year that yielded more than the three long rows he planted in previous years when sometimes we was lucky to get his seed back.  “And big beautiful potatoes,” he said with his hands held out holding a great big invisible potato.  Squash bugs had decimated his squash and cucumbers though and Louise was aggravated that the coons had beat Wilburn to harvest the corn.  They got or spoiled all but about 150 ears…24 nice bags in the freezer.  She shared her favorite receipt for putting up corn.  It came from the mother-in-law of her son, Gary Hutchison.  Mrs. Leora Graham from over at Sweden was Marsha’s Mother and her relationship to Louise is that of ‘mishbucha.’ (That is a Yiddish word for kinfolks not related by blood.)  Louise remarked at what a lovely person she was.  Anyway Ms. Graham’s receipt calls for 4 quarts of corn cut from the cob.  In a pan heat one quart of water, 1 cup of sugar and 4 teaspoons of salt to boiling.  Add the corn and bring it back up to boiling.  Simmer for twenty minutes.  Cool and kept it in the refrigerator over night.  Then put it in containers and freeze it.  Someone had said that the variety known as “peaches and cream” does not freeze well.  Well, that’s the exact variety Louise uses and she said she never has had any complaints.  A taste of it was an absolute delight and proved her point.  It is Policy now not to brag on people’s cooking (or ice cream) by pure hear-say.  Champion’s friend and friend of Purna Mae from out Tulsa way, has had bad ground-hog problems in her garden on west of Champion.  Some of them have paid dearly for the destruction they caused and there is a smell of dead groundhog around now that may caution others.  She also made a trip to the barber shop and spread hair around the outside of the garden.  That is thought to be a deterrent for a variety of unwelcome visitors.

        Visitors are always welcome in Champion and the Champion Wood-Chuck is a monstrous fellow.  He’ll be laying low until about February when he’ll expect to be the Grand Marshall of the Great Ground Hog Day Parade.  There is a lot going on between now and then, so he had better just bide his time, stay out of the gardens, and try to hold on to his hide.  Skyline Firefighters and Volunteers met Tuesday up at the picnic grounds to get the ball rolling (the Auxiliary Ladies are on record as rolling already) on the Picnic that will be the Highlight of the summer social season.  There are going to be some real surprises in the silent auction this year and Volunteers are going out on their visits to the supportive local merchants collecting the door prizes that will be given away.  Excitement builds!  Champion neighbors over at 76 and EE highway will hold the Holt 4-H Picnic on 27^th & 28^th.  It’s always a lot of fun and the Skyline/Champion folks always try to get out there to support the “Up and At ‘Em 4-H Kids.”  Then it will just be two weeks until the Skyline Picnic; then the first Saturday before Labor Day will be the Champion School Reunion.  There is the Sesquicentennial Celebration coming up and then the Pioneer Decedents Gathering down at Yates on October 6^th & 7^th.  Staying abreast of the Social Calendar in Champion is a full time job.  It was a pleasure to receive an e-mail from Betty Thomas down at Yates.  She produces a hand-quilted quilt for their annual event.  It will be exciting to see what she has quilted up for this year!  Champions will be standing in line to buy tickets for a chance at it!

        Dean Brixey has wandered off to town.  He’s bought a nice rock house on a shady street within an easy walk of all the necessities and diversions.  He is settling in there and Champions are glad that he is happy and still not too far from ‘home.’  Once a Champion, always so!  He’ll have several good reason to come back this way and he’ll be a sight for sore eyes.  There have been reports of tricycles parked in front of his old place up on the High Road so there may be new neighbors in the offing!  How Grand!  The Russell Upshaw family is relocating for the nonce in Mt. Grove.  Champion family and friends wish them all the best as they regroup from the loss of their country home.  They are part of the extended Champion Family.  Once a Champion….always so!

        Darrell Haden who asked the unanswered question:  “Was Gene Autry’s horse from Champion?” now asks “…..do the folks you write into your column all enjoy Wheaties?”  His family reunion is coming up over in Smallet soon.  Perhaps he can be lured over to Champion for a get-together while he’s in the Neighborhood and maybe his questions will be addressed.  His cousin, Ms. McCallie of Nowata, certainly sounds up for it.  Visitors are Always Welcome in Champion.

        No word has come this week from Champion’s Soldier, SSG Raul Moreno.  A Care package is being put together for him and should be ready to mail by the end of the week.  So far it has some tuna packs, some beef jerky, a red beans and rice microwave dinner in a pouch, some almonds and apricots.

        Other things are going in including some photos of Champion, some notes from some Champions and a copy of the Douglas County Herald.  Afghanistan is a little smaller than the State of Texas.  FOB Naray is over on the southeast border with Pakistan. It sits at about 4200 feet above sea level.  (Champion is at about 600 feet.) The mountains there are steep and rugged.  It’s a dangerous place.  To Raul this week a Champion wrote:  “Dear Raul,  It has been a quiet and beautiful week here in Champion and we are grateful for the peaceful existence we enjoy.  We know things are not necessary like that for you, but we want to tell you that we are not worried about you.  You are a professional.  You have had good training and you are smart and pay attention.  We are concerned because we know that you are in a volatile part of the world, but we trust you to take care of yourself and those in your charge.  We join the rest of your family back home in wishing for your speedy and safe return.  We’ll be glad to meet you when you get here.  With Love and Gratitude for your service,  Your Champion Friend”  Any Champion resident or anyone who is a Champion of our US Service people can write to Raul at.  SSG Moreno, Raul, 4-319^th, TF SABER, FOB NARAY, APO AE 09354 or e-mail him at raul.morenojr(at)us.army.mil.  Sixty four people from Missouri have lost their lives in Iran since this conflict began.  Among them is Lieutenant Daniel P. Riodan of St. Louis, who died there on June 23rd, 2007.  627 Missourians are reported to have been wounded there, though that figure does not reflect the walking wounded whose injuries will not be apparent for some time.  The current total loss of US Personnel in Iraq is 3636.  408 Americans are reported to have died in Afghanistan as of July 23, 2007.

        Ruth Hamilton is over in Tulsa romping with her grandchildren for a few days.  Linda is having fun with her Granddaughter, Daniell, down from Kansas City and they are getting garden things ready over at The Plant Place for the rest of us for fall.  Charlene Dupre is still in Virginia with her granddaughter, Olivia, learning how to listen!  Sierra from Portland is entertaining Grandparents, Mark & Judy, and so life goes on in a sweet extended family way!  Sweet family stuff of any kind, Good Champion news, garden tips and harvest reports, receipts, poetry and song are all welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Send those things or report any otherwise neglected local social doings to Champion News.  Hand deliver any kind of Champion pertinence or any items for the package to Champion’s Soldier or donation for it’s postage to the proprietress of Henson’s Store in the Amicable Asylum of CHAMPION – LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!