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CHAMPION—September 18, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHAMPION—September 11, 2006

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

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

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

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

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

CHAMPION—September 04, 2006

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

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

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

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

CHAMPION—August 28, 2006

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

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

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

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

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