Last Weeks News – When Champions get in the mood to celebrate, they do it right. The weather was perfect for the occasion and the crowds came pouring in. The Western entry to the square was cordoned off to vehicular traffic and auxiliary parking was made available in a nice flat Fox Creek Farm field with golf cart shuttles that ran all day. Between passengers, Henson son-in-law Chris Cogdill, entertained multiple children with rides around the square. There was a continual swarm of kids around him. Mervin Jameson operated another shuttle. He is quite an interesting fellow and has Champion connections not only as a neighbor to the Cogdills over in Branson, but he was married to the daughter of Champion Ray Harris. Jameson retired in May 1975, from the military service. He was a Combat Medic in Korea in 1951-52. He has been everywhere and has done every interesting thing including having carried the Freedom Torch in Antwerp. Now he has his important participation in this amazing Champion Celebration to add to his resume.
People came from far and wide to join resident Champions in honoring the passing of the Old Store and the inauguration of the New Store–Henson’s Grocery and Gas. It is to be noted that during the entire process of dismantling the old and constructing the new, not one regular day of commerce was lost. The community was served throughout without interruption. The General’s Address to the Champion Masses was delivered with great emotion and broad gestures, his voice rising to fevered pitch and falling to barely a whisper (noted in parenthesis) surprisingly evangelical in style, certainly impassioned and fervent, if ill-timed as there was something interesting going on elsewhere so few heard the oration. He was overheard as he rehearsed, pacing back and forth along the creek bank to the amusement of the three horses tied up under the trees, “That famous stone monument in South Dakota only took fourteen years to carve. Old Gutzon Borglum overworked himself and did not live to see it completed. His son, Lincoln, worked on it one more season, but he left it just about like it was when his dad passed away. And so, dear Champions, it is our great good fortune,” he pontificated, “that the Chief Architect and Hammer Swinger (though the building is largely put together with screws–we just didn’t want to say it) [voice rising] of the Recreation of the Historic Emporium did not so overwork himself and that he did, indeed, live to see his work finished. As a matter of fact, some would say he didn’t give the impression that he overworked himself much at all, which is why it seemed like fourteen years in the completing.” With this, the General who had been gesticulating wildly slammed is fist down into his open palm with such a smack the horses were startled and strained at their tethers. This seemed to bring the magniloquent General back to his senses and he finished with his declaration that the edifice was “surely a candidate for recognition by the National Registry of Historic Places.” Champion!
The horses were ridden in from Crystal Lake, a three and a half hour ride, by Howard and Penny Price and Raymond Johnson of Ava. Billy and Beth Williams came all the way from West Monroe, Louisiana to be present for the affair. Beth is the sister of Elmer Banks, but just a lot better looking. The register of attendees is an exciting read. The Rankin family from over in the Anne community was well represented. Far flung descendant, Ed Gehrman, came from Quincy, California up high in the mountains and the McGinty’s and Helen Rankin Byrd came from Marianna and Walnut Hill, Florida. They were on their annual family rendezvous incidentally and asked folks in Anne about Champion. “Why, there is nothing there!” they were told. As readers of the Champion News in their dispirit places, however, they had to convince themselves that the Champion Community was not purely fictional. They expressed their surprise and delight and wandered about agog identifying the landmarks, “Oh! There’s the Loafing Shed!” Royce and Jo Henson made their third trip to Champion in the space of six weeks. Royce is still intrigued by the particle accelerator that can cause a neutrino to hit the wall in Italy before the gun that fired it was shot. He was about as surprised to be able to buy a cheese burger in Downtown Champion. The Champion Bistro was operated by familiar Champions, friends, and neighbors and provided some excellent nourishment to the hungry bunch.
The music kicked off early with Bill Connelly on the fiddle, Darrell Cooley on guitar, and David Richardson on his beautiful washtub bass. They started out on the porch, but soon moved out under the big oak trees on the southwest corner of the Square as more joined in and the crowd grew. Many musician came and went throughout the day and the spectators enjoyed continuous entertainment. The perfect weather and the chance to get together with seldom seen friends added to the festive spirit. Customer appreciation is always the order of the day at the Recreation of the Historic Emporium and a day to appreciate the Champion Community and the Emporium itself well designated. The official word from behind the counter in Henson’s Gro. & Gas is that all the efforts by all those who helped to make it such a Grand Celebration are very much appreciated.
Rest assured, Dear Champion readers, you have not heard the last of this. Darrell Haden called from Tennessee on the eve of the Celebration to extend his good wishes. Look at www.championnews.us for a link to excerpts from The Headless Cobbler of Smallett Cave. Halloween is fast approaching and a little spookiness is in order. ( The Skyline Halloween Carnival starts at 5:30 Friday!) Several people asked about Haden, hoping that he would be in the crowd. There is a big resurgent interest in his song, “All The Late News from the Court House.” Anyone with a recording of the song or a copy of the lyrics is asked and encouraged to share them at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717. Champion’s good Whetstone neighbor has made a movie of the Champion Celebration. It will be a ten minute u-tube flick and it will be linked up to the Champion website. There will be lots of pictures there for the enjoyment of those who were fortunate enough to attend and for those who, sadly could not. Many signed a get-well card for Louise Hutchison and maybe someone will take a laptop up to her so she can see what all the fuss is about. She was certainly missed, but Wilburn made an appearance and was in good spirits. Send any pictures that you would like to share to champion@getgoin.net and just know that you are a Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!
This Weeks News – Champions are still reliving their biggest event in recent history. Old friendships were rekindled and old scores settled peaceably as Champions put aside their differences to join in the Celebration of Champion! The Recreation of the Historic Emporium on the North Side of the Square is the flagship and anchor of the shopping district. It was the object of much favorable comment with only that nagging criticism of being “overbuilt” for balance. The Celebration itself is immortalized on you-tube by David Richardson. http://youtu.be/SOFom1e2oJk Go there for a ten minute slide show to the strains of “An Ashoaken Farewell” interspersed with live music as it occurred on the spot. You distant Champions are encouraged to disperse this piece of technology lavishly among yourselves. It will be almost as if you were really there among the throngs. Three hundred or so signed the guest book registry, but the estimated attendance was on the high side of four hundred. One Old Champion said that anytime four or five hundred people get together in Douglas County it ought to be ‘news.’ He is just cross because he takes the wrong newspaper. Jerry Wagner was good-natured about his gripe. He said, “The paper made it sound like I ran over Bud myself, and then lit out for Oklahoma to hide out!” He laughed about the mix up and then went on to shed light on several subjects that will be held in abeyance for a while, for want of room and for reconsideration as to propriety. Has anyone noticed how that whole Wagner bunch smiles so sweetly?
Talking about sweet smiles, the awesome Skyline PTO Halloween Carnival brought out a lot of spooks and goblins on Friday night. It is just an excellent set of circumstances that this little school is here to provide a safe gathering place for wild little country kids. They are forging the friendships and relationships that will last them a lifetime—just like those old Champions who are still reliving school days from seventy years ago. Among the lady bugs, cave men, vampires, and cowboys, parents and grandparents had the chance to spend time with teachers and with each other. No one takes the existence of our wonderful rural schools for granted. Tax payers in the Skyline R2 School district and alumni of Skyline and other local (now gone) schools can start looking for the orange letter in the mail that will give them all the information about the Skyline R2 School Foundation. They will be given the chance to participate in the support and encouragement of the very cornerstone of rural American life—the rural school. The newly established foundation is affiliated with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks which does a lot of good work. About every week an article appears in local papers outlining some philanthropic enterprise of this great non-profit organization. Champion!
Champions are those Veterans! Veterans Day will be marked as 11-11-11 on the calendar this year. It is the birthday of Linda and Charlene’s Dad, Charles Barns. He was born in 1916, and passed away in 2002. Veterans Day brings him to mind as it does countless Veterans who have served our Country in times of peace and war. As those enlisted people come home to stay, they will need some help. Already many wounded Veterans from recent and past conflicts are in dire straits. Young Scott Olsen, 24 years old, returned from active duty and was lucky enough to get a job. In the evening he went down town to support the 99% people who are advocating for a more equitable economic profile for the Nation. While exercising his First Amendment Rights, for which he fought, and while breaking no law, he was critically injured by local police, decked out in riot gear that is significantly more heavy duty than any armor or protective gear that Scott had provided to him by the US Military in a war zone. At home things will continue to be complicated. Champions advocate restraint and compassion, Love and Gratitude, while they look on the Bright Side.
Champions find it to be a continual battle to stay just a little ahead of their mistakes. Jack Coonts points out that the article about Bud Hutchison’s Fall Trail Ride failed to acknowledge Charlie Cox who came all the way from Louisiana to ride the trail with Bud and the bunch. There are probably other mistakes in the process of being made at this very moment, but Champions forge on!
The Old Biddies Bridge Club, which meets once a month over in Mansfield at the wonderful Community Center, had a great game on Thursday last. Founding member, Betty Swain, celebrated her 92nd birthday on the 20th of October and her friends recognized her for drawing them all together. She is also recognized as quite an astute player. It was the Champion player’s good fortune to have Betty as a partner for the last round. She is a keen bidder and a great fan of the ‘no-trump.’ While Champion did not leave the game ‘in the money,’ Betty’s example is reassurance that brains can be kept sharp with activities like bridge. Of course, a sharp brain to start with is required. Dorlene House is one of those sharpies. She was seen hob-knobbing with her old school chums down at Champion during the Grand Champion Celebration. She attended high school in Ava with Champions Vivian Krider Floyd and Royce Henson, both of whom gave her the glad hand out on the Champion Square. Dorlene got the glad hand, but Linda walked away with the big money from the game on Thursday. She has been playing for a long time and is still taking lessons. Anyone interested in learning bridge can get a good start by contacting the American Contract Bridge League, or just any friend that plays. Bridge players are always recruiting.
Hunting Season requires Champions and everyone enjoying the great out of doors to be mindful and colorful. Blending in is not advised at this time of the year with the woods full of armed people. There are likely to be some interesting hunting stories and they will be welcome at Champion@getgoin.net or at Champion Items, Rt. 2 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717. The call out for words and music to “All the Late News from the Court House” was answered promptly and the tune will soon be posted to the website at www.championnews.us for all to hear. Gary Hutchison shared the piece that he obtained personally from the author Walter Darrell Haden himself. There is a great line in the song, “If any news to you is better than no news at all…” Champion! Looking on the Bright Side. -
