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CHAMPION—June 15, 2009

        In Champion the ratio of the water vapor in the atmosphere to the amount required to saturate it at the same temperature is called relative humidity.  When concrete sweats even though it has just been lying there, there is humidity.  Some say the humidity is bad enough, “Do we need to have relatives too?”  It turns out they are a good thing.  Champions residing in Seymour have had a swarm of relatives helping them to get their roof back on after some storm damage that occurred recently.  Uncle Dusty did say he thought he was getting shingles on his behind and he had a number of other complaints, but none about his relatives.  Those relatives have not just been lying around but have been helping with the grocery bill and getting ready to do the haymaking finally.  They have also been busy with a nice variety of general farm work, including some generous favors for neighbors.  So on balance, relatives are preferable to humidity.  Neighbor’s relatives are some of the best kinds.

        “Hi [Champion].  The East Fairview School reunion was a great.  We had students from Oregon and Arkansas.  We are remembering the deceased students from two years ago and also the deceased veterans from the 22 vets that went to school there and 11 vets that lady students had married.  I called their names and asked veterans that were there to come up front.  We saluted the flag while taps was played.  We had door prizes and [recognition] for the oldest student, youngest student, and farthest distance traveled.  We had auction on the homemade quilt made by Ruby Proctor.  We are planning another one next year . The Proctor reunion was well attended–a lot of talking.  I saw some for the first time also since 1958.  I got a surprise of my life.  My buddy that was in boot camp with me in 1967, met me and my wife in Bass Pro the 3rd of June for the first time since Sept 1967, 42 year ago.  We had a great visit and dinner.  So, bye for now.  Pete”  Champions join Pete in support of all the troops serving everywhere with Love and Gratitude.

        “Dear Champion, Enough of this BS!  If you don’t know ‘BS’ stands for Bright Side.  Don’t you ever get tired of everything being so rosy and pleasant out there in the sticks?  You make the place sound like a roaring metropolis.  Well, I’ve been to Champion and I know that it is not even a wide space in the road.  It is a wide space beside a road and the pavement ends there.  Who are you trying to fool?  Sure, everybody would like to live in a place that is uncommonly beautiful and bountiful with eagles and bears, turkeys and blackberries and good neighbors, but you never mention the ticks and chiggers.  Why the only thing I ever read in your column about chiggers is that somebody said they lower cholesterol!  That’s just an out and out lie.  If you don’t know the rest of the world is out here suffering with a bad economy, corrupt government, crime, despotism, vandalism, tragedy, disease and heartbreak.  Where do you get off?  Disgruntled Elsewhere” This letter comes unbidden and Champions get off C Highway and turn east on WW and go all the way to the bottom of the hill.  Then they are home.  It is a shame that everyone can’t live in such a beautiful place, but then, as this reader points out, there are the ticks and chiggers and there is also the humidity to consider.

        Foster Wiseman has his 4^th birthday this week.  The whole community is proud of him and pleased for him to be having such a lively celebration.  He has a whole mess of relatives who have been eating pie and cake in his honor for days!

        Friday and Saturday are designated as good days to plant root crops according to Linda’s Almanac from over at The Plant Place in Norwood.  The 17^th and 18^th are good days to cut hay if the weather cooperates.  Linda is as excited as any about the First Ripe Tomato in Champion Contest 2009.  She has signed a Congratulatory Gift Certificate for $10.00 to be presented to the winner.  That brings the total cash value of the prize to upwards of twenty dollars and an old fruit jar!  The catch is that the tomato must have been grown in Champion and for contest purposes Champion is defined as where a person casts his ballot.  Voting is not a requirement, but that defines the geographical area under consideration.  The winner must also be willing to share the tomato with the judges who vote if it’s ripe or not and to be photographed with the prize….the tomato will be gone by then.  This is the third annual event.  June 28, 2007 and July 12, 2008 are the dates of the previous wins.  Anticipation is mounting!

        “In the night when the moon is clear You my dear are very near and so warm Like a hot summer day late in June. Remember when we were so young?  We thought that everything was fun, But really life had just begun.  I never want to leave you.  I never want to go.  I just want to be beside you Everywhere you go.”  This song is called “Hot Summer Day” and was written by Danny Kirwan.  The nature of the melody might determine weather it is a sweet song or sort of creepy like a stalker might be singing it.  (Perhaps that note from Mr. Elsewhere is having an effect.)  For sure Summer will be here on Sunday.  Seasons are slipping by and it may happen that suddenly on a sultry summer Sunday someone will sing that song or another one that is sentimental and soothing.

        The Summer Solstice is June 21^st.  It is the longest day of the year and it is Father’s Day this year!  The old guy will be fed his favorite pie and the phone will jangle off the hook as grateful sons and daughters make their customary “Gee, thanks, Dad” call.  Mail boxes will be full of cards and a few long overdue letters describing the successes of his children and how they could never have done it without him.  Others will be thinking of their own dear Father and how he worked for his family and the good example that he set.  They will be remembering fishing trips and funny songs and family stories that go way back.

        Examples of good neighboring and stories that go way back may be sent to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Garden lore and salutes to sylvan summer are accepted at Champion News.  Sip a soda and sing a summer song on the porch at Henson’s Store.  It is on the North Side of the Square and looks across the broad expanse of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive.  Check out the news from way back at www.championnews.us.  In Champion it’s not BS when you’re Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—June 8, 2009

        Champions think Ella May Daugherty, of Gentryville, hit the nail on the head with her James Russell Lowell quote: “What is so rare as a day in June.”  He says, “There is no price set on the lavish summer, and June may be had by the poorest comer.”  Champions agree with that sentiment.

        Virginia Jacobs from Bryant Heights and former Champion, Esther Wrinkles, of Vanzant gave good first hand accounts of the Proctor Family Reunion and the Fieldstone Reunion last week.  People are still talking about the fun they had.

        Wally Hopper, now of Republic, MO, writes:  “This is the first time I have written, but I enjoy the Champion articles very much…..”  “The Denlow Reunion was outstanding this year.  Robert Upshaw should have been a stand up comedian.  He did a great job of keeping us laughing and we even had hula dancers.  Many thanks to him, Faye and Kaye and all the others who work so hard to make it a success.  Lots of work goes into this and I want you to know how much we appreciate you!  Also a big thanks to the ones who mow and tend to the graveyard.  It looked beautiful and the rain held off for just enough time to decorate.  For those who didn’t get to come, you missed out on a good time.  It was good to see Bob and Betty Upshaw who came from Iowa.  I spent lots of time with Bob in my young days and we got into a trouble now and then but it is nice to see folks make an effort to attend these things.  I’m afraid our young people do not put the importance on it that we do.  I went to school at Denlow in 1946-1948 and still have a love for this area.  Keep up the good work.  Wally Hopper.”  A Champion who occasionally drives by Denlow notes that the same Robert Upshaw is frequently out there riding or pushing a lawnmower or weed eater.  He seems to be everywhere.  He’ll be playing this Thursday evening with the Wild Bunch over at Gravy Corner.

        “Every clod feels a stir of might, an instinct within it that reaches and towers, and, grasping blindly above it for light, climbs to a soul in grass and flowers,” says Mr. Lowell and so it is in Champion.  A Champion clod ran into Louise Hutchison in Walmart the other day.  She had her sister, Gail Carson, visiting with her from Buffalo, Iowa.  Gail and her husband Dick Carson had arrived Friday in time to see the third sister, Doris Gillis and her husband George who were visiting from Oklahoma City.  They are all reported to much favor Henson’s Store in Downtown Champion over any Walmart.  When asked if she was going to be in contention for the “First Ripe Tomato in Champion Contest” again this year Louise replied that she already had a tomato ‘about this big,’ whereupon she indicated a circle with her thumb and forefinger that was about the size of a hen egg.  Later, on the phone, she described it as being about the size of a silver dollar.  Champions will remember the Contest Rules.  1,The Tomato must be Ripe.  2, The Tomato must have been grown in Champion.  3, Grower must be willing to Share the Tomato with judges present at Henson’s Store.  4, Winner must be willing to be photographed with the Prize.  The Prize this year includes A Gift Certificate from the Plant Place in Norwood, another Old Fruit Jar, 1 dozen each regular and wide mouth canning flats, and $5.00 worth of tickets (6 tickets) for chances on the Queen Size Quilt to be awarded at the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Picnic on August 14^th and 15^th.

        The Best Things in Life are Free is a song written by B.G. DeSylva, Lew Brown, and Ray Henderson for the musical “Good News.” “The moon belongs to everyone.  The best things in life are free.  The stars belong to everyone, they gleam there for you and me.  The flowers in Spring, The robins that sing, The sunbeams that shine They’re yours, They’re mine!  And love can come to everyone, The best things in life are free.”  That song came out in 1927.  It is still true.

        The D Day memorial celebrations around the country and around the world remind Champions of the sacrifices made and being made by the people in Our Uniforms and the people who support them.  Of all the good reasons for war there are as many for peace.  “The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinions.”  That is another quote from James Russell Lowell.  The nature of conflict is to be in opposition or at a variance and Champions, like all Americans, are Grateful to live in a Nation that allows for differing views.  For those who put themselves in danger to protect the right to differing views, a Grateful Nation acknowledges their sacrifices with Love and Understanding.  Compassion is a Champion thing.

        “When you plant a seed, you learn patience.  You don’t dig it up to see how it’s growing.  You let marinate, You’ve got to let it mull and marinate.”  Mimi Baczewska wrote those lyrics many years ago and the melody accompanies many gardeners in their hearts still as they go about their productive tasks.  Mimi has a deep connection to the Ozarks which makes the Ozarks a more lovely place.  The re-release of her album, Turning Tide, invites old friends and new to join Mimi and her music.  Make the journey from grief to hope, from longing to exhilaration.  It is available from cdbaby.com and is described as heartfelt, reflective, loving, fun and expansive—a rich noveau-folk-jazz genre mix.  Back out in the garden, the 10^th through the 12^th will be good days to plant root crops according to Linda’s Almanac.  It says that June is the Strawberry Moon.  Lots of strawberries are going into freezers and the blueberry farms are in full swing now for people who like to pick their own.  Blueberries are always up at the top of the lists of healthy foods especially good for the Brain!

        Skyline Ladies Auxiliary members are gearing up for a meeting to get their part of the Annual Skyline VFD Picnic organized.  The picnic will be held August 14^th and 15^th this year and it promises to be another splendid affair.  As Mr. Hopper pointed out, there is always a lot of hard work that goes on to make these kinds of events so successful.  It’s part of living in such a Champion community!

        Champions celebrating wedding anniversaries in June are full of contented smiles and sighs.  “O, My Love is like a red red rose, that is newly sprung in June.  My love is like a melody. That is sweetly played in tune.”  Robert Burns wrote that poem that suits the occasion well.

        Ramble around on the website at www.championnews.us to find pictures of Champion Tomatoes and a tidy little Champion garden.  Express differing views at Champion News.  Send any kind of encouragements to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Check out the complete selection of Champion picture postcards at Henson’s Store on the North Side of the Square in Downtown Champion.  Lowell said, “Joy comes, grief goes, we know not how;  Everything is happy now.”  In Champion they know it is because they’re Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—June 1, 2009

        As is true in most parts of the world, it turns out that in Champion the flip side of adversity is opportunity.

        By all reports the Proctor Family Reunion was a big success, as was the Fair Grove School Reunion.  How pleasant to live in a part of the world where people still care enough about each other after all these years to want to renew their old acquaintances.  Memories must be sweet to pull them back from so far afield.

        Haymaking is going at a breakneck pace, but no broken necks have been reported.  Champions will keep it that way.  Harley is home for a spell catching up on the farm work and the tranquil surroundings of a country estate.  Barbara was left home in Illinois where she is planning a California adventure, perhaps a buying trip for her burgeoning handbag collection.

        Linda’s June Almanac is ready over at the Plant Place in Norwood.  It indicates that from the third all the way through the seventh will be advantageous for planting.  Late Champions will be getting things in finally so they can start concentrating on the weeding and watering.  It will be a busy season.  Some versions of the almanac went out indicating that June’s flower is the Lily of the Valley.  That is May’s flower.  June’s is the rose!  As temperatures rise and greens collide it is amazing that it is so fast upon us when the winter seemed so very long.  It still is a surprise to see how far the season has progressed.  Some are enjoying big beautiful heads of broccoli already and lots of sugar snap peas.

        Champions over west of Clever Creek were surprised to find a 6’1” snakeskin out in their yard.  The snake had cleverly slipped out of its skin leaving a perfect transparent image of itself, except perhaps a little smaller.  It was not known exactly what kind of snake he was, perhaps a black snake or a bull snake.  These Champions are also enjoying the entertainment of a dozen swooping martins picking mosquitoes out of the air.  Things are not very exciting over their way and that’s just the way they like it.

        Fortnight Bridge was quite an interesting game Saturday.  Hosted by Brushy Knob with Charlene Dupre sitting in for the distracted Champion player, the game belonged to the player from Vera Cruz.  She won six of the seven rubbers played.  All but one were 700 rubbers, meaning that the opposing partnership did not win a game.  There was one unbid slam made by Charlene and the Norwood player who wound up with the low score.  The game was over by 11:30 and with such unbalanced hands and distribution everyone was glad, with the possible exception of the Vera Cruz winner!

        Little Foster and Kalyssa Wiseman have taken their Mom on a trip over to Tennessee to spend time with cousins Dillon and Dakota.  They will have spent a week or more there before their return.  They will be taking in a singing school there in Murphysborough.  All these youngsters share musical talent passed down from their grandfathers.  With some good training perhaps they will pass the joy of music down to their own future grandchildren.  They will be able to stand on the porch at Henson’s Store in Downtown Champion and explain to their grandchildren that the broad expanse of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive was named after their great grandfather.  Maybe one of them will be a mandolin player and another will remember “Sadie’s Got Her New Dress On.”

        Ed Henson would have been 104 on his birthday, May 27^th, this year.  He was a driving force in the community, setting the tone for good humor and good behavior.  He liked a practical joke better than most and pulled some good ones in his time.  Mostly what people remember about him was his good natured smile and his willingness to be a good neighbor.  He set a fine example.

        Dalton Trumbo wrote a novel and a screenplay called “Johnny Got His Gun.”  It is a disturbing story that chronicles the tragic fate of a World War I soldier.  He survived a land mine explosion only to have lost his arms, legs, ears, eyes, nose and mouth.  Initially, he doesn’t know if he’s dead, alive or dreaming.  Whatever a person’s stand on the current conflicts or military conflict in general this is a story that provokes thought.  Champions keep the U.S. Service people in their thoughts with Love and Gratitude for their service.

        Examples of opportunity or optimism can be sent to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  (I’m looking over a four-leaf clover that I overlooked before!)  E-mail them or any distracting kind of sunny side song to Champion News.  Hang around down at Henson’s Store on the North Side of the Square in Historic Downtown Champion and wait for some old timer to come along with a story to tell about Ed Henson.  Stand out on the porch and soak in the spring to summer seasonal changes to the constant beauty of the place.  Look in every direction.  It’s Champion! And you are Looking on the Bright Side.

CHAMPION—May 25, 2009

        Empathy and Compassion vie for prevalence with Love and Gratitude for the top spots in the vast lexicon of sentiment in Champion.  Bully!

        Arlene Cooley called as soon as the paper hit the stands and was gratified to learn that the information concerning the Proctor Reunion as reported here last week was completely erroneous.  She said, “Never have I been so glad to find out something was so wrong!”  It seems she has some interest and perhaps responsibility in that Reunion and she was sure that she had another week to get ready.  Sometimes people will make a mistake just to insure that the subject matter gets enough attention in the correcting of the error.  That is not the case here.  Hopefully every Proctor will be at the appointed place and time.  Wherever that is, they’ll be having a Champion good time!  Ruby could not be reached for comment.

        All families have their quirks—little idiosyncrasies that set them apart at the same time rendering them all the more loveable for their childishness and naiveté.  Sue Upshaw does not care for accordion music.  This is not news to the family and not even relevant except that her brother-in-law, The General, fancies himself quite the virtuoso on the accordion.  He has studied the bellows driven free reed aerophone instrument intermittently since last fall…thinking that his time in the Air Force would have given him the advantage.  Alas! In a protracted and unfortunate display of contempt for excellence in music he finally strung out enough notes in the right order that Sue was able to recognize “A Bicycle Built For Two,” and thus put the poor thing to rest.  This occurred at the Denlow School Reunion on Saturday.  Fortunately Phil Blazes quickly cleansed the aesthetic pallet.  His keyboard performance of the Hawaiian Wedding Song was interpreted in dance by Kaye-Hula Hula Upshaw Johnston, Peggy Hancock Hula Hula Somebody, and Cathy Hula Alsup Hula Riley Hula Hula.  Lavish costumes of custom fit grass skirts and exotic floral leis lent authenticity to the piece.  It was a tribute to the Den-aloha Aloha oy Interpretation of the Omens.  Sixty odd attendees at the Den Aloha Lou Ow tacitly agreed that it had been ominous that the big ancient tree had come down just the week before.  Fred Follis, Frank Proctor, Earl and Carol Spencer, Richard Johnston, Steve Kutz, Jimmy Schrader, Robert Upshaw, Pete Proactor and probably others participated in a rapid clean up of that event.  As is true in Champion, a small civic-minded percentage of the population usually justly takes credit for the majority of the accomplishments made.

        “The Armadillo has left the State.”  That is according to Robert Upshaw who officiated at the auction at the Denlow School Reunion.  He was referring to Champion Barbara Krider’s couture armadillo handbag, which she had generously donated to the cause of Denlow.  “I hated to part with it, but I was glad to see it get out of Missouri,” stated Upshaw.  The bidding was contentious and the final outcome was shrouded in secrecy in terms of who actually purchased the object and how much was paid.  An attractive young relative of the late Cletis Upshaw has taken the thing to Kentucky—Fulton, KY.  As more information becomes available concerning the disposition of the piece, determinations will be made about making it public.  An unofficial spokesperson for the Denlow Reunion observed that the attendees were, for the most part, convivial and decorous, in sharp contrast to the behavior of the bellicose mob of last year, which the General had likened to Irish Hillbillies.  Old acquaintances were renewed and people came from far away to remember their youth together.  Any official remembrances are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.

        The up side of the dreary off and on rain and significant humidity is that it’s perfect Perfect weather for transplanting.  Those sturdy fragrant tomato plants with their long hairy stems and rich root balls just want to be planted deep and fed well.  Rita Krider suggested planting some paper matches with pepper plants so that the roots can get the phosphorous that they need.  Someone else thinks that a little powdered milk in the hole with the new tomato plants will help prevent the blossom end rot, which is thought to be a result of a calcium deficiency.  Whatever the method, good record keeping is a great gardening tool.  Relying on memory from one garden season to the next does not always maximize the use of the information.  Garden journals often get neglected about the time the hard work is really underway.  It is a matter of priorities.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that the 27^th and 28^th will be most favorable for corn, cotton, okra, beans, peppers, eggplant and other above-ground crops.  Plant seedbeds and flower gardens.  The next really good days for these crops will be the 3^rd of June through the 5^th.  Recently a patient asked her doctor, “Do you plant by the signs?”  He said, “Does that stuff really work?  Isn’t it just hocus-pocus?”  The gardener held her tongue about how could anyone belonging to the American Medical Association possibly accuse anybody else of ‘hocus pocus?’  Finally she returned that the garden lore found in almanacs and other sources is based on an accumulation of the knowledge of record keeping gardeners and astronomers over a period of centuries.  Modern medicine is much more recent.  In any event, Linda will be happy to discuss any garden lore, philosophies, procedures and successes and failures.  Just stop by.

        Over in the Arlington National Cemetery, Section Sixty is the saddest acre in America.  The Old Guard oversees the planting of the Veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan there.  On Memorial Day twelve more names were added to the honor roll of fallen soldiers on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer.  The youngest was 19 years old and the oldest was a man from California named Hutchison who was 60.  A soldier named Brooks from Joplin, MO died there recently.  He was 38 years old.  Champions remember those who serve every day with Love and Gratitude.

        Tennessee boys are loose in Champion again.  They have been busy helping out on the farm, playing with the little cousins, continuing their good connection with their mother’s home place.  It is a nice tradition to carry on.  Champion spirits are always uplifted by their presence.

        “Where were you on the night of June the 3^rd?  Where were you on the night of June the 3^rd?  Did you meet a stranger?  Did you take a walk?  Was you heart in danger?  You better talk!  Just remember I heard every word.  ‘Cause we were together on the night of June the 3^rd!”  That date is coming up so it will be a good time to take note.  It is a Fat’s Waller tune.  He played a great stride piano and sang, “Don’t let it bother you, if now and then castles tumble, never grumble, count from one to ten.  A smile is a frown upside down.  Turn that frown upside down and smile!  Sing!  La da da di da di zing zing zing!”

        E-mail examples of hocus pocus to Champion News.  Keep looking for pictures of the great Armadillo Handbag (couture) on the website www.championnews.us.  Step out on the porch at Henson’s Store in downtown Champion and freely express your views.  (Rush Limbaugh ‘earns’ $123,287.67 per day—including Sundays and holidays–$45 million a year, expressing his.)  Express your views, belt out a joyful song, or just let your gaze wander about the broad expanses of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive where every step of the way is fraught with history and optimism.  Champion!  Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—May 18, 2009

        If asked, “How do you like ‘em?” Champions will say, “Sunnyside Up, Please!”  Some might be talking about eggs, but this time of year almost every question relates to the weather.  The Boston Globe reported that Dr. David Mischoulon, a specialist in seasonal affective disorder (SAD), says that the addition sunlight exposure that comes from daylight savings time means potential cheerfulness for our souls.  Champions, like Paul, have learned in whatever state they are, to be content.  The additional sunlight that comes from the end of weeks of rain and gloom has, however, raised the contentment level in Champion to an unprecedented level.  The new week had not even begun when the hum of haymaking machinery was being echoed up and down valleys and lawn mowers were going at break neck speed.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that the 23^rd will be good for planting root crops and the 24^th will be favorable for planting beans, corn, cotton, tomatoes, peppers and other above ground crops.  Gardeners in low-lying areas are still a little concerned about an odd late frost.  Up on the ridges things are already in and growing to beat the band.

        Saturday saw a big clean up project at the Skyline VFD Picnic grounds.  The recent storms going all the way back to Hurricane Ike, a category 4 storm, last September have brought down a lot of trees in the picnic grounds.  Six firefighters and three or four auxiliary members spent the day up to about 1:30 in the afternoon hauling brush and cutting wood.  They brought in a backhoe to level out the ground where the root balls of the huge trees had been up ended by the big winds.  The same core group of hard workers that constitute the backbone of the fire department were there to accomplishe the task with the same good spirit of community service that makes Skyline a Champion kind of place!  There is more work to be done before the annual picnic which will be on the 14^th and 15^th of August so there will be time for the Johnny Come Latelys to get in on the action and the fun.

        Another big tree, one of the ancient ones, just inside the cemetery at Denlow came down in a storm the other night.  Some Proctors and Upshaws and others cleared the debris away in preparation for the 23^rd Annual Denlow School Reunion, which will occur on Saturday the 23^rd.  Students, teachers, board members and friends will gather at the old school with the festivities starting about 11 in the morning.  At two in the afternoon the much-anticipated Auction will occur.  One of the items on the block will be the famed couture armadillo handbag generously donated to the Denlow community by Champion Barbara Krider.  As a one of a kind object d art, the piece will be on display at Henson’s Store in Historic Downtown Champion until Thursday when a courier is expected to transport it to Vanzant where it will be placed in the custody of General Upshot for safekeeping until the auction.  While the efficacy of that move is debatable, the commitment has been made and Champions will simply hold their breaths and hope for the best.  A complete numbered set of Champion picture postcards has been pledged.  Fae (Upshaw) Krider-President of the Board was heard to say that she plans a trip over to The Gift Corner in Norwood to find some additional items for the auction.  She has a good eye for appealing things and Charlene has a good selection.  It will be worth the wait to see what all is brought forward and who walks away with what.

        There will be lots of Proctors in attendance, many from as far away as Oregon!  They will have their family reunion on Sunday and will use the Denlow School Reunion to get themselves in the mood for fun!

        Secretary of Defense Robert Gates refers to himself as the Secretary of War.  He said, “Every single person in combat today I sent there, and I never forget that for a second.”  As Memorial Day approaches it is good to know that the person in charge of the Military has deep respect, Love and Gratitude for all those serving.  He joins Champions in those sentiments.

        Mary Graham still has the little dog, Brownie, at her house.  She would sure like to find him a nice home.  She thinks the little dog needs a little boy!  Brownie is about a 20 pound dog, part healer and maybe a little Jack Russell.  He is about two years old and is a very loving and playful little fellow.  Mary is at 948-2755.  She grew up over in Florida and Alabama and has a lot of interesting stories to tell.  Her Daddy had bought a big Morgan horse that had started out to be a saddle horse.  Somewhere along the way the horse had been abused and mal-handled so she was too ornery to ride.  Mary’s Daddy got her at a good price to make a stock horse out of her to pull wagons and the like.  When Mary and her 3 brothers and sisters got home from school one day and found the horse there, they were very excited.  They had never had a horse before.  The four of them got busy and brushed her up and combed her tail.  Mary braided up her mane in lots of little braids and tied ribbons on them.  Their Daddy came in after dark and warned the kids to stay away from that mean horse, saying that she was a killer.  Wasn’t he surprised to find her all dolled up the next morning?  They named her Dolly and she proved out to be a gentle beast that never hurt a child or chicken.  That story was brought to Mary’s mind during a conversation about horse-trading in general.  It is a fine art practiced in these parts and one enters into the practice with the caveat:  “buyer beware!”

        May 18^th marks the 97^th birthday of Exer Hector.  She was born in Kaufman County, Texas and was an excellent horse trader.  She almost always got the better end of the deal, but always allowed her trading partner the dignity of saving face.  She never rubbed their noses in their losses.  She was an organic gardener before it was cool.  She was a talented artist with a keen eye for beauty, a sharp wit and sense of humor that showed up in surprising ways.  Her patients and gentle spirit were balanced nicely with her complete willingness to point out exactly where the coon crap was on the pump handle at any time.  Her youngest child has now lived longer than she did.  Champions always remember their Mother’s birthdays.  Her favorite songs were “In the Sweet Bye and Bye” and “Trouble in mind, I’m blue, but I won’t be blue always. You know the sun’s gonna shine in my back door someday!”

        Paul also said to meditate on whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report, virtuous or praiseworthy.  Examples of any of that kind of thing or any kind of Sunnyside song are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO. 65717 or at Champion News.  Go down to Henson’s Store on the North Side of the Square just off Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive to get a good look at Barbara’s couture object d art.  (There will be some good pictures of it posted on the website a at www.championnews.us.)  Then go out on the porch and shake your head.  Any way you look in Champion you’re Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—May 11, 2009

        In Champion, as well as in many nations around the world, the second Sunday in May is celebrated as Mother’s Day.  A woman named Anna Jarvis trademarked the phrase in 1912, and Woodrow Wilson signed the Congressional Bill that made it a law.  Flowers and cards, phone calls and appropriate little gifts were the usual fair in Champion.  Mothers were touched at the thoughtfulness of the young ones while remembering their own good examples for the role.  Foster and Kalyssa Wiseman came to hang out with their Grammie and Ms. Powell’s grandson, Bryan, spent the day with her in Champion.  Another of her grandsons, Travis, had been to see her late last week together with his wife and their two little ones.  Children are wonderful, grandchildren are terrific, and great grandchildren are just amazing!  Champion!

        Friday’s storms caused damage all around the country.  The post office in Norwood lost some of its roof and there were many big trees blown down.  Some were broken but many were just blown out of the rain soaked ground.  There will be a lot of clean-up going on for a long time.  Champions will take it in stride and continue to be Grateful that it was not worse.  The broad expanse of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive was only lightly sprinkled with debris and so when Bud Hutchison’s trail ride came trough on Saturday things appeared to be entirely orderly.  Only nine made the ride this year.  One was heard to make a remark about ‘fair weather cowboys’ indicating that threatening weather had caused some to stay home this time.  Some might have been dealing with storm damage.  The same amount of enjoyment that the forty or so riders had last year was concentrated on this year’s small group and they uniformly reported having had a delightful ride.  It is a 13 mile round trip from Champion to Drury and back.  “May your horse never stumble.  May your cinch never break.  May your belly never grumble or your heart ever ache.”  That’s a good cowboy sentiment.  Bob Heard makes this ride as often as he can.  He lives over forty miles west of Springfield, but gets down this way whenever Bud’s got a ride going on.  A couple of weeks ago the two of them and four others made a 40 mile trip from Emerson’s Trout Farm through Vera Cruz and then over to Champion and Cold Springs and back again.  Bob says that Bud knows all the roads.  It took the best part of a beautiful day and they had a good time.

        Let the Good Times Roll!  That was the sentiment earlier in the week when a couple of couples came to Champion to kick up their heels.  Galen and Angilee Neher and Wayne and Doris Moore chose Champion as the place to celebrate their 64^th wedding anniversary.  They live in Mountain Grove but sought out Champion’s charm to commemorate their double wedding ceremony, which must have occurred in 1945!  Among the four of them there is a brother and sister, and the rest are all mischboucha (related but not blood kin) but Champions failed to find out which ones were which, though there are only a couple of possibilities.  Still, possibilities are always ripe for a good time in Champion.  Niagara Falls may have its spectacle, its honeymoon attraction, noise, commercial development and international border, but Champion has its Bright Side!

        Only 1360 points separated high and low at the Fortnight Bridge game hosted by Champion on Saturday.  Charlene Dupre sat in for the Vera Cruz player who was busy with the Audubon bird count.  She walked off with $1.50 as the low scorer.  Champion won $2.00 in nickels which means that during the course of the evening there were twenty unsuccessful contracts bid.  Sisters, Charlene and Linda, finished up their day with the bridge game after having had a busy day at the Plant Place and Gift Corner in Norwood.  The season is full blown for planting vegetable and flower gardens.  The 14^th and 15th will be good days to plant late beets, potatoes, onions, carrots and other root crops.  That’s according to Linda’s Almanac.  May is called the Corn Planting Moon, but the ‘signs’ will not be favorable again for above ground crops until the 24^th.  The wet weather has some running late getting things planted.  So far, Dustin’s Grandpa’s saying about rain on Easter Sunday means rain the next seven Sundays in a row…is turning out to be pretty close.  The first Sunday after Easter was dry until after midnight, but then it came a nice rain.  Champions will not complain about two or three more damp Sundays.  Champions don’t ever complain about the weather!

        An interesting article in a national newspaper talks about a 61 year-old Vietnam veteran who was drafted at age 19.  He went to the service willingly and did his duty.  He came home with a bullet in his head, a fairly useless left arm and a dragging foot.  He finished his education and became a civil engineer.  Now he teaches drafting at a high school in an economically depressed area.  He is a patient person, likes teaching and is well liked by the students.  His classroom is located on the hallway where the military recruiters meet with the students and where the Junior ROTC members meet.  When the No Child Left Behind law came into effect, the military services were given the same access to students as college recruiters.  The teacher loves his school and his students and said that in a way they have become his children.  He says that he recognizes the need for national defense, but that he feels that high schools students are too young and unformed to really question what they are told and that the intensity of the recruitment seems very like exploitation, particularly in low income areas of the country.  The teacher researched the law to determine to what extent the schools are required to assist the military and found that there is a good deal of latitude.  “I did a very good job for the military, but it’s torn me up for my whole life.”  He grew up in a small town and is content with his life as a good husband and grandfather, but he is still troubled by his military experience.  He wants the kids to know that it’s not a joke.  He has Love and Gratitude for those who serve and those who have served and for those who will.

        Guy Clark, popular song-writer of “Home Grown Tomatoes” and many other worth while songs wrote words to Soldiers Joy 1864:  “First I thought a snake had got me it happened dreadful quick.  T’was a bullet bit my leg, right off I got sick………..Gimme some of that Soldier’s Joy, you know what I mean.  I don’t want to hurt no more my leg is turning green.”  The words seem to fit into the well-known fiddle tune, though they are lengthy and gory.  A person might just have to sit on the porch at Henson’s Store and pat his foot to mental music sometimes.  Any other words to Soldiers Joy are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or at Champion News.  Listen to a nice version of When Johnny Comes Marching Home at www.championnews.us.  Ramble around on that site to find a few more songs and lots of nice pictures of Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—May 4, 2009

        Champions know that “The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”  That is another jewel of Champion wisdom from Longfellow who also said:  “Be still, sad heart, and cease repining; behind the cloud is the sun still shining; Thy fate is the common fate of all; Into each life some rain must fall, Some days must be dark and dreary.”  Champions are just grateful for the rain, knowing that the gentle way it has fallen this time is just a nice boost to the water table.  Undaunted by dark and dreary, between drops they are out watching the gardens growing and pulling weeds.  When the ground is so wet even a big old dandelion will sometimes just slip out of the mud with only a little pulling.  Sometimes the sound of the roots being torn from the ground puts thoughtful gardeners into thinking about the sodbusters when the prairies were being turned over for the first time.  Sodbuster generations later it is a wholesome and wonderful sound full good farming lore and family history.  Indigenous ears hear it differently and hearts still break at the taming of the earth.  Perspective is rife in Champion.  “What’s old Hanks wads worth anyway?”  One asks, “Wads of what?”

        This time last year Bud Hutchison’s Trail Ride was being arranged and riders from all around the area were getting ready for their annual outing.  It was a fine day for it and the ride went off ‘without a hitch.’  They are doing it again and this year the riders will congregate at Champion about 10 in the morning on Saturday and take a nice ride over to Drury.  They will get back to Champion about 1:30 or 2 in the afternoon, so it is a good chance for folks to join in the ride or just to enjoy the spectacle.  Forty or fifty people horseback, the squeaking of saddle leather, and general horse noises and smells make for some fine entertainment.  Probably somebody will be singing, “Old Paint’s a good pony.  He runs when he can.  Good morning, young lady.  My pony won’t stand.  Goodbye…”  Perhaps they will talk about that Kentucky Derby winner and wish they had had two dollars down on him…at 50 to one odds…a good investment.

        Several Champions spent the rainy week under the weather with various combinations of flu symptoms.  Most have made a good recovery or are, at least, well on their way to recovery.  The notion of a flu that spreads quickly around the world is a matter of no small concern in the crossroads of America.  Champion connections are far reaching and the truth of it is that no place is ‘safe.’  Champions drink a lot of good water; wash their hands often; get lots of wholesome exercise, and pay attention to their surroundings.  The Center for Disease Control has many smart, productive people working on problem.  President Obama said that under the administration of former President George W. Bush, a sophisticated system was set up that allows for the fast dissemination of information and material to the whole nation in a very short period of time.  Champions understand the importance of each doing his part.

        Swarming hummingbirds kept some of those ailing Champions entertained during the wet week.  It doesn’t take much for some.  Bird watching seems more productive than watching the news.  Senator Patrick Leahy wants to indict the former president and vice president on charges that amount to war crimes.  European activist want the International Criminal Court, which was established in 2002, to file on Bush and Cheney for crimes against humanity.  The current President does not seem to want to spend valuable time in punitive exercises, but rather seems intent on working on current critical problems.  The heirs of Apache chieftain Geronimo, however, are suing senior federal government officials, Yale University and Skull and Bones, Yale’s oldest secret society.  They are suing for the return of the old warrior’s skull, which is said to have spent most of the last century in the society’s High Street tomb on the campus of Yale in New Haven, Connecticut.  Geronimo died of pneumonia at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, but the suit alleges that members of the society exhumed the remains around 1918 and placed them in the society’s tomb.  It has long been suggested that Prescott Bush, father of the 41^st president was among the group allegedly involved.  Membership rolls include George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, John Kerry, and William F. Buckley and many other prominent, powerful and wealthy men,  If they win the suit, plaintiffs hope to re-inter Geronimo in a site close to his birthplace, in the Gila Wilderness of southwestern New Mexico.  Geronimo’s descendants are legally entitled to ownership of his remains and any funerary objects buried with him under the provisions of the 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act.  Champions would not like to see local cemeteries robbed of their Champion bones.  Even the General would stand guard at the Denlow Cemetery if it came to that.  Maybe that’s what he is doing when he is seen haunting the place any day of the week.

        The official death count of U.S. Service Personnel in the War in Iraq is now up to 4,283.  The most recent fatality was May 2^nd.  Injures are estimated to be ‘over’ 100,000.  The total number of dead on all sides and the total number of injuries sustained is not a readily available figure.  What is available is the opportunity to express the Love and Gratitude that Champions share with the rest of the Nation when it comes to appreciating the efforts of those who serve.

        Manuel and Sue Hutchison were down from Iowa for a few days so that Manuel could go to his 50^th high school class reunion.  Louise said they had a great time and about ten of the family went over to the Junction for fish on Friday.

        The official date for the Skyline Volunteer Fire Department Picnic is August 14^th and 15^th.  That is according to the Fire Chief and he should know.  May Day celebrations were rained out.  The next Big event after Saturday’s Trail Ride will be the Annual Denlow School Reunion.  There is time for that to come together well if certain influences can be managed.

        The long-range weather forecast does not seem to include a frost…though it did thunder in February.  By the time this issue of the paper hits mail boxes there will probably be dust blowing on the roads.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood shows that Thursday and Friday will be good days for planting above ground crops.  The next favorable time for above ground crops is on the 24^th.  Meanwhile, the 9^th-11^th, the 14^th and 15^th, and the 19^th and 20^th will all be good for planting crops that have their yield below ground.  There is a lot of good information in the almanac and it is free.  Sometimes there is a copy at Henson’s Store, they are available at the Plant Place and on a link at the www.championnews.us website.  Champion website designer and administrator, Carol Cleveland, has made a beautiful e-newsletter for Linda.  What a technological savvy part of the world.  Champion!

        Some old Champion mothers are pulling a switch on their kids by sending them cards for Mother’s Day!  “Thanks for letting me be a Mother!” they say, and “You have improved my life!”  Very clever those old girls!  Champion notions.

        Interesting notions, and good sunny-side songs are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Interesting stories about census takers, grave robbers or revenuers can be e-mailed to Champion News. Get out on the porch at Henson’s Store on Saturday and perhaps see “a cute little thing that lives by the spring in the Valley!  Every day she goes by with her head held up high, like a high-stepping filly.”  Watch for her among the mounted legions on Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive.  If you’re in Champion, you’re Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—April 27, 2009

        May first, May Day, is a day designated to celebrate Spring.  It is a day of political protests.  It is a neo-pagan festival, a saint’s feast day, and a day for organized labor.  In many countries, it is a national holiday.  In Champion some like to make note of the number of different shades of green visible on that day, particularly in contrast with the still vibrant dogwood blossoms.  That can be a subjective number as green is often in the eye of the beholder.  It is easy to see that unfortunates living elsewhere might be jealous of the vistas—on the Bright Side.

        What a Champion!  Twelve year old Little League pitcher, Mackenzie Brown, of Bayonne, New Jersey threw a perfect game last week and was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Mets’ game against the Washington Nationals.  Anybody who attended school at Champion years ago can point out right where home plate and second base were…the other bases too.  They get a wistful look in their eyes and it is easy to see they are remembering wonderful days.

        National Volunteer Week festivities were wrapped up in Peoria, Illinois on Friday the 24^th, at the Crittenton Center.  This is a multi-service, not-for-profit, child welfare organization.  Eight of the center’s top volunteers received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.  Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis gave out the awards to a group that has performed about 67 hundred hours of community service combined.  Volunteers at the center do everything from relieve the staff to play with the children.  And most of the recipients have been working at the center for several years.  There are about six hundred volunteers that work at the center throughout the year.  The President’s Volunteer Service Award was created in 2003 to inspire others to contribute to their communities through volunteering.  Champion’s own Barbara Krider was one of the recipients of this prestigious award and spoke to the media after the presentation.  She was very poised in her remarks and spoke to the value of the volunteer’s efforts in terms of giving the critical staff relief to do their important jobs.  Barbara wore a periwinkle lavender jacket with jewel neckline over a light blouse and skirt.  Champions are well represented by their stylish (if largely absentee) resident and are optimistic that her schedule will give her time to return home soon.

        She will be glad to have missed the Clampett-mobile.  The Clines, of Seymour, who have diverse interests in the auto-racing, auto-restoration, and all things auto made themselves quite the spectacle on Saturday.  The connection of Ms. Cline (whose interest is in Mr. Cline) to General Upshod could no longer be denied as she stood next to him as close as she would to an Uncle while watching her spouse and lovely cousin Elva roll by in a heap of hillbilly junk that would have embarrassed Ellie Mae and everyone knows that Ellie Mae is just about the most fun loving, gentle and non-judgmental person ever depicted as real.  Imagine plastic lawn chairs, wooden crates and benches, floor lamps and rusty wash tubs rattling down the road giving every appearance of impending complete collapse.  Cartoon like and as unbalanced as the General, the thing lumbered along with no clear origin or destination.  The vehicle, however, has a substantial drive-train, appropriate tires in good repair and all the pertinences required to make it go.  While roadworthy it is probably not legal and the Clines are enjoined not to try to take it on the open road.  It is noteworthy and delightful to know that Elva is making a good recovery from her broken foot or surely her Dear Mother would not have let her go off with the General!  It was noted last week that Barbara is the wife of the brother of the sister of the General, but in reality she is the wife of the brother married to the sister of the General.

        The Fortnight Bridge group was hosted by Norwood for its regular game on Saturday.  The Brushy Knob player was absent and his place taken by veteran player from Seven Springs.  Vera Cruz came in first place with a score of 4660, Champion was second with 4460, Norwood third with 3540 and Seven Springs low with 2640.  Low, however profited by $1.50, and high by $2.00.  It was a lively game including several slams bid and un-bid.  The whole southwest Missouri bridge community is still reeling from a hand that was dealt on April 4^th when Charlene Durpre sat in for the Vera Cruz player at the Champion game.  Norwood dealt, with Brushy Knob as partner, and opened “one diamond.”  Champion was second to bid, with Charlene for partner.  Champion bid Six Spades!  It was amazing!  Pass.  Pass.  Pass.  Well she made it!  The hand dealt had nine spades including the top three and two singleton Aces!  A doubleton heart with the Queen was the only weak spot, but Charlene had the King!  What a partner!  It was fantastic!  The Ace of hearts was the only lost trick.  Twenty-two days later the Champion player is still on top of the world!  Bridge playing friends from around the area, however, are beginning to duck when they see her approach.  While everyone is glad for her it might be getting a little tiresome.  “Six Spades! What a deal!”

        May Day will be an excellent day for planting all the above-ground crops according to Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood.  The next good planting day will be the 7^th, so there will be time to get all those farm chores done in the interim.  Gardens are going in all around the country and there is said to be a renewed interest in studying all the country living subjects that are now being called “sustainable.”  Gardening, wild-crafting, food preserving, herb-lore, recycling, composting, live-stock raising, and bartering are all things that are part of the fabric of this part of the world.  Champion has sustained itself through tough times with hard work, humor, music, and good neighboring.

        Mayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications.  It comes from a French word, which means “come help me,” and is used to signal a life-threatening emergency.  The call is always given three times in a row (“Mayday Mayday Mayday”) to prevent mistaking it for some similar-sounding phrase under noisy conditions, and to distinguish an actual Mayday from a message about a Mayday call.  Soldiers and sailors use it around the world and many of them are U.S. Service Personnel.  Champions all hope when the signal is used that help arrives promptly.  When those Veterans arrive home Champions hope they will be met with the Love and Gratitude of their Nation.

        How thrilling it must be to have a birthday on May Day!  The whole world celebrates with flowers and fun and light hearts.  Sing, “When Irish Eyes are Smiling sure it’s like a morning spring.  In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angles sing.  When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay.  And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away.”  Mailboxes at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, and at Champion News are receiving any kind of beautiful song, any kind of optimism, nostalgia, garden tips and bragging.  Look at www.championnews.us for the fun of it.  Sing any good song out on the porch at Henson’s Store, where many a fine singer has stood before.  Gaze down Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive and be swelled with pride, for when you are in Champion, your Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—April 20, 2009

        “Stand around on the porch at Henson’s Store on the North side of the Square to hear meadowlark chimes–the sonorous sounds of the bucolic nature of Champion where hearts are happy and they are always Looking on the Bright side!”  That was last week’s news and still an invitation because Champion is a very inviting place.

        So far it has proven true that “if it rains on Easter Sunday it will rain the next seven Sundays in a row.”  Even a gentle rain can add up and Sunday found Fox Creek suddenly quite up and roaring over the slab east of town.  It came up so quickly that it flowed backwards over the Clever Creek slab before everything leveled out.  It was very exciting.  Six Sundays from now will be the Memorial Day week-end and the proof of the old adage will have been revealed.  Gardens will be in full swing and producing already, particularly if the rain has been steady and reliable.  As Hank Longfellow suggested, Champions are learning to ‘labor and to wait.’

        Connie Landsdown, Louise’s daughter, was happily surprised on Sunday as she was leaving church.  “That girl looks like Ashley!” she said.  The girl was Ashley.  She and Brittany and Brittany’s daughter Maria had flown in from Utah as a surprise for their Mom.  Their sister Chelsea knew, but Connie was completely surprised.  Good surprises are Champion!

        The Skyline Volunteer Fire Department has been busy holding classes and getting the storm damage cleared up from Hurricane Ike.  The Annual Skyline Picnic is scheduled for the 14^th and 15^th of August.  It will be here about the time people are busy in their hay and trying to get their produce canned and frozen.  It will be a welcome diversion from all the hard work.

        Champion’s good neighbors over at Denlow are getting ready for their 23^rd Annual Denlow School Reunion which will occur on May 23^rd this year.  Preparations are under way.  While on her Easter sojourn to their rural Champion estate, Barbara Krider, of the Illinois Kriders, generously donated one of her couture armadillo handbags to the General as a centerpiece for the Denlow soirée.  The General and Barbara are mishpocheh, that is to say ‘family.’  More clearly understood, the term is most often used to mean family that is not blood kin.  Barbara is married to the brother of the wife of the sister of the General.

Barbara Krider presents an armadillo handbag to the General

        It is a close family, if spread out.  Champions know that closeness has not all that much to do with geography.  It is not yet clear if the General plans to simply display the handbag as part of the Denlow Collection, of if he will include it in the Auction that occurs at the event.  As the event approaches perhaps more details will be revealed.  It had been suggested that the famous bag would be available for view at the Champion May Day Celebration together with the other entries (photos only) of the AAF (armadillo art festival) but none of that has been confirmed.  The General can be hard to pin down when it comes to specifics.

        Because Champions are always excited about potential, a survey is being made to see if palladium, a metal in the platinum family, is a common ore to these parts.  News items from a hundred years ago frequently mention ores of various sorts—some called “Jack,” for example.  Well, palladium, mixed with a little deuterium and a little electricity produces what is called cold fusion.  It doesn’t sound like much, but it would sure put Champion on the map!  Champion is already on the map and even finally in the right spot on most GPS systems and that ought to be enough according to some who reject change of any kind.  Reckless brilliance is not enough for them.  They want to be able to repeat the crackpot scientific experiments with some degree of predictability for their outcome before they buy into enthusiasm for a potentially world changing discovery.  Champions are excited, but cautious.

        Champions are also thinking about old friends far away.  Tennessee friend Darrel Haden comes to mind.  He probably has one of the largest collections of vinyl records around.  A search of his archives might come up with a copy of “All The Goings On At The Courthouse.”  That was quite a controversial tune a few years ago.  Music’s power to inform, entertain, comfort and inspire is not lost on Professor Haden and his contributions to music appreciation are not lost on Champions!  Now Ms. Susan Boyles from over in Scotland is wowing the world with her wonderful voice.  She is singing “Cry Me A River” well enough to remind some old Champions of the beautiful Julie London.  These old guys may not really be remembering Ms. London’s voice, but the song brings her to mind.  One Champion wonders if Ms. Boyles might frequent The Forrest Café at Number Three Bristo Place in Edinburgh.  She might meet Champion Sam Moses there and they would both be lucky!

        The 25^th and the 26^th will be good days to plant anything that bears its yield above ground.  Anytime from the 24^th through the 30^th will be an excellent time to do transplanting, says Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood.  Everything is looking so healthy and vigorous.  It is a real test of patience for some Champions in frost-prone pockets of the country.  They are good at the labor part, but the waiting part is hard.  Spend some of that waiting time in correspondence with distant relatives and friends.  Number Four in the series of Champion Picture Post Cards has been flying off the shelves.  It features Charlie Lambert, Lonnie Krider and Danny Dry watching a two wheeled cart go by down on the Square.  It was the occasion of Bud Hutchison’s trail ride last Spring.  Another one of those should be happening any time now.  No doubt a big supply of those cards will be on hand when the riders come through again.

        “I have mixed emotions about this deployment,” said Spc. Chris Palmer of Joplin, now in his second year with the Guard.  “As a soldier, I’m excited about it because I’m finally fulfilling my duties as a soldier; this is what I signed up to do.  But as a family man, I really feel bad, leaving my wife and children.”

        The Missouri Army National Guard 203rd Engineer Battalion will deploy this fall to Afghanistan.  Many of the soldiers were previously deployed to Iraq in 2003.  Since that time, some have deployed with other units for third and fourth tours of duty.  Staff Sgt. Micah Roth of Joplin, now in his ninth year with the Missouri National Guard, is deploying for the third time.  He first deployed to Iraq in 2003 with the 203rd, and later in 2007 with the 35th Engineer Brigade out of Fort Leonard Wood.  This will be his first tour of duty in Afghanistan.  “I really want to go on this deployment because elements of the mission could be dangerous, and I know a lot of the soldiers who are going,” said Roth.  “I just can’t see them going without me.”  Love and Gratitude are the watch words.

        Thoughts about old friends, good surprizes, garden lore and watch words are welcome at Champion Items, Rt, 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717.  Songs of any kind, sweet, silly, or sad are welcome at Champion News.  Sing, “When I was a lad and old Shep was a pup…” out there on the porch at Henson’s Emporium in Downtown Champion.  Look down the broad expanse of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive and be glad to be Looking on the Bright Side!

CHAMPION—April 12, 2009

        Champions are always grateful for a gentle Spring rain even if it comes on Easter Sunday.  The very unpredictability of weather engages the attention and interest of farmers, gardeners, and mushroom aficionados.  While it is frequently the subject of all the conversation there is to be had, rarely do Champions complain about the weather.  “What’s the point?” one asks.  Even a guy who spent the afternoon standing out in a cool drizzle for three hours ultimately using his own radio antenna to open the door of his truck, the keys locked inside it–even he did not blame his situation on the weather.

        While timing was good for a nice rain, the Champion Easter Parade finally had to be cancelled.  A contingent did parade around the Mall for a while just to blow off some steam over their disappointment.  Kalyssa Wiseman and Chante`(spelled with an accent mark) Michaud were the outstanding participants among the junior set.  Kalyssa’s frock was a soft yellow voile with tiny pink dots from the Madelyn Ward collection.  It featured a gathered skirt with a wide ribbon trim around a plain bodice.  She wore pink tights and white leather sandals.  Chante` was stunning in a spring floral cotton print composed of tiers of detached ruffles from the neck to the hem at mid-calf.  The ensemble was completed by a pastel green long sleeved body shirt and purple jelly flip flops replete with LED lights at the heels.  Mrs. Ruth Shaw of Waterloo, Iowa, an infrequent but always welcome visitor to Champion, also chose a spring floral motif.  Pink dogwood blossoms adorned her skirt, which was topped off with a sporty navy jacket decorated with unmatched blue stone brooches, gifts from her son.  She wore rose quarts ear-rings and matching pendant.  Ruth’s sister, Rita Krider, of Elmwood, Ill. had similar jewelry of a pale blue lapis lazuli set off nicely by a crisp white short sleeved jacket over a bright print skirt featuring yellows and reds.  And red!  Who but Barbara Krider could carry off the drama and excitement of that color so well?  It was inspired!  Delicate dangling gold filigree mandala earrings were the finishing touch and once again Barbara has set the standard for style.  She also has generously agreed to share some of her Fashionista Tips and the one chosen from her list for this week is:  “Don’t get a tattoo that will show in a bridesmaid’s dress.”  All Champion women can benefit from Barbara’s life experiences.

        Sarah Michaud, Chante`’s Mother, has just been named Oxford Health Care’s Employee of the Month!  Apart from the recognition for a difficult job well done, there was a nice little bonus and a spot in the running for Employee of the Year!  Champions all wish her good luck and are pleased to be acquainted such a pleasant and positive person.

        Pete and Kate Proctor have been having a good time.  They had their son Bryan and his family visiting with them for a whole week.  They’ve gone back to Virginia now where Bryan will be stationed for a while.  Pete e-mailed, “I can sure sleep a lot better since he is back home for now.”  Parents and families all across the country are missing their soldiers serving around the world in the dangerous places.  They have the Love and Gratitude of their Nation and when they get home there will be chances to show them that appreciation.

        More than one person has corrected the reference to singing teacher Arthur Porter (not Peterson as reported last week.)  His father, Everet Porter, had been a singing teacher too.  At various times both Harley and Lonnie Krider told the story that they would be in Ava with their Dad, Oscar, when they would run into Mr. Porter on the square.  In no time, Porter would pull a song book out of the hip pocket of his overalls and before long he and Oscar would be studying a new song, marking out the timing, and exploring what it had to offer…right on the busy street with commerce going on all around.  Music is a gift.

        Dianne (Krider) Strickland joined a rowdy rabble of family and friends at Plumbers in Vanzant on Thursday (This is whole other story.) for dinner and music.  She had the good news to share that on April 7, 2009, the song “I Can Go Back Anytime” made Number One on the National Bluegrass Charts.  The song was written by her daughter, Jennifer Strickland, and was recorded by Carrie Hassler.  Dianne is the niece of all those musical Kriders–Harley, Lonnie, Donald, and Vivian (Krider) Floyd.  She is delighted by her daughters’ accomplishment—pleased as punch!

        Champion gardens are just percolating with life!  Little peas and beets are up in places.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that the 17^th and 18^th will be good days to plant any kind of root crop.  With everything so lusciously green it is difficult to be patient about those more tender things.  Some say that May 10^th is the last possible frost date in these parts.  A native Champion said that it thundered on the 10^th of February, so it’s likely there’ll be a cold spell in May.  Dustin Cline’s granddad said that if it rains on Easter Sunday it will rain the next seven Sundays in a row.  Champions wouldn’t mind a nice rain once a week through the growing season, but they’ll take what they get!  Linda took a trip to the Lake of the Ozarks to meet up with her granddaughter for an Easter visit.  That will have her in a good mood to do all the hard work it takes to make Champion gardeners successful.

        In the midst of the wretched destruction of a beautiful wooded glen stands one giant old dogwood tree about to bloom like crazy!  “You missed one, you money-grubbing, carpet bagging malefactors!” shouts a still angry neighbor, but the boughs of flowers soon to come will soothe some of that ire.  Birthdays come around like taxes and on tax day for some!  Stacy may take her spouse to Rockbridge to celebrate his, if he straightens up a little.  Vivian Floyd will be celebrating if not counting, and so will G.G. Jones, who must be getting terribly old.

        Listen to Carrie Hassler and Hard Rain on the radio to recognize “I Can Go Back Anytime.”  The album got great reviews and Jennifer Strickland’s song is called beautifully sentimental.  Sentimental songs are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Silly songs or sad ones go to Champion News.  Stand around on the porch at Henson’s Store on the North side of the Square to hear meadowlark chimes–the sonorous sounds of the bucolic nature of Champion where hearts are happy and they are always Looking on the Bright Side!