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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!