DreamWorks

CHAMPION—June 18, 2007

        Dads, Daddies, Pops, Papas, Pappies, and Grand versions of all those Fathers and others were Hailed and Lauded, Revered and Appreciated with Love and Gratitude in Champion on Sunday.  Phone calls from far places and cards with and without money poured in.  There were many fine gatherings and many meals out.  A sudden,  violent and very noisy little thunderstorm came up and left a little rain and no damage.  No complaints were heard from the City Fathers on any account..

        In Champion they say if you see a pretty garden there is generally someone in it.

        Things are fairly burgeoning.  The First Ripe Tomato In Champion Contest is spurring a modest amount of enthusiasm, though it is thought that as things “pink up” the excitement will surely swell.  It is to be noted that if blossoms are only now appearing, there is scant chance for a victory.  Linda’s almanac says that the 23^rd all the way through the 27^th will be good for planting anything that bears fruit above the ground—the 25^th-27^th will be especially good.

        It was a swell time for Foster Emit’s second birthday!  He had cousins from Nebraska and Tennessee and a Great Uncle from Illinois at his party last week.  Another Great Uncle and Champion ice-cream maker furnished two kinds of the good homemade stuff to go with the cake and burgers and other excellent fair.  Foster entertained a substantial crowd with his mandolin and several selections from his expanding repertory.  His Tennessee cousins, Dakota and Dillon, have recently attended a singing school where they learned fundamentals of music together with some songs about skunks and bees.  They are having adventures in breaking some wild calves to show at the Fair in Mountain Grove on Saturday morning.  They are already Champions, but locals are wishing them good luck in their efforts!

        Saturday afternoon will see the community gathering to honor Esther Wrinkles at her Party at the Skyline School at 2 p.m.  It promises to be a lively affair with well wishers pouring in from all segments of society, from near and far.  Some of Esther’s friends are going to give her gooseberry bushes and plant them wherever she wants them in her yard so that when she gets old she won’t have to rely so much on others for her gooseberries!  Linda has three or four of them over at the Plant Place and she’s starting a sale on Thursday that will provide some great bargains.  As to the lies about gooseberries and the people who love them, apologies are to be made.  The admonition had been, “Don’t go telling any big lies about me.”  The thought had been that there would be fun in a small lie about a small thing.  Apparently, it was a Big Thing, since he hates gooseberries sooo much and he is now hesitant to talk about anything.  It just goes to show that there is no profit to be made from lying on any scale.  And Esther’s birthday is on the 28^th, of June and not the 27^th as was reported last week.  That was just a mistake—not a lie.

        Stephanie Stogsdill is in charge of District Eight of the Missouri Department of Transportation.  Her office is in Springfield, but she is quite well acquainted with this area.  She says that the Champion sign is on order and that she will release the date it will be installed as soon as it is available.  Nothing was said about whether the same hole would be used.  It still has not been taken.  Anyone wishing to compliment Ms. Stogsdill’s efforts for the betterment of her District can do so at MODOT, 3025 East Karney, Springfield, MO 65803, or go to www.modot.org on line.  Speculation that someone from Spotted Hog took the sign is slanderous.  That’s the way rumors are started.  It is agreed that is too bad that they don’t have their own sign over there, but Champion’s sign would clearly be of little use to them.  In an effort to quell further contention, nothing more will be said concerning this matter.

        Louise Hutchison and Sharon Sikes have been slipping around to do extra cleaning on the sly in the cook shack at the Skyline Fire Department Picnic Grounds.  They seem to feel that it’s OK for them to work harder than everyone else.  They dismantled the new refrigerator and cleaned it thoroughly, cleaned the deep fryer and the grill, and who knows what all?  Wilburn was there too sweeping and pitching in as a solid citizen.  Membership in the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Skyline Fire Department is a year-round thing.  These are some special Ladies (and gentleman.)  A good buy on a big deep freeze from a local merchant is being pursued.  The old one has finally given out and there will be a real need come Picnic Time.  These things and others will be discussed at the next meeting which will be held July 10^th, at Esther Wrinkle’s house.

        Spec. Justin B. Carter, age 21, of Mansfield, Missouri died at Forward Operating Base McKenzie near Samarra, Iraq on February 16, 2005.  He is one of sixty who died there that month.  The total of US Service People who have lost their lives in this conflict as of June 18, 2007 is 3,526.  Neighbors near and far are active in the US Military Services on behalf of the Nation.  The pride and patriotism of their service must be reflected in the Love and Gratitude of their Nation.

        The first foreign e-mail to the Champion News e-mail box is from Piedras Negras, Mexico!  It is subject line says “Bare it or bear it.”  The e-mail is as follows: “Salud! Champion!  The bare facts are that you barely speak your own language if you choose to use ‘bare’ for ‘bear.’  English is the official language of Champion, no?  I find your column a curious mix of charm and tedium, but it is a reminder of a place I have loved so well.  s.s.s.  C.Maria Beatifica Escondido, Piedras Negras, Mexico”  The response is:  “Dear Ms. Escondido, Thank you for reading the Champion Items.  Thank you for correcting the poor word choices.  Every effort will be made to do better.  Please feel free to share any fond memories that you have of Champion.  Sincerely, Your Champion Friend.”  A chance meeting with a great nephew of Ed and Anna Henson the other day promises to yield some good stories about them in the future.  The ‘old timers’ set the tone for this lovely place and it is a pleasure to know that they are remembered.

        Champions here and those abroad are welcome to correct spelling, usage, grammar, facts, dates and moral principals or principles (so much pressure!) by writing to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Send those things and any stories or good memories of the old timers to the e-mail address that Ms. Escondido used, or drop them off in person to one of the City Fathers of Champion who may be found at any odd time lounging about at Henson’s Store on the tree lined boulevard in the nerve center of the fair town.  Any examples of good works done on the sly will also be accepted.  CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!