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CHAMPION—July 1, 2007

        Champion has been awash with luscious rain and Patriotic Ecstasies!  The First Ever Secret 4^th of July Parade came and went with fanfare enough to leave shreds of crape paper, burst balloons, colorful confetti, drooping bunting and an unusual number of spent shotgun shells.  Odd it was that none heard a thing!  The phantom echo of crashing cymbals, piccolo and tinkling glockenspiel in Stars and Stripes Forever lingers, haunting the damp forest undergrowth surrounding Champion.  Humidity and Expectation combine to steep the deep thoughtfulness of a Grateful citizenry.  Happy Birthday! America!  Huzzah!  The detritus was discovered by Henson’s Store proprietor at the opening of business on Wednesday.  The July 4^th Stealth Parade remains a Mystery, though it must have been a doozie.  Neighbors came in to help with the clean up and just looked at each other in Wonder.  The Champion Parade Committee is to be commended!

        Happy Birthdays were in order for those Nettleton girls too!  Saundra took her Mother, Eva,  up to Lamberts to meet with her sisters Shirley and Helen to celebrate their mutual birthdays on Friday the 29^th.  Among them they have accumulated 202 years!  They are a lively group.  There were stories about how Helen of Ava poured the brown beans on their Father’s head and how Shirley, now of the Purdy area, lost her doll in the outhouse and who had to clean it up and why.  Very interesting stuff.  Happy Birthday Ladies!

        Corrections have to be made from last weeks column:  It was Danny Dry, not Gray who came out from the courthouse in Ava to Esther’s Birthday party.  He has always been fond of Esther (join the club) and very supportive of the Skyline/Champion communities.  Then there is the matter of the travesty of having attributed the Ice Cream Fandango at Esther’s house on Saturday the 23^rd of June to Robert Hamilton instead of Robert Upshaw.  This is a grievous error since this ice-cream maker has such an excellent reputation for his craft.  It is, however, an easy mistake to have made, since there has been no real first hand knowledge of the ice cream, its purported excellence and variety, only hearsay from satiated ice cream-aholoics.  Apologies, nevertheless, are extended with the caveat that nothing further will be said about the ice cream until it has been tasted.  Both Roberts, however, are active in the Skyline Fire Department and both have lovely spouses and grandchildren, so the mistake is understandable if not excusable.

        Donna Moskaly is the proud owner of the Blue Ball Mason Jar, a quart, that was the Grand Prize in the First Ripe Tomato in Champion Contest!  She came down to Champion on Thursday afternoon, the 28^th, with the complete willingness to share her luscious ripe tomato with the judges.  She didn’t know the name of the variety.  It was a medium sized bright red jewel.  It was the first ripe tomato to be entered into the Contest, but not her first ripe tomato of the season since she and Joe had previously enjoyed one at their own table.  Therefore, any dispute or disparagement that could be brought by Louise and her Parks Whoppers is rendered Moot.  Fortunately, these ladies are convivial neighbors and while everyone knows how competitive Louise is, they also know she is gracious to the bone.

        An e-mail from Carl O. Johnson of West Plains says that all the members of the group touring in Champion last Sunday will plan to come back sometime when the store is open.  “ Have a great 4th of July Independence Day ‘Secret’ Parade—-I like the idea of celebrating it ‘all the time.’”  Carl O. Johnson.

        A letter  has arrived from Ethel McCallie of Nowata, Oklahoma!  “To the Writer of the Champion Items in the Ava paper:  Dear Sir, Or Madam,  I read and love your items, I think you are a great writer.”  (Thank you.)  “Now I’ll tell you who I am.  I’m a cousin to Darrell Haden and he suggested that I read your items.  I’m not aware of where Champion is.  I’ve heard of it all my life, but had no idea where it was…or is.  I was born at Smallett.  It’s about 9 miles S.W. of Ava and near Rome, McClurg, Bradleyville and some of the other small areas’………  “When I was a child we never got any farther away from home than Squires.  That’s where my Mother’s parents lived, their name was Warden.  My Grandpa was s school teacher, lawyer and Justice of the Peace.  You may have known of him as he taught school all over that area around Ava, Squires, Noble, Wasola and Kolb.”  …..”I seen Esther Wrinkles name in the paper and her photo saying she was having her 90^th birthday, June 28^th, so I sent her a card with a note in it congratulating her and telling her that I though 1917 was a very good year because it produced her and me and I told her I’d be 90 on August 11^th.  I hope she doesn’t mind me doing that.”  (Esther said that had received her card and appreciated it.)  She goes on:  “Have you heard of any Hadens besides Darrell?  He is my Dad’s oldest brother’s first grandchild.  My uncle’s name was Walter Haden, and my Dad’s name was Blake Haden.  We have a Haden Family reunion first weekend in September and if I get to come, My cousin and me are going to try to find your place of Champion.  Maybe you’ll have a sign back up by then.  I liked what you said about someone taking the sign, but not the hole.”………”I also enjoyed your comments about gooseberries.  My Granny had some bushes in her yard near the back porch and us kids and our cousins used to go and pick a bunch of them, then go behind the old cellar shed and see who could eat the biggest mouth full without frowning.  Haha!  It was fun, but those berries were so sour, I never could get enough sugar on a pie to make it sweet enough for me.  I said you have to use 13 sugars to each berry!”  Ms. Ethel (Haden) McCallie writes a lovely letter and covers a wide range of subjects which will be reported in future items.

        The article in the Herald concerning the Adopt A US Soldier program has been well received.  Any opportunity to show Love and Gratitude to those serving their Nation is Welcome.  When Champion’s Own Soldier is assigned, the name and address will be made available to any Champion who would like to correspond.  To date, in Iraq there have been 3,580 US Service People who have lost their lives there.  Lance Cpl. Patrick R. Nixon, 21, of St. Louis, MO was killed when his amphibious assault vehicle was hit by enemy fire in Nasiriya, Iraq on March 23, 2003.  He was with the 1^st Battalion, 2^nd Marine Regiment, 2^nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.

        Some people complain that the rain is making for too much mowing.  Some people figure all the rain will make the tomatoes split on the vine.  Some people just don’t know how to be happy.  That’s not the Champion way!  No one has answered the question about Gene Autry’s horse yet, but some are studying on the matter.  A copy of Champion School Memories, a very interesting book compiled by a real Champion has surfaced and merits some study.  Perhaps there will be copies available for the Champion School Reunion that will be held on Labor Day.  Between now and then there will be many picnics, reunions, and ice-cream socials.  This promises to be a delightful Summer.  July’s full moon is called The Thunder Moon, its flower is the Larkspur and its birthstone is the Ruby, says Linda’s Almanac.  Compliments, complaints, corrections and any charming correspondence are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  E-mail those things, tales of Summer Delights or garden tips (Linda’s almanac says that the 8^th and 9^th of July will be good for planting root crops) to Champion News.  Hand deliver those items or any excuses and commendations to an exhausted Patriot and Inspect the sight of the Great Invisible Parade from the lofty perch of Henson’s Store in the blissful bosom of CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!