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CHAMPION—July 20, 2009

        In Champion “welcome” is more than a word of kindly greeting.  A stranger is most often gladly received with the cordial consent of Champions if he wanders in by accident or design.  Old friends, long absent, feel that flush of joy in acceptance when they venture back into Champion territory.  Champions returning from bear hunting expeditions or tours of distant places for the pleasure of family ties and diversion find in their Champion home that haven of all domestic affections.  Welcome.

        Disappointed Herald readers looking for the missing report on the Champion 4^th of July, 2009, Independence Day Parade can find it in the archives of July 6^th on the www.championnews.us site.  For those not computing, the parade was a doozie!  It was also reported at that time that Kenneth and Dawn Henson were back in Beautiful Historic Champion over the holiday.  They prowled around old stomping grounds and made impromptu visits to Pleasant Cousins.  They were on a lark spending the night in Mountain Grove to enjoy the Mountain Grove School reunion, the air show and alumni banquet.  He said that he had some stories to share one day about Morton Upshaw.  Some of the Upshaw descendants said they had some stories to share about Hoovie too!  Subsequent to their visit, Kenneth wrote to buy copies of all seven of the Champion Picture Postcards and a dozen tickets for the chance to win the beautiful quilt that the Ladies Auxiliary has provided for the Skyline VFD Picnic.  That drawing will be held the 15^th of August.  Good luck, Hoovie!  The newest postcard was Hoovie’s idea–a portrait of Ed Henson leaning up against the porch post.  Someone said the post was leaning up against him.  A pretty dog sits beside Ed and the two of them are obviously Champions—Looking on the Bright Side!

        Favorite absentee Champions, Barbara and Harley Krider celebrated their 44^th wedding anniversary on the 3^rd of July.  It is not clear that either of them knew what they were getting into, but they have done a nice job of it and their Champion family and friends congratulate them heartily!

        For those readers who missed the protracted description of the General’s moon walking demonstrations in the July 8^th issue, that too is included in those aforementioned archives.  It was reported to have been an otherwise dignified family gathering, so perhaps this is one of those occasions where less is more.

        Another note has come from Bill Pool who says that he had received a letter from TV’s #1 Gardener, Jim Baker, who said that his tomatoes have a form of blossom-end-rot.  He suggested crushing two TUMS tablets into power and to spread it around each plant and soak with water until the TUMS gets down to the roots.  “They should be OK,” he said.  Several are banking on that advice as it turns out the antacid is largely made of calcium.  Martin A. Draper, a senior plant pathologist at the Untied States Department of Agriculture, described as “explosive” the rate of infection of a highly contagious fungus that destroys tomato plants.  It has spread to nearly every state in the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic due to the cool wet weather in June and the aggressively infectious nature of the pathogen.  Hot, sunny weather, which can kill late blight, could dramatically slow or eliminate the fungus’s spread.  Weather will just do what it is going to do.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that the 22^nd and the 23^rd will be fine days for destroying weeds.  The 28^th through the 31^st will be excellent days for planting fall crops that bear their yield above the ground.  One old Champion Tomato was amazed to see some of her dangling beauties turning colors—red!  Amazing indeed!  Champion!

        Private Lucas M. Bregg, 19, of Wright City, MO died July 8^th in Baghdad, Iraq, of injures suffered from a non com-bat related incident.  He was assigned to the 2^nd Battalion, 5^th Calvary Regiment, 1^st Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Calvary Division, Fort Hood, Texas.  Wright City is located on Interstate 70, about 45 miles west of St. Louis.  His family asked that the Patriot Guard Riders escort him back home when his body arrived in St. Louis on the 16^th of July.  This is a group of motorcycle riders from all over the country–all kinds of motorcycles, all kinds of political affiliations, all with the same philosophy, “Standing for those who stood for us.”  They express the Love and Gratitude that Champions feel for those serving their Nation in and out of uniform.

        Brushy Knob hosted Champion’s Fortnight Bridge game on account of the extraordinary heat of the 11^th of July and the relative rusticity of the Champion accommodations.  Ms. Oyl, of Champion-East, sat in for the Norwood player.  The disparity between winner and looser was 2,010 points with the winner only gleaning 4,810 after five rubbers of bridge!  Penalties were paid at $.25 each for numerous un-bid slams and the number of un-made contracts gleaned the Champion looser a hand full of bright nickels while the Vera Cruz victor pocketed a weight in quarters.  Brushy Knob will host again the regular game on the 25^th and players are honing their skills in preparation.

        Skyline Ladies Auxiliary held a solid planning meeting at Henson’s Store on the 14^th.  A follow up meeting is scheduled for the 28^th at the fire station.  A few short weeks from now will find those picnic grounds a flurry of activity.  Talk about excitement!  Meanwhile, White River Valley CoOp customers can vie for $100.00 in free power that the CoOp is donating for the benefit of the Skyline Fire Department.  That is one of those Champion neighborly one hand washes the other kind of things that goes on around this lovely neighborhood.

        Time is too slow for those that wait, too swift for those that fear, too long for those that grieve, too short for those that rejoice, but to those that love, time is eternity.  Of all the songs written about time, a current favorite is the Rolling Stones’ version of “Time is on My Side” from 1964.  The gist of it is the common theme.  One is given leave to experience all that the world has to offer with the reassurance that he has but to return to find the waiting steadfastness of an enduring true love.  “Time is on my side, yes it is.”  Send any song about time to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717.  If the song is uplifting or somehow soothing for a sorrowful soul, e-mail it right away to Champion News.  Stand out on the porch at Henson’s Store and gaze up the inviting lane known as Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive.  Just think of all the music that that true Champion made and how many glad hearts.  One of Foster’s favorite songs from his Granddad is “Sadie’s Got Her New Dress On.”  Hum that one or another one and smile about a good memory.  Champion—Looking on the Bright Side.