Champion News

CHAMPION—April 30, 2007

        Champion is again in the spotlight!  Early last week customers at Henson’s Store on Main Street were surprised to find a film crew there.  There were interviews with various local people as a video was made of the store inside and out.  Over the years Champion and Henson’s Store have been featured in a number of publications including The White River Electric Co-Op paper, Rural Missouri, National Geographic, as well as others.  This group is making a documentary which will be called Old Stores and Old Stories or vice versa, Old Stories and Old Stores.  One of the visitors involved in the project is the granddaughter of Albert E. Brumley who is reported to have written more that eight hundred sacred songs including I’ll Fly Away and Turn Your Radio On.  This is some good quality attention that reminds Champions that they live in a very Special Place.

        Music was a key part of a lovely Saturday evening at the Skyline School where neighbors gathered on the 21^st  to support the Rita and Larry Hicks family which is experiencing some large medical expenses.  After enjoying a fine bowl of chili, attendees repaired to the gym where several groups entertained.  Bill Conley an Ozark String Band, Kirby Clark, and Back Yard Bluegrass were the groups advertised and they were joined by a number of others including yodeler, Ms. Eula Lakey.  A pair of young fiddlers also appeared in their black cowboy hats and executed a fine rendition of the tune Red Wing as well as a number of other fiddle tunes.  As they exited the building through the throngs in the hall someone said, “One of these days we will wish we had stopped them for an autograph.”  The music was interrupted from time to time while Zack Kelly auctioned off the pies that friends and neighbors had brought in.  The food was excellent, the entertainment sublime, and the community spirit just what has come to be expected from Champions and their sweet neighbors.  It takes a lot of hard work to pull off one of these affairs and it is a delight to be associated with the old timers and new comers who have the will to get things done.  If the willingness of good hearts could HEAL Champion would be the Center of The Universe!  Mrs. Violet Melton, made the beautiful cross stitched Rose Quilt that was on display that evening.  It is a very well executed piece set in a tasteful border of subtle colors.  The quilting was done by Corinne Rodgers of Vanzant.  It is machine quilted in a rose pattern.  It is meticulously done and a fine keepsake it will be for Judy Sharon of Ava who won the quilt in the drawing!  The ticket was sold to her by good neighbor and friend,  Carol Tharp.  Ms. Sharon will count her Lucky Stars for friends!  She does already, because she, who is an excellent quilter herself, also is the Exemplification of Friendship.

        The whole World is in Trouble.  Beaus and Spouses of some of the Krider daughters have spent a phenomenal number of shotgun shells in the harvest of a few Sad Turkeys.  It took six shells between two of them to bring down a turkey that had half a dozen pellets in it when it was all said and done with.  Those Turkeys are not Sad.  They are Dead.  (The Sad ones are those left behind.)  Moreover , with trophies uncountable,  these hunters can hardly calculate the price per pound of turkey.  Is it Hunting?  A Sport? A Hobby?  It’s like the wizened Father In Law related in a story lately about the man who had decided to save money by heating with wood.  First he had to buy a stove that cost about $400.00.  Then he needed a chain saw, some splitting wedges and a maul that together cost about another $300.00 to $400.00.  Then he needed a truck.  A real truck cost at least $25,000.00.  Well, there may be a moral to this story about spending to save, but maybe not.  It was reported that a Church service over in Champion  (Proper!) broke up in gun fire on Earth Day!  Sentiments run high in these parts and it’s kind of hard to tell.  Turkey hunters are fine people, however,  and the Champion community embraces them with History, Hospitality and Humor.  The three H’s.

        George Washington  (George the First of the U.S.)  copied 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation and the 6^th one was: “Sleep not when others Speak.  Sit not when others Stand.  Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.”

        Concerning the speculation about Ben Franklin, it turns out, according to the Pennsylvania Gazette, that Richard Saunders, who was married to Bridget, was the pen name of Ben Franklin and he (Franklin) really did write Poor Richard’s Almanak.  He said some interesting things like, “There’s none deceived, but he that trusts.”  Matthew Henry said, “If truth is once deserted, unity and peace will not last long.”

        Mark Twain said something to the effect that “A Lie can travel around the world before the Truth can get it’s shoes on.”  The year he was born, Halley’s Comet passed over.  Twain vowed that he would not die until he saw the famous comet.  It passed over on April 20^th, 1910 and Twain died the next day at 6:30 p.m.  All this is brought to mind on account of the news reported in the Looking Backward column in the Herald from 100 years ago when everyone was glad that the Marchette comet that had been recently observed by Prof. Matteucci, the Italian astronomer, did not crash into the World and to quote the columnist of the day: “We’re still permitted to eat our little dirty bite three times a day.”  A reasonably exhaustive search of the Internet did not turn up any significant information about the Astronomer or the Comet.  A Champion does recall that her Aunt Auddie, years ago,  said that when she was a kid she and all her family bathed and dressed in their finest and went out and sat in chairs in the front yard waiting for the End of the World. It was in the 1920’s.  She didn’t say what it was like when the World didn’t end, but life was never easy for those folks.  This seems kind of funny now, but people were genuinely frightened then just as many are today.  The advantage of today is that more reliable information is available, Matteucci or the Marchette Comet notwithstanding.  None of this relates to the current issue of Global Warming or the threat of Nuclear Annihilation.  The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made a ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for regulating the greenhouse gasses that are effecting climate change.  Champions will most likely vote down any proposal for a nuclear power plant in the neighborhood.

        It was a busy week for the Skyline Fire Department.  It’s members were some of the first to arrive at the crash site when the plane went down over on the Trappist Abbey Monastery property on Monday the 16^th.  After the survivor made his phone call and a resident from the area who saw the plane go down called the sheriff’s office,  Skyline Firefighters aided by the Air Evac Helicopter located the downed plane and effected the extraction of the injured man and the fatally injured man.  Ultimately there were a number of teams on the scene.  A cooperative effort is always the key to the best outcome.  The next day the Skyline Firefighters were called to a  hunting accident that resulted in the serious injury of a local hunter.  He is making a good recovery, though the wounds of him who pulled the trigger will be slower in healing.  There is much Love and Gratitude that things are not nearly as bad as they could have been.  The Skyline-Champion community is a fortunate place.

        Wilma and Jack Howard of Marshfield used to milk cows.  They don’t do that any more so they are free to go out to breakfast on a Sunday morning and then for a drive that brings them all the way down to Champion.  Their little friend, Foster Wiseman, was also in the neighborhood and was pleased to report having recently seen a goose!  Two Canadian geese had landed in his Grandmother’s yard and it was a treat for him to get acquainted with them.  He likes baby chickens too.

        Hummingbirds are buzzing about Champion again and that is a real sign of  Spring.  Still the damage caused by the recent hard freeze is evident and will be for a while.  Gardens are going in and the World just keeps spinning around.  Over on the other side of it U.S. Military Service People are doing what they are being required to do. During the month of April more than 100 US troops lost their lives, which brings the total up to 3,346 which means that a great number were seriously injured.  This does not count for the psychological damage that will show up later, after the hope of help from the Service and the Veterans organizations is exhausted.  Champions all over the Country will have to step up with patience and understanding  together with Love and Gratitude in the years to come, recognizing that all injuries can’t be sewn up and bandaged.

        Mail to Champion Items last  week included a note from one of Champion’s favorite eagle watchers together with story complete with photographs about bald eagles swimming!  The National Bird is versatile. Anyone with something to Spotlight,  candidates for the Missouri Song List or the Champion Exploratory Committee, descriptions of lovely quilts, lovely friends, lovely neighbors, flora or fauna (including versatile birds,  turkeys and hummingbirds), astronomical observations, or any kind of reminiscence about the old days around here is welcome to send it to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or to e-mail the information to Champion News.  The information can also be left at Henson’s Store on Main Street in Champion if there is not too much hectic congestion there from paparazzi.  CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

CHAMPION—April 22, 2007

        Champion is again in the spotlight!  Early last week customers at Henson’s Store on Main Street were surprised to find a film crew there.  There were interviews with various local people as a video was made of the store inside and out.  Over the years Champion and Henson’s Store have been featured in a number of publications including The White River Electric Co-Op paper, Rural Missouri, National Geographic, as well as others.  This group is making a documentary which will be called Old Stores and Old Stories or vice versa, Old Stories and Old Stores.  One of the visitors involved in the project is the granddaughter of Albert E. Brumley who is reported to have written more that eight hundred sacred songs including I’ll Fly Away and Turn Your Radio On.  This is some good quality attention that reminds Champions that they live in a very Special Place.

        Music was a key part of a lovely Saturday evening at the Skyline School where neighbors gathered to support the Rita and Larry Hicks family which is experiencing some large medical expenses.  After enjoying a fine bowl of chili, attendees repaired to the gym where several groups entertained.  Bill Conley an Ozark String Band, Kirby Clark, and Back Yard Bluegrass were the groups advertised and they were joined by a number of others.  People were drawn away from the silent auction being held in the school’s hallway by the lovely yodeling of  Ms. Eula Lakey.  A pair of young fiddlers also appeared in their black cowboy hats and executed a fine rendition of the tune Red Wing as well as a number of other fiddle tunes.  As they exited the building through the throngs in the hall someone said, “One of these days we will wish we had stopped them for an autograph.”  The music was interrupted from time to time while Zack Kelly auctioned off the pies that friends and neighbors had brought in.  Esther Wrinkles coconut cream pie went for $75.00 and her gooseberry pie went for $45.00.  The bidding was exciting and heated at times.  The silent auction also enjoyed some competitive bidding and brought in a tidy sum.  A complete copy of the recent Champion Items (8-28-06 to 4-15-07) brought $15.00, and a painted cow skull donated by Lyle Luellen brought $35.00.  There were bamboo wind chimes, a Gateway computer (reconfigured and set up by Michael Griswold), and a beautiful geranium donated by Linda over at the Plant Place in Norwood.  The food was excellent, the entertainment sublime, and the community spirit just what has come to be expected from Champions and their sweet neighbors.  It takes a lot of hard work to pull off one of these affairs and it is a delight to be associated with the old timers and newcomers who have the will to get things done.  If the willingness of good hearts could HEAL Champion would be the Center of The Universe!  As it is, If More Help is Available for the Hicks family, Dale Melton (417-926-6206) is the Community Huckleberry in this matter.  His Mother, Mrs. Violet Melton, made the beautiful cross stitched Rose Quilt that was on display that evening.  It is a very well executed piece set in a tasteful border of subtle colors.  The quilting was done by Corinne Rodgers of Vanzant.  It is machine quilted in a rose pattern.  It is meticulously done and a fine keepsake it will be for Judy Sharon of Ava who won the quilt in the drawing!  The ticket was sold to her by good neighbor and friend, Carol Tharp, and when she sees it, Ms. Sharon will count her Lucky Stars for friends!  She does already, because she, who is an excellent quilter herself, also is the Exemplification of Friendship.

        The whole World is in Trouble.  Beaus and Spouses of some of the Krider daughters have spent a phenomenal number of shotgun shells in the harvest of a few Sad Turkeys.  It took six shells between two of them to bring down a turkey that had half a dozen pellets in it when it was all said and done with.  Those Turkeys are not Sad.  They are Dead.  (The Sad ones are those left behind.)  Moreover , with trophies uncountable, these hunters can hardly calculate the price per pound of turkey.  Is it Hunting?  A Sport?  A Hobby?  It’s like the wizened Father In Law related in a story lately about the man who had decided to save money by heating with wood.  First he had to buy a stove that cost about $400.00.  Then he needed a chain saw, some splitting wedges and a maul that together cost about another $300.00 to $400.00.  Then he needed a truck.  A real truck cost at least $25,000.00.  Well, there may be a moral to this story about spending to save, but maybe not.  It was reported that a Church service over in Champion (Proper!) broke up in gun fire on Earth Day!  Sentiments run high in these parts and it’s kind of hard to tell.  Turkey hunters are fine people, however, and the Champion community embraces them with History, Hospitality and Humor.  The three H’s.

        It kind of reminds one of the three R’s.  That’s not ‘readin’, rightin’, and rithmatick, but Richard I, II, and III.  Richard III (Richard the Third) by Shakespeare is quite a tale!  It tells the story of a jealous brother who usurped his brother’s throne by ill and nefarious means.  He came to a bad end.  Well, perhaps that is a story for a future column.  George Washington is the current interest.  (George the First of the U.S.) copied 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation and the 6^th one was: “Sleep not when others Speak.  Sit not when others Stand.  Speak not when you Should hold your Peace, walk not on when others Stop.”

        Concerning the speculation about Ben Franklin, it turns out, according to the Pennsylvania Gazette, that Richard Saunders, who was married to Bridget, was the pen name of Ben Franklin and he (Franklin) really did write Poor Richard’s Almanak.  Saunders was not one of the three Richards alluded to in the previous paragraph.  He did say some interesting things though, for instance: “There’s none deceived, but he that trusts.”  Matthew Henry said, “If truth is once deserted, unity and peace will not last long.”

        Mark Twain said something to the effect that “A Lie can travel around the world before the Truth can get it’s shoes on.”  The year he was born, Halley’s Comet passed over.  Twain vowed that he would not die until he saw the famous comet.  The Comet passed over on April 20^th, 1910 and Twain died the next day at 6:30 p.m.  All this is brought to mind on account of the news reported in the Looking Backward column in the Herald from 100 years ago when everyone was glad that the Marchette comet that had been recently observed by Prof. Matteucci, the Italian astronomer, did not crash into the World and to quote the columnist of the day, “We’re still permitted to eat our little dirty bite three times a day.”  A reasonably exhaustive search of the Internet did not turn up any significant information about the Astronomer or the Comet.  A Champion does recall that her Aunt Auddie, years ago, said that when she was a kid she and all her family bathed and dressed in their finest and went out and sat in chairs in the front yard waiting for the End of the World.  It was in the 1920’s.  She didn’t say what it was like when the World didn’t end, but life was never easy for those folks.  This seems kind of funny now, but people were genuinely frightened then just as many are today.  The advantage of today is that more reliable information is available, Matteucci or the Marchette Comet notwithstanding.  None of this relates to the current issue of Global Warming or the threat of Nuclear Annihilation.  The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made a ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for regulating the greenhouse gasses that are effecting climate change.  Champions will most likely vote down any proposal for a nuclear power plant in the neighborhood.

        It was a busy week for the Skyline Fire Department.  It’s members were some of the first to arrive at the crash site when the plane went down over on the Trappist Abbey Monastery property on Monday the 16^th.  After the survivor made his phone call and a resident from the area who saw the plane go down called the sheriff’s office, Skyline Firefighters aided by the Air Evac Helicopter located the downed plane and effected the extraction of the injured man and the fatally injured man.  Ultimately there were a number of teams on the scene.  A cooperative effort is always the key to the best outcome.  The next day the Skyline Firefighters were called to a hunting accident that resulted in the serious injury of a local hunter.  He is making a good recovery, though the wounds of him who pulled the trigger will be slower in healing.  There is much Love and Gratitude that things are not nearly as bad as they could have been.  The Skyline-Champion community is a fortunate place.

        Hummingbirds are buzzing about Champion again and that is a real sign of Spring.  Still the damage caused by the recent hard freeze is evident and will be for a while.  Gardens are going in and the World just keeps spinning around.  Over on the other side of it more U.S. Military Service People are doing what they are being required to do.  Seventeen more died last week, which brings the total up to 3,322 and which means that at least 272 were seriously injured last week.  This does not count for the psychological damage that will show up later, after the hope of help from the Service is exhausted.  Champions all over the Country will have to step up with patience and understanding in the years to come, recognizing that all injuries can’t be sewn up and bandaged.

        Mail to Champion Items this week included a note from one of Champion’s favorite eagle watchers together with story complete with photographs about bald eagles swimming!  The National Bird is versatile.  Anyone with something to Spotlight, candidates for the Missouri Song List or the Champion Exploratory Committee, descriptions of lovely quilts, lovely friends, lovely neighbors, flora or fauna (including versatile birds, turkeys and hummingbirds), astronomical observations, or any kind of reminiscence about the old days around here is welcome to send it to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or to e-mail the information to Champion News. The information can also be left at Henson’s Store on Main Street in Champion if there is not too much hectic congestion there from paparazzi.  CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

CHAMPION—April 15, 2007—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

        The Good news in Champion is that all the holiday visitors have made it home safely.  Traveling is an adventurous enterprise.  To leave the safety of home, family and friends takes courage even if the destination is home, family and friends.  Others are out on the open road to make a living.  What ever the reason for being out there, Champions applaud the courage of their travelers and wish them safe and pleasant journeys.  Ben and Brenda Goodall of Peculiar, MO, hosted a couple of Champions overnight and were most gracious.

        It was revealed that one of the regular visitors to these parts was spinning yarns over in Krider’s barn last week.  He was telling stories about Ed Henson, whom he knew well.  Perhaps next time this fellow is in the neighborhood he will address a wider audience. Ed was reported to have been a great fan of April Fool’s Day.  Some of his antics surrounding that holiday would make for pleasant reading.  Deward Henson’s daughter remarked that on his death bed her Father had said, “Look on the bright side.”  She likes the new motto of the community and said that the sentiment was routinely expressed in her home as she was growing up.  She also shares a pet peeve with several other residence:  litter.  The beautiful country lanes seem to attract empty bottles and cans, fast food wrappers and other trash.  If it were just town people coming out being thoughtless and unaware, signs could be put up saying “Go Back To Town With Your Garbage!”  If it could all be blamed on hunters, they could be issued litter bags with their hunting licenses.  For many the only answer is to just get out there and pick it up.  While Spring is being illusive this year a walk down the road on a warm day can be a delight.  Champions might as well have plastic bags in their hip pockets to fill up on the way back home.  The next time they are out their eyes will go straight to the beauty all about and to the mysteries of the weather, the woods and Spring.

        It was a dark and stormy night, also cold and wet, when the Ladies Auxiliary of the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department met on Tuesday the 10^th of the month.  Ruth Hamilton (grandmother of Grace), Sharon Sikes, Louise Hutchison, Betty Dye, Susie Griswold, Karen Griswold, Donna Moskaly and Wilda Moses all met at the Wagon Wheel Blue Grass Park to make an assessment of the facilities there in order to plan the Auxiliary’s participation in the upcoming Home Coming Bluegrass Festival.  The meeting then repaired to the home of Esther Wrinkles where the details of menu, purchasing, and schedules for the three day event were discussed.  Also discussed was the availability of grant money for the Fire Department.  The next meeting was scheduled for May 8^th also at the Wagon Wheel Blue Grass Park.

        “If You Cough, Sneeze, Sigh, or Yawn, do it not Loud but Privately; and Speak not in your Yawning, but put Your handkerchief or Hand before your face and turn aside.”  That is the fifth rule that George Washington copied out of the list of 110 Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation.  Some complaint has been made about too much attention to George Washington and not enough to Ben Franklin.  There is some contention that it was not he (Franklin) who wrote Poor Richard’s Almanack, but in fact Richard Saunders, whose wife was named Bridget.  The next time some Champion is plowing through records from 1732-1758 perhaps the matter can be settled.  Meanwhile, Poor Richard said, “A Slip of the Foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the Tongue you may never get over.”  Linda’s Almanac over at the Plant Place says that the 17^th and 18^th will be good for planting beans, corn, cotton, tomatoes, peppers and other above-ground crops.  “Where weather permits” might be added there.  The 22^nd and 23^rd are said to be the most fruitful days for above-ground crops, for seed beds and flower gardens.  Linda’s Almanac also says that on the 24-28 to “Grub out weeds, briars, and other plant pests.”  While that is probably excellent advice, some Champions prefer to grub at their own leisure, thank you.

        Champions extend their Heartiest congratulations to Chicago!  The U.S. Olympic Committee (U.S.O.C.) has chosen the Big Windy City to compete with the international community for the privilege of hosting the Summer Olympics in the year 2016.  The C.P.C. (Champion Parade Committee) could well take it under advisement that Champion could be a contender for this honor in 2020!  Who knows what the next thirteen years will bring?  Certainly the last few decades have wrought significant changes in these parts.  At the very least an Exploratory Committee could be launched.

        “Well there’s a dark and a troubled side of life.  There’s a bright and a sunny side too.  But if you meet with the darkness and strife, The sunny side we also may view.  Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, Keep on the sunny side of life.  It will help us every day, it will brighten all the way, If we keep on the sunny side of life.”  Those are part of the lyrics to Keep on the Sunny Side.  It is an excellent sentiment and certainly a goal worth the striving, but it is also easier said than done for many.  As of Monday, April 15^th, there were 3,295 US. Military deaths confirmed by the Department of Defense and seven more deaths pending confirmation making the total 3,302.  Non mortal casualties are reported to be 26,188, however that number does not reflect the ‘walking wounded’ and those whose injury will not be apparent until much later in their lives.  It is to be hoped that they and their families will receive the Comfort and Compassion they need as well as the Love and Gratitude of their Nation that they have earned.

        Tax Day was April 15^th as well as the birthday of an erstwhile sailor who says, “Uh huh, uh huh.”  That’s some claim to fame.  Judy Pennington up on Tar Button Road over BrushyKnob way will have a birthday on the 23^rd.  She can’t be very old because she has such a sunny disposition. A certain Champion with a pleasant outlook may finally have her taxes done and will be willing to go out looking for mushrooms again.  Good Luck to her! Squander T. was said to have been a big mushroom hunter.  He would pull them all the way out of the ground instead of pinching them off.  He also would break half the branches out of a young apple tree getting up to the highest fruit.  It sounds like he grew into his name.  Perhaps Pap Latent should have named him Temperance or Thrifty.  That whole family had funny names, according to someone who claimed to know them.  The younger girls were Dreary and Minutia and the little boys were Fervor, Revel and Quell.  There was quite a gap in ages between the twins and the rest of the children.  S.T. and Chimmey Bea were about twelve when the little ones started coming along.  It seems like the brunt of the chores then fell on Chimmey and that just added to her surly nature.  The acquaintance said, “It was no kind of difficulty to pick a scrap with Miss Chimera Bea.  There was a taradiddle around every corner with that outfit.”

        A lot of Champions will be joining forces with their BrushyKnob neighbors in a benefit for Larry and Rita Hicks who are having some big medical bills.  It is lovely to live in a community so willing to help when help is needed.  Other lovely things, yarns (spun or as yet un-spun), songs for the Missouri Song List, rules,  advice, examples of graciousnessor funny names,  applications for membership on the Champion Exploratory Committee, and any other sort of pertinence or mystery is welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  E-mail those things to Champion News or drop them off at Henson’s Store on the sunny side of the street in downtown Champion.  As for pet peeves and complaints of any sort it is suggested that those be sent directly to the Herald or kept in abeyance pending further consideration.  CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE.

CHAMPION — April 9, 2007

        Good news in Champion is that Spring is back Again!  During the course of the week assessments will have been made about the degree of freeze damage to trees and shrubs, though the full extent may not be evident for some time.  Some are hoping for a second mushroom season to follow the second winter.  All are optimistic about something.  It is just the Champion mind-set to look ahead with expectations of a favorable outcome.  There will still be plenty of time to get a good garden in and Linda over at the Plant Place in Norwood will have her April Almanac available.  It does not say, “April 6, 7, 8, 9….too cold for anything to grow!”  The 13^th and 14^th will be good days to plant root crops, extra good for vine crops and for setting strawberry plants it says.  The ‘signs’ indicate that those above ground crops that were frozen could be replanted starting on the 17^th and 18th.  Starting over is something Champions do well.

        There were enough visiting dignitaries in Champion over the Easter holiday to have mounted a spectacular parade! (Once again the CPC -Champion Parade Committee- has done a rather dismal job in organizing and advertising.)  While the Champion Easter Parade and Egg Roll was a non event, the Lonnie and Fae Krider family hosted a great family gathering on Sunday.  Harley and Barbara Krider were visiting from Elmwood, Il. with their granddaughters Elizabeth and Alexandria Slater.  Vivian Krider Floyd, of Rogersville,  Tanna Jo Krider Wiseman, Roger Wiseman and Foster Emmett Wiseman of Marshfield, were in attendance as well as Richard and Kaye Johnson also of Marshfield.  Dustin Cline was there enjoying Staci’s company.  The Illinois contingent also included Mrs. Don Krider, and her sister Ruth Shaw from Iowa.  Jolyn, daughter of Don and Reta Krider, together with her husband Will Bumphrey and their children Carly, McKenna and Evan also enjoyed the hospitality of the Krider farm.

        The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department had it’s meeting scheduled to take place at the Wagon Wheel Bluegrass Park on Tuesday.  The purpose of the meeting was to assess the facilities there in preparation for providing the food for the Bluegrass festival slated for early June.  It will be  a lot of work but the Ladies are up to the task.  Details of the meeting will be reported next week. 

        Champions were saddened to hear of the passing of Whitey Upshaw.  He will be missed.  Friends and family of the good natured musician are in the best thoughts of the community.  Many are ill and in recovery from injury.  Farel Sikes is taking physical therapy to recover from his December accident.  Joe Moskaly’s multiple breaks in multiple ribs are beginning to heal.  Neighbors are looking to their neighbors for the opportunity to be of service.  A benefit is being organized to help Larry and Rita Hicks with medical expenses.  Sometimes there is nothing that can be done to help in a situation, sometimes there is plenty.

        Neighbors over on the other side of Brushy Knob had two week old Grace Ruth Hamilton visiting for the holiday.  She was there with cousins Noah and Nathan Moffett.  Rob and Ruth were happy to have all their children home at the same time.  Rob said, “It was a riot!”  Love and Gratitude were rampant over there.

        Someone asked about the origin of The 110 Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation that George Washington copied out by hand.  Richard Brookhiser, who wrote Founding Father:  Rediscovering George Washington, said that those rules were based on a set of rules composed by French Jesuits in 1595.  Presumably they were copied out as part of an exercise in penmanship assigned by young Washington’s schoolmaster.  Rule number two says, “When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered.”  Number three is ”Show Nothing to your friend that may affright him.”  Number four will be the favorite this week:  “In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.”

        Research on the Latent family has been relatively fruitless.  A local records search has not revealed any births or deaths of people by that name.  While the parents’ given names are not yet known, it turns out that ‘Chimmey Bea’s’ real name is Chimaria Bea Latent, may be spelled ‘Chimera.’  An acquaintance said that when the first two kids were born twins, Maw Latent named the girl and Pap named the boy.  The informer thought Mrs. Latent had chosen the name to reflect a Latin sound because of the pleasant experience she had had on their honeymoon in Piedras Negras, Mexico.  Pap named S.T. which stands for Squander T.  There is probably a story about that too, but it was not forthcoming.  Names are funny sometimes.  In 1965, out in Abilene, Texas there was a family named Bean.  Pinto was a track star for Cooper High School’s first graduating class and his sister, Lima sat on the student counsel that year.

        Caution!  Some farmers are known to get off their tractor with it ginning across the field while they climb up on the trailer to throw feed off to the cows.  There is some potential for trouble there.  More trouble was narrowly averted when a certain Champion in preparation for company, decided on the spur of the moment to build a new out house.  There is inside plumbing available, but the expected guests like to rusticate in the provincial quaintness of a fragrant little shack.  Digging the hole on a hillside overlooking a peaceful little valley, the Champion was kneeling on the high side and reaching down into the hole to check it’s depth and to pull out a rock that had eluded the post hole digger.  The hole was kind of narrow, about shoulder width, and close to three foot deep by that time.  This individual, already known for being unbalanced, took a tip forward and but for fortunate presence of a protruding walnut root would have wound up head side down in a deep narrow hole with nothing sticking out but two feet of flailing overalls and a pair of brogans.  Chances are the architect wouldn’t have been missed until the mail piled up in the mailbox.  It’s probably a good thing to check in on neighbors from time to time.

        The Department of Defense has identified 3,258 American service members who have died since the start of the Iraq war.  The number of wounded, physically and mentally is enormous.  They come from rural areas like this, and from small towns and big cities all over the country.  The opportunity to express Love and Gratitude for their service is not one to be missed.

        Mail to Champion Items this week included a patriotic post card expressing appreciation for a positive spin on Champion and the community.  She says,  “Looking on the bright side is a good motto.”  It is agreed.  Perhaps “Keep on the Sunny Side” would be a good candidate for the Missouri Song List.  “It will help us every day.  It will brighten all the way, if we keep on the sunny side of life!”

        Champion readers near and far, far and wide are welcome to submit songs for the Missouri Song List, reasons for a parade, tales of narrowly averted disasters or other cautionary tales, rules of good behavior for any situation, interesting name origins, or any kind of good neighbor gossip to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  E-mail to Champion News or hand deliver to Henson’s Store in the middle of the parade route at Champion.  Do not bother with mottos, however, unless a better one can be suggested than:  CHAMPION—LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!