Champion News

CHAMPION—November 23, 2008

        Saying that Gratitude is a Champion sentiment is like saying Tom Turkeys gobble!  This time last year Champions led by Sharon Woods were getting ready to hold a chili supper to help Lannie Hinote with medical expenses.  These days a person headed toward Norwood on any week day morning is liable to meet Lannie as she heads to work still riding heard on those Skyline R. II 8^th graders.  They love her and she is an inspiration to anybody who might be thinking times are rough.  Times are rough, however, on any number of folks for one reason and another.  Champions are full of encouragement and support where they can.

        There is not much to be done about one unexpected calamity over on Mt. Buzzard in near North Champion.  The worst of it found a new truck balanced high center on a concrete foundation wall with the front wheels dangling out over a corn planter.  Some hours later with a tow truck and various tractors and expertise the truck was extricated from the side of the barn.  The barn needs six pieces of tin and a new truss.  The truck which was parked with the brake on and in four wheel low, with the key off and no one inside may need a good looking over to figure out what caused it to take off against all odds and the brake!  No one was hurt and everyone is grateful for that!

        Kalyssa Wiseman had her belated birthday party on Friday night.  The General’s lovely wife had celebrated her birthday on the 6^th of November so it was a grand celebration for a family that likes to get together.  It was just a year ago that Kalyssa’s big brother Foster was bounding around with a cast on his leg.  He has made a good recovery and his family is grateful for that!  A year slips by quickly.

        Champions are grateful for the opportunity to say good-bye to long time Champion Cletis Upshaw.  He was a native of Denlow and had an interesting life.  He worked for the post office for 42 years and much of that time he was the rural carrier for Rt. 2, Norwood.  A person could set his clock by Cletis and could always count on him for good humor.  He was a genuine historian and a genial good natured person.  So Champions are grateful to have had him in their lives and are glad that he knew that the community held him in high esteem.  A U.S. Marine color guard gave him a beautiful send off at the Denlow Cemetery on Friday.  He was a Veteran of the Korean War.  It was a cold day, but bright and sunny—just right.

        “Thank God for dirty dishes!  They have a tale to tell.  While others may go hungry we’re eating very well.  With home and health and happiness, I wouldn’t want to fuss.  By the stack of evidence, God’s been very good to us.”  That is the legacy of one Old Champion’s Mother.  She is long gone, but close the way family stays.

        Friends and family will be gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving together.  There will be feasting, reminiscing, and merry making of all sorts.  Champions in Douglas County and US Military Personnel serving in dangerous places around the world will be singing, “God Bless America!  Land that I love!  Stand beside her, and guide her through the night with a light from above.  From the mountains, to the prairies, To the oceans, white with foam God bless America, My home sweet home.”  Champions will be singing that song and Looking on the Bright Side!