November 22, 2010
CHAMPION—November 22, 2010
The Blue Moon came to Champion very early Sunday morning bathing the tranquil hills and valleys in a quiet soft silver light. Some define the blue moon as the second full moon in a single month and others adhere to an earlier definition as the third moon of a season with four full moons. The seasons sail by quickly and the full moons bring Champions to the regular realization (every 29.5 days) that they live in one of the truly beautiful places on the planet. Any Champion will affirm that any day of the week.
The Champion mailboxes have been getting some good use this week. Lovely “Okie” Friend, Ethel McCallie sent twelve beautifully hand written pages of observation and reminisces. Her Dad wrote a poem for her when she was a young girl: “Deep in the Ozark Mountains/ Down by a rushing stream/ Is the place I love to wander/ And have a sweet day dream.” She allows as how she would be living in Champion now if circumstances were just a little different. She would be a welcome neighbor and is already quite the Champion with her love of family, friends, history, good music, and a sunny disposition.
Ms. McCallie is a staunch supporter of the Nation’s Veterans. “I’m from a family that believes in highly protecting this Great Country of Ours…Two of my great grandfathers, William T. Kay, and James L. Martin were both in the Civil War. My uncle, Mark L. Warden, was in WW I. My brother, Adrian G. Haden, Was in WWII, so was four of my nephews, Lowell L. Sanders, Jimmy R. Brixey, Gary E. Sanders, and Gary L. Haden. My oldest son, Gerald A. Davidson, was a tail-gunner on a B-39 plane, in the Korean Conflict. I also had four more sons in the Viet Nam War. Phillip P. Davidson was on a nuclear submarine so was Larry Davidson, Phillip was the electrician, Larry was the Sonar man and Jonathan W. Davidson was on a destroyer ship, and William L. Davidson was in the Naval intelligences. I’ve had four grandsons in the military also. William L. Davidson (2nd), Navy; Robert D. Davidson, Army; Brian D. Drexel, Marines; Scott D. Drexel, Army; and Randy L. Turk, Marines (and then 4 years in the Navy.) Now I don’t even know how many great nephews I have had in Iraq and those other areas.” Ms. McCallie goes on to say that she sympathizes with the families of those serving and only has Love and Gratitude for them and their soldiers and her Prayers. Champions agree.
A surprise package came from Houston, Texas with the return address of Dawn E. Henson, but it turned out to be from Hovey. He sent a photograph of the eight grade graduating class of Champion School, 1954. Pictured were Darrel Joe Hutchison, Bob Lambert, Leon Smith, Hovey Henson, Modeen Dooms, Mary Pearl Sutherland and their teacher, Norva Strong. They are quite a nice looking bunch and efforts will be made to get the picture in the paper soon so that those folks can remember how they looked in 1954! Sylvia Henson was the local correspondent for Champion/Clever Creek for a number of years. Her articles were published in the Norwood Index. Her thought for the year 1946 was: “Let us teach and practice honesty and fair dealing in our own homes. Maybe it will spread, crowding out wickedness in high places.” The articles are full of familiar names and interesting items like the charivari* (sic) at the Manford Smith home for Willard Smith and his bride. “Attendants report great fun over the wedding present they took the bride and groom but the newlyweds didn’t know how to keep a horse and it made its way to Edgar Henson’s cow shed.” “Mrs. Oscar Krider and little son, Harley Murl, left Thursday with Mr. and Mrs. Claude Slate, bound for California.” “Troy Powell who has been with the Army of Occupation in Heidelberg, Germany, arrived home Monday. Troy has his discharge and we join in the hearty welcome extended him by his relatives and friends.” “Orville Hicks, Floyd Coble, Tom Dobbs, Herbert Hutchinson, Ivy Hutchinson, Oscar Krider and Kenneth Hammons helped Amos Tate put a new roof on his barn Monday.” Champions wonder what that crowd would make of the Replica of the Historic Emporium going up so beautifully on the North Side of the Square on the very spot where Edgar Henson had his wonderful store for so many years. They would most likely do plenty good-natured teasing of the current builders, but it would all come with the same solid nod of approval that current observers make. Champion!
“Saint Louis woman, with her diamond ring!” That is Sylvia Neff. She is a self described ‘very sweet person’ and real card-shark bridge player. Her birthday is on the 25th of November and the year is anyone’s guess—somewhere between coquette and worldly wise. She is a handsome woman with a good sense of humor and just barely old enough to play with the “Old Biddies” bridge club in Mansfield. They meet once a month at the Mansfield Community Center and play for the fun of it and for money. The Champion player had her first big win there and strolled out of the place with a full $6.00! (It cost $3.00 to play.) Still she was high as a kite over the win and over having met some new bridge players from over Ava way. Elizabeth Brown and Louise Walker are new to the group and hopefully will play often. Louise has a pottery studio called “The Pottery Works.” She and her friends are having a holiday open house there on Saturday the 27th and everyone is invited to attend. For information call 683-6925. The Old Biddies come from Springfield, Hartville, Norwood, Ava, Mountain Grove and Champion as well as other places. Conversation between hands is always lively covering a wide range of subjects. “Not the school, the Principal of the thing!” was the line that came to mind when Judy Rodery reported that Ron Lehr is a reader of the Champion News. He was the principal of Mountain Grove Elementary for a number of years a number of years ago. He lives off in Kansas somewhere but keeps up with local events through the papers. He is well remembered and well regarded by students and teachers. Champions hope he will tour the Bright Side when he is back for his next visit.
With a hard freeze expected area wide this week; the workload might lessen a little for Linda over at the Plant Place in Norwood. She has been transplanting and making cuttings and doing all those things necessary to keep Champion landscapes and gardens looking good. Charlene has been busy getting her Christmas ornaments and other decorations ready for the season. The Gift Corner is a cozy spot to spend a blustery afternoon. There are always surprises to be found there.
“When my blue moon turns to gold again, and the rainbows chase the clouds away, when my blue moon turns to gold again, you’ll be back within my arms to stay.” Sing that one or any other blue moon song out in the Loafing Shed on the West side of the Square in Downtown Champion. Drop a note to Champion at getgoin.net or to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, Mo. 65717 or look in at www.championnews.us for a view of the beautiful place. E-mail has come from a distant place chiding Champions to tolerance regarding those old existential nihilist. “They pay their taxes too, and you folks sure don’t want the reputation for being exclusionary. Anyway, what can they do to you? You are Champions!” Indeed and Looking on the Bright Side!
