Champion News

CHAMPION—July 14, 2008

        “Good neighboring” is one of Champion’s best calling cards.  Champions know that you have to be one to have one and the community is blessed with excellent neighbors.  All around neighbors are having reunions, picnics and get-togethers.  They just turn off the TV and go see one another.  The Porter family recently had a reunion over not too far from Ava.  Bernie Porter was quite an interesting fellow.  He loved children and his place and his wife and story telling and music.  He could pick the banjo and sing one of the most bloody and gory versions of ‘The Export Girl’ ever and then convince a child that his bandana had a squirrel trapped in it.  There was a note in the Looking Backwards section of the paper that after many years someone had found a turtle that had Bernie Porter’s initials on it, put there sometime in the early twenties! (Turtles are neighbors too!)  Other good neighbor reports come from Norwood where the 4^th of July celebration was a glorious success.  The food, music, and fireworks were excellent and Reg Kelley kept the party going in his lively way.  He called Esther Wrinkles up to show off the beautiful Rose Star Quilt that will be part of the Skyline Picnic fundraiser.  He likes to tease Esther and to pull jokes on his neighbors and they are happy to put up with his good humor.  The Vanzant Picnic was also reported to be just wonderful!  It was packed with many old friends seeing each other for the first time in a year and in some cases much Ruby Proctor was there, they say, and looking good!  She always looks good.  It is that smile she wears and anyone who knows her is familiar with a certain twinkle in her eye.  The General was conspicuously absent from the festivities, but with good reason.  Sharon Upshaw has been in Cox Hospital for a few days and will be there for a few more days.  All of Champion send best wishes to her for a quick and good recovery.

        A couple of weeks ago at the Thursday music at Plumber’s Junction, Champion Elmer Banks mentioned a young couple from Kentucky who are building a straw bale house over on C highway.  They are at the location of the East Dogwood School.  They are Mark and Gabriel.  She is from Kentucky but has been in the Ozarks for twenty years.  They are happy to be here and are very interested in local history, particularly of the East Dogwood School.  A chat with Hoovie’s cousin over the hill reveals that they are in the location of the new East Dogwood School that was built by the WPA in 1937.  It replaced the old East Dogwood School, which was located on the other side of C Highway and down the hill to the west.  That building was still standing as of 5 to 10 years ago and was being used to store hay.  The little cook shack that was used when school was in session at the new East Dogwood School is still standing and is being used currently as the living quarters of Mark and Gabriel while they build their house.  It looks like the foundation is complete and that it is substantial and well made.  It will be exciting to see a new kind of building going up there even as they continue to preserve the past.  The couple is most genial and it is nice to have the chance to welcome some new neighbors.  Pictures and detailed history of the New East Dogwood School can be viewed at Henson’s Store in a book compiled some years ago by Mrs. Marion Conradi.

        Big news in Champion!  The First Ripe Tomato in Champion Contest is Won!  Louise Hutchison, with Wilburn at her side, brought two beauties into Henson’s Store on Saturday.  One of the tomatoes was cut and divided among storekeepers and customers and was pronounced “Ripe!” and delicious.  Louise was delighted with her prizes.  In addition to the Blue Antique Ball Fruit Jar for her collection, she received 6 tickets for the Rose Star Quilt that will be given away in a drawing at the Skyline Picnic on August 9^th, and two dozen canning jar flats, one each regular and wide-mouthed.  Pictures were taken and hearty congratulations were extended.  Well done, Louise!  A number of other Champions reported having had ripe tomatoes but for one reason or another chose not to enter them in the contest.  Some were just cherry tomatoes–too small to share and some were worm eaten or had the blossom end rot.  In the case of Grace’s daughter, she has them all year so it is no big deal to her!

        Staff Sergeant Ronald Blystone, 34, was hit by small arms fire during a dismounted patrol in Baghdad on June 26, 2008.  He was from Springfield.  His survivors are Champion neighbors.  He was based out of Ft. Hood, Texas.  Recently it was announced that all of the soldier and family assistance programs at Fort Hood have been consolidated into one facility.  A soldier can get help with the paperwork associated with disability issues, job training, employment counseling, emotional counseling and other services.  It is good to see the Regular Army stepping up to address these problems.  The National Guard Members who have served also need these kinds of attentions as well as the Love and Gratitude of the Nation.

        Congratulations to radio personality Rush Limbaugh!  He has lots of fans in this part of the world.  The New York Times reported that he has just been awarded another contract.  He will be making $34,000,000.00 (thirty four million) per year for the next eight years and will receive a signing bonus of one hundred million dollars from Clear Channel broadcasting.  Some are glad to learn that he has been successful in overcoming his addiction to prescription pain-killers.  Some detractors say that there sure enough is a lot of money in fomenting fear and bigotry.  It takes all kinds and Champions are always glad to see people living up to their potential!

        This is one of those super years for wild berries!  Jelly and Jam makers are going to busy for a while and Champion will be an even sweeter place!  There will be pies and cobblers all winter off the summer’s bounty.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that the 18^th and 19^th will be good days for planting beets, carrots, and the like.  The 22^nd and 23^rd will be good for root crops and also for any vine crops like cucumbers and for setting strawberry plants. “Saddle me up a big white goose.  Tie me on her and turn her loose!  Oh, Me!  Oh My!  Love that Country Pie!”  That’s a Bob Dylan song.  A Native Champion who could use some of those disease fighting endorphins that are released by singing was talking about how his Mom used to make a Huckleberry Pie and how his Dad sang a funny song about it:

        Anyone with words to the Huckleberry Pie song are encouraged to send them in the mail to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717.  E-mail them to Champion News.  Teach that song to the storekeeper at Henson’s Store on the musical corner of the Square in Downtown Champion.  She will be sure it gets to the right Champion.  Visit the new Champion web-site at http://www.championnews.us and read all the Champion News since August, 2006.  The website was designed and is being administered by the talented computer geekette, Carol Cleveland, of Champion.  Now there is yet another way that Champions can Look on the Bright Side!