Champion News

CHAMPION—January 18, 2009

        Champion is one of the beautiful locations in the world and it is populated with good neighbors.  Good neighbors Wes and Pat Smith came down to the Krider’s house while they were gone and cleaned and restocked their refrigerator.  The power had gone out for an extended time during their absence.  That’s a neighborly thing to do.  The Kriders are home again.  On Saturday Wayne and Joanne Anderson came to visit and later came back with their son-in-law, Luke, to play a little music for Lonnie.  His spirits were lifted and those of the Andersons as well.  They have had their own family sorrows recently and it is much to be hoped that they were comforted in the process of comforting dear friends.  Loved ones, family and friends all yearn to lessen the burden of sadness connected with illness.

        The Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary met at Henson’s Store for its regular meeting on January 13^th.  They hammered out all the details for another successful Chili Supper, which will be held on February 28^th at the Skyline School.  The meeting was well attended.  The serious business was punctuated with much good humor and laughter.  To top it off Betty Henson had made the Southern Praline Pecan Cake the receipt for which appeared in The Herald on the 8^th of January.  The cake was very tasty and it was agreed that this receipt feature to the Herald is a good addition.

        The 13^th was one of those unusually cold evenings and so Esther Wrinkles did not make it out to the meeting.  Several of the other members called her to keep her in the loop about the goings on.  On another very cold day one stopped in to deliver some tickets for the quilt that will be part of the big Chili Supper fund-raiser.  The one the Auxiliary has chosen is one of the last quilted by the late Fay Chaney.  It is a queen sized quilt with printed blocks on an off white background.  It is very striking.  Esther has used a deep burgundy lining and the workmanship is excellent.  The quilt always produces some good revenue for the Fire Department.  Every one of them is a keepsake and nobody feels like it is gambling to donate a dollar for the chance to win what will become a family heirloom.  Esther had just finished another hand-pieced top and had it ready to show her visitor, but they became distracted by the conversation and before long the visitor left without getting to see it.  Next time—soon.  The next meeting will be at Esther’s house on February 10^th.

        A bluegrass version of “Stars and Stripes Forever” was on the radio the other day.  Listeners didn’t catch the name of the performers but the consensus of opinion was that it must have been Flat and Scruggs backed up with some fiddles in the hands of some tremendous musicians.  When the determination is made about who the artists are, arrangements will be made to include it on the website: www.championnews.us.  With the eagles flying through Champion at will and patriotism coursing through the Nation in an unprecedented fashion, the spirit of the place seems to be seeping out to the whole Country.  Everybody is Looking on the Bright Side!  Those who did not support the candidate who has now become the 44^th President of the United States still support the Office and still carry an abiding love for the Noblest of Nations—the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave!  On the evening of the Inauguration a number of people gathered in Champion to celebrate a new era of hope.  There were orations describing optimism and ideas for repairing the economy, the infrastructure, and the reputation of the Country.  There were patriotic songs written especially for the occasion and old acquaintances renewed.

        The Inaugural Parade and other ceremonies gave Champions everywhere a chance to see many of the Nation’s Soldiers as they presented themselves in this formal review.  Each of them brings to mind the many who are serving in dangerous places in the world.  They have the Love and Gratitude of all Champions.  When their tours of duty are over and they are at last home, it will be time for the Nation to protect them and to acknowledge their service with decent treatment.

        “Cuostralee” is a French heirloom tomato.  It is an indeterminate variety, which means that it fruits continuously through its maturity.  The seed catalogue says, “This is the one if you want to grow your tomatoes like your pumpkins, as in BIG.  Fruits grow to three pounds and in large numbers on plants that are unusually large in size, probably dwarfing all the other tomatoes in the garden.  The flavor is very good, it strikes a nice balance between the sweet and the tart.”  For some old tomato loving Champions, a new variety on a regular basis keeps the tomato juices flowing.  There is always a chance that a new discovery will become one of the old standbys.  Linda is busy over at the Plant Place in Norwood.  Soon she’ll get the Cole crops started and the season will be in full swing again.

        Send favorite versions of “Stars and Stripes Forever” to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  “Be kind to your web footed friends, for a duck may be somebody’s Mother.  Be kind to your friends in the swamp, where the weather is very warm and damp.”  Those are not the words to the song.  Send the real words to the song to Champion News.  Hum it or any other upbeat, optimistic, sunny side song while standing around the stove at Henson’s Store on the North side of the Square in downtown Champion.  The first printing of Champion picture post cards sold out in record time so the second in the series, now available, was stocked in larger numbers.  Displaced Champions in dreary and dull parts of the world will benefit significantly by a Champion view…Looking on the Bright Side!