Champion News

CHAMPION—February 1, 2009

        Champion is a beautiful place under ice and snow, under rain and mud or leafy boughs.  Champions, for the most part, have adopted the Champion attitude that changing weather is just an opportunity to adapt.  That is easy to do when the power doesn’t go off and there are no major catastrophes.

        Champions have been lucky and they know it.

        Barbara Krider currently of Elmwood, Ill, has suggested that Main Street in Champion be renamed “Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive.”  It’s a good idea.  Bernice Morgan, of Marshfield, dedicated this poem, entitled “My Good-bye” to the Krider family.  “Do not sorrow for me now, nor mourn me if you please.  I’m going home! To be with God where I’ll have rest and ease.  And though we now must part awhile, we have done so before, And soon to never part again, we’ll meet on heaven’s shore.  So share my joy, I’m going home.  I’ve been away too long.  If you want to please me now, then sing a joyful song.  Then if you wish we’ll meet again when you too can come home.  We’ll spend eternity with God, where never more we’ll roam.  For I know as Paul of old, I have fought well the fight.  I have a mansion and a crown.  They shine forever bright.  And when you too have finished with your work down here below.  You’ll join me there to praise and share the love of God, I know.  Sing no sad songs then for me; no tears should flow this day, But songs of joy and praise to waft my soul upon it’s way.  And if you’ve loved me in this life then you must love Him too.  And we shall share His promised joy where life begins anew.”  Ms. Morgan is a talented poet—a Champion.

        There are some who think that the lightning strike that killed the school teacher who was standing under the stove pipe may have happened somewhere other than Champion, but in the general area.  Virginia Jacobs wrote to say that she had not heard of the story.  No one has come forward with any information other than it most likely didn’t happen at the Champion School.  Someone said it must have been over at the Cheney, but residents there say that while there was a store there, there was never a school.  Students attended the Old East Dogwood School.  The store at Cheney is now a barn and Rick and Judy Sleep occupy the adjacent residence.  He is recuperating from a broken hip and hobbles around on his walker fighting off cabin fever.  Judy is holding up well and is most grateful for good neighbors named Mastrangelo.  D.J. comes over to do her chores morning and night.  He is a Champion fellow!  He is a junior firefighter with the Skyline VFD as well as a solid citizen and good neighbor.  Perhaps the lightning strike story will get sorted out, meanwhile it spurred the telling of another story about Ellis Brixie.  There came up a big storm and all the kids ran for the feather ticking, because it was believed that lightening would not strike a feather bed.  Ellis, however, stretched out on a sofa right by a window.  Lightening struck and killed a dog that was just outside the window.  Ellis was not harmed. Interesting.

        An article in the paper about a professional timber harvester program hit a sad and sour note with some Champions.  Grieving over what can’t be undone is a sorry waste of time.  Butch Stone’s deer kill with his homemade bow and arrows is another story.  It is good to know that Douglas County has some folks who not only know and care about the old ways, but put them into use.  Champion!

        Letters to the Government have been pouring in.  A couple of them from Champion-South contain the following and were addressed to senators and representatives:  “Please oppose the bill to allow utilities to charge customers in advance for building power plants.  This legislation could lead to very serious consequences for utilities customers.  There would be virtually no cap on the costs, no way to know when the plant was paid for, and no say in the type of plant built.  We don’t want nuclear power.  The nightmare of spent fuel rods has not actually come to light yet.  That is just a matter of time.  We can ill afford to add to our 300 million tons of nuclear waste.”  In another missive addressed to Kit Bond, Claire McCaskill and Joann Emerson:  “I can not believe that Wall Street institutions would use the argument that these bonuses were necessary to keep the top talent.  These are the same people who got us in this mess in the first place and if these people are the only ones qualified to do the job one wonders why we bailed them out in the first place.  They should be up on criminal charges, not paid for a lousy job performance.  Surely, in the whole of America there are more qualified individuals.  Certainly to promote these is ridiculous.  Please take actions to correct this mistake.”  This Champion makes sense.  Often those items in the Looking Backward section of the paper from 75 and 100 years ago are humorous to readers.  Sometimes as history seems to repeat itself they act more as a warning.  The new administration in Washington faces some terrific problems.  It’s good to see that there are people out there like the Champion from Champion-South offering some positive suggestions.  The 1932 movie with Groucho Marks called “Horse Feathers.”  There is a great song in it that could be directed to obstructionist who would rather see something fail than to lend a helping hand for the overall good of the Nation.  The song “Whatever It Is, I’m Against It” was written by Harry Ruby and the words were by Bert Kalmar.  “I don’t know what they have to say, It makes no difference anyway—Whatever it is, I’m against it!  No matter what it is or who commenced it, I’m against it.  Your proposition may be good But let’s have one thing understood—Whatever it is, I’m against it!  And even when you’ve changed it or condensed it, I’m against it.  I’m opposed to it—On general principles I’m opposed to it!  (Chorus) He’s opposed to it!  In fact, in word, Indeed!  He’s opposed to it!”

        Champions have sent in their orders and are waiting by their mailboxes for those seeds to show up!  Linda came through the snow to the Plant Place in Norwood to get the cole crops started.  She is making arrangements to get the onions sets and seed potatoes in.  Charlene is having a birthday on Groundhog Day so there will be celebrating going on over at the Gift Corner as well.  Congratulations to a good Champion friend.

        An e-mail from Champion Bob Conrad in Spokane shows two deer with their heads poking out of what looks like 4 foot deep snow.  The note says, “Winter’s almost over and we can see the deer wandering around.”  It is as cold in Iraq as it is in Champion.  Much of the winter gear provided to Marines is made of synthetic material–polypropylene, which the U.S. Military has learned—the hard way—melts much like plastic around a fire—like a roadside bomb—and can cause burns.  So soldiers try to layer their clothing of natural fibers for warmth when they have to go out.  Champions hope to be joining the whole Nation in expressing Love and Gratitude for their service.

        Beautiful poetry, applicable songs, old stories, and good advice are all welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Those blind copies of letters to the Government are appreciated and informative.  Keep them coming to Champion at getgoin.net.  Look around Champion via the website www.championnews.us and see what all the wonderful fuss is about.  Stand near the stove at Henson’s Store (but not against it!) just to soak up the warmth and comfort.  The Store is on the North side of the Square just off Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive.  A limited edition of the third picture postcard in the series is currently available.  Where ever the US Postal Service can reach out in the dull and dreary parts of the world there are folks hungry for a Champion view—looking on the Bright Side!