Champion News

CHAMPION—November 13, 2006

        More good news from Champion relates to our good neighbors over in Vanzant.  The fundraiser for the up-keep of the Vanzant Community Building was held Saturday night the 11^th of November.  Booger County Bluegrass entertained a lively crowd of local yokels and deer hunters.  They all enjoyed the chili as well as ham & beans cooked up by Sharon Sikes, and they forked over some nice donations to express their appreciation.  Danny Dry was the auctioneer for the homemade pies and a few other items.  Mrs. Esther Wrinkles’ coconut cream pie brought $60.00!

        There will be a benefit for Benny Pool, Booger County Bluegrass base player, at Squires this coming Saturday starting about noon at the community building at the firehouse.  There will be an auction and a lot of good music.  Honey Creek, will play as well as Backyard Bluegrass, the Kellies, and Wayne Anderson’s group The Blades of Bluegrass.  These kinds of activities generate “bushels of good” in the community, not just for the individual or the specific cause, but for everybody who participates.  It’s a good feeling to help good people who can use it. Everyone has been on the receiving end of good works at some time or another.

        A correction to last weeks news:  that wizened old Grandfather Weltanschauung had his birthday on the 8^th of the month instead of the 6^th and so it turns out that he is two whole days younger than we thought!  While youth is certainly a treasure, who knows what he might have accomplished if he had just been born two days earlier.  One of his many good friends, one of those Teeter Creek Lieberts, became a grandfather again himself on that very same day.  Willow had a beautiful son out in Arizona.  Grandmother Jan was there and all is well.

        A clever fellow up on Clever Creek said that he had heard that chiggers will lower cholesterol.  There has been a lot of gunfire around Champion but no big deer stories have been reported.  Louise and Wilburn host several hunters every year.  They left Wednesday morning with only one deer among them.  Something amazing was reported by a dear acquaintance over on the other side of Ava.  It is a real Albino Whitetail deer, just hours old.  It ran out in front of a car and was almost hit and was initially taken for a lost baby goat.  There was no mother nearby.  It took it’s bottle of food and followed them around the house doing fine.  The folks that found it did some investigating and learned that this ‘freak of nature’ is only one in more than a million ever born.  They called the Zoo and Fossil Rim who were both interested in taking it.  They have decided to send it to a Rehab farm.  Maybe it will make it in captivity somewhere and be appreciated.  It is such a rare occurrence and the finders really would like to keep him.  They know that it is not a good idea for the animal and also know that it is illegal to do so.  He is snow white, with pink eyes, ears, nose and hooves, a tiny guy.  Pictures are available online at Champion News.

        Good Gravy!  That squirrel hunt scheduled for last Thursday was a great success.  Seven big reds were taken between the two hunters and quite a few others were seen.  No use taking more than you can eat.  It has been said that squirrel makes the very best gravy.  (Some like to make it with white corn meal.)  The ladies were also quite successful in their junking expedition. The new bookstore in Mansfield called “A New Chapter“ proved to be a goldmine for Esther Howard who is a regular bibliophile.  She also wears nice hats and beautiful smiles.  It’s a joy to be near her.

        The prospect of snow looms.  Some hope for a hard winter.  It brings to mind the old adage….”cold hands, warm heart.”  Someone recently filled in the next part of that saying  with “dirty feet and no sweetheart.”  This was told to her by her mother, Gladys Joyce.  Any other versions of the saying would be gladly received at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717, at the Champion Store, or at Champion News. Recent email to the Champion email box is to the effect: “Just want to let you know how much we enjoy your weekly column in the Douglas County Herald.  As newcomers to the area, it’s real interesting to read about the current adventures and history of people in our neighborhood.  Thanks for your efforts.  Bill & Karen Griswold, Route 2 Box 363, Norwood.” The response to their message is as follows:  “As this area has historically lost so many of its native young people to other parts due to economic necessity, the newcomers have played a large part in keeping the community viable.  There has always been a steady stream of people in and out of the area.  What is apparent is that this is a hard country, but it is probably not much harder than any other part of the country when you are new to it and just getting acquainted.  We all came from someplace at one time or another, so ‘Welcome Home!’  We are glad to have you.  Thanks for joining the Skyline VFD and for choosing this part of the world to settle.  We’ll see you around.”

        Some of those Griswolds were present at the regular meeting of the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary.  The meeting was held at the Champion Store on Tuesday night.  In attendance were Susie and Karen Griswold, Esther Wrinkles, Corrine Rodgers, Fae Krider, Louise Hutchison, Sharon Sikes, Betty Henson, Wilda Moses, Mary Smoody, Ruth Hamilton and Betty Dye.  That is about as many women as have ever been in the store at one time.  It was a productive meeting with detailed discussions of the gun fund-raiser and the upcoming chili supper.  The gun is soon to be purchased and tickets will be made available immediately thereafter.  It is reported that a hand-made red, white and blue Texas Star quilt will be donated to the Auxiliary as an additional fund raiser.  Items are already being collected for the silent auction.  Various members and spouses are securing the musical entertainment and excitement is running high for what will prove to be another outstanding event.  The opportunity to visit together and to get acquainted was not lost.  Ms. Henson provided excellent refreshments and a cozy fire on a cool evening. The group will meet again in  January for more planning…the secret to the Skyline VFD’s great successes.  All our little communities overlap to make this a wonderful place to live.  The country is beautiful and so are the people.