Champion News

CHAMPION—March 16, 2009

        In Champion a man calls his dear silver haired old Mother on his birthday just to say, “Thanks for the trouble you took to have me and I hope you like how I turned out.”  It is a Champion kind of thing to do that a boy takes on as a habit at an early age and it comes out of an atmosphere of optimism and gratitude—looking on the bright side!

        On Tuesday the 10^th the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary got together to go over the results of the Chili Supper.  About the time for the meeting to get started at Henson’s Store there came such a deluge of rain that it fell faster than it could soak in or run off.  So there were a few wet feet, but the meeting was well attended.  Only Esther Wrinkles had the good judgment to stay in out of the rain.  She also lives the greatest distance from the meeting place and knew that she would be appraised of all the happenings.  The consensus of opinion was that the Chili Supper was a grand success.  It was a matter of great note that so many braved the elements to attend.  The snow was one of those beautiful snows that comes down in big fluffy flakes.  The second wave of it was the deciding factor for many to stay home and stay safe.  No reports have been received of any difficulties out on the road that night.  At the meeting the Auxiliary members reported on the receipts and wrote thank you notes to the bands and various other folks who had helped with the event.  The meeting was punctuated with laughter and topped off with carrot cake and coffee.

        More news concerning the Skyline VFD Auxiliary has to do with the lovely queen size quilt that was one of the centerpieces of the Chili Supper fund raiser.  The winning ticket for the quilt belonged to Toni and Kurt Clinkenbeard of Ava.  When Esther Wrinkles took the quilt to town to deliver it she was met with a pleasant surprise.  Because of her years of service to the Skyline Fire Department as a founding member, the Clinkenbeards decided among themselves to give the quilt to Esther as a gift.  The Clinkenbeard family has always been a great supporter of the Fire Department and this gift to Esther is just another example of their good community spirit.  The further news is that Esther has decided to donate the quilt back to the Fire Department!  The Auxiliary will be pleased to be able to offer the chance to win this quilt again at the summer Picnic!

        A pair of marauding mules have been wandering freely about the Champion community.  The storekeeper at Henson’s store was kept busy fielding reports of their whereabouts for several days.  They are a beautiful matched pair of young mules.  One has short white stockings on the rear feet but otherwise they are perfectly matched, tall with thick black coats.  For several days they wandered about nibbling the new grass but leaving the daffodils and other bulbs alone.  They are not shy–they will look right in a window.  They have been corralled over in Champion—East waiting the interest and effort of their owner who is said to live down on the Fox Creek road somewhere.  Things are never dull in Champion.

        Plumbers Junction, over a little North of East Champion, was certainly a happening on Thursday.  The General led the band that included an itinerate yodeling fiddler, Jerry Somebody (“Waiting for a Train”) from over in West Avee.  Sue Murphy (“Just Because”) and that banjo player (“Frauline”) kept things going.  Brother and Sister Green Mountain Messengers (“Orange Blossom Special”) joined in comfortably.  Then some fellow came in with signatures all over the face of his guitar, a nice hair cut, and some kind of electronic tuning device attached to the pegs of the guitar.  The gadget appeared to work because he fit right in singing several good songs and it was all most harmonious!  A certain Mr. Hancock from up Idaho way sang a stirring rendition of “I Saw the Light.”  When he realized that his cousin, The General, is personally putting up the prize for the First and Second Place winners of the First Ever Biennial Armadillo Round Up and Art Fair, Mr. Hancock saw the opportunity to continue his sojourn in the warmth of the Relative South (with his relatives, Sister Peggy, et.al.)  He is rumored to have an entry for the Art Fair which has yet to be presented to the jurors.  It seems that all those Cousins get kind of jittery when there is a jury involved.  The General was so jumpy Thursday that he was seen several times handing his guitar over to a mandolin player while he just sat staring off into space.  He must be doing some serious planning or conjuring to come up with the appropriate prizes.  The General seldom fails to surprise if not delight.  (He may also just be turning loose of that guitar when a song comes up that does not require the three cords he knows.)  The 32^nd will soon be here and he is under pressure.

        Champions are sure that Spring has not arrived too soon.  Potatoes are going in the ground and truck loads of manure are being driven about and evenly distributed.  It is all so exciting.  The economy has lots of people thinking about growing food.  Seeds have become expensive.  Gardeners are routinely some of the most friendly and generous people in any community.  To be able to share the harvest and abundance with others is one of the real products of gardening.  As the soil warms and frost seems less of a threat there will more sharing of starts and information, lore and advice.  Linda’s almanac is available in the Link section of the www.championnews.us site.  She has copies available at the Plant Place in Norwood.  Occasionally one can be found at Henson’s Store on the North Side of the Square in Downtown Champion.  A person can read it while they stand around the stove trying to soak up the lore.  This is not lore, but a pure true story that has probably already been told around several stoves.  It was about last Wednesday evening, the 11^th, when five of the stalwart , virile, city fathers of Champion, including the mayor, the head of the tenants association, the absentee landlord, the neighbor on the hill, and the self proclaimed mushroom king of Champion got their collective rear ends kicked trying to load one small calf in a trailer.  It must have been a comedy of epic proportions.  Unless everybody clams up about it more will be revealed.

        Expressions of Love and Gratitude for their service can be written to U.S. Service Personnel in care of any Veterans’ organization.  They have contacts.  They have an understanding of the sacrifices made by military families and they appreciate the acknowledgment.

        Acknowledge faith, good fortune, community, family, friendship and Music at Champion Items, Rt, 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO, 65717.  Epic comedies are welcome at Champion News.  Stand on the porch at Henson’s Store and look down the broad expanse of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive.  It’s getting green out there and the place is simply dazzling—Looking on the Bright Side!