Champion News

CHAMPION—May 18, 2009

        If asked, “How do you like ‘em?” Champions will say, “Sunnyside Up, Please!”  Some might be talking about eggs, but this time of year almost every question relates to the weather.  The Boston Globe reported that Dr. David Mischoulon, a specialist in seasonal affective disorder (SAD), says that the addition sunlight exposure that comes from daylight savings time means potential cheerfulness for our souls.  Champions, like Paul, have learned in whatever state they are, to be content.  The additional sunlight that comes from the end of weeks of rain and gloom has, however, raised the contentment level in Champion to an unprecedented level.  The new week had not even begun when the hum of haymaking machinery was being echoed up and down valleys and lawn mowers were going at break neck speed.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that the 23^rd will be good for planting root crops and the 24^th will be favorable for planting beans, corn, cotton, tomatoes, peppers and other above ground crops.  Gardeners in low-lying areas are still a little concerned about an odd late frost.  Up on the ridges things are already in and growing to beat the band.

        Saturday saw a big clean up project at the Skyline VFD Picnic grounds.  The recent storms going all the way back to Hurricane Ike, a category 4 storm, last September have brought down a lot of trees in the picnic grounds.  Six firefighters and three or four auxiliary members spent the day up to about 1:30 in the afternoon hauling brush and cutting wood.  They brought in a backhoe to level out the ground where the root balls of the huge trees had been up ended by the big winds.  The same core group of hard workers that constitute the backbone of the fire department were there to accomplishe the task with the same good spirit of community service that makes Skyline a Champion kind of place!  There is more work to be done before the annual picnic which will be on the 14^th and 15^th of August so there will be time for the Johnny Come Latelys to get in on the action and the fun.

        Another big tree, one of the ancient ones, just inside the cemetery at Denlow came down in a storm the other night.  Some Proctors and Upshaws and others cleared the debris away in preparation for the 23^rd Annual Denlow School Reunion, which will occur on Saturday the 23^rd.  Students, teachers, board members and friends will gather at the old school with the festivities starting about 11 in the morning.  At two in the afternoon the much-anticipated Auction will occur.  One of the items on the block will be the famed couture armadillo handbag generously donated to the Denlow community by Champion Barbara Krider.  As a one of a kind object d art, the piece will be on display at Henson’s Store in Historic Downtown Champion until Thursday when a courier is expected to transport it to Vanzant where it will be placed in the custody of General Upshot for safekeeping until the auction.  While the efficacy of that move is debatable, the commitment has been made and Champions will simply hold their breaths and hope for the best.  A complete numbered set of Champion picture postcards has been pledged.  Fae (Upshaw) Krider-President of the Board was heard to say that she plans a trip over to The Gift Corner in Norwood to find some additional items for the auction.  She has a good eye for appealing things and Charlene has a good selection.  It will be worth the wait to see what all is brought forward and who walks away with what.

        There will be lots of Proctors in attendance, many from as far away as Oregon!  They will have their family reunion on Sunday and will use the Denlow School Reunion to get themselves in the mood for fun!

        Secretary of Defense Robert Gates refers to himself as the Secretary of War.  He said, “Every single person in combat today I sent there, and I never forget that for a second.”  As Memorial Day approaches it is good to know that the person in charge of the Military has deep respect, Love and Gratitude for all those serving.  He joins Champions in those sentiments.

        Mary Graham still has the little dog, Brownie, at her house.  She would sure like to find him a nice home.  She thinks the little dog needs a little boy!  Brownie is about a 20 pound dog, part healer and maybe a little Jack Russell.  He is about two years old and is a very loving and playful little fellow.  Mary is at 948-2755.  She grew up over in Florida and Alabama and has a lot of interesting stories to tell.  Her Daddy had bought a big Morgan horse that had started out to be a saddle horse.  Somewhere along the way the horse had been abused and mal-handled so she was too ornery to ride.  Mary’s Daddy got her at a good price to make a stock horse out of her to pull wagons and the like.  When Mary and her 3 brothers and sisters got home from school one day and found the horse there, they were very excited.  They had never had a horse before.  The four of them got busy and brushed her up and combed her tail.  Mary braided up her mane in lots of little braids and tied ribbons on them.  Their Daddy came in after dark and warned the kids to stay away from that mean horse, saying that she was a killer.  Wasn’t he surprised to find her all dolled up the next morning?  They named her Dolly and she proved out to be a gentle beast that never hurt a child or chicken.  That story was brought to Mary’s mind during a conversation about horse-trading in general.  It is a fine art practiced in these parts and one enters into the practice with the caveat:  “buyer beware!”

        May 18^th marks the 97^th birthday of Exer Hector.  She was born in Kaufman County, Texas and was an excellent horse trader.  She almost always got the better end of the deal, but always allowed her trading partner the dignity of saving face.  She never rubbed their noses in their losses.  She was an organic gardener before it was cool.  She was a talented artist with a keen eye for beauty, a sharp wit and sense of humor that showed up in surprising ways.  Her patients and gentle spirit were balanced nicely with her complete willingness to point out exactly where the coon crap was on the pump handle at any time.  Her youngest child has now lived longer than she did.  Champions always remember their Mother’s birthdays.  Her favorite songs were “In the Sweet Bye and Bye” and “Trouble in mind, I’m blue, but I won’t be blue always. You know the sun’s gonna shine in my back door someday!”

        Paul also said to meditate on whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and of good report, virtuous or praiseworthy.  Examples of any of that kind of thing or any kind of Sunnyside song are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO. 65717 or at Champion News.  Go down to Henson’s Store on the North Side of the Square just off Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive to get a good look at Barbara’s couture object d art.  (There will be some good pictures of it posted on the website a at www.championnews.us.)  Then go out on the porch and shake your head.  Any way you look in Champion you’re Looking on the Bright Side!