Champion News

CHAMPION—February 1, 2010

        Champions are again dazzled by the beauty of their environs as the full moon mixing with falling and fallen snow fixed Champion in the swirling center of a luminous pearl.  February’s is called the Snow Moon and some are thinking that before the moon is full again on the 28^th, the countryside will have retreated into mud, mud, glorious mud.  It hardly matters as ecstatic joy and bitter complaint have equal affect on weather and road conditions.  It is a Champion thing to love the weather especially on Groundhog Eve.

        An email from Kenneth Henson says, “Enjoyed the news from Wally Hopper.  Growing up Wally Hopper would say and do things that were funny.  My younger brother and I would play Wally Hopper and mimic the things he did.  His mother was the kindest and most Godly woman that I have ever known.  Hovey Henson was an obnoxious kid but she loved him in spite of the defects.”  This woman was named Irma and neighbors from long ago remember her as having been a lovely person and Hovey as obnoxious!

        An article last week reported that last Sunday, the 24^th of January, a vehicle driven by Doris Lininger had washed off a low-water crossing on County Road 114 off East Highway 76.  The daring water rescue by Missouri Highway Patrolman, Justin Piccinino, was described and the participation of Patrol Trooper Rob Crewse, Sheriff Chris Degase, Deputy James Venrow and “fire department personnel” was noted.  The fire department personnel were Skyline Volunteer Fire Department firefighters Robert Hamilton, Craig Blankenship, Dom Mastrangelo, Bill Griswold, Michael Griswold and Wayne Griswold.  The article also says that Ms. Liniger was treated for hypothermia by paramedics at the scene.  The paramedics were not named, but Champions and all the residents of the beautiful remote rural areas are grateful for them and the excellent emergency response of State and County personnel and particularly the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department.

        Betty Shelton is making progress toward healing after having broken her arm a month ago.  She has begun to be able to do a little housework again and is happy to stand at her sink looking out over beautiful downtown Champion to do a few dishes.  Champion relatives learned over the weekend that Elizabeth Johnston slipped on the ice and broke her ankle.  She has had a reconstructive surgery and will be recuperating with her folks in Marshfield for a little while.  Just last year her cousin, Elva, had a mishap that resulted in a cast and a nice long visit with her folks.  It is a cautionary tale that strong resilient young ladies can have accidents.  It makes some old Champions want to hold on.

        Those Groundhog Day birthdays need special celebrating because a day so propitious for change must surely have hailed the arrival of exciting people.  Judith Parsons from over west of Ava is one of those exciting people.  She makes hominy starting with wood ashes!  How many Champions have done that lately?  A couple of years ago she bought the winning ticket for the quilt made by Ms. Violet Melton that was the centerpiece of the Skyline VFD Chili Supper.  It was a beautiful rose pattern worked in a lavender cross stitch.  Judith is an excellent quilter herself and can boast having a great number of talented quilting friends all of whom love her and wish her the happiest birthday.  Charlene Dupre is another of those exciting birthday people.  She has just returned from a trip to Florida spending time with her charming granddaughter, Olivia.  This six year old reads so well that her teachers have to send notes home in sealed envelopes!  Charlene runs the Gift Corner at the Plant Place in Norwood and it is always a treat to see what new things she has acquired.  Charlene has a keen eye for beauty and is a gifted artist.  The shop is open again after the winter holiday and gardeners will be pleased to see that Linda’s Almanac is already available there.  It will also soon be up on line under Champion Connections on the www.championnews.us site.

        “Now the moon shines tonight on pretty Red Wing; the breezes sighing; the night birds crying, while afar ‘neath the stars, her brave is sleeping while Red Wing’s weeping her heart away.”  There are many versions of this song.  It is an old one.  This one came from “The Education of Little Tree,” a book written by Forrest Carter.  Well, Little Tree was an orphan boy of about five years of age when he went to live with his grandparents in the hills.  His grandmother was a Cherokee and his grandfather was Cherokee and Scotch.  The back cover of the book says it has all emotions—humor, sorrow tragedy, bigotry, unselfishness and love and goes on to say that Mr. Carter exalts personal precepts and an appreciation of nature.  One of those personal precepts is when a person finds something good he ought to share it right away.  Forrest Carter was five years old in 1930 and he only lived to be fifty-four.  He was sort of a controversial figure so Champions figure he would have fit in these parts pretty well.  He also wrote “The Vengeance Trail of Josey Wales.”  Douglas County still bears scars of the Civil War.  It is part of the make up of the country.  Maybe Josey Wales did not look like Clint Eastwood but the scars of war are as evident today as ever.  Soldiers returning from service in the dangerous parts of the world can look forward to some readjustment problems.  They have the Love and the Gratitude of their Nation, if they can just get some understanding and assistance.

        The Skyline Ladies Auxiliary will have had it’s meeting before this gets to ink.  The details of the March 6^th Chili Supper will have been worked out including the music, the menu and this year’s quilt.  Time is flying and excitement is building!  Champion.

        Sing, hum, or whistle your version of “Red Wing” out on the porch at Henson’s Store in the blissful heart of Downtown Champion.  Look up and down the beautiful expanse of Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive and let the tranquility of the place sooth your ruffled feathers.  The Store is on the North Side of the Square, but the porch faces south so there is a little break from the wind there.  That is not to say that there is not plenty of wind going on inside the store, depending on the time of day.  It has always been like that. If you can’t make it through the mud to the store, share good Champion news at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO. 65717 or at Champion News.  It is Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!