Champion News

CHAMPION—February 22, 2010

        Fifty some odd years ago there were three families living around the Champion—Denlow area and each of them had sons.  Three boys, one from each of these families, went out hunting one day.  Among them there was only the one gun, probably a 22.  Out North of Denlow, stalking their prey, they came upon a certain hollow log.  It was a particularly contrived hollow log in that it had a door built right into it.  This door might have had hinges, or the door might have just have been composed of an overlayment of bark and moss, but a door nonetheless and behind it sundry jars or jugs.  (The pertinences of the story are vague due to a persistent requirement for anonymity.)  These vessels were doubtlessly inspected, perhaps sampled, but surely left overtly undisturbed (or perhaps not, the particulars are vague.)  The owner of these sundry jugs or jars took exception to their discovery and their treatment by these young rogues, however was reluctant to complain to any specific authority for reasons of his own.  Now it came about that there was an old abandoned home place that had an old abandoned mailbox out by the road and one of these hunters frustrated that day (or another) from lack of game, shot a hole in the mailbox.  Maybe he just needed to sight in his gun, or he felt it a shame to go out hunting and not even shoot, or maybe it was the mailbox itself or the rough words of the unhappy property owner that caused him to shoot.  The mailbox was shot and a complaint was lodged and the ruffians were summarily summonsed to stand before the judge–all three of them.  Champions would all like to have been a fly on that wall that day or, perhaps not as flies are not so long lived and all this happened such a long time ago.  Still, it is kind of exciting and somehow more engaging than current events.  Share thoughts about these rouge hunters or any Champion stories that come to mind at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or at Champion News.

        A few sunny days warm the blood fast and the geese fly, the buzzards return, frogs start to sing, daffodils sprout up and the rosy nose of rhubarb peeks out of its garden bed.  The purpose of these luscious pre-spring days is to drive home the bitterness of cold when it comes again.  After the teasing warmth, the cold seems colder.  Last year a heavy snowfall fell on the Skyline VFD chili supper when it was too late to call the whole thing off!  Nevertheless, it was a splendid evening and it was a good benefit for the fire department.  People braved the elements to kick the slats out of the cabin fever and to get a jump-start on the spring social calendar.  It will be the same this year.  No matter what the weather, people will pour in from all over the country to support the little fire department that does so much for the area.  All the firefighters go through intense medical training and fire and rescue training of all sorts.  The rural community benefits significantly from having all this expertise available in the event of an accident or emergency.  Look in on the www.championnews.us website for more information about the chili supper and a full color view of Esther and that lovely queen star quilt that will be given away that night to the owner of the winning ticket.  It is going to be another fine get together.

        Champion Douglas Holt sent an interesting list of Marine Corps bumper stickers.  A favorite one was “If you can read this, thank a teacher.  If you can read it in English, thank a Veteran!”  Champions are grateful to all those who are serving on behalf of their Nation, in and out of uniform at home and in the dangerous parts of the world.  One Champion has a cousin who was a helicopter mechanic in the Marines stationed at Mosul, just across the Euphrates River from the ruins of Nineveh, which was the intended destination of Jonah who finally made it.  The cousin has not been heard of for a while, but routine checks of the rosters of the fallen and injured have not revealed his name.  That is a good thing, but it is a morbid search nonetheless and it keeps one reminded of the actual costs.

        Wednesday the 24^th and Thursday the 25^th are both good days to plant above ground crops, flowers and seedbeds.  Linda’s Almanac from over at The Plant Place says it is also a good time to apply chemical fertilizer, if a person is of a mind to do that.  The next good planting days will start on the third of March and go through the sixth, all days being good for planting root crops.  The almanac says the 5^th and 6^th will both be good days to prune in order to encourage growth.  Time is going by quickly.

        Music is one of the gifts that all can share.  Whatever the circumstance or situation, chances are pretty good that there is a song that will explain it or ease the way or offer some comfort or hope.  Such a song is Unchained Melody, a 1955 popular song by Alex North with lyrics by Hy Zaret.  “Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much.”  Champions of a certain age will have their favorite versions even if they do not know the name of the song.  It does not matter.  Step up on the porch at Henson’s Store in beautiful Downtown Champion and let your favorite song slip into your head.  Just keep it in there if you are too shy to let it out.  It will do you almost as much good.  Send out a few of those interesting Champion picture postcards to friends and family stuck out in the dismal and depressed parts of the world.  It will do them good to get a view of Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!