Champion News

CHAMPION – July 23, 2007

        Good news in Champion takes many forms.  The ‘second cutting’ of hay is a wonderful thing.  Last year by this time things were parched and dry and the first and only cutting of hay was slim and dismal.  Next year is a mystery yet and that’s the best way.  Richard and Kay were down visiting from Marshfield all smiles talking about granddaughter Madelynn Ward and her sweet antics.  Her cousin, Foster Wiseman, is making a good recovery from his recent bout with a stomach flu.  That’s very good news because he is such a Ray of Sunshine nobody wants to think of him as not feeling well.  Dustin Cline was in the neighborhood from Rogersville, working on a painting project and a personal agenda involving a local Beauty.  He is energetic and optimistic, both excellent qualities.  She is thoughtful and patient…… admirable traits as well.

        More good news is going on in local gardens.  Neighbor Bob Berry over in Gentryville said that he never saw such a good year for potatoes.  He planted one short little row this year that yielded more than the three long rows he planted in previous years when sometimes we was lucky to get his seed back.  “And big beautiful potatoes,” he said with his hands held out holding a great big invisible potato.  Squash bugs had decimated his squash and cucumbers though and Louise was aggravated that the coons had beat Wilburn to harvest the corn.  They got or spoiled all but about 150 ears…24 nice bags in the freezer.  She shared her favorite receipt for putting up corn.  It came from the mother-in-law of her son, Gary Hutchison.  Mrs. Leora Graham from over at Sweden was Marsha’s Mother and her relationship to Louise is that of ‘mishbucha.’ (That is a Yiddish word for kinfolks not related by blood.)  Louise remarked at what a lovely person she was.  Anyway Ms. Graham’s receipt calls for 4 quarts of corn cut from the cob.  In a pan heat one quart of water, 1 cup of sugar and 4 teaspoons of salt to boiling.  Add the corn and bring it back up to boiling.  Simmer for twenty minutes.  Cool and kept it in the refrigerator over night.  Then put it in containers and freeze it.  Someone had said that the variety known as “peaches and cream” does not freeze well.  Well, that’s the exact variety Louise uses and she said she never has had any complaints.  A taste of it was an absolute delight and proved her point.  It is Policy now not to brag on people’s cooking (or ice cream) by pure hear-say.  Champion’s friend and friend of Purna Mae from out Tulsa way, has had bad ground-hog problems in her garden on west of Champion.  Some of them have paid dearly for the destruction they caused and there is a smell of dead groundhog around now that may caution others.  She also made a trip to the barber shop and spread hair around the outside of the garden.  That is thought to be a deterrent for a variety of unwelcome visitors.

        Visitors are always welcome in Champion and the Champion Wood-Chuck is a monstrous fellow.  He’ll be laying low until about February when he’ll expect to be the Grand Marshall of the Great Ground Hog Day Parade.  There is a lot going on between now and then, so he had better just bide his time, stay out of the gardens, and try to hold on to his hide.  Skyline Firefighters and Volunteers met Tuesday up at the picnic grounds to get the ball rolling (the Auxiliary Ladies are on record as rolling already) on the Picnic that will be the Highlight of the summer social season.  There are going to be some real surprises in the silent auction this year and Volunteers are going out on their visits to the supportive local merchants collecting the door prizes that will be given away.  Excitement builds!  Champion neighbors over at 76 and EE highway will hold the Holt 4-H Picnic on 27^th & 28^th.  It’s always a lot of fun and the Skyline/Champion folks always try to get out there to support the “Up and At ‘Em 4-H Kids.”  Then it will just be two weeks until the Skyline Picnic; then the first Saturday before Labor Day will be the Champion School Reunion.  There is the Sesquicentennial Celebration coming up and then the Pioneer Decedents Gathering down at Yates on October 6^th & 7^th.  Staying abreast of the Social Calendar in Champion is a full time job.  It was a pleasure to receive an e-mail from Betty Thomas down at Yates.  She produces a hand-quilted quilt for their annual event.  It will be exciting to see what she has quilted up for this year!  Champions will be standing in line to buy tickets for a chance at it!

        Dean Brixey has wandered off to town.  He’s bought a nice rock house on a shady street within an easy walk of all the necessities and diversions.  He is settling in there and Champions are glad that he is happy and still not too far from ‘home.’  Once a Champion, always so!  He’ll have several good reason to come back this way and he’ll be a sight for sore eyes.  There have been reports of tricycles parked in front of his old place up on the High Road so there may be new neighbors in the offing!  How Grand!  The Russell Upshaw family is relocating for the nonce in Mt. Grove.  Champion family and friends wish them all the best as they regroup from the loss of their country home.  They are part of the extended Champion Family.  Once a Champion….always so!

        Darrell Haden who asked the unanswered question:  “Was Gene Autry’s horse from Champion?” now asks “…..do the folks you write into your column all enjoy Wheaties?”  His family reunion is coming up over in Smallet soon.  Perhaps he can be lured over to Champion for a get-together while he’s in the Neighborhood and maybe his questions will be addressed.  His cousin, Ms. McCallie of Nowata, certainly sounds up for it.  Visitors are Always Welcome in Champion.

        No word has come this week from Champion’s Soldier, SSG Raul Moreno.  A Care package is being put together for him and should be ready to mail by the end of the week.  So far it has some tuna packs, some beef jerky, a red beans and rice microwave dinner in a pouch, some almonds and apricots.

        Other things are going in including some photos of Champion, some notes from some Champions and a copy of the Douglas County Herald.  Afghanistan is a little smaller than the State of Texas.  FOB Naray is over on the southeast border with Pakistan. It sits at about 4200 feet above sea level.  (Champion is at about 600 feet.) The mountains there are steep and rugged.  It’s a dangerous place.  To Raul this week a Champion wrote:  “Dear Raul,  It has been a quiet and beautiful week here in Champion and we are grateful for the peaceful existence we enjoy.  We know things are not necessary like that for you, but we want to tell you that we are not worried about you.  You are a professional.  You have had good training and you are smart and pay attention.  We are concerned because we know that you are in a volatile part of the world, but we trust you to take care of yourself and those in your charge.  We join the rest of your family back home in wishing for your speedy and safe return.  We’ll be glad to meet you when you get here.  With Love and Gratitude for your service,  Your Champion Friend”  Any Champion resident or anyone who is a Champion of our US Service people can write to Raul at.  SSG Moreno, Raul, 4-319^th, TF SABER, FOB NARAY, APO AE 09354 or e-mail him at raul.morenojr(at)us.army.mil.  Sixty four people from Missouri have lost their lives in Iran since this conflict began.  Among them is Lieutenant Daniel P. Riodan of St. Louis, who died there on June 23rd, 2007.  627 Missourians are reported to have been wounded there, though that figure does not reflect the walking wounded whose injuries will not be apparent for some time.  The current total loss of US Personnel in Iraq is 3636.  408 Americans are reported to have died in Afghanistan as of July 23, 2007.

        Ruth Hamilton is over in Tulsa romping with her grandchildren for a few days.  Linda is having fun with her Granddaughter, Daniell, down from Kansas City and they are getting garden things ready over at The Plant Place for the rest of us for fall.  Charlene Dupre is still in Virginia with her granddaughter, Olivia, learning how to listen!  Sierra from Portland is entertaining Grandparents, Mark & Judy, and so life goes on in a sweet extended family way!  Sweet family stuff of any kind, Good Champion news, garden tips and harvest reports, receipts, poetry and song are all welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Send those things or report any otherwise neglected local social doings to Champion News.  Hand deliver any kind of Champion pertinence or any items for the package to Champion’s Soldier or donation for it’s postage to the proprietress of Henson’s Store in the Amicable Asylum of CHAMPION – LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE!