Champion News

 

It happens that there are currently 8.2 billion people in the world. Over in Edinburgh, Scotland, 5.43 million people are overnight guests there in a year’s time. 36% of them are domestic local visitors, 64% are international, 52% are repeat visitors, and 15% are taking the trip of a lifetime. The town teams with excitement. Over here in Douglas County we have our share of visitors who come for the family ties, the beauty, the quiet, the nostalgia and the calmness of a bucolic interlude from the hecticness of the world. Welcome. For those of us fortunate to live here, we sing, “There’s no place like home.”

The time has changed. We have fallen back. Just last week Halloween was everywhere. Pictures have emerged of people who were nuns last year and are now witches—tap dancing witches. The Gipsy seemed much the same in her lovely exotic regalia, while The General seemed to have taken on a look more like that of a vaquero. The Whetstoners turned into a Pink Lady, a Motorcycle hoodlum and Ms. Stands with a Fist. Meanwhile, on Halloween, Skyline preschool and kindergarten students enjoyed pumpkin activities. They estimated how many seeds might be in the pumpkin, scooped out the guts, and counted the seeds by putting them into groups of 10. 628 seeds later, they were given to Mrs. Rhonda to roast and enjoy during their party that afternoon!

Counting is important. In order to serve as an election poll worker, one must raise his or her right hand and swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Everyone who has served in that role comes away with confidence that the system works well. It makes for a long day, but it is an excellent experience to participate in democracy. Do it if you have the chance.

The amazing amounts of rain falling Monday night will likely have an effect on voter turnout. We hope everyone gets to exercise their franchise and it will be an interesting week waiting for the results. Another big win for the Kansas City Chiefs helped to keep minds off the election for a few minutes.

As daylight reveals the extent of the flooding and storm damage we hope for the best for our neighbors out here. A favorite Scots sailor says, “Worse things happen at sea!” Optimism is the watchword in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!