Champion News

CHAMPION–JANUARY 8, 2007

        The prevailing attitude in Champion these days is Gratitude.  Farel Sikes is fairly bristling with it.  When asked about an event that occurred on Wednesday the third of this month he said that he had taken the quick way down and that he neither bounces nor flies.  The Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department had responded to a brush fire and just about had it wrapped up late that evening.  Farel and a couple of others with their team leader, Craig Blankenship, were taking care of a last little flair up.  He went around one end of the blaze with his leaf blower and was down hill from the fire and down wind of it when he said he thought he had stepped into a hole.  He said that his next thought was that he sure wished he could get his breath.  He had stepped off a bluff and had fallen some 25 to 30 feet.  He fell on his leaf blower, but fortunately landed in some moist soil.  A few feet in any direction would have had him piled up on the rocks.  He was Grateful for that bit of luck and also Grateful to have three First Responders immediately on the scene.  Craig Blankenship, Robert Hamilton, and Donald Powell carefully moved him  75 feet to a spot where an ambulance could receive him.  At the call, “Firefighter down!”  Cox Ambulance Service arrived promptly.  Paramedic, Rick Miller, and EMT, “Mike Michael,” took good care of him and got him to the hospital quickly.  There he remained until Saturday.  He has a fractured wrist which will be getting some fancy pins put in to hold it together and he has stress fractures to L1 and L3 that are called serious but not critical.  He will be wearing a “Ninga Turtle” brace for 3 or 4 months and will be restricted to no heavy lifting until he is mended.  He is home and up and around, admittedly uncomfortable but uncomplaining.  Farel also admits that it was a lack of attention on his part that caused his fall.  Accidents, however, are part of life and the reason the Champion community is so fortunate to have these well trained Fire Fighters, First Responders, Paramedics and EMTs.  As news of the incident reached neighbors traveling in distant places they called to ask if Farel needed anything from the great state of Texas.  He said, “No, I don’t need a thing.  My sweet Mother is already here.”  Mrs. Sarah Sikes had been visiting for the holidays and will extend her stay to be of help to Farel and Sharon during his recuperation.  He and Sharon are Grateful for that and for the outpouring of Love and support from friends and neighbors and their church community.

        Down in far South Texas the eighteen wheelers full of the luscious citrus for which the area is known are lined up in front of the juice plants.  Picking the sweet Valencia oranges and Ruby Red Grapefruit right off the tree is a genuine treat.  Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are being harvested now and peach trees are beginning to bloom.  While the palm trees sway in gentle Gulf breezes blown in from exotic places and family ties are precious a couple of songs about home in Missouri come to mind.  One is “Meet Me in St. Louie, Louie.”  The other most surely was written about Champion itself.  It has come from two sources.  One is Mrs. Katherine Coffman a long time resident from Mountain Grove.  She said the song was made popular by Phil Harris when she was a girl and its title was “Take Me Back To Where I Come From.”  The other source was W.A. Masters whose folks were born and raised over in McDonald County.  He was a one-man band known as “Uncle Al, The Lonesome Plowboy.”  He said that the title of the song was “Where the Mocking Bird Is Singing in the Lilac Bush.”  Whatever its title it does seem like it was written about someone from around here.  This is how it goes:

         “I’m going back to where I come from, where the honeysuckle smells so sweet it darn near makes you sick.  I used to think my life was humdrum, but I shore have learned a lesson that is bound to stick.  I used to go down to the station every evening just to watch those Pullman cars come rolling in.  And then one day temptation bit me and it took me to the spot that’s got me to the shape I’m in.  I took my hat and fourteen dollars and set out upon the path of sin that always follers when your rich and a huntin’ romance, but my huntin’ days are over I can tell you that.  I met a man in Kansas City and he asked me if I thought that I would like to step around and I said, “Yep, that’s what I’m here fer.”  So he said that he’d show me the hottest spots in town.  He mentioned things he’d have to fix up, so he took my fourteen dollars, but there must have been a mix-up.  He’s been gone since Thursday morning, and I’ve got a hunch I’ll never see that guy no more.  Now when I’m old and have a grandson, I will tell him ’bout my romance days and watch his eyes bug out, but chances are, he won’t believe me and he’ll do the same darn thing when he grows up no doubt.  But he can’t say I didn’t warn him.  Oh, what will happen when he meets up with that city-slick, golldarn him!  Take me back to where I come from, where the mocking bird is singing in the lilac bush.  Where the mocking bird is singing in the lilac bush.”

        Champion residents, past or present, are welcome to add to the list of Missouri songs at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Write them in the notebook at the Champion Store or e-mail them to Champion News. Add poetry, history, yarns, tall tales or warnings or real news and make comments and corrections.

        The Missouri Song List so far:  #1.  Missouri Waltz, #2.  Meet Me in St.Louie, Louie, #3.  Take Me Back To Where I Came From.

CHAMPION–January 1, 2007

        Greetings to Champion and to all its charming Champions from far far away.  Happy New Year!  They say that home is where the heart is.  They also say that closeness has not all that much to do with geography.  Still, for those with families and loved ones dispersed across the country, sometimes it’s necessary to leave the best place in the world just to keep connected in that sweet familial way.  Emily Post said, “To do nothing that can either annoy or offend the sensibilities of others is the principle rule of conduct under all circumstances whether staying at home or traveling.”  That seems to call for short visits.  To those who have flung themselves out into the hospitality of others and to those receiving them it is to be hoped that at parting the shared affection lingers.  Stories of holiday adventures in Champion proper will be forthcoming in weeks ahead as they are leaked to the press.  No one will weary of reports of good cheer and fun around home. Leaks to the press are encouraged at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, at the Champion Store, and at Champion News. Histories, opinions, poetry, prognostications and any sort of pertinent yarn or admonition will also be happily accepted.

        Molly Ivins, quite a notable Texan, said that the reason the sky is bigger in Texas is because there aren’t any trees.  Well, that’s not exactly true.  There are some wonderful trees, just not too many and while there are some hills, they just are not all that tall (except for those Guadalupe Mountains.)  “There’s a Yellow Rose in Texas that I am going to see.  No body else could love her, not half as much as me….”  This popular song for voice and piano was published in an arrangement by David Guion in 1936 and dedicated to Franklin Roosevelt in honor of the Texas Centennial.  It is an old Texas folk song.  “The San Antonio Rose”, says, “Deep within my heart lies a melody, a song of Old San Antone where in dreams I live with a memory beneath the stars all alone.” That one was written by Bob Wills.  There are, no doubt, plenty of songs about Missouri.  The “Missouri Waltz” and _______?  Music loving neighbors over in Vanzant could probably crawl through a window and find stacks of songs about Missouri on pianos and bookshelves.  Compiling a list of those songs is as worthy a plan for the New Year as any. Any help with that project will be appreciated.  Send the title, author, history and as many of the lyrics as you can remember to the address above.

        More than twenty thousand U.S. Service People have been injured in conflict since March of 2003.  It is hoped that they are being acknowledged, encouraged and supported with Love and Gratitude by their families, communities and their Nation.

        The regular meeting of the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary will be postponed until the 16th of the month and will be held in the home of Mrs. Esther Wrinkles.

        Safe travels and happy homecomings to all those Champions on the road!

CHAMPION— December 25, 2006

        Having Christmas occur on Monday sets the tone for a lovely week in Champion.  Oh, the weather may be cold and damp and dreary, but the mood is festive and optimistic.  Holidays often bring somber moments fraught with memories of the past and of missing loved ones.  Those are what make the present such a precious commodity as we go on about the business of making new memories.

        For some children and some older people too Christmas is the ‘main day’ of the year.  It is the day that people imagine all year long as being the best day, the day when they will be happy, or get what they want.  When it is over and it is December 26^th again, the whole thing starts all over. The daydreaming about how things will be in the future, and the building of expectations begins again.  Sometimes comparing real events as they happen with those expectations is a receipt for disappointment.  Older folks see the years flying by quickly, but to young ones the space between Christmases can be an unimaginably long time. Living in the present is a real challenge no matter what the age.

        There was a request for the rest of that song, “Y’all Come.”  The missing verse is the first one:  “When you’re livin’ in the country everybody is yer neighbor.  On that one thing you can rely.  They will all come to see you and they’ll never ever leave you saying ‘Y’all come to see us by and by.’”  Then it goes on to the chorus and the verse about the kinfolks coming by the dozens, and then to the one where Grandma’s wishing they would all come to the kitchen.  It’s one of those songs that is a lot of fun to sing in a big crowd of people who all know it and want to sing along.  Maybe someone will organize a Champion ‘Sing’ one of these days and pull out all those old fashioned tunes and get everyone to crooning.  Somebody probably knows all of “Is That You, Myrtle?” and “The Old Knot Hole.”

        Seed catalogs are starting to show up in the mail already.  Gardening work is at a minimum during this cold weather, so there is time to review successes and failures to start planning now for next year’s garden.  Newly planted trees should be secured with guy wires according to some and some pruning can be done as weather permits, but not of spring flowering shrubs.  This is a good time to put out bird feeders.  The robins have been busy this week up on Clever Creek.  There have been some very exciting eagle sightings in the area lately and some rumors of wild coyote hunts.

        Judy Boykin was back to work by the middle of the week.  Rolling around in her wheelchair with her hand bandaged, she is keeping Glen’s Propane running smoothly.  She is an inspiration to anybody who thinks things can get a little rough sometimes.

        Charlene Dupre is finally home again at The Plant Place and The Gift Corner.  She has spent the last few months out in Virginia taking care of her sweet granddaughter, Olivia, while her mother was out on sea duty with the Navy.  Norwood is glad to have Charlene back, certainly her sister Linda Hetherington is.  It’s a gift to the local communities all around to have creative enterprising people and some solid family owned businesses in operation.

        Old Grandfather Weltanschauung and Crazy Sue spent the day around their own little hearth on Monday. Nobody’s feeling sorry for them though, because they so regularly visit with their children and grandchildren.  Not a week goes by without some trips back and forth.

        Ms. Wrinkles was scheduled to have her two sons and their families home on Monday.  The Kriders have some visiting currently and more on the way.  This will be a beautiful week for them. The Hamilton’s over passed Brushy Knob have had their three children and two grandchildren visiting.  Ms. Powell’s grandsons Brian and Derek spent part of Sunday with her.  Champion has been a regular hot bed of family fun.  Everyone is full of Love and Gratitude for the chance to enjoy each others company.

        Two cannibals were eating a clown and one asked the other, “Does this taste funny to you?”  That did not happen in Champion.  So long as Harley Krider is visiting, he could spend a few minutes telling some stories or histories or yarns and it wouldn’t hurt him one bit.  He probably knows few things on a Champion resident here or there, past or present.  If Cletus Upshaw (or any one of the other Upshaws, for that matter) could be convinced to open up, the Herald would be having to add pages just to get it all in.  There is a lot of highly interesting information out there regarding the Champion community of today and long ago.  Anyone is welcome to share some at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, at the Champion Store (There is a notebook there.  Just write it down.) or e-mail to Champion News.

        The New Year will start on a Monday too.  When asked about New Years resolutions, a wonderful man, good friend and great musician, Buff Manion, once said, “I’m just going to try to be a little nicer to people.”  So far 2978 U.S. Service People have lost their lives since the war began in Iraq in March of 2003.  There is always hope for a better year ahead, one full of Love and Gratitude.  Happy New Year, Champion!

CHAMPION—December 18, 2006

        Look out Champion!  The community is about to be overrun by grandchildren!  Scarcely have residents recovered from the onslaught of Hamilton and Powell grandchildren and great grandchildren, but here come Dakota and Dillon Watts accompanied by their parents from Tennessee and Foster Emmet and his cousin Eli are very likely to be around.  It will be noisy and busy with adventures on the farm.  There will be great feasts and plenty left overs and dishwashing.  When there is a big crowd, particularly if there enough women, those kinds of chores don’t seem to take up too much time.  There is an old song, however, that says:

“ Oh the kinfolks are a comin’,

yes, there comin’ by the dozens

and they’re eatin’ everything from soup to hay.

And right after dinner, they’re not lookin’ any thinner

and you can hear them say:

‘Ya’ll come!  Ya’ll come!

Ya’ll come to see us now and then.

Ya’ll come!  Ya’ll come!

Oh.  You all come to see us when you can.’ ”

“Now, Grandma’s a wishin’

that they’d all come to the kitchen

and help do the dishes right away,

But when they all start to leavin’,

even though she is a grievin’

you can still hear Grandma say,

‘Ya’ll come! Ya’ll come!

Ya’ll come to see us now and then.

Ya’ll come!  Ya’ll come!

Oh.  You all come to see us when you can.’ ”

        It goes on and on like that.  Fortunately the melody is pleasant.  Up on Clever Creek there will be a big influx of nieces and grandnieces who are doctors and students and musicians.  What can you do?  Some of those who are not expecting to have family visiting Champion for the holidays are going off elsewhere to find some.  The community is on the move.  Everybody seems to be full of Love and Gratitude at this time of year.

        A stranger to these parts happened along and noticed a long line of men filing slowly in through the gate of one of the local cemeteries.  A curious sort, he walked past the line of men until he finally came up to a new grave.  Beside it stood a man who was holding a small dog.  “Who is buried here?” inquired the stranger.  “It’s my mother-in-law” replied the man with the dog.”  “She died very suddenly after this little dog bit her.”  The stranger thought for a long moment and then asked, “Would you consider selling that little dog?”  The man with the dog said that he just couldn’t possibly sell it.  “Well, would you lease it?” pressed the stranger.  “Yes, I would lease it,” the man responded, “but you’ll have to go to the end of that line.”

        That is just a flat out yarn told the other day by a veteran yarn spinner.  Champion is a great part of the country for yarns, and songs, and sayings of all sorts.  Mrs. E. Powell said that if there was a couple having trouble in their marriage her aunt Frances Nettelton would say, “That’s their possum.  Let them wool it.”  By that she was saying to leave them alone to work out their problems.  This long time resident of Champion also noted that since World War II the country has really gone downhill.  Part of her point was that while technology has advanced, people are not so neighborly as they were back when everybody had to work together in the “war-effort.”  Neighbors over in Brixie had the opportunity to view the movie, An Inconvenient Truth on Saturday.  The message of the movie seems to be that the whole world has a possum to wool.  Here is part of an e-mail response to an inquiry made about the event:  “The movie was at the old Brixey church. ….  Steve Bennet, who moved back in the area after being gone for many years (and used to own the Gainesville paper), got up and made a passionate plea about how to stop the folks around here from clear cutting (he couldn’t believe how much more had been done in his absence).

        The movie made the rate of change expected in the next 20 to 50 years to seem overwhelming, and yet also showed how the most basic and simple conservation efforts do have quite an impact.  David Haenke made a plea that globalization and the huge amount of energy it takes to move products all around the world calls for de-centralization of goods and services to even begin to address the problem.

        On the local level it was discussed how the big pitch for ethanol was a diversion (too much petroleum input).  It was brought out that trees are our only proven method for taking large amounts of Co2 out of the atmosphere, and so how do we protect Ozark forests?  Goats (in a reasonable amount) were brought up as the better livestock alternative, and the use and production of more forest products, including the use of wood by-products as a source of fuel alternative (though the technology isn’t quite there yet).  Anyway, that’s some of the scoop.

        I think the best image I took from the movie was that of the Earth as a big breathing organism, giving oxygen in the Spring/Summer, and releasing Co2 in the Fall/Winter, and in many other ways is self-regulating.  Take Care,  Bob”  This Bob has a new grandson, born December 12^th, by the name of Braxton Liebert..  Grandparents make excellent world citizens as they are always looking out for the best interest of their most precious young ones.

        Neighbors in Norwood are distressed to learn that Judy Boykin of Glen’s Propane has had an accident Monday evening that resulted in a broken hip and broken hand.  She’ll be home from St. John’s in a few days with plenty on her plate.  She’s kind of a dynamo.  It’s hard to hold her down.

        The news this week has run a little long, with the warnings, songs, yarns, sayings, movie reviews, letters, observations, birth announcements and accident reports.  Any of those things or any other thing of interest to Champions is welcome from readers at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO. 65717, at the Champion Store, or at Champion News.

CHAMPION—December 11, 2006

        News from Champion was late getting to the Herald last week.  Someone said if he had twenty thousand years to catch the bus, he would need twenty thousand years and five minutes.  Here is last weeks news with apologies for it’s tardiness.

CHAMPION—December 5, 2006

        Friends and neighbors of Wilburn and Louise Hutchison extend their sympathies at the loss of their dear son, Larry.

        December’s Full Moon is called the “Cold Moon.”  In Champion it shines ethereally on the bright white ice and snow and draws out the long blue moon shadows of houses and trees.  When it is so quiet and still at night thoughts of family and loved ones, those close and far away, come easily.  To experience those solemn moments with dear ones is a gift.  Beauty becomes Real when shared in Love and Gratitude.  One whispers, “Isn’t this lovely?”  The other sighs, “Indeed.” Or, perhaps no word is spoken and the silence says everything.

        Your observations, stories, and news are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, at the Champion Store, or at Champion News.

        This week’s news also comes from last week.

        L.L. Krider had his birthday on the 4^th of the month.  It was just three days before the attack on Pearl Harbor.  That didn’t damper his families’ enthusiasm for him, however, and they raised him up to be a good family man.  He has numerous children who love and admire him.  He is an accomplished musician of the ‘high lonesome’ and other varieties and is respected as quite a good citizen and good neighbor.  Still, he was heard to have said that what he would like most for his birthday was the end of some exasperating plumbing problems.  Alas!  He is fortunate to have such a comely young wife to comfort him in his trials.

        Spectators could have had an eyeful had they ventured down 95 Highway at W Highway one day last week.  A well regarded resident of that intersection backed her truck into her own garage where it became stuck due to unseasonable rains.  Realizing that not only was her truck stuck, but that she was locked out of her house on account of just having had her locks changed without having replced her secreted outside key.  She was doubly stuck.  Standing on her own porch she heard her phone ringing inside.  It was cold and getting dark.  Remembering the condition of a certain storm window, she plied her energies to prying it open.  After some time her efforts were rewarded and there lacked only the willingness to climb upon lawn chair in order to effect entry through the now open upper sash.  Of the two plastic lawn chairs available she chose the newer,  less fragile one and, without a thought for her recently sprained foot, took the challenge, stepped upon it, and was in short order comfortably ensconced in her own domicile with none the wiser until now.  Now the window has been repaired against any intruder and the new key secreted. At what age does one cease to be resourceful and self reliant?  Around here it must be well up past ninety somewhere.

        Mrs. E. Powell said that when she was a kid they said if your nose was itching somebody would be coming with holes in his britches.

        The last of last weeks news is that Dustin Cline said in front of eight witnesses that he was wrong (about something).  Staci asked that it be reported in the paper.  This week he was heard to say that Staci was right about something.  What is going on here?

        The last of this weeks news is that by the 11^th of December, sixty-five U.S. service people have lost their lives this month.  To their families Love and Gratitude is sent from Champion.

        Your opinions, observations, reminiscences, and rebuttals are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, at the Champion Store, and at Champion News.

CHAMPION—November 28, 2006

        The good news from Champion this week is that family and friends have been enjoying each other’s company.  Harley and Barbara Krider were down from Illinois to visit and look after their cattle.

        Donald and Rita Krider also made a rare visit and everyone of that bunch has enjoyed the opportunity to spend some time together.  Foster Emit Wiseman was the youngest to attend Thanksgiving dinner at the home of Vivian Floyd up in Rogersville. There was quite a crowd and much good food and fellowship.

        Zoey Louise and Alexandra Jean of Austin, TX, hosted their grandparents for a pleasant visit.  There were long walks, trips to the park, many stories read and much good food enjoyed.  Grannie came home with a cold but thinks it was well worth the trouble.  People will be dogging her until she at last wearies of showing off the pictures.  The Hamiltons over on 76 Highway were fairly overrun by grandsons and others over the holiday, but they don’t seem to be able to muster up any complaints.  That sweet Grandmother over on 14 Highway whose birthday was on Thanksgiving Day is reported to have had an excellent celebration.  Acknowledgement by loved ones is the best gift….  Love and Gratitude.

        The active solicitation of old stores from the past around here has gleaned this gem.  It has been said that Morton Upshaw could hit a sucker with a gig from thirty feet easy.  Often enough he’d come up with more than one sucker on the same gig.  Russell Upshaw is reported to have given Gary Procter his first chew of tobacco when Gary was about six years old.  He was sick all day.  Please send your stories or items to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, drop them off at the Champion Store, or send them by email to Champion News.  Please.

        Concerning the photos of the albino white tailed deer, this response was received.  “Hi, I sent it to my Brother to see, I have to say it’s the sweetest thing I ever saw. And it does look like a baby goat, I can see why they mistook it for one.  I’m going to send this to all my email buds so they can have a look.  I live north of Dora store on W highway off of 14 and my other Brother saw my cat playing with five doe’s when he was hunting this afternoon, it’s so cool to see how animals interact with each other, it’s kinda unheard of to see a ones house cat playing with a bunch of deer.  He said my cat Timmy would run up to the deer and they would chase him around for a while then he would change to another deer and do the same thing. LOL, I do love my animals.  Thanks so much.  Donna.”  Again, it was learned that those photos were not taken from around here.  It is unclear where or when they were taken.  It was a case of misinformation, a mistake.  Here is another response however:  “To Whom It May Concern,  My mother and I are originally from Ava and get the Douglas County Herald.  We saw your article today about the deer that you rescued, and it said that we could see a picture of it…..however, the only connection given was your e-mail address.  Can you send us some pictures of the baby deer?  It sounds so cute and we would LOVE to see it!!!!    Sincerely,  Sherry and Faye Sims.”  (We did not rescue the deer, but did send the pictures to Sherry and Faye.)  Anyone who is interested in seeing these photos should send his email address to the Champion News email box.  It is odd and interesting that some of the nicest feedback has come as a result of this momentous blunder.

        Children of all ages are excited about the possibility of snow toward the end of the week.  The warm days have some people spoiled.  Some people don’t have all their wood in.  Some people have not yet mulched their tender plants.  There are some turnip patches that could use some attention.  There are garden hoses laying around in some peoples yards and other examples of neglect and general sloth.  When the snow and ice cover everything, it will all look clean and neat.  There will be plenty of time to worry about those other things when the thaw comes.   The snow is beautiful, but it can be treacherous.  Safe and prudent behavior does not rule out having fun and enjoying the spectacle.  Champion is, after all, a spectacular place!

CHAMPION—November 13, 2006

        More good news from Champion relates to our good neighbors over in Vanzant.  The fundraiser for the up-keep of the Vanzant Community Building was held Saturday night the 11^th of November.  Booger County Bluegrass entertained a lively crowd of local yokels and deer hunters.  They all enjoyed the chili as well as ham & beans cooked up by Sharon Sikes, and they forked over some nice donations to express their appreciation.  Danny Dry was the auctioneer for the homemade pies and a few other items.  Mrs. Esther Wrinkles’ coconut cream pie brought $60.00!

        There will be a benefit for Benny Pool, Booger County Bluegrass base player, at Squires this coming Saturday starting about noon at the community building at the firehouse.  There will be an auction and a lot of good music.  Honey Creek, will play as well as Backyard Bluegrass, the Kellies, and Wayne Anderson’s group The Blades of Bluegrass.  These kinds of activities generate “bushels of good” in the community, not just for the individual or the specific cause, but for everybody who participates.  It’s a good feeling to help good people who can use it. Everyone has been on the receiving end of good works at some time or another.

        A correction to last weeks news:  that wizened old Grandfather Weltanschauung had his birthday on the 8^th of the month instead of the 6^th and so it turns out that he is two whole days younger than we thought!  While youth is certainly a treasure, who knows what he might have accomplished if he had just been born two days earlier.  One of his many good friends, one of those Teeter Creek Lieberts, became a grandfather again himself on that very same day.  Willow had a beautiful son out in Arizona.  Grandmother Jan was there and all is well.

        A clever fellow up on Clever Creek said that he had heard that chiggers will lower cholesterol.  There has been a lot of gunfire around Champion but no big deer stories have been reported.  Louise and Wilburn host several hunters every year.  They left Wednesday morning with only one deer among them.  Something amazing was reported by a dear acquaintance over on the other side of Ava.  It is a real Albino Whitetail deer, just hours old.  It ran out in front of a car and was almost hit and was initially taken for a lost baby goat.  There was no mother nearby.  It took it’s bottle of food and followed them around the house doing fine.  The folks that found it did some investigating and learned that this ‘freak of nature’ is only one in more than a million ever born.  They called the Zoo and Fossil Rim who were both interested in taking it.  They have decided to send it to a Rehab farm.  Maybe it will make it in captivity somewhere and be appreciated.  It is such a rare occurrence and the finders really would like to keep him.  They know that it is not a good idea for the animal and also know that it is illegal to do so.  He is snow white, with pink eyes, ears, nose and hooves, a tiny guy.  Pictures are available online at Champion News.

        Good Gravy!  That squirrel hunt scheduled for last Thursday was a great success.  Seven big reds were taken between the two hunters and quite a few others were seen.  No use taking more than you can eat.  It has been said that squirrel makes the very best gravy.  (Some like to make it with white corn meal.)  The ladies were also quite successful in their junking expedition. The new bookstore in Mansfield called “A New Chapter“ proved to be a goldmine for Esther Howard who is a regular bibliophile.  She also wears nice hats and beautiful smiles.  It’s a joy to be near her.

        The prospect of snow looms.  Some hope for a hard winter.  It brings to mind the old adage….”cold hands, warm heart.”  Someone recently filled in the next part of that saying  with “dirty feet and no sweetheart.”  This was told to her by her mother, Gladys Joyce.  Any other versions of the saying would be gladly received at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717, at the Champion Store, or at Champion News. Recent email to the Champion email box is to the effect: “Just want to let you know how much we enjoy your weekly column in the Douglas County Herald.  As newcomers to the area, it’s real interesting to read about the current adventures and history of people in our neighborhood.  Thanks for your efforts.  Bill & Karen Griswold, Route 2 Box 363, Norwood.” The response to their message is as follows:  “As this area has historically lost so many of its native young people to other parts due to economic necessity, the newcomers have played a large part in keeping the community viable.  There has always been a steady stream of people in and out of the area.  What is apparent is that this is a hard country, but it is probably not much harder than any other part of the country when you are new to it and just getting acquainted.  We all came from someplace at one time or another, so ‘Welcome Home!’  We are glad to have you.  Thanks for joining the Skyline VFD and for choosing this part of the world to settle.  We’ll see you around.”

        Some of those Griswolds were present at the regular meeting of the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary.  The meeting was held at the Champion Store on Tuesday night.  In attendance were Susie and Karen Griswold, Esther Wrinkles, Corrine Rodgers, Fae Krider, Louise Hutchison, Sharon Sikes, Betty Henson, Wilda Moses, Mary Smoody, Ruth Hamilton and Betty Dye.  That is about as many women as have ever been in the store at one time.  It was a productive meeting with detailed discussions of the gun fund-raiser and the upcoming chili supper.  The gun is soon to be purchased and tickets will be made available immediately thereafter.  It is reported that a hand-made red, white and blue Texas Star quilt will be donated to the Auxiliary as an additional fund raiser.  Items are already being collected for the silent auction.  Various members and spouses are securing the musical entertainment and excitement is running high for what will prove to be another outstanding event.  The opportunity to visit together and to get acquainted was not lost.  Ms. Henson provided excellent refreshments and a cozy fire on a cool evening. The group will meet again in  January for more planning…the secret to the Skyline VFD’s great successes.  All our little communities overlap to make this a wonderful place to live.  The country is beautiful and so are the people.