Champion News

CHAMPION—April 27, 2009

        May first, May Day, is a day designated to celebrate Spring.  It is a day of political protests.  It is a neo-pagan festival, a saint’s feast day, and a day for organized labor.  In many countries, it is a national holiday.  In Champion some like to make note of the number of different shades of green visible on that day, particularly in contrast with the still vibrant dogwood blossoms.  That can be a subjective number as green is often in the eye of the beholder.  It is easy to see that unfortunates living elsewhere might be jealous of the vistas—on the Bright Side.

        What a Champion!  Twelve year old Little League pitcher, Mackenzie Brown, of Bayonne, New Jersey threw a perfect game last week and was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Mets’ game against the Washington Nationals.  Anybody who attended school at Champion years ago can point out right where home plate and second base were…the other bases too.  They get a wistful look in their eyes and it is easy to see they are remembering wonderful days.

        National Volunteer Week festivities were wrapped up in Peoria, Illinois on Friday the 24^th, at the Crittenton Center.  This is a multi-service, not-for-profit, child welfare organization.  Eight of the center’s top volunteers received the President’s Volunteer Service Award.  Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis gave out the awards to a group that has performed about 67 hundred hours of community service combined.  Volunteers at the center do everything from relieve the staff to play with the children.  And most of the recipients have been working at the center for several years.  There are about six hundred volunteers that work at the center throughout the year.  The President’s Volunteer Service Award was created in 2003 to inspire others to contribute to their communities through volunteering.  Champion’s own Barbara Krider was one of the recipients of this prestigious award and spoke to the media after the presentation.  She was very poised in her remarks and spoke to the value of the volunteer’s efforts in terms of giving the critical staff relief to do their important jobs.  Barbara wore a periwinkle lavender jacket with jewel neckline over a light blouse and skirt.  Champions are well represented by their stylish (if largely absentee) resident and are optimistic that her schedule will give her time to return home soon.

        She will be glad to have missed the Clampett-mobile.  The Clines, of Seymour, who have diverse interests in the auto-racing, auto-restoration, and all things auto made themselves quite the spectacle on Saturday.  The connection of Ms. Cline (whose interest is in Mr. Cline) to General Upshod could no longer be denied as she stood next to him as close as she would to an Uncle while watching her spouse and lovely cousin Elva roll by in a heap of hillbilly junk that would have embarrassed Ellie Mae and everyone knows that Ellie Mae is just about the most fun loving, gentle and non-judgmental person ever depicted as real.  Imagine plastic lawn chairs, wooden crates and benches, floor lamps and rusty wash tubs rattling down the road giving every appearance of impending complete collapse.  Cartoon like and as unbalanced as the General, the thing lumbered along with no clear origin or destination.  The vehicle, however, has a substantial drive-train, appropriate tires in good repair and all the pertinences required to make it go.  While roadworthy it is probably not legal and the Clines are enjoined not to try to take it on the open road.  It is noteworthy and delightful to know that Elva is making a good recovery from her broken foot or surely her Dear Mother would not have let her go off with the General!  It was noted last week that Barbara is the wife of the brother of the sister of the General, but in reality she is the wife of the brother married to the sister of the General.

        The Fortnight Bridge group was hosted by Norwood for its regular game on Saturday.  The Brushy Knob player was absent and his place taken by veteran player from Seven Springs.  Vera Cruz came in first place with a score of 4660, Champion was second with 4460, Norwood third with 3540 and Seven Springs low with 2640.  Low, however profited by $1.50, and high by $2.00.  It was a lively game including several slams bid and un-bid.  The whole southwest Missouri bridge community is still reeling from a hand that was dealt on April 4^th when Charlene Durpre sat in for the Vera Cruz player at the Champion game.  Norwood dealt, with Brushy Knob as partner, and opened “one diamond.”  Champion was second to bid, with Charlene for partner.  Champion bid Six Spades!  It was amazing!  Pass.  Pass.  Pass.  Well she made it!  The hand dealt had nine spades including the top three and two singleton Aces!  A doubleton heart with the Queen was the only weak spot, but Charlene had the King!  What a partner!  It was fantastic!  The Ace of hearts was the only lost trick.  Twenty-two days later the Champion player is still on top of the world!  Bridge playing friends from around the area, however, are beginning to duck when they see her approach.  While everyone is glad for her it might be getting a little tiresome.  “Six Spades! What a deal!”

        May Day will be an excellent day for planting all the above-ground crops according to Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood.  The next good planting day will be the 7^th, so there will be time to get all those farm chores done in the interim.  Gardens are going in all around the country and there is said to be a renewed interest in studying all the country living subjects that are now being called “sustainable.”  Gardening, wild-crafting, food preserving, herb-lore, recycling, composting, live-stock raising, and bartering are all things that are part of the fabric of this part of the world.  Champion has sustained itself through tough times with hard work, humor, music, and good neighboring.

        Mayday is an emergency code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice procedure radio communications.  It comes from a French word, which means “come help me,” and is used to signal a life-threatening emergency.  The call is always given three times in a row (“Mayday Mayday Mayday”) to prevent mistaking it for some similar-sounding phrase under noisy conditions, and to distinguish an actual Mayday from a message about a Mayday call.  Soldiers and sailors use it around the world and many of them are U.S. Service Personnel.  Champions all hope when the signal is used that help arrives promptly.  When those Veterans arrive home Champions hope they will be met with the Love and Gratitude of their Nation.

        How thrilling it must be to have a birthday on May Day!  The whole world celebrates with flowers and fun and light hearts.  Sing, “When Irish Eyes are Smiling sure it’s like a morning spring.  In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angles sing.  When Irish hearts are happy, all the world seems bright and gay.  And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they steal your heart away.”  Mailboxes at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, and at Champion News are receiving any kind of beautiful song, any kind of optimism, nostalgia, garden tips and bragging.  Look at www.championnews.us for the fun of it.  Sing any good song out on the porch at Henson’s Store, where many a fine singer has stood before.  Gaze down Lonnie Krider Memorial Drive and be swelled with pride, for when you are in Champion, your Looking on the Bright Side!