2021 5K Tiger Prowl Donut Run

The 2021 5K Tiger Prowl Donut Run started at 8:00 a.m. at the Skyline R2 School on Saturday, May 1st.  The first one across the finish line was Skyline graduate, now Mountain Grove High School freshman, Rowdy Woods, with a time of 26 minutes.  Rowdy was first in his division of 18 and under.  Second and third were Jaycee Hall at 30:24 and Evan Homer at 30:53. Andrew Harden was second to cross the line, at 28:30, and first place in the adult division.  Second and third were Jim Hurt, at 31:00, and Tamara Collins, at 44:18.  The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department joined with the Skyline Volunteer Fire Department to provide security for the run along Highway C.  Superintendent, Donnie Luna was stationed at the half-way turn around point for encouragement and support.  Tabatha Hurt kept track of the time and was there at the finish line with water for the 36 runners and walkers.  She also officiated at the awards ceremony, where the winners were presented with gift cards.  There were bananas and donuts and an abundance of great door prizes that had everyone feeling like a winner.  Physical fitness makes learning easier and promotes positive attitudes.  We do better when we feel better.  Just ask Mr. Gray.  We may not all be able to handle a 5K, but the quarter mile paved walking trail at the school is available for anyone to use.  It winds along the edge of the woods and features a lot of shade.  It is a real health care amenity—one of many benefits for the whole community because of this thriving little rural school.  Go, Tigers!

Since 1945, we, together with Great Britain and various cities in Western Europe, have been observing V-E Day on May 8th to celebrate the defeat of the Nazi war machine and fascism during World War II.  The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says that around 300,000 of the roughly 16 million American World War II Veterans are still alive.  The youngest are in their 90’s and the oldest are over 100 years old.  Champions extend their Love and Gratitude to them and to all the men and women who serve and have served in our Nation’s military since that time.  Thank you for your service.

In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation designating Mother’s Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor Mothers.  This year it is on May 9th, and the mailboxes and phone lines will be inundated with expressions of Love and Gratitude.  A much-missed Mother admonished: “Just act like you have good sense.”  She left us in 1975, but those words keep her alive in our hearts.  We try, Mother.  She loved Mark Twain and his quote, “It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”


Potatoes!

The Pioneer Heritage Festival folks are looking for people with ‘old time skills’ to share their knowledge at the event this fall.  Follow this link and volunteer to help perpetuate those talents and abilities that made it possible for our ancestors to survive here.  Carissa O’Connell-Ainsworth and family moved to Douglas County last summer from Illinois and have just now had the chance to walk around their property.  She is a new member of the Facebook group “Love My OZARKS” and said they were lucky to have found this place.  She said the kids soon got over not being able to get cell phone service in the valley.  Maybe they will find their way to the Fox Trotters Showgrounds in October for the Pioneer Heritage Festival of the Ozarks or over to the wide, wild, wooly banks of Old Fox Creek any time.

Tigers prowled up and down and down and up Highway C on Saturday at the Skyline fun run.  It was indeed fun and another good thing that came out of the day was hearing that Bud Hutchison’s Champion Trail Ride is scheduled for May 19th.  That information came from Andrew Harden who took the reins of that historic trail ride at Bud’s passing.  He also took second place (for the third time) in this annual 5K race.  His time this year was 28:30.  In 2019, it was 29:30, and in 2018, his time was 23:45.  It seems that he is slowing down, but not by much.  Speculation is that running in blue jeans slows a runner by a minuscule percentage that might add up.  His daughters think he could do it faster on a horse.  Another good thing about that day was overhearing a Skyline alumnus, and winner of the race, cheering on and encouraging the other runners, as well as reassuring students about to graduate that the transition to high school is great.  “You’re going to love it,” he says.

More positivity has an Old Champion relating that the heavily humid air brings out the aroma of next year’s firewood stacked so beautifully in his shed.  The General has another wave of kinfolks headed this way, so Vanzant is about to be awash in fun again.  Gardeners are getting busy.  Potatoes are up and looking good.  Share anything positive with us at champion@championnews.us or through our wonderful USPS to TCN, RT. 72 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

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