Monkey Business

Deward Henson’s granddaughter, Jenny, had her birthday on July 8th. Skyline Students Lily Trujillo and Sumer Parman had the 10th for their big day. The 19th will be the big day for Ethan Alexander and Zee Heffern up in Springfield. Skyliners, Zoe Georges, Ronnie Trammel, Joseph Hastings and Jaci Borders celebrate on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 27th. Reba Bishop, long time Champion friend will enjoy her day on the 28th. Karen Ross used to be our Champion mail carrier, and now she is delivering on another route. Hopefully, she will find some birthday cards in mailboxes on the 29th, her special day. That is also the birthday of Cheyenne McIntosh, Skyline’s talented music teacher.


56th Annual Vanzant Picnic

Friday night of the 56th Annual Vanzant Picnic was a meltdown scorcher, causing some to worry for the health and safety of those Eastern Douglas County Volunteer Firefighters and others out directing traffic and doing the hard work that makes an important event like this come off so well. The effort was still significant on Saturday, but the weather was wonderful, perfect timing for a delightful brief reprieve from the oppressive heat of recent days and of days to come, according to prognosticators. The cloudy sky and temperatures in the 80s were the reward for having endured, and, at the same time, reminders of what our days may be like again someday, surely. On Sunday morning, Jody Blackburn said it perfectly: “Last night marked the close of the 56th annual Vanzant Community Picnic! There was lots of laughter, even a few tears (happy ones). Families and friends reunited was a beautiful sight to behold. There was evidence of community and teamwork last night (for the help in closing and cleaning up) …so from volunteers to visitors…THANK YOU.” Then she goes on to suggest that it would be a great idea to do it all over again next year. Some almost rock-and-roll, lots of great bluegrass, some genuine country and sweet gospel music filled the air and had picnic attendees delighted that this part of the country has so much musical talent. It also has a lot of hard working, good-hearted people who know that it is a genuine blessing to be a part of these many overlapping communities coming together in fun and fellowship all these many years. It was another peaceful, pleasant affair—not a dog fight or a fist fight all night.

Experienced, successful gardeners let an Old Champion know that, most likely, the trouble she is having with her tomatoes this year is because over-watering. The complaint was that it was more than just blossom end rot, it was whole tomato rot. She will cut back on her watering and use that time for study. Already she has learned that it is easier to recover from dehydration than from drowning. Now, to the beans: The plants are healthy and vigorous, but the blooms are sparse and underdeveloped. There are no beans. Those same experts attribute this to the unusual heat. Perhaps,if earnest gardeners can keep the plants healthy until the weather cools down, there will be beans. The black eyed peas are going gang busters, however, and the prettiest corn patch in the neighborhood is at Valery and Ronnie Thompson’s place. Get some good gardening advice or just do some afternoon lollygagging in the cool of the Historic Emporium down on the wide, wild, wooly banks of Auld Fox Creek. Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

Facebook