Champion News

CHAMPION—April 11, 2011

        Champions are pleased for the rain, pleased for the good company of friends and family visiting, pleased for the progress in their gardens and various other enterprises.  Overall the Champion neck of the woods is quite a pleasing place full of the glories of spring and happy people.

        A good neighbor reports that Wes Smith cut his hand while working on a hay wagon and the next day cut his other hand working on same project. Pat came along with some duct tape and fixed him up.  The good neighbor plans a trip out to buy the Smiths a nice first aid kit.  That is always an appropriate gift and just having one on hand often reduces the need for it.

        The joys of spoonbilling were revealed to Adam Michaud when Big Bill Long took him fishing down at Lake Taneycomo recently.   Bill was busy Sunday sharing photographs of Adam and the monster thirty-five pound fish he caught.  It will take a lot of people or a lot of time to get it all eaten, though a project like that can sometimes gather a surprising amount of support.  Bon appetite!

        A swaggering local Champion allows as how he has been finding mushrooms the size of pop-cans.  Until he has shared some of those finds around sufficiently it will be assumed that the cans he is talking about are all those blue ones along the roadways a large number of which he has most likely single handedly emptied himself. 

        Champions are all glad to see that Ms. Eva Powell is feeling better over a recent illness.  Her spirits were much lifted by a visit from Granddaughter Emily with her husband Victor Ash and Eva’s great grandchildren Salina and Conner.  Conner has just had his third birthday and it is amazing to see how quickly the little ones seem to grow.  Pictures on The Dairymaid website show Taegan (Peanut) Krider to be in the middle of growing up herself.  It may be that parents are not really aware of the speed of change in their babies because of their constant exposure, but let a couple weeks go by and they seem to have jumped up in size and ability.  Very interesting this human condition!  Find The Dairymaid in the links section at www.championnews.us. 

        One of those Tennessee brothers is visiting with his Grandmother on the farm for a few days.  Cousins Foster and Kalyssa think that Dakota is the cat’s meow.  This part of the country is full of first and second, near and distant cousins and so the isolated folks with no blood kin nearby just look at the intertwining local family trees as a charming briar patch.  Family closeness is lovely to view even if it is not ones own.

        An Old Champion was visiting with Esther Wrinkles on the phone Saturday. He reported that she wants to be sure that the news gets out so that everybody will know about the meeting at the Vanzant Community Building on the 15^th.   It is to be held at seven in the evening and everybody is welcome to attend.  Maybe Sybil Geer will go.  A chance for conversation with her on Election Day is one of the reasons some Champions vote at all.  She is excited to learn about when the first pie supper will be at the Vanzant Community Building.  She said that she had enjoyed her time teaching there when it was called Clifty Hall.  Ms. Geer seems to enjoy everything.  She always has a smile and a pleasant word and is always dressed to the nines.  She is about ready to put away her cowboy boots for the year.  She has many pairs and finds them perfect with her skirts for wintertime warmth.  On that day she was wearing white and silver snakeskin boots—very stylish.  Her fellow election official, Velma Schroeder, was sporting a shiny chrome walker as a prize for a fall that she had taken recently.  Hopefully she will be able to ditch it soon, but it is good to see her up and around anyway and happy to do her civic duty.  The single (and only) male on the election board kept his cap pulled pretty low over his eyes to disguise his nodding off.  He must have some enterprise going somewhere that keeps him worn out.  Sue’s tie-die is not really a uniform, but like her, it is always bright and cheerful and while the community would still recognize her in other clothes, it would be a bit of a puzzlement to them.  “Hmmm, “ they would say, perhaps a little confused wondering what was different. 

        Email from Pete Proctor includes some nice photos of Pete, his son Bryan, and their friend, Patriot Rider Jerry England.  In honor of Bryan and the many deployments he has served, England put seventeen US Flags up on Pete’s street and driveway when this Champion came home recently to visit his parents.  Pete says that Bryan will be going to Qtar in May for a year’s deployment there.  Champions wish him all the best and are grateful for his service, and for Pete’s.  Vietnam era Veterans are the group about Pete’s age now, about ready for Social Security and some are still dealing with things they experienced those long years ago over there.  It is common to say, “Hate the war not the warrior.” Whatever the policies or reasons for the various conflicts going on around the world currently, those serving and those who have served are the reason the Viet Cong or others are not headed up Champion driveways.  So, thanks.

        A Saturday trip down to Vera Cruz for the Fortnight Bridge Club meeting had the group dazzled by the dogwoods and delighted by May apples and bloodroot.  What a glorious place and glorious time of the year!  The Vera Cruz host was the winner with Champion second and Brushy Knob third.  Linda, representing Norwood, brought home the nickels this time, which probably brought her losses down to about thirty-five cents.  That is not expensive entertainment by any standard.  The play, the refreshments, and the good company all meet the highest standards for a really good time.  Champion!  Between hands garden plans and progress were discussed.  The Vera Cruz and Champion players are both in frost pockets, while Brushy Knob and Norwood are at a higher elevation and can generally get their tender things in earlier.  Linda says business is picking up at The Plant Place and people are getting excited about growing food.  Her Cole crops are looking good and she has just transplanted lots of tiny tomatoes.  In Champion it is generally figured that the last frost is May 10^th.  That seems a long way away, but it will go by quickly.   The weather man seems to indicate that Champion might get a frost on the coming week end, so patience will be the requirement for those ready to jump the gun.  Get a copy of Linda’s Almanac over at the Plant Place or at Henson’s Store currently located in the temporary annex on the West Side of the Square in Downtown Champion.  Old timers will verify that following the signs is a good way to get there.

        A big pile of new treated lumber was noticed over the weekend kind of stuck up under the porch of the recreation of the historic emporium.  Nobody was around to explain its purpose so Champions are left to speculate.  One is singing, “I’ll build a stairway to Paradise with a new step every day!  I’m going to get there at any price, stand aside, I’m on my way.” That particular Champion has no rhyme (and hopefully no rime) or reason for what she sings.  So, pay no attention to her or to that man behind the curtain.  Be a Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!