To mark the swift passage of time we learned that the sunset at 8:01 pm on August 18, 2026, was the last one that will occur after 8 pm until April 29, 2027. August 18, 1920, was the day the 19th amendment to the constitution was ratified by congress. Several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied and practiced civil disobedience to change the Constitution so that American women were legally guaranteed the right to vote. It took a long time to accomplish this milestone and even longer, all the way to the 1960s, for all American women to be able to vote.

The Prairie Moon Nursery will sell a packet of 750 Sweet Everlasting seeds for $3.50. In the aster family, it grows one to three feet tall and is known in these parts as Rabbit Tobacco. The Prominent Champion brought some to the Bright Side for exposition recently. Native Americans and Appalachian folk traditions used the plant to treat colds, coughs, sore throats, fevers and asthma. It was brewed in teas and smoked in pipes and may well have been the first experience with smoking for many young folks around here.

The Skyline Fire Department is proud to announce that it has been selected as one of 150 volunteer fire departments nationwide to receive a $10,000 grant through the State Farm Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program. With these funds, Skyline Fire will acquire thermal imaging cameras, a vital technological capability. We pay our dues to the Skyline VFD and are grateful to the volunteers for their service.

The school year is off to a great start at Skyline. The popcorn-open house on Thursday gave teachers and staff the opportunity to show off the recent enhancements to the building. A generous donor by the name of Ann Onomus has provided funding for beautiful new vinal flooring in the kitchen and pantry together with several other significant improvements up and down the halls. For the second year in a row breakfast and lunch will be free for all students. This is through Provision 2 of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and through the efforts of Superintendent Donnie Luna who seems to be a magnet for the good things that have been happening at our great little rural school in recent years. Tuesday marks the first day of school. Go Tigers! A Skyline alumnus has taught us a new word. It is susurrus. It means a soft, low murmuring, whispering, or rustling sound as in the susurrus of a River Birch.

Newcomers and anyone with history or family ties or just a curiosity about this lovely spot at the end of the pavement, you are welcome to come out on Saturday, September 5th to the annual Reunion in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

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