The week's good news: December 9, 2021

1. Forgotten cookbook connects community with favorite recipes from the past

From cornbread to barbecue chicken, Dusty Hudgins is shining a light on recipes once beloved by the cafeteria workers of Abilene, Texas. Hudgins' late mother, Florice, was one of those workers, serving lunch to kids in the 1960s and '70s. While looking through her belongings, Hudgins discovered several vintage cookbooks, including one titled Our Favorite Recipes by the Abilene School Food Service Association. Hudgins told CNN he made a post about the cookbook on a nostalgia Facebook page and "it just kind of blew up." Hudgins got in touch with the company that originally published the book, and they were able to reprint it. He is now selling copies for $20, with all proceeds going to Love and Care Ministries, a group that feeds school children during holidays and on weekends. Each recipe has a name attached, which makes Our Favorite Recipes all the more special. "I've heard from quite a few people that tell that the recipe was their grandmother's or great aunt," Hudgins said.

CNN

2. 100-year-old Maurine 'Mighty Mo' Kornfeld keeps breaking swimming records

There's no stopping Maurine "Mighty Mo" Kornfeld. A retired social worker, she got serious about swimming in her early 60s, becoming part of U.S. Masters Swimming. In the 40 years since, this Hollywood, California, resident has won 14 world championships, set 28 records, and been inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame. At 100, Kornfeld is one of the oldest registered masters swimmers in the United States, and competing in the 100-to-104 age bracket this summer, earned six world records in the freestyle and backstroke. "She's just amazing," friend Susan Gold told the Los Angeles Times. "She's really thriving, really living. It feels like she's aging backwards." To celebrate Kornfeld's 100th birthday at the end of November, her pals threw her an aquatic birthday party by the pool, complete with a whale-shaped piñata and matching swim caps for everyone. Surrounded by friends, the smell of chlorine in the air, Kornfeld was moved by the tribute, saying, "I have everything I need."

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Los Angeles Times

3. Father and daughter duo deliver RVs to people who lost their homes in wildfires

Woody Faircloth and his daughter, Luna, are giving new life to RVs — and bringing hope to people who lost their homes in wildfires. The 2018 Camp Fire was the deadliest and most destructive blaze in California history, and after seeing news reports about the disaster, Woody wanted to do something. He came up with the idea to donate RVs to people whose houses burned down, and asked Luna, 9, if she wanted to be involved. Luna told CBS Mornings she definitely wanted to help and said to her dad, "God and Santa Claus are gonna be very proud of us." In the last three years, their volunteer network has connected 100 wildfire victims with donated RVs. Most of the RVs have gone to first responders like firefighter Don George, whose home burned down in September's Fawn Fire. George told CBS Mornings he's grateful to have temporary shelter, and Woody "renewed my faith in mankind," adding, "if there was more people like that, we'd have a beautiful world."

CBS Mornings

4. Stray dog saves Virginia family by alerting them to house fire

A stray dog known as Butter has been reunited with his owners after saving the family that took him. Butter has spent the last few months living in a structure outside of Charity Golloway's home in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. Golloway placed an electric lamp in the shelter to keep Butter warm, but last Thursday in the middle of the night, it caught on fire. Butter got out and began barking, waking up Golloway. The damage to the home was minimal, and there were no injuries. "If it wasn't for him, who knows what could've happened," Golloway told WJHL. "It could've been way worse. I'm really grateful for that stray dog that wandered up into my yard." A picture of Butter with firefighters went viral on social media, catching the attention of his owners. They contacted Golloway, explaining that they'd been searching for Butter — whose real name is Cooper — since he ran away in the summer. He was returned to his family, but first, Golloway showed her appreciation by cooking him a steak.

WJHL

5. Bride finds creative way to ensure sick groom can still be part of reception

After postponing their wedding twice because of COVID-19, Christine and Gannon Karmire got creative when a severe bout of food poisoning threatened to derail the big day once again. On the morning of their wedding last month, Gannon woke up feeling sick, and ended up needing medical treatment for food poisoning. Christine canceled the ceremony but decided to hold the reception since it was paid for. The venue owner suggested making a "Stick Gannon," which involved taking a rolling steamer, adding pool cues for arms, putting an iPad at the top displaying a picture of Gannon, and dressing it up in a suit. "It was meant to lighten the mood and encourage people to enjoy both the company gathered and the already prepared dinner," Christine told Today. It worked — the guests were sad Gannon wasn't there, but danced and took photos with his stick version. Gannon was released from the hospital and made a surprise appearance at the reception, where guests chanted his name and he felt "the love and support everyone has for us."

Today