After last week's column about Missouri emblems and mosquitoes I received an email from the Kennett City Court's chief dispenser of justice, Mike Mowrer. The judge pointed out that anyone interested in learning more about the Show Me State's official symbols might want to read John Fisher's Catfish, Fiddles, Mules and More -- Missouri's State Symbols.

The judge suggests, "John may need to do a 'sequel.' As a retired Bootheel farmer Jim certainly knows about pests -- since the boll weevil is about gone -- John would probably lobby for the mosquito as the State Insect/Pest."

The University of Missouri Press published Mr. Fisher's book in 2003. A review of the book is available on their website -- www.umsystem.edu/press -- and can be purchased for $11.95.

A review of the book on that site calls this book a "handy reference on the various official symbols of the state." The book has a chapter devoted to every symbol and also tells why a particular symbol was chosen and a little of the state's history behind those symbols of significance.

I don't know about a sequel, but if one is forthcoming, we'll be sure to let you know.

And on the subject of a symbol for the State Pest, the judge suggests, "… Legislators that think they are elected to enact laws about grass and mushrooms." Come to think of it they are elected to enact laws about certain grasses and certain mushrooms, but not necessarily as state emblems.

As far as mosquitoes go, we have a little more and perhaps encouraging news that came out last week. We may not be quite ready to give up on the mosquito as an official pest just yet.

A group of scientists from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., have genetically engineered mosquitoes so that their eyes will glow in the dark and that do not carry malaria. The bad news, for those of us that swat the silly things is that these modifications apparently enable them to survive longer.

Although if their little beady eyes glow in the dark it should make them easier to see and smash before they bite.

The article doesn't say, but I'm betting these scientists conducted the study using grant money from the federal government. That got me to thinking. If anyone is going to study mosquitoes it should be someone that is on a first name basis with them and has plenty of supply.

The Delta Center in Portageville is a first--class soybean research center. Seems like Jake Fisher could run down a government grant to manufacture glow--in--the--dark skeeters. Grover Shannon probably has enough time on his hand between soybean growing season to come up with such a critter.

Of course using the term "genetically modified" in southeast Missouri isn't exactly politically correct, but we're not talking about rice here. I'm sure Jake can find a way around that.

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In charge

With Judge John Spielman out on nursery duty and Judge Steve Sharp in Stoddard County dispensing justice to the northern part of the 35th Judicial District, Jerry Stillman was back in charge last Wednesday. I ran into the judge at Mike Faught's establishment that morning.

Jerry shared some of his wisdom after complimenting me on my shirt.

"I learned something," he said. "I learned never to criticize a fellow's shirt."

Adding, "His wife may have bought it for him."

The unspoken part of that was that if the wife bought it the poor guy doesn't have any choice and the judge, in all his years on the bench, has come to that conclusion.

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From the mailbag

Cindi Hine, formerly of Kennett, now a California girl, sent along an copy of an article from the Claremont Courier.

The Claremont High School Wolfpack swim team handily defeated another local high school in a dual meet. Of particular interest was the following: "… David Hine (100 backstroke) … posted first place in [his] event." David's time was 55.44.

And, "Susannah Hine (100 backstroke)" was the top performer in her event. The article continued, "Hine crossed the finish line at 1:07.23."

Those numbers probably mean a lot more to folks involved with the swim team and of course, grandparents.

David is also close to signing a Division 1 scholarship and has a couple of schools that are pretty much down to the wire. Cindi has agreed to send along information once David's signing becomes official.

Speaking of college, I also learned that Damon Crucani is going to college. Okay, I know he's already been to college, but apparently he didn't get enough. Actually Damon has been accepted into the Southern Illinois University Law School in Carbondale.

Damon is scheduled to begin taking classes this fall. Kudos to him and although we hate to see he and Tori leave town perhaps they will come back once his schooling is completed.

That reminded me of a story from several years ago.

Damon and my stepson Adam were pretty good friends along with Joe Stokley. One day when they were about nine years of age, Adam came in and informed his mother and I that he and Joe were going to come back after college and open up a farm.

That puzzled his mother just a bit and she pressed him to be a little clearer.

"You know, a farm. Like Mr. Stokley," he said.

And all this time I thought that was a law office Jimmie had on First Street.

Bud Hunt is the publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.