We've suffered mightily for the last few years in this part of the state. We have languished in need, save for a few diehards that persisted in making the extra effort and commitment those half-dozen weekends each fall.

We have now been revived. Joyous celebrations ring throughout the area.

It's back. What "it," you ask?

Why the University of Missouri (more on that later) airplane.

The university makes its fleet of airplanes available to ferry curators back and forth for meetings. Given distances and scheduling, that's not an unreasonable offer. Otherwise, folks like us in the hinterlands of the state would likely find themselves severely under-represented in the halls of power at the center of the state. But I digress.

With the appointment of Judith Haggard to the Board of Curators the university plane is back in Kennett.

And thanks to the efforts of our city fathers, state and national legislators, in upgrading and extending the runway, there is room for an even bigger plane. That's all fine and dandy for Judy, but what it really means is more room on the plane for Mizzou fans on game day.

And with the Tigers rising to a level they haven't seen in some 50 years, we're gonna need that bigger plane. More folks are going to want to attend the games now that the team isn't only winning, but winning championships and on ESPN every night.

When Paul T. was a curator he probably had to bribe someone to ride with him on the plane to the football games. One almost feels sorry for him having to struggle through all those lean, or at least semi-lean, years. He probably made his wife go with him most weekends just so he could have someone to talk to on the plane.

Poor Judy is going to have to resort to some sort of seat allocation system. She'll be swamped with requests, but I believe she can handle it. Those curators are pretty sharp.

For instance, this week they figured out that with Mizzou playing Oklahoma in the conference championship game in San Antonio and the board holding two-day long meetings in Kansas City something had to give. Rumor has it that the silly little search for a new university president was "back-burnered" to allow for more flexibility on the meeting agenda. That way everyone could make it to the airport in time to get into San Antonio for the game.

I'm only being slightly facetious, but if you travel around the state, heck around the Bootheel, and ask people to name the last university president you'll find some who know his name. However, if you ask them to name the head football coach you'll be surprised at how many more correct answers come forth.

Do you suppose there is any correlation between Judy's appointment to the board and Mizzou rising to number one in the football polls? I believe there is. In fact, I think the school can thank the Bootheel for its return to prominence.

Coach Pinkel has been here several times and no doubt met Judy on one of his trips. I believe when he learned she had been appointed to the board he knew the clock was ticking and it was time to produce his show cards. Although, and I'd have to check the records on this, I believe Paul T. was actually the one who hired Pinkel in the first place during his tenure on the board.

Oh, I know it was technically hiring a new coach is the athletic director's job, but before the offer went out I'm sure Mike Alden placed a call to the North Bypass. Again, it's that university president verses head football coach thing.

Rumor has it that there are plans for a jumbo jet to come in here for the bowl game trip. Won't that be something?

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Local celeb

Last week I briefly mentioned one of our local gals who had gained national attention for her work. Time constraints and the Thanksgiving holiday prevented me from catching up with her until last week.

Most of us already know how famous Jewell Wayne Davault is, but now the rest of the nation knows as well.

A magazine called Country published its December issue and there spread across one page was a photo of our local librarian and a comment from one of the patrons. Ella Wade, who is also a friend of Jewell Wayne's stopped in there one day and took a photo of the librarian standing by the stacks. Mrs. Wade then submitted the photo to the magazine as part of its readers' request section for submissions.

I learned about Jewell Wayne's inclusion in the publication in a phone call from a friend. Then I received an email from a woman by the name of Kathy Davault Miller who is also a subscriber of the magazine. Mrs. Miller was so excited to see someone else with her maiden name.

She got on the Internet, searched Jewell Wayne's name and pulled up one of my earlier missives mentioning our librarian. Mrs. Miller said her father was born in Bokaw, Missouri and was hoping to find a long, lost relative. I passed the information along to Jewell Wayne.

Now that the rest of the world knows about our little treasure, I expect the paparazzi to descend on Jewell Wayne and our little community with a vengeance. They'll be chasing that Cadillac from Senath to Kennett every day.

Congratulations to Jewell Wayne for being recognized, but I'm afraid she may have to call Brittney Spears to get some pointers on what not to do when all those photographers start following her around.

Bud Hunt is the publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.