Kennett publisher now in charge of three more papers

Daily Dunklin Democrat

KENNETT, Mo. -- Bud Hunt, publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat in Kennett, has been named publisher of The Daily Statesman in Dexter, the Delta News Citizen in Malden and the North Stoddard Countian newspaper, which serves Advance and Bloomfield.

He succeeds Barbara Hill, publisher of the Delta North properties for Rust Communications, who will retire Jan. 31.

Hill began her career with the Dexter Statesman in 1962 as a reporter. She was editor before becoming advertising manager in 1974. In 1991, she became publisher of the Dexter and Kennett daily newspapers and also assumed the publisher's duties when Malden, Bloomfield and Advance were added to the Delta properties.

Hunt has been publisher of the Kennett newspaper since 1994. Before that, he was editor of the newspaper.

Hill said she thinks the transition will be a smooth one.

The Delta North newspapers are a part of Rust Communications, which includes 17 daily newspapers and 30 weekly newspapers as well as numerous shoppers and specialty publications in seven states.

"Barbara's been part of our newspaper family for a long time, and we will miss her warm personality and management style," said Jon K. Rust, co-president of Rust Communications. "Thankfully, Bud Hunt knows the communities well and will be an outstanding publisher over all the newspapers. He brings many good ideas to the position."