"Who says you can't go home?"

After being gone for four years to pursue my degree in Sports Broadcasting/Journalism, I've returned to my roots to take over as your sports editor.

Although I've been away at school at Arkansas State, I've done my best to keep up with everything going on with local sports. I count it an honor and a privilage to return back home and cover local sports for this great newspaper.

Whoever says that the newspaper business is dying, doesn't know how important the Daily Dunklin Democrat is to this community. This paper, along with the website, is the only way people really hear about the local news. Also, it's the way that people keep up with high school sports, their beloved St. Louis Cardinals and all the other happenings going on in our local sports world.

Let's not forget that all you mothers and grandmothers love it when your son's or daughter's pictures show up in our pages so you can cut it out and embarrass them with it 10 years down the road. It's covering local sports and getting to know all the wonderful people of this community that make being the sports editor a great job to have.

I just wanted to take some time to let everyone know some of the ideas that I'm bringing to my position. First off, I'm a firm believer of using technology to keep people updated on the latest scores, stats, and news on all the local teams. I'm an avid user of Facebook, Twitter and cell phones to stay up-to-date on the lastest news and scores.

My goal is to use all these and other types of technology to keep you, the reader, updated on everything going on in local sports. I'm also pitching an idea that will allow parents and coaches the opportunity (via the internet) to post scores, stats, and pictures of their children's ballgames for others to see and for me to use in future issues of the paper.

The motto of my career is "Not only am I a sports journalist/broadcaster, I'm a sports FAN!" This motto will shown through my blog called "Dustin's Take." I'll just be sharing my thoughts and opinions on local and national sports and people will have the chance to comment on my thoughts on the blog's web page. I look forward to the interaction with the reader, but please always remember to be respcetful of everyone and keep those comments clean.

I'm very excited about my future here at the DDD and I look forward to working for the community that has supported me throughout the years. Until next time, enjoy life and enjoy sports!

Dustin Sullivan is the sports editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat. Contact him at dsullivan@dddnews.com