By Tim Binnall
Pending a vote in the Missouri legislature, the small town of Piedmont is poised to be named the state's official UFO capital by virtue of its rich history with the phenomenon. According to a local media report, the recognition was put forward by State Rep. Chris Dinkins in a bill which notes that 2023 is the 50th anniversary of a famous flap wherein "hundreds of UFO sightings" were reported in the community. Detailing the proposal in a meeting of the Missouri House Tourism Committee last week, she marveled that "in 1973, Piedmont became the UFO headquarters of the country" and, as such, argued that it is deserving of the unique honor.
Joining Dinkins at the gathering was resident Dennis Hovis, who was a local radio station news manager in 1973 and followed the flap at it unfolded. Serving as an expert witness at the meeting, he recalled how it all began when the Piedmont high school's basketball team spotted "a bright shaft of light that was coming down from the sky" on two separate occasions during their drive home from a game. When word of the puzzling incident reached the media, a veritable firestorm erupted with reporters, tourist, and flying saucer buffs flocking to the town. With curious residents suddenly looking to the skies, countless individuals claimed to also see UFOs over the subsequent weeks and months to the point that the town is forever linked to the phenomenon.
While the bill to recognize Piedmont as the state's official UFO capital managed to make it through the House Tourism Committee last week, it did reportedly receive a bit of resistance from one member, who wondered "what is the favorite alcoholic beverage in Wayne County," where the town is situated. The proposal will now be subject to yet another hearing as it winds its way through the Missouri legislature with the hopes that it can be passed by the end of August for what one presumes will be some kind of 50th anniversary celebration in the community. Until then, any other aspiring UFO capitals in the state have time to make their case for the honor, though no one has stepped forward to challenge for the title just yet.