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Here in the Ozarks, we have a sense of gratitude and grace on a daily basis. 

Celebrating nature's bounty and the richness we share with relationships and opportunity are second nature to us.

I hope you don't mind humoring me a little as I reminisce about some favorite Thanksgiving memories and a little history lesson, to boot.

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Our Leadership Class for the 2022-2023 school year helped decorate a wooden Christmas tree for the downtown square this holiday season. They are resilient students--who have been through a pandemic and some other challenges during their high school careers.

Above all, they are strong, creative, fun and determined. I learn as much from them as they do from me.

Each of them selected a word and a quote to talk about the power of words and self-fulfiling prophecy this holiday season. Please enjoy their Christmas wishes being sent your way---now and always.

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Our media writing students created this script after decorating a special tree for our Community Christmas event in downtown Aurora. Each student focused on a character from the movie Up, which focuses on a character named Carl, who is old and cranky and in dire need of a friend.

Through this tale, we learn about wisdom, sacrifice, friendship and love, as well as the significance of a few surprises along life's journey. 

We talked about our feelings for each other, our community and how at the end of the day--All Roads Lead Home. It's a little rough, but I think you'll get the message.

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"Touch down. Every morning.
10 times.
Not just now and then."

If you attended Aurora Schools between 1962 and 1986, you were probably exposed to exercising you tail off to the 45 record of CHICKEN FAT as Coach Poss Jackson led the charge.

At 98 years of age, he is showing up to help with the coin toss at Kelley Field at the Bell Bowl.

His legacy continues.

We are all just proud to be a part of it.

...."and don't be chicken again."

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The Houn' Dawg mascot has a long and colorful history.

When you see the slogan: Don't Kick Our Dog, just know that it is paying homage to the story's military roots--that predate World War I.

If you see Once A Houn' Dawg--Always A Houn' Dawg, it is picking up on the school's passion for its spotted Houn' Dawg mascot that dates back to about 1925.

All in all, the Dawg/Dog is full of tenacity, spunk, surprises and come from behind determination. If his original name is Winston or Windsor, we just know that he is charming, fun and hard-working. 

Elvis said: You Aint Nothin' But A Hound Dog...and there's just nothin' I'd rather be.

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I get asked a lot about the history of Kelley Field.
People want to know who the football field is named after.
They ask about the spelling of it.
They sometimes inadvertently suggest a name change, right before my head
starts spinning and I do a little stomping.

The stories about our past are important.
They help us know who we are, where we've been and where we are headed.

Take a listen to my story about Howard Whitsett Kelley.

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I first wrote this as a Facebook post in the spring--when the shutdowns of the virus first started. Now...some eight months later, things still seem to be up in the air. We have hostile discussions on the news regarding politics, we have growing numbers of Corona cases in Missouri.  We have folks who have suffered. We have others who have plunged forward. Regardless of what we are facing or what may come our way next, here is my best advice.

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Aurora has been selected as a partner site for a traveling Smithsonian Exhibit called Water/Ways. It is available for viewing now through October 12, 2020, with the price of admission at the Discovery Center in Springfield.

Water is an essential part of our lives for hydration, cooking, gardening, recreation, hygiene and splashing around in the rain. Think about it and take a listen.

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In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, I drove to town on this sunny April afternoon to tie up some loose ends on a grant and put together some food baskets for Aurora citizens.

I was rested, happy and feeling rather productive when all hell broke loose in the cab of my truck.

Here's my story and I'm sticking to it.

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This is an episode I worked on to help promote local legends, lore and history with my students at Aurora High School.