Send us a text Here's a little tribute to my Mama--Ina Faye McMorris Estes. She would have turned 100 years old today--November 27th, 2024. She has been gone a while, but her legacy of love, hope, faith and kindness remains behind today. I am kicking off my 100 Acts of Kindness Tour today in her memory. Please join me in doing the same over the cou…

Send us a text Pie became a staple of American prosperity in the 1950s after Word War II. It has a unique and colorful history and has shown up in literature quite often. One of my favorite songs is "American Pie" by Don McLean. It is long and it is truly a classic. So, it seemed nothing short of prophetic that I attended a pie class last week in A…

Send us a text We celebrated our heritage, patriotism and people quite nicely on Saturday, November 9th, at the Aurora Houn' Dawg Alumni & Outreach Center. We dedicated our two most recent mural panels--that are perched on the north side of the Alumni Center resting proudly as folks drive by on Highway 39. The panels commemorate our community's rol…

Send us a text https://cfozarks.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=10504 Click on that link. It will take you to the Hometown Partners Giving Circle Fund with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. We are starting our second campaign at $100 a pop to give the power of grantmaking to the communities and citizens we serve. Together, we are …

Send us a text We will be dedicating our two newest murals at the Aurora Houn' Dawg Alumni & Outreach Center on Saturday, November 9th. We have tricycle races, food trucks, live entertainment, booths and a silent auction on tap for the day. You won't want to miss it! Please plan to join us and be in the dedication photo at 2:45 p.m. This was a comm…

Send us a text I love the changing of the seasons in the Ozarks. I love the hot sun in the summer and the snowflakes being caught on my tongue in the winter. I love snuggling under the covers and sticking my head out to drink some hot chocolate. I love the smell of grass in the springtime and the yellow daffodils that greet me on the way to work ea…

Send us a text I took a few minutes to share my devotion with you today on my podcast. I think most everyone I know is dealing with something. A couple of verses popped up about turning things over to God today as I was praying and working on some journaling. It's easy to say and harder to do. We serve a loving God who wants to help us move mountai…

Send us a text Coach Pat Woods and his 1999 brigade of Class 3 District 10 Champions will be inducted into the 2024 Aurora Houn' Dawg Hall of Fame Class next Friday, October 25th, at Kelley Field. Also included in the ceremonies will be Jane Baker and her cheerleaders, as well as local media legenda---Paul Donley, Mark McCully and Mike Edwards. Onc…

Send us a text Here's a little extra PODCAST POPUP for the week as my longtime pal, Ralph Lauffer, is celebrating a milestone of a birthday. He is a die-hard Houn' Dawg with a big heart. I am proud to call him my friend. Join me in wishing him continued success in everything he does.Av Kim McCully-Mobley

Send us a text We have been celebrating Homecoming Week this week at Aurora High School. If you know me at all---you know that I love/love/love everything there is about being a Houn' Dawg. I hope I never outgrow it. Being a Houn' Dawg is a pretty cool thing to be.Av Kim McCully-Mobley

Send us a text The 1970s had the best cars, the best hair and the best music. I just can't believe it's been 45 years since we graduated from Aurora High School. I close my eyes and it seems like yesterday that I was stomping through the halls in my overalls and dancing on Saturday nights in my favorite cowboy hat. Here's to my pals from 1979. I ca…

Send us a text Here's my tribute to the Aurora High School Class of 1980, who gathered in Aurora earlier this month to welcome themselves to the land of Social Security. Here's another trip down memory lane for the kids from 1980. The years have flown by; but some things stay the same.Av Kim McCully-Mobley

Send us a text Aurora Coach Pat Woods and his 1999 State Champs will be honored on October 25th at Kelley Field. They are the 2024 Class for the Aurora Houn' Dawg Hall of Fame. I was able to spend part of an afternoon with Coach Woods a couple of weeks ago. I remain forever changed at the humility, strength and wisdom of this man--who is truly a lo…

Send us a text As a storyteller, writer and longtime folklorist, I have been blessed to be asked to write and talk about this region called the Ozarks. New audiences want to hear the stories. Old audiences want to know more. Others are intrigued, but aren't sure why. The Ozarks. She is full of joy, gifts, mysteries and nuances that whisper my name …

Send us a text We take some time this week to revisit the legends and stories of our favorite Aurora, Missouri Mascot---that beloved spotted Houn' Dawg. The tale goes back well over 100 years and involves grit, spunk, tenacity and a few come from behind surprises. This unique mascot shows up in songs, poems, tales and headlines. We love him dearly.…

Send us a text Jim Sawyer was a colleague and a friend for years back in my hard-hitting journalism days. I learned a great deal from him. He has been gone 21 years and I always reflect on him when September rolls around. He was strong, kind, brilliant and loved stories. He was a master at telling them. He was a good listener, too. I miss him.…

Send us a text It's true. You can' pour from an empty cup. You also can't really love others the way they deserve until you learn to love yourself. I wish I had learned those things earlier in life. But, at least I finally learned them. After all, I am a late bloomer. Take a listen to this week's podcast and see if there is something there for you.…

Send us a text We have another Aurora legend celebrating a big birthday on Tuesday, August 20th. He literally inspired hundreds, if not thousands, of students to be successfull--both in and out of the classroom. Gene Kirkham will be turning 90. They broke the mold for band directors with him, for sure. This week's podcast is dedicated to him. If yo…

Send us a text As the sultry hot days of July 2024 wound to a close, my son took his mother on a perfect adventure. She was able to enjoy some of her favorite things in a short 11-hour time span that she will always remember. We were able to spend 11 uninterrupted hours together and travel 484 miles across Missouri in the process. I don't know that…

Send us a text If you attended Aurora High School during the 1960s, 1970s or 1980s, chances are--you were exposed to the exercise regimen prescribed by Coach Poss Jackson and the Chicken Fat song. Poss turns 100 years young during August and will get celebrated in style with an open house at the Missouri Veterans Home in Mt. Vernon. His legacy is o…

Send us a text 1969 was a time for change. Woodstock made headlines. People were often protesting the Vietnam War. A new dynamic duo--Paul Newman and Robert Redford--would soon steal hearts the world over with their performance in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Hairstyles were creative. Music was phenomenal. Tie-dye was in vogue and cars were …

Send us a text Quite often--I hear voices. I don't always talk about them or tell anyone for fear they will think I'm a little off center. I think these voices are echoes from my past. They are tied to my journey--both the one I've taken and the ones I've yet to take. But these voices say things like: Just do it...Follow your heart...Your story isn…

Send us a text My latest podcast is a makeshift tribute to my friend and colleague, Bill Baker. Bill was a champion for all things Aurora. He was kind, loyal, supportive and strong. A man of great faith, he believed in the good in people. He went home to Heaven last week on the 4th of July. He celebrated his patriotism in style as he walked through…

Send us a text I don't believe much in coincidence. As a chronic overthinker, I always think everything has a reason. So, when a yellowed June 30th, 1932 newspaper fell into my lap on June 30th, 2024, I decided I was to pay attention. I scanned the newspaper for messages. I found a few. I am sharing some of them this week. I will share a couple mor…

Send us a text A couple of social media posts about a 1910 auto tour had me thinking about the backroads and byways of this region I call home. The lure of the open road is one filled with picnics, fishing holes, adventures, scraped knees, sweaty pigtails and sometimes Spam sandwiches. Join me on a journey that goes all the way back over 100 years.…

Send us a text Prayers are being answered for me and my family every single day. A colleague told me 30+ years ago that learning was a lifelong journey. He was my mentor at Drury University, where I had launched an extensive plan for my master's capstone and long-term plan. Little did I know then how right Dr. Dan Beach was! Here is the next podcas…

Send us a text This week marks yet another milestone for me. I am 63 years old! I was born on a Sunday at 2:30 a.m.--in 1961. I was six weeks premature and my mom supposedly thought my arrival was just gas from the sweet potatoes she had eaten for supper. I slept in a dresser drawer until they were quite sure I was going to live, I guess. I have be…

Send us a text It's so easy to get into our daily routines and block out the people around you. Sometimes we are under deadline. Sometimes we have a big, looming task in front of us that demands our attention. I have found it quite rewarding in recent weeks to reach out to a couple of strangers who happened to be placed in my path. It didn't take m…

Send us a text To know him is to love him. He's got a heart as big as all outdoors. He sings John Denver songs at the top of his lungs and makes you want to join in. He can do the Macarena, the YMCA dance and outwork any 10 people I know. His name is Chris Ackley and he has been a friend of mine for almost 60 years. Recently, he was named one of Au…

Send us a text While 1939 was a banner year for movies and music. It was still a time of tenacity, endurance, sacrifice and teamwork for Aurora, Missouri, and thousands of communities just like us across the American heartland. Take a trip down memory lane with us this week as we take a minute to celebrate the 85th Birthday of the Aurora Chamber of…

Send us a text We wrapped up the fourth All Roads Lead Home Mural in May. We will be installing it in June--where it will reign over those traveling Highway 39 for the next several decades. The project is patriotic and literally stunning. Pictures don't do it justice. In essence, we will be dedicating this historic building back its roots and the h…

Send us a text Endings are sometimes bittersweet. We are excited for the next leg of the journey. We want to find out what life has in store for us. I was asked to put together my best advice for this year's graduates. I read this to them this week at our Senior Celebration Assembly. I have taught at the university level for over 32 years. I have t…

Send us a text Connections. Relationships. Journeys. The beauty in much of our work here on earth lies in the imperfect roads we take along the way. As we celebrate new beginnings and observe a few endings, let's keep looking at the possibilities we can achieve together along the way.Av Kim McCully-Mobley

Send us a text The 4th All Roads Lead Home Mural is underway. It is classic, patriotic, colorful and huge! Soon, it will greet folks on Highway 39 as they enter and leave Aurora's city limits. The patriotic project has been designed by our own muralist---Raine Clotfelter, who is trying hard to retire. Later this year, we will dedicate this one to a…

Send us a text My college students have been working hard. I have been working harder to keep up with them. We have talked all things leadership, philanthropy and communication. I have used the texts, additional resources, guest speakers, personal experiences, support from my field of colleagues and friends and more to help prepare them for the rea…

Send us a text Last week found a covey of students joining me at a meeting of the Aurora Rotary Club for their annual speech contest. Every year I am always so impressed with them. I am the Mama Duck in the room beaming at her ducklings. The criteria is simple. They pick a topic about their world that they would like to change, grow or improve. The…

Send us a text Our small rural community is nestled in the Ozarks region I call home. It seems we have been hit hard in recent years with tragedies involving our teenagers. One such event occurred here in the park on Easter Weekend. I'm not sure what the answers are. I wish LOVE could cure all ills. In the meantime, we need to make sure we are ther…

Send us a text Last week was magical. I was invited to serve on a panel for Ozarks Teacher Corps. This eager group of new teachers--getting ready to embark on their respective rural school journeys--welcomed us with open arms at the Springfield Nature Center. I was able to revisit my why, see some old friends from the Community Foundation of the Oz…

Send us a text My friends, Brad and Kari Boettler, agreed to allow information from a police investigation to be shared with the public in the wake of their son's January 3rd suicide. Evan Boettler was the best of the best. He was a stellar student, a role model, a fun kid with a sense for adventure. He loved his family, his friends and his communi…

Send us a text Sometimes days, events, discussions and side conversations cause you to go down the proverbial rabbit hole of digging deeper into something you thought you already knew a lot about. Then, a few discoveries brings the real picture a little closer into view. A casual comment from an interested student might result in the Mobley death g…

Send us a text This was another tough one. I apologize for the heavy breathing and the emotions. This version is the best I can do for now. I kept trying to get it just right in one sitting. This is one of those Paul Harvey "rest of the story" moments that some of you are old enough to understand. This is a story about friendship. This is a story a…

Send us a text I spent some time reflecting on loss, growth, healing and moving on this past week. February is sometimes hard. February of 2024 taught me not to get too comfortable as some of those close to me continued to deal with some tough stuff. I lost a couple of good friends, gained a couple of angels, saw some former students, lost another …

Send us a text Here is a lesson plan called My Perfect Day. Ironically--the steps of the process made for a magical day. In fact, the students managed to write my column/podcast this week all by themselves. I'm still looking for a few mud puddles, bargains and backroads.Av Kim McCully-Mobley

Send us a text Now that the Super Bowl is over and our Kansas City Chiefs are Back To Back Champions, let's explore some Aurora connections to Chiefs Kingdom. I'd like to pay special tribute to Pat Talburt, one of our local hometown heroes.Av Kim McCully-Mobley

Send us a text I love talking things over with former students and colleagues who hold a variety of positions in the business/professional world. At least once a week, someone shoots a dilemma my way for me to weigh in on and offer up some sage wisdom or advice. We talk about dishonesty, mismanagement and even green-eyed envy from time to time. Som…

Send us a text It was an honor to join forces once again with the Alumni Center, the Aurora Basketball Program and local fans wanting to welcome the 1993-94 Boys Basketball Team back home to pay homage to their skills, accomplishments and the overall legacy they helped to instill in our community some 30 years ago. The names of Journagan, Floyd, Th…

Send us a text GRO Aurora is in its eighth year of existence as part of an ongoing partnership with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. While we have graduated to a more independent level the past two years, the shared resources and the collective energy continue to bring Aurora to the spotlight for all of the good things going on here in the S…

Send us a text The year of 1965 might seem like a long time ago to some. To me, it seems just like yesterday. I love reading about the books, the music, the cars and the people who were making the headlines for us back then. Ironically, a few of them are still around making headlines today. Cindy Munday is still student of the month material for se…

Send us a text A tragedy struck my community shortly after the new year got underway in January. With the tragic loss of a 16-year-old boy--Evan Boettler--we have all managed to come together to love, serve, grieve and somehow move forward. Please join me in paying tribute to his legacy. Chase a few sunsets. Take a few hikes. Make a new friend. Go …

Send us a text The boisterous Ethel Merman sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses" in 1959 for the Broadway Musical "Gypsy." It was a memoir of sorts brought to life on the stage. The show sent the message that sheer will and determination can put the rose-filled mindset in place to be successful. The show was based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee. 20 ye…