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The undefeated Aurora 1965 Football Team made an appearance at Kelley Field this past Friday night. If you were there, watching online or even listening--you were part of history.

The team gathered at Blackbird in the afternoon for an early dinner, made the trek to the Alumni Center to share stories and view some memorabilia, sat together to watch the Aurora-Monett game and made an appearance on the field at halftime to greet their hometown crowd.

Special thanks to Bob Journagan and Scott Pettit for their efforts to bring the boys back home for this celebration.

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Last weekend found me on a quick trip to the lake with my family. We were visiting with friends from Alabama and enjoying some much-needed down time.

We ate, we played, we laughed, we slept. We watched the Houn' Dawgs and the Chiefs from our lakeside cabin, Wranglers' Rest. I loved every minute; it just went by too quickly--as always.

Saturday found us at the Keeter Center slobbering over some ice cream and jumping on a tram later that afternoon at Dogwood Canyon.

The Ozarks. I don't ever tire of her people, her beauty, her stories and her treasures--just waiting to be discovered anew.

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Exploring the backroads and byways of the Ozarks has been a passion of mine for decades. Roads connect people. They have a personality all of their own.

Labor Day Weekend found me rediscovering some places, people and things in northwest Arkansas.

Highway 62 is a historic road with lots of stories, history and fun. If you get a chance, go do a little exploring of your own.

You'll be glad you did!

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These boots were made for walkin'----

I sang that song on the way home from school one day after my first taste of kindergarten. I had enjoyed the opening round of school--for the most part. I did not enjoy the Back To School spanking I had received earlier in the day from my pretty teacher--Mrs. Bolin, though.

Trust me when I say I never saw it coming.

I was hoping that little scenario would not rear its ugly head again.

The chain of events did teach me the importance of timing, paying attention to instruction and wanting a pair of Go Go Boots to kick off the new school year.

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A celebration of life will be held this week for Shari Carmichael of Aurora.

Shari was a prayer warrior, a champion for underdogs and a powerful role model for women of faith.

Her final moments were full of love, grace and mercy. She was worried about others and firm in her beliefs about Heaven and God's grace.

We will honor her by gathering funds for a playground at her church, Brookline Church of Christ. Nana's playground will ring with laughter and hope in the years to come.

Donations can be sent to: Brookline Church of Christ, 3086 N. Brookline Avenue, Brookline, Missouri, 65619. Put Nana's Playground in the memo.

And, if you get the chance someday when someone needs you, take a chance and just hold their hand.

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Has it really been 60 years?

Time flies when you are having fun; that's for sure.

Aurora Houn' Dawgs were ranked first in state in 1965. Those players will be having a reunion of sorts next month.

They were surprised recently to discover they are joining the ranks of the Houn' Dawg Hall of Fame as the 2025 Class.

60 years in the making, players will walk on to Kelley Field before their hometown crowd once more to hear the roar of the crowd underneath those Friday Night Lights.

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I grew up knowing the Pate name.

Juvenile Shoe Factory is what brought my mom to Aurora from northwest Arkansas after World War II.

The Pate girls were pretty, fun and out-going.

Linda was in my class at school.

Later in life, Gale Pate would help start the Senior Advisory Group for the local Chamber of Commerce. I thought the SAG acronym was hilarious. The glaring stares from him, my mother and my first boss, Carl Wise, quickly put me in my place.

When we celebrated Gale's long life a few days ago on a hot July afternoon, we spoke openly about his love for Aurora, his family, his church, his school and his country.

Our legacies don't get much better than that.

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All Roads Lead Home Mural Number 5 is finished.

America's Muralist Raine Clotfelter has worked his magic once again.

I have enjoyed having his presence in the old armory, aka Aurora Houn' Dawg Alumni & Outreach Center during the month of July.

His talent and creativity is rock solid. His determination, faith and ability to always find the good in any situation is literally contagious. He and his wife, Tricia, have become great friends.

Join me in congratulating him on another job well done as helps preserve, promote and protect our community's story.

I love him dearly. But I'm pretty sure I saw him roll his eyes when I told him I had an idea for "just one more."