By Lisa Langley, Ozark Public Broadcasting
In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, KSMU Ozarks Public Radio has launched Notable MO-ments—a collaborative storytelling initiative that honors the rich cultural heritage of the Missouri Ozarks. With support from a Missouri Humanities grant, this 12-part audio series aims to explore the people, places, and traditions that shape the identity of southwest Missouri, preserving them for generations to come.
Led in partnership with Ozarks Alive, a cultural preservation project created by historian Kaitlyn McConnell, Notable MO-ments highlights untold or overlooked stories that speak to the values of community, resilience, and continuity. Each episode includes an on-air segment, extended online audio, written features, and visuals—making the stories accessible across platforms and to a broad, multigenerational audience.
Participants include local historians, cultural leaders, and everyday citizens who carry forward family or community traditions. Their voices offer personal insights into practices like multigenerational sorghum making, long-standing quilting circles, and regional celebrations that remain cornerstones of community life.
The debut episode, airing July 9 at 7:45 am, will spotlight the El Dorado Springs Municipal Band—formed in the 1880s and still thriving today. This community tradition brings generations together through free concerts held in a historic park bandstand built in 1937. Directed by Gary Hardison since 1980, the band is so integral to the town that residents once approved a tax levy to support it.
Notable MO-ments not only preserves Missouri’s living history but also inspires reflection on the traditions that connect and define us, reminding listeners that the stories of today are the heritage of tomorrow.
