It’s almost over … 2025. Hope you got more done than I did this year. Not that I had a whole big list of things to accomplish but it’s always a bit disappointing when you reach the last calendar page and you look back to the things not done.

I know my wife is still waiting for some needed repairs to be done on the house. I know I should have not put on more weight. I know that I didn’t get out on the water again this summer … etc., etc.

But I did have fun, and time with family was most important and accomplished. A trip to Omaha to visit our son and daughter-in-law for a week was one of the highlights, despite it being one of the hottest weeks out there. Another highlight was seeing most of our oldest granddaughter’s final field hockey season games and what a season it was – second best ever in the program’s 50-year history. Also, all the birthdays and other family gatherings.

Looking back at what the newspaper staff has accomplished is also a highlight. In next week’s issue, we will be running our annual year in review and putting the article together gave me a good feeling about all the news we covered – although most of the review is just the highlights. Good job, staff!

So as we close out 2025, I want to thank everyone who helps make this newspaper what it is – from our readers, supporters, advertisers, reporters, news contributors, critics – we are still going strong after 149 years and we are looking forward to another year of covering what’s happening in our region.