This Message is Written by Editor-in-Chief, Braydyn Bear-Lents

The year 2025 proved to be a tumultuous period marked by a complex blend of extraordinary adventures, profound emotional struggles, and episodes of suffering, all heavily influenced by the prevailing political culture shaping our society today.

This pervasive cultural environment has caused significant harm to diverse communities, especially the impoverished populations, resulting in social fragmentation, increased hardship, and a sense of disconnection among various groups.

The traditional ideal embodied by the phrase “let freedom ring” has been increasingly overshadowed by rapid advancements in Artificial Intelligence technology and ongoing conflicts overseas, which have dominated public discourse and governmental policy debates.

In Loogootee, both within the local community and through the coverage of The Loogootee Times, I personally witnessed a wide spectrum of scenes throughout the year—ranging from remarkable achievements to heartbreaking tragedies. The closing months of 2025 were particularly emotional, marked by the passing of notable individuals such as Don Bowling, my great aunt Carolyn Bell, and Bloomington-based attorney Ken Nunn.

Their departures seemed to symbolize the fading of the old order, making way for a new generation—particularly Millennials and Generation Z—to potentially steer the world toward a path of greater progress, understanding, and unity.

Both generations have expressed a collective hope that 2026 will bring about a renewal, reminiscent of the optimism and societal shifts experienced in 2016.

This year has been a year full of triumph for our paper has grown As a society, we are collectively yearning for a year that can restore hope, inspire resilience, and propel us forward with renewed momentum, forging a future rooted in compassion, innovation, and sustainable growth.