Storylines we'll be following in 2026

In last week's issue, we looked back at the stories that made news in 2025.  

In this one, we look ahead, peering into the crystal ball to predict what may happen and offering words of encouragement to those with the power to make decisions that benefit our town, county, state and nation.

It's January.  Resolutions have been made. We're ready for what the new year brings. But it sure doesn't really feel like January, does it?  The weather's been too nice. The river hasn't frozen. How can we predict ice-out dates without an ice-in on the front end? We'll go out on a limb anyway.  It'll freeze up and we'll get some snow.  But on March 17 -- St. Patty's Day -- it'll disappear.

Lawmakers will head to Cheyenne next month for a budget session that is sure to be contentious. (Aren't they all anymore?)  If you are a property owner in Big Horn County, you're going to be paying less in taxes this year.  While no one is likely to complain about that, our elected leaders — here comes the encouragement we promised — really ought to quash talk of deeper cuts, especially if they aren't willing to provide lifelines to our counties, towns and special districts that provide essential services to our communities.  Lower property taxes are good, but so is a healthy library system along with well-maintained roads, adequately staffed county offices and amenities like rest areas and visitor centers to serve the tourists who boost our economy.  A far better balance is needed. Dalton and Dan, please lead the way.

Come spring, some important projects will shift into gear.  The town has several in the works, including a new multi-purpose court to take the place of the existing tennis and basketball courts down by the senior center, which are badly run down.  Something new: It'll be marked for pickleball, which players of that sport are sure to love.

The town will also be developing a new flagpole up at the ballfield that it hopes to dedicate at the start of the Little League season.  We look forward to it — and to America's 250th birthday party in July.  Can't wait to see what Myles, the Haley boys and their crew cook up for this year's show. It ought to be spectacular.

Later this year and into the first part of 2027, the town is also likely to take significant steps toward replacing the east water tank and addressing the first and most crucial phase of the transmission line work.  If you're the praying type, send one up for the residents out there and the public works crew that they don't run into another crisis like the one they dealt with last summer.

With it being an even-numbered year, politics are going to be front and center.  It's an off year for presidential politics, but a massive year of local implications.  Every county leadership post but one — breathe easy Bruce Jolley — will be up this year.  We already know that we'll be electing a new sheriff and a new assessor.  (Take a bow, Ken Blackburn and Gina Anderson, for jobs very well done.)  With Cynthia Lummis stepping down and Harriet Hageman hoping to replace her, there won't be incumbents in either of those races, which ought to further fuel interest.  

We'll see changes to some of our favorite things in 2026, too.   Some very sad -- not seeing Casey Good doing things in the rodeo arena immediately comes to mind.  Some perplexing -- the introduction a year from now of a shot clock in high school basketball, as if someone thought the job of refereeing and finding workers for games wasn't already challenging enough already. Some that catch you by surprise — good chance someone you know will start a business or do something you didn't see coming.

Whatever it is, your newspaper will do its very best to bring it to you every week.

So onward and upward we go.