Pretend It’s a Forest

By the time this column is published, it’ll be 2026;a “fresh start,” or so people like to think. If you were already doing great and living a good life, may that momentum carry into the new year. But if you feel there’s room for improvement (there always is)a fresh start might be just what you need. That’s for the individual folk. When it comes to the general audience, the town, the country, the world we all share, things are a little different. They feel less controllable, especially for those of us without much power. And when things feel out of our hands, they tend to feel a lot more chaotic.

2025 was an interesting year. Let’s just leave it as interesting. We each experienced it differently, but many of us shared two recurring reactions: “This can’t be real.” and “I mean… it was expected.” That uneasy mix of disbelief and jaded acceptance became, in my opinion, the shared emotional experience of 2025. A year where the impossible not only happened, it became regular programming. And unfortunately, that free-for-all mindset may roll over into 2026.

With that said, and having survived the world events of 2025, I present to you my highly inaccurate, absolutely non-chronological predictions for the new year; local edition. These are meant to surprise, delight, or simply distract. Because who knows, in times like these, anything can happen.

The Biggest Golden Nugget Since the Gold Rush. Somewhere within Sierra County, someone will find the biggest nugget since “The Monumental.” Whether it’s found fair and square on a prospector’s property, or out “in the wild,” remains unknown. If it’s the latter… we might never hear about it.

Secret Millionaire Saves Local Businesses. Our local economy is fragile. When a business closes or reduces its hours, it impacts locals and tourists; yes, even the annoying ones. But in 2026, a secret millionaire will quietly step in and buy a few struggling establishments. The result? A much-needed boost for the town,the kind we haven’t seen since the late ’80s or early ’90s. Families will move in and tourism will rise, yes, including the annoying kind.

The Lightning. After a massive storm, a flash of lightning will strike — so loud it’s heard for miles. That moment will be known simply as The Lightning. Somehow, it will trigger a shift in our community’s collective spirit: people will feel healed, renewed, ambitious. Old grudges will dissolve. A wave of creativity will emerge, ushering in a cultural and artistic renaissance for Sierra County.

Unknown Sightings. The Yeti will be spotted more often in our region. Some say he's here to broker peace in our current wildlife conflicts. Others say he’s just a huge fan of our local celebrity. Either way, sightings will rise.

The Mountain Messenger Becomes a National Treasure. After printing since 1853, The Mountain Messenger will finally get the recognition it deserves: declared a “historic living entity” and awarded a grant to ensure its survival for another 100 years. The national media will pick up the story. A weekly segment right from our region will air. People will finally say, “Wait, this is where the real reporting lives?”

These predictions should be the craziest things to happen in 2026. No more global plot twists, please. We've seen enough. But for now, locals, old-timers, newcomers, tourists, and visitors from other galaxies, let’s pretend next year will be a decent one for all of us. As for me? I’ll try to be less critical. (She will not.)