Storylines is my look back at the stories that defined Stillwater this year. These aren't single headlines—they're the narratives I followed for months, from the first public whisper to year's end. This is how local journalism works: showing up, asking questions, and building the record over time.

None of this would be possible without the subscribers and advertisers who supported The Stillwegian this year. Thank you 🙏
– Chris Peters, Founder, Editor & Reporter

We could smell the fire before we could see the smoke.

It was Friday morning, March 14, 2025, and I was helping Trey Nixon livestream The Mid South 50k finish line. Spectators, event staff, and cyclists lined 7th Ave. downtown to cheer on the finishers.

The late winter event is known for cool, wet, and sometimes extremely muddy conditions but this weekend was shaping up to be a dry yet very windy affair. About an hour after the 50k runners had left the startline the wind gusts began to pick up.

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