It feels presumptuous to type the words, but by the time you read this, 2020 will be in the rearview. It would be an understatement to say the year just past was extraordinary. Between the pandemic and politics, 2020 presented challenges that the Ozarks and the rest of the nation have not experienced in recent memory. Much of that adversity remains, even as we hang new calendars (and burn the old ones ...). Before turning that page, however, I want to say one thing: thank you. Thank you to our readers, both regular and occasional, but especially those who subscribe to the News-Leader in print or online. Your support — and your decision to spend your own hard-earned dollars to fund trustworthy journalism in southwest Missouri — allows us to do what we do. Thank you for caring about your community and staying informed.