Early in the year, G.Y.M. started construction on its new facility on Cummings Lane.

On February 10, a winning "Lucky Day" Lotto ticket was sold at the Casey's on Walnut Street, netting the winner $850,000.

That same week at the city's Committee of the Whole meeting, plans were first shared for a potential park site and redevelopment plan to revitalize Sunnyland Plaza.

The WCHS girls basketball team won the 3A state championship.

An advisory referendum was on the ballot during the spring primary election, asking the residents if golf carts should be allowed in the city.  The result was "no" by a 2-1 margin.

Key Cannabis approached the city about locating a facility at the McClugage/Centennial intersection. 

In April, the construction of Railroad Park began.  Located by the viaduct, the park's initial plans included a shelter and a future playground.

Ground was broken on the new Lincoln Grade School on North Main Street.

Jeffrey Elliot was voted in as the new pastor of Pleasant Valley Missionary Baptist Church.

Ben Franklin opened on April 23rd to long lines of customers waiting to get in.

Kim Barth announced her resignation as WCHS girls basketball coach on April 27.

Springtime saw many decorations going up around town for Washington's contribution to the celebration of America's 250th birthday, technically called a semiquincentennial, with many activities planned for the summer.

The Bridge United Methodist Church announced it would move into the building at 724 N. Cummings after renovations.  The building once held the Washington Landscaping business.  Services for the congregation were held at Central School prior to the move.

A tremendous explosion rocked Washington at 5:45 am on Mother's Day.  Emanating from 902 Mallard Way, emergency personnel fought a large blaze during the morning hours.

Sadie Gorsage was a 3-time state champion for St. Pat's in the IESA state track meet for the second year in a row, winning the 100M hurdles, high jump, and long jump.  Those finishes alone earned the school 3rd place in the meet.

After weeks of discussion, the city council approved Washington's first cannabis dispensary at their May 18th meeting, passing the resolution with a 5-3 vote.

Charlie Schermerhorn became the first WCHS boys tennis player in 13 years to qualify for the state meet, and the first singles player to qualify in 20 years.

Ben Gorsage became the first WCHS boys' track individual state champion with a victory in the 800M run in a state-record time of 1:49.88.

On May 30, a fire broke out at Washington Senior Living on Newcastle Road.  The next day, a fire ruined the apartment building on School Street behind Casey's, the old Tom's Lawn & Garden building.

The Coppertop Room, a new event center on Washington Road, held its open house.

In early June, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission approved the installation of a four-way stop sign at Business 24 and Dee-Mack Road.

On June 4, a bank robbery occurred at the Heartland Bank on Cummings Lane.  Later that evening, a high-speed chase occurred through multiple counties leading to a crash at the S-curve on Cruger Road near Eureka.  Somehow, the driver escaped on foot.  Both men who robbed the bank were eventually caught.

On July 27 Hardees closed its doors.  In the same week, Khoury's put their restaurant up for sale, Mac Daddy Spuds closed its doors, and Shears hair salon announced it was moving from the square to Peddlers Way.

In August it was announced that Lydia's Dairy Barn had purchased the old Ron's Donuts building on the east side of town, to open in 2027.

In September, it was announced that Los Cabos Cantina & Grill would be opening in the old Mac Daddy Spuds next to Dollar General.  It was also announced that Dame Fine Coffee would be building in Washington Plaza.

The City Council approved the creation of a Business Development District, roughly following Washington Road/Peoria Street from Washington Plaza east to Wilmor Road.

The sewer trunkline project had been in a state of delay for years.  Questions on where the path should go to take the refuse out of town was a hot issue, exacerbated by the fact that residential properties now encroached the areas that long ago were well outside the city limits.  Multiple studies were done to determine the best path, with no consensus reached.  Amid threatened lawsuits, the city passed on an opportunity in 2026 to perform yet another study, and a decision on the path of the trunkline needed to be made.

Back to 2025 --- On to 2027