Marion Timeshttp://www.mariontimes.comThe latest news from the Marion Times.BREAKING: Linn-Mar girls win State Championshiphttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1270The Linn-Mar girls basketball team closed off an undefeated season with a 38-35 triumph over Des Moines East tonight, Saturday, March 6.Brandon Wellman2010-03-06City holds budget hearing tonighthttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1264The Marion City Council will hold a public hearing regarding the city's budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year tonight, Thursday, March 4, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.Brandon Wellman2010-03-04Study assesses needs for new police stationhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1265A firm that specializes in public safety buildings is currently working with the city to complete a feasibility study that should give Marion a better understanding of what it will need in a future police station.Brandon Wellman2010-03-04City Streets Department keeps battling winter weatherhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1253Due to a late January lull in the extreme weather that eastern Iowa has seen this winter, Marion's Streets Department was about normal on overtime hours as of last week, but more storms like those forecast for this week could push the department over the 1,950 overtime hours allotted in the city's budget.Brandon Wellman2010-02-11Council approves bids for traffic signal projectshttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1254The Marion City Council last week approved bids for traffic signalization projects that were awarded federal stimulus dollars last year.Brandon Wellman2010-02-11City to hold public info meeting on Tower Terrace Road Studyhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1255The city of Marion will host a public information meeting regarding the Tower Terrace Road Study between North 10th St. and the future 35th St. extension from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, at City Hall.2010-02-11Teamwork makes speech contest at Linn-Mar possiblehttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1256Linn-Mar High School hosted 4,000 students and parents last Saturday, February 6, for the Iowa High School Large Group State Speech Contest.Cary J. Hahn2010-02-11Rehn to Marion residents in State of the City Address: 'Ask what you can do for your city'http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1249After citing Marion's major 2009 projects and looking ahead to the next year, Mayor Paul Rehn took liberties with one of President John F. Kennedy's speeches, changing it to say: "Ask not what your city can do for you, ask what you can do for your city."Brandon Wellman2010-02-08Linn-Mar begins planning 2010-11 budgethttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1250Difficult and uncertain times are ahead for the Linn-Mar Community School District's budget, as Business Administrator Dave Nicholson reported on his budget preparation process to the Linn-Mar school board at its meeting on Monday night.Amanda Piell2010-02-08Linn-Mar sees reduction in energy usagehttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1251Linn-Mar Community School District Associate Superintendent Rick Ironside presented a report on the district's energy usage in the past year at Monday night's meeting of the Linn-Mar school board.Amanda Piell2010-02-08Marion artist commissioned for centennial Scout piecehttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1252It was Robert Baden-Powell, a British army officer who created the Boy Scout movement with his Boys' Brigade in 1907 in England. It was 100 years ago, on February 8, 1910, that Chicago publisher William Boyce created the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts across the country will celebrate Boyce and his organization this coming Monday and will continue with celebratory centennial events throughout the year. Cary J. Hahn2010-02-08MEDCO, Chamber oppose C.R. 'buy local' resolutionhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1227The Marion Chamber of Commerce and the Marion Economic Development Company (MEDCO) came out last week against a recent Cedar Rapids resolution giving preference to Cedar Rapids businesses in municipal bids.Brandon Wellman2010-01-28City council approves 10th St., 35th St. bidshttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1228The city of Marion is prepping for two major street projects that should get underway this spring.Brandon Wellman2010-01-28Accidents send two L-M buses to the repair shophttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1229The recent rash of severe winter weather has taken its toll on Linn-Mar's bus fleet, putting two of the district's buses temporarily out of service in less than a week, but causing no injuries.Brandon Wellman2010-01-28Linn-Mar graduate's 'Idol' audition cut from broadcasthttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1230Linn-Mar graduate Kelsey Madsen may have auditioned for the current season of "American Idol," but those hoping to see her on last week's Wednesday, January 20, episode were disappointed.Brandon Wellman2010-01-28Banasik's lead soldiers bivouac in Marionhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1231Thousands of soldiers fight famous battles in Orv Banasik's basement game room. And for 50 years, since the centennial of the American Civil War, he has marveled over the details of uniforms, the tactics of generals and has studied the lands and seas where they fought.Cary J. Hahn2010-01-28Marion school board approves bid for construction of new Vernon Middle Schoolhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1224Almost a year after the Marion Independent School District's bond vote for the project, the Marion school board Monday night approved a $14,437,101 bid from Miron Construction of Cedar Rapids for building a replacement for Vernon Middle School.Brandon Wellman2010-01-07City's Christmas tree pickup began Mondayhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1225City crews began curbside Christmas tree collections on Monday, January 4, and it will continue through next Friday, January 15.2010-01-07Marion robbery results in police chasehttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1226Two Cedar Rapids men have been charged in an armed robbery in Marion, following a police chase through Hiawatha and Cedar Rapids.2010-01-07Company interested in Marion as potential site of plasma arc centerhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1218Even as the city of Marion is waiting on the final draft of a study into the economic feasibility of a plasma arc waste conversion facility in Marion, a company has approached the city with an interest in bringing such a facility to town.Brandon Wellman2009-12-21MISD still considering nearly $90,000 in cutshttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1219$140,000 already made; rest tabled until JanuaryBrandon Wellman2009-12-21State dinner first leg in 'whirwind trip' for Dandekarshttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1220Two weeks before they were to leave for their annual trip to their native India, Swati and Arvind Dandekar of Marion received an invitation in the mail for President Barack Obama's first White House state dinner, to be held November 24.Cary J. Hahn2009-12-21Thousands come out for Christmas in the Parkhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1205Despite bitter cold and spats of snow, thousands converged on City Square Park last Thursday night, December 3, for the 17th annual Christmas In the Park.Brandon Wellman2009-12-11Linn-Mar makes $850,000 in cutshttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1206Administrators to take pay freeze for 2010-11 yearBrandon Wellman2009-12-11City to hold open house for Pazourhttp://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1207The city of Marion will hold a farewell open house for outgoing city council member Mary Lou Pazour next Thursday evening, December 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the City Hall lobby. The council's regular meeting will follow.2009-12-11