http://www.mariontimes.comThe latest news from the Marion Times.http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1283Basketball season came to an end in Marion this afternoon, Friday, March 12, as the Linn-Mar Lions lost to the Southeast Polk Rams, 41-38, in the Class 4A boys' state basketball semifinals in Des Moines.Brandon Wellman2010-03-12http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1282We have recently been having problems with the coding on our website, which has made it difficult for us to post much of our content.2010-03-11http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1271The laughter, the giggles, the hoots and hollers bounced off the walls in the bunker-like media interview room tucked away in the bowels of Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines late Saturday night. The journey was over, the mission accomplished. Jeff Dahn2010-03-10http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1272At its meeting last Thursday, March 4, the Marion City Council voted to approve the city's budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year, with a tax levy of $13.63 per $1,000 of taxable value.Brandon Wellman2010-03-10http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1273The 2010-11 fiscal year budget once again topped the list of items on the agenda at the Linn-Mar school board's meeting on Monday night, March 8, as the district looks to reduce its budget by $770,000.Nancy Grindle2010-03-10http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1274This summer, the Marion Chamber of Commerce and Saint Luke's Hospital will partner together to bring a farmers' market to uptown Marion during three Saturdays in June, July and August.Brandon Wellman2010-03-10http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1275As the Potato Famine sent a million or so Irish to America, the flood of 2008 sent the local Irish Gaelic class from Cedar Rapids to Marion. That might be a wee bit of exaggeration, but it's basically true.Cary J. Hahn2010-03-10http://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 Wellman2010-03-06http://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 Wellman2010-03-04http://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 Wellman2010-03-04http://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 Wellman2010-02-11http://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 Wellman2010-02-11http://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.2010-02-11http://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. Hahn2010-02-11http://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 Wellman2010-02-08http://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 Piell2010-02-08http://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 Piell2010-02-08http://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. Hahn2010-02-08http://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 Wellman2010-01-28http://www.mariontimes.com/article.php?id=1228The city of Marion is prepping for two major street projects that should get underway this spring.Brandon Wellman2010-01-28http://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 Wellman2010-01-28http://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 Wellman2010-01-28http://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. Hahn2010-01-28http://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 Wellman2010-01-07http://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 15.2010-01-07