Linn-Mar projects financial impact of COVID-19 on school's budget
by Robyn Ireland [email protected] · June 18th, 2020
Linn-Mar's chief financial officer J. T. Anderson presented his projections of the financial impact COVID-19 will have on the 2019-2020 budget at their school board meeting on Monday, June 8. While it is too late in the fiscal year for school state aid payments to be impacted (Anderson anticipates a surplus of $200,000), the 2021 budget will likely have a deficit between $500,000 to $1.5 million.


Marion Heritage Center & Museum is reopening
by Report Submitted · June 18th, 2020
The Marion Heritage Center will reopen June 17 for the limited business hours of Wednesday through Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m., by reservation only. Groups will be limited to 10, and then only if the participants are in regular contact with each other already.


MISD seeks to renew Instructional Support Levy at 10 percent
by Robyn Ireland [email protected] · June 18th, 2020
Marion Independent School District will be seeking a 10 percent Instructional Support Levy, said Marion Independent's business manager Christie Van Wey at the June 8 school board meeting. The levy comes out of both income surtax and property taxes, and is vital to the budget. It has brought in over $4.2 million of revenue into the district over the last five years.


Building permits up over 2019 in the City of Marion
by Robyn Ireland [email protected] · June 18th, 2020
One of the few things the novel coronavirus has positively impacted is the number of building permits in the City of Marion, reports Gary Hanson, building official. Eliminating the requests related to the hail damage, the numbers are still up by more than 300 permits compared to the same time last year.


Improvements to three major intersections approved
by Robyn Ireland [email protected] · June 18th, 2020
The City of Marion is planning improvements to three major intersections this year. The city will work on the intersections of South 31st Street and Highway 100; of Alburnett Road and Echo Hill; and of Seventh Avenue and 35th Street this construction season.


Uptown Master Plan and Streetscape Steering Committee
by Robyn Ireland [email protected] · June 18th, 2020
As efforts continue on completing the Marion Central Corridor Plan, adopted in 2010, the City Council and city staff look towards a concept that has been in discussion for over 20 years: the reconstruction of Seventh Avenue and the Streetscape in Uptown Marion. One of many steps in that direction, the Marion City Council approved the mayoral appointments for the Marion Uptown Master Plan & Streetscape Steering Committee at the June 4 meeting. They are:


A pleasant experience awaits you at the Marion Farmers' Market
by Isabel Sherman Linn-Mar Student · June 18th, 2020
There is a first for everything, and this past Saturday was my first time going to the Marion Farmers Market. I was worried I would be overwhelmed, but the experience was wonderful and I can't wait to go again. The people were delightful, the produce was fresh and yummy, and it was nice to be outside while also shopping. The Marion Farmers Market is located at Taube Park and open from 8 to 11:30 a.m.


Ghosh Center recognized for exceptional standard of care
by Report Submitted · June 18th, 2020
The Ghosh Center in Cedar Rapids has been recognized by the Association for Clinical Oncology for its exceptional standard of care. The practice is one of only 27 cancer practices across the country to achieve Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Certification in the first quarter of 2020.


Harks receives $1,000 scholarship
by Report Submitted · June 18th, 2020
Paragon IT Professionals, an IT staffing and solutions firm located in Central Iowa, has awarded $1,000 scholarships to nine high school seniors who plan to pursue a technology-related degree at an Iowa university or college. Benjamin Harks from Linn-Mar High School was one of the scholarship recipients.


Linn County Fair 2020 goes on - virtually
by Report Submitted · June 18th, 2020
Although the Iowa State Fair is cancelled, the Linn County Fair is going on virtually.


LMHS Fine Arts Award winners announced
by Report Submitted · June 18th, 2020
A long-time spring tradition at LMHS is the annual Fine Arts Awards Ceremony and Thespian induction. This year, the event has been postponed until a later date.


Summer fun goes virtual in Marion
by Report Submitted · June 18th, 2020
Two of Marion's favorite summer events have gone virtual. The Marion by Moonlight concerts, sponsored by Farmers State Bank, can be enjoyed on Thursday nights in June. KCRG 9.2 partnered with the bank to bring the music over the airways. On June 18, The Evan Stock Band will be featured, and Well Strung will wrap up the series on June 25.


Willow Gardens Care Center sees new COVID-19 outbreak
by Report Submitted · June 18th, 2020
Willow Gardens Care Center in Marion, is the sixth long-term care facility in Linn County that has met the state's definition of an outbreak. According to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), an outbreak occurs when three or more cases of COVID-19 are identified among residents of a facility. A total of 11 residents and staff at Willow Gardens have tested positive for COVID-19 between June 5 and June 9. No deaths are associated with this outbreak at this time. Upon identification of these positive


Interactive human sundial being constructed at Lowe Park
by Robyn Ireland [email protected] · June 4th, 2020
What goes with an interactive, inclusive playground at Lowe Park? An interactive, inclusive sundial to tell what time it is, of course.


Marion Mayor signs 750 letters to Marion/Linn-Mar 2020 graduates
by Report Submitted · June 4th, 2020
Brooke Prouty, director of Uptown Marion, came up with the idea to make the graduation of the city's 2020 seniors a little more special: having a letter, signed by the mayor on behalf of the City of Marion, Chamber of Commerce and Uptown Marion congratulating them on their accomplishments.