Community Corner
π± How a new jet-conversion hub could reshape jobs around Marana
Spotted on the Marana calendar: Paint Night in the Park at Marana Community Center

Hello Marana! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. βοΈ
In today's newsletter:
- How a new jet-conversion hub could reshape jobs around Marana
- Could Maranaβs old jail soon hold federal immigration detainees?
- Where did Maranaβs Tigers land in Arizonaβs final football rankings?
Also on today's calendar: Van Gogh βStarry Nightβ Paint and Pints and 5 more events.
Find out what's happening in Maranafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? π€ (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Maranafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Sunny and very warm, with a high of 80 and low of 47 degrees.
- Friday: Sunny and very warm, temps: high: 80, low: 49.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 79 and low of 48 degrees.
π° News we're reading
1. Partnership to convert airliners to cargo planes in Marana (abc15.com) β Hundreds of new aviation jobs are coming to the Marana area as Ascent Aviation Services and Israel Aerospace Industries team up at Pinal Air Park to convert Boeing 777 airliners into cargo planes. With average salaries around $77,000 and millions in projected local spending, nearby service businesses expect a significant boost to housing, trades, and everyday commerce.
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2. Marana jail under consideration for ICE detention facility (azcapitoltimes.com) β A shuttered state jail in Marana may be converted into a federal immigration detention center after its sale to private operator Management & Training Corporation. Town officials say the facility once supplied inmate labor and local economic benefits, but now expect strong resident reactions and opposition from civil rights groups as ICE weighs whether to contract for the site.
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3. Final Arizona High School Football Top 25 Rankings - Dec. 8 (on3.com subscription) β Marana Highβs football team capped a strong 9-2 season by finishing No. 23 in the final statewide Top 25 rankings, putting the Tigers among Arizonaβs elite programs. The list, based on Massey Ratings, highlights how Marana stacks up against powerhouse schools like Basha, Chandler, and Hamilton after this yearβs championship run.
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4. Dad headed to prison in daughter's death died of carbon monoxide poisoning (tucson.com) β Authorities say a man previously charged in his toddler daughterβs death, which occurred after she was left in a hot car outside the familyβs former Marana home, has died by suicide from carbon monoxide poisoning. He was due to surrender for a potential decades-long prison term under a plea deal when his body was found in a Phoenix garage.
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5. Why a pair of tribal reservations were picked to hold Japanese Americans in Arizona (kjzz.org) β Residents should know that recent federal immigration raids included locations in Marana, where agents targeted Taco Giro restaurants and nearby homes as part of a broader southern Arizona operation. The wider story examines how federal authorities have historically used Indigenous lands and communitiesβfrom World War II internment camps to todayβs detention centersβraising ongoing concerns about sovereignty, due process, and transparency.
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πΈ Around Marana
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
π Upcoming Events in Marana
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
β Featured events β
- Paint Night in the Park at Marana Community Center
Ora Mae Harn District Park, 13250 N Lon Adams Rd, Marana
6:00 pm
Friday December 12
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Van Gogh βStarry Nightβ Paint and Pints
Button Brew House , 6800 N Camino Martin Suite 160 , Marana
6:00 pm - National Wreaths Across America Day
Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Marana , 15950 N Luckett Rd , Marana
10:00 am - Wreaths Across America Day 2025
Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Marana , 15950 N Luckett Rd , Marana
10:00 am - Milestone Event - New Business -Peachwave of Marana
Peachwave of Marana , 11320 N Tangerine Rd, #106 , Marana
11:00 am - Marana's Nightly Christmas Tree & Musical Light Show (Free Event)
Marana Parks & Recreation , 11555 W Civic Center Dr , Marana
6:00 pm - Celebrating Christ's Birth Through Music
Marana Middle School , 11285 W Grier Rd , Marana
7:00 pm - Happy Holidays Sugar Cookie Decorating Class
12245 N Goldenview Ln , Marana
9:00 pm
Friday December 12
Saturday December 13
Sunday December 14
π£ Marana Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
π Events Nearby
- Wreaths Across America 2025
Arizona Veterans' Memorial Cemetery at Marana , 15950 N Luckett Rd , Marana
10:00 am - Milestone Event - New Business -Peachwave of Marana
Peachwave of Marana , 11320 N Tangerine Rd, #106 , Marana
11:00 am - Estate Planning Basics with Doug Newborn Law Firm
Marana Chamber of Commerce , 13251 N Lon Adams Rd , Marana
10:00 am
Saturday December 13
Tuesday December 16
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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Thank you πππ to the local businesses for making Marana PatchAM possible:
- Sunrise Roofers LLC β (520) 668-6638
Roofing Contractor in Tucson, Arizona.
Click here to show your appreciation! π
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
π¬ Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Whoever is blasting their music a few doors down I must say you have killer taste in music.
Korn, Metallica and Green Day. absolute bangers brother. Rock on I guess (Nextdoor Avra Valley) - Ark did an excellent job cleaning out the ducts, exhaust fans and dryer vent.
Amazing the amount of construction dust and itβs been 6 years. We can feel the difference, the air in the house feels lighter and definitely fresherβ¦ (Nextdoor Boulder Pass)
- Fryβs Food Stor posted a job opening for Grocery Clerk in Marana. Apply here.
- Savers | Value Village posted a job opening for Retail Warehouse & Production Associate in Marana. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Marana here.
Ok Marana! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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