Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How Marion’s homeschool program grew into one of Iowa’s largest
Coming up: Junior Varsity Girls Basketball - Marion vs Washington on the Marion Patch calendar
Good morning Marion! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- How Marion’s homeschool program grew into one of Iowa’s largest
- See why a Marion golf moment made The Gazette’s 2025 favorites
- Why Illinois murder investigators are suddenly focused on a Marion arrest
Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Marionfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Tuesday: Clouds and sun; not as cold, with a high of 32 and low of 30 degrees.
- Wednesday: Cloudy and breezy, temps: high: 34, low: 6. ⛄️ Brr!
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 22 and low of 15 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• More Iowa families choosing to homeschool (thegazette.com) — Families across the Marion area are increasingly turning to the Marion Homeschool Assistance Program, which now enrolls nearly half as many students as the entire Marion Independent School District. Local parents describe robust enrichment opportunities, strong district support, and flexible learning that draws many open-enrolled students from surrounding districts. The story also compares Marion’s fast-growing program with other Iowa homeschool initiatives. 
Find out what's happening in Marionfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• Photo Gallery: The Gazette's Visuals Staff's Favorite Sports Photos of the Year 2025 (thegazette.com) — One of The Gazette’s standout sports photos this year captures Waterloo West golfer Jackson Stanford sinking a chip shot on the 10th green at Gardner Memorial Golf Course right here in Marion. The full gallery highlights memorable 2025 moments from high school, college, and community sports across Iowa, but Marion residents will especially appreciate seeing their hometown course featured on the big stage.
• Suspect in Illinois murder found with marijuana during arrest in Marion (cbs2iowa.com) — Police arrested a man in Marion after responding to a disturbance call on South 12th Street, later discovering he was wanted in connection with an Illinois murder. Officers say he initially gave a false identity and was found with marijuana when booked into the Linn County Jail. Authorities are still gathering details on the out-of-state murder charge.
📸 Around Marion
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Marion
- Junior Varsity Girls Basketball - Marion vs Washington
Washington High School
5:00 pm - Varsity Girls Basketball - Marion vs Washington
Washington High School
6:30 pm - Varsity Boys Wrestling - Wrestling Quad
Beckman Catholic High School
5:30 pm - Varsity Boys Swimming - Iowa City West vs Cedar Rapids Washington
Washington High School
6:00 pm - Junior Varsity Boys Swimming - Iowa City West vs Cedar Rapids Washington
Washington High School
6:00 pm - Junior Varsity Boys Swimming - Cedar Rapids Washington vs Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Jefferson High School
6:00 pm - Varsity Boys Swimming - Cedar Rapids Washington vs Cedar Rapids Jefferson
Jefferson High School
6:00 pm - Junior Varsity Boys Basketball - Marion vs Linn-Mar
Linn-Mar High School
7:00 pm
Monday January 5
Tuesday January 6
Thursday January 8
📣 Marion Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Young at Art
Hiawatha Public Library , 150 W Willman St , Hiawatha
6:00 pm - Junior Varsity Girls Basketball - Marion vs Washington
Washington High School
5:00 pm - Varsity Girls Basketball - Marion vs Washington
Washington High School
6:30 pm - Varsity Boys Wrestling - Wrestling Quad
Beckman Catholic High School
5:30 pm
Tuesday December 30
Monday January 5
Tuesday January 6
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Marion PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Does anyone recognize this pup?
She was found wandering on Boyson Rd and Geode Street Marion? (Nextdoor 10th Street) - Hey neighbors.
I know it’s snowing, but it’s not bad out on the roads. If you haven’t already tried Tuscany Grill on Blair’s Ferry, you are missing out! If you… (Nextdoor Newcastle)
- Dollar Tree posted a job opening for Assistant Store Manager - Temporary in Marion. Apply here.
- Walgreen Company posted a job opening for Shift Lead in Marion. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Marion here.
🗞 Nearby News
Cedar Rapids
- Winter weather causes flight delays, cancellations at Eastern Iowa Airport (kcrg.com)
- American takes Chicago expansion up a notch with 100 new daily departures this spring (ajot.com)
- The Gazette's Jeff Linder reveals his top five sports moments for 2025 (thegazette.com)
Ok Marion! 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 hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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