🌱 Patch AM: Where your city meetings are moving during City Hall renovations

Coffee in hand, Marion? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Where your city meetings are moving during City Hall renovations
• How a welfare check at a Marion shop led to 20 years
• How a New Year’s Eve police chase ended near Marion’s doorstep

Today's riddle: I quit my job as a banker. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 27 and low of 18 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 32, low: 16.
• Sunday: Cloudy, with a high of 33 and low of 28 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Marion City Hall renovation begins, improving access and safety (kwwl.com) — Renovations at Marion City Hall on 6th Avenue begin this month, temporarily shifting key public meetings to the Linn-Mar Educational Leadership Center on Winslow Road. City departments will be reorganized between the first and second floors to improve public access and employee safety, with work expected to wrap up by spring 2026. Residents can still find agendas, minutes, and videos on the city’s meeting portal.
   

2. Former Marion business owner sentenced to 20 years for gun charges (kcrg.com) — A former Marion used-appliance business owner has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after officers found him holding a gun with an obliterated serial number at his Marion shop during a welfare check in 2024. The Cedar Rapids man, a convicted felon, also received three years of supervised release, a fine, and must forfeit the firearm. Court records describe a long history of criminal conduct.
   

3. Suspect Identified in New Year's Eve Carjacking and Shooting (kwwl.com) — Law enforcement has identified a suspect in a New Year’s Eve carjacking and police pursuit that ended near Marion, where officers exchanged gunfire with the fleeing driver. The suspect was critically injured and faces multiple pending felony charges, while no officers were hurt. State investigators are now reviewing the officer-involved shooting and involved officers are on leave during the probe.
   

4. Bill Vetter (kmaq.com) — Family and friends in Marion may recognize the Vetter name, as one of Bill Vetter’s daughters lives here while he is remembered in an obituary centered in eastern Iowa. The longtime banker and community-college advocate died at 67 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, and services are planned in DeWitt with memorials directed to local institutions he supported.
   

📸 Around Marion

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Marion

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Monday January 5

• 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

Tuesday January 6

• 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

Thursday January 8

• Varsity Boys Swimming - Cedar Rapids Washington vs Cedar Rapids Jefferson
  Jefferson High School
  6:00 pm
• Junior 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

📣 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

Monday January 5

• 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

Tuesday January 6

• 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

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!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Missing Kitten!
  Our Kitten Smokey went missing New Year's Eve after being scared by the fireworks people were setting off around 6pm. He wasn't seen since, we don't… (Nextdoor Sunburst)
• HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!
  Need a ride home tonight? I'm the designated superhero, here to save the day (and your driving record)! I'll be the one not drinking, so hit me up… (Nextdoor Novak North)

• City of Marion, IA posted a job opening for Entry Level Police Officer in Marion. Apply here.
• Premium Retail Services, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Walmart Merchandiser in Marion. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Marion here.

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 just lost interest.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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