🌱 Pioneers Advance To OAC Finals + New Main Street Director

Welcome back, Marietta! Let's get this Saturday started off right. Here's everything worth knowing today in Marietta.

First, today's weather:

Clouds breaking and chilly. High: 40 Low: 23.

Here are the top three stories in Marietta today:

1. The Marietta Pioneers' men's basketball team is headed to the finals of the Ohio Athletic Conference. After an 82-70 win in the semi-finals against the Baldwin Wallace Yellow Jackets, Marietta will be taking on the Mount Union Purple Raiders at Ban Johnson Arena tonight (Feb. 26) at 7:30 p.m. (WTAP)
2. On Thursday, the Marietta City Council discussed the first round of requests for federal American Rescue Plan Act funding. Because council members had questions on most of the items, they plan to hold additional meetings before voting to approve any of the 17 requests. (Subscription: Marietta Times)
3. An area journalist and Marietta College alumnus has won the 2022 Morehouse Award by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association. Mark Martin, best known for his TV and radio broadcasts over his four-decade career, will be honored on May 1 at the Embassy Suites in Charleston. (Charleston Gazette-Mail)

Today in Marietta:

• River City Farmers Market - Washington County Fair Grounds (8:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Martin has started an investigation into reports of U.S. mail theft in Little Hocking and Belpre. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to contact the Sheriff's office. (Facebook)
• Save the date for Marietta Main Street's First Friday: March Madness event! Downtown First Friday events take place monthly from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.; the Mar. 4 event will center around the 2022 NCAA tournament. (Marietta Main Street)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you soon.

— Dan Casarella

About me: Dan Casarella is a writer, podcast producer, and small business development specialist who formerly worked in late-night television. He’s produced many talk segments, including with President Joe Biden, Kobe Bryant, and Chadwick Boseman. Dan studied Media Studies and Production at Temple University. He also enjoys running, painting, and the highs and lows of Philadelphia’s sports teams.