🌱 Patch AM: What Linn-Mar’s shrinking enrollment means for Marion students and schools

Hey hey Marion! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• What Linn-Mar's shrinking enrollment means for Marion students and schools
• How a $1 million credit is reshaping Marion's old library site

Also on today's calendar: A French Victorian Dessert Tea at the Historic Granger House and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the difference between black eyed peas and chick peas? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Showers and a heavier t-storm, with a high of 67 and low of 63 degrees.
• Thursday: Humid with a shower or two, temps: high: 74, low: 62.
• Friday: Humid with rain and a t-storm, with a high of 79 and low of 68 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Linn-Mar High School to hit near-capacity even as district enrollment shrinks (thegazette.com) — Families in Marion's Linn-Mar district face a near-capacity high school next year even as overall enrollment is projected to drop by about 400 students over five years. Consultants outlined how shifting class sizes, open enrollment, and new housing could affect funding, crowding at Linn-Mar High, and underused elementary and middle schools, prompting questions about future staffing and facilities decisions.
   

• Old Marion Library, Creekside townhomes get $1 million tax credits (cbs2iowa.com) — Marion's former public library site is being transformed into a four-story mixed-use building with 63 apartments, backed by $1 million in state housing tax credits. The city sold the property to developers for $1 and granted 20 years of tax rebates, positioning the project among dozens of funded housing efforts across eastern Iowa that aim to expand affordable options.
   

📸 Around Marion

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Marion

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Friday September 25
• Do Portugal Circus - Lindale Mall →
  Lindale Mall, 4444 1st Ave NE, Cedar Rapids
  7:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday September 17
• Varsity Girls Tennis - WaMaC Girls Conference Tennis Meet
  Independence High School
  8:30 am
Friday September 18
• Freshman/Sophomore Football - Mason City vs Marion
  Marion High School > Marion Stadium
  5:00 pm
• Varsity Football - Mason City vs Marion
  Marion High School > Marion Stadium
  7:30 pm
Sunday September 20
• A French Victorian Dessert Tea at the Historic Granger House →
  The Granger House Victorian Museum, 970 10th Street, Marion
Monday September 21
• Varsity Girls Tennis - Marion vs Waverly-Shell Rock
  Waverly-Shell Rock High School
  4:00 pm
• Freshman Volleyball - Linn-Mar vs Marion
  Marion High School > Red Gym
  5:00 pm
• Junior Varsity Volleyball - Marion vs Springville
  Springville High School
  5:30 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

Wednesday September 16
• Soul Care for Adults: Creative Arts Grief Support Group →
  Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E Boyson Road, Hiawatha
  5:30 pm
Thursday September 17
• Global Graze: Small Bites, Big Change →
  The Olympic South Side Theater, 1202 3rd Street Southeast, Cedar Rapids
• Real Estate Today Show Breakfast →
  Scottish Rite Temple, 616 A Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids
  8:30 am
• Metta Yoga - Gentle →
  120 East Boyson Road, Hiawatha
  9:30 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• 🏐 Volleyball with room to learn your way.
  Can Play is a new adaptive sports program for ages 5+ with built-in modifications and a supportive setting. Volleyball session runs Tuesdays,… (Nextdoor )
• 🏊 Saturdays can start with stronger swim skills.
  Bender Pool's next Saturday lesson session begins September 26 for ages 3-17, with several time options. New swimmers receive a brief evaluation… (Nextdoor )

• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Marion. Apply here.
• UnityPoint Health posted a job opening for Recreation Coordinator in Hiawatha. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Marion here.

🗞 Nearby News

Cedar Rapids

• Four finalists met with Cedar Rapids residents Monday night to discuss the open fire chief position (kcrg.com)
• Surgery Center Cedar Rapids marks 25 years of outpatient care (cbs2iowa.com)
• Iowa native Zach Johnson felt at home in winning Sanford International (siouxfallslive.com)

Palo

• US Department of Energy commits $1.9B to help revive Iowa's dormant nuclear program (wqad.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: Black eyed peas can sing us a song but chick peas can only hummus one. (Thank you Bev H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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