Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: See which Excelsior Middle School students just impressed NPR judges
Happening soon: Technology Help Table on the Marion Patch calendar

Hello again Marion! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- See which Excelsior Middle School students just impressed NPR judges
Also on today's calendar: Stitching & Flags and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Rain and a thunderstorm, with a high of 69 and low of 47 degrees.
- Friday: Mostly sunny and less humid, temps: high: 67, low: 44.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 65 and low of 48 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• The 2026 Student Podcast Challenge Honorable Mentions (wwno.org) — Several students from Excelsior Middle School in Marion earned honorable mentions in NPR's 2026 Student Podcast Challenge, highlighting strong local creativity and storytelling. The national list names multiple Excelsior students and their teacher-sponsor, putting Marion alongside schools from across the country and giving local families a reason to celebrate their kids' work on a big stage.
![]()
📸 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
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Technology Help Table →
Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue, Marion
12:30 pm
Friday October 2
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Freshman/Sophomore Football - Clear Creek Amana vs Marion
Marion High School > Marion Stadium
5:00 pm - Varsity Football - Clear Creek Amana vs Marion
Marion High School > Marion Stadium
7:30 pm - Varsity Volleyball - Columbus Catholic Varsity Invitational
Columbus Catholic High School
8:00 am - Varsity Girls Swimming & Diving - Ames Girls Swim and Dive Invite
Ames High School
8:15 am - Stitching & Flags →
Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue, Marion
10:00 am - Freshman Volleyball - Marion vs Xavier
Xavier High School
5:00 pm - Beginner Embroidery Class →
Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue, Marion
5:30 pm - Culinary Class: Easy Soups for Fall →
Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue, Marion
5:30 pm - Art Contest: What America Means to Me →
Marion Public Library, 1101 6th Avenue, Marion - Middle School Girls Cross Country - West Delaware Girls CC Invite
Delaware County Fair
4:00 pm - Middle School Boys Cross Country - West Delaware Boys CC Invite
Delaware County Fair
4:00 pm
Friday October 2
Saturday October 3
Monday October 5
Tuesday October 6
📣 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!
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
- 🎃 ⛳ Put a little mini golf in your Halloween plans!
Mini Pines Monster Mash is coming Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Bring your family or friends for 18 holes, music on the course, and a… (Nextdoor ) - Anyone missing a keychain with 4 keys?
Someone dropped them off with me and the keys look more like e-bike, storage, gas tank keys. They were found between Onyx and Agate corner. (Nextdoor Jasper/Beryl)
- Walmart posted a job opening for Stocking Team Associate in Marion. Apply here.
- O'Reilly Automotive posted a job opening for Parts Specialist in Marion. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Marion here.
🗞 Nearby News
Hiawatha
- Eastern Iowa food bank leaders meet with lawmakers in HACAP tour (kcrg.com)
Cedar Rapids
- Karla Henderson (idacountycourier.com)
- Scattered showers brin flooding threat to eastern Iowa (kcrg.com)
- KXEL Morning News for Wed. Sep. 30, 2026 (kxel.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: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.