Goessel, Burns, and Marion seem to have bucked the trend for declining population in Marion County. The Census Bureau has not yet listed 2020 population figures by municipality for communities of less than 5,000 people. However, it has released data arranged by geo-location and geographic boundary that state partner organizations have used to calculate what can be regarded as authoritative, if not final, census data for municipalities of fewer than 5,000 residents. Source: Marion County RECORD

Marion County property owners can get as many as five years behind before their property is seized and sold for back taxes. Some owners have learned to game the system by paying one year, which pushes back the process. State law requires delinquent property to be put on the tax sale list when owners become three years delinquent. Once that happens, however, it can take two more years to bring the tax sale to fruition, treasurer Jeannine Bateman said. Source: Marion County RECORD

More than four decades after opening in Hillsboro, Pizza Hut can now serve its customers a beer. Until Tuesday, the restaurant was banned from serving beer because city code prevents cereal malt beverage from being served within 200 feet of any school, college, or church. Pizza Hut is within 200 feet of Hillsboro United Methodist Church. Although no one from Pizza Hut came to talk to city council members Tuesday, the pastor of the church came to advocate letting Pizza Hut sell beer. Source: Marion County RECORD

A new offer approved Monday seeks to resolve months of dispute over road damage in and around the Diamond Vista wind farm in northern Marion County. After a 15-minute closed-door session with counselor Brad Jantz, county commissioners voted to send the wind farm’s owner, Enel Green Power of North America, a letter demanding payment of $433,720 to settle all claims relative to the wind farm’s road maintenance agreement. Nearly two years ago, independent engineers estimated it would cost $473,020 to repair damage to 340th, 350th, 360th, Chisholm Trail, Diamond, Indigo, Limestone, and Pawnee Rds. Source: Marion County RECORD

Marion’s lack of fully accessible downtown parking despite a recent streetscape project has resulted in a warning from a lawyer representing a disabled Marion resident. The lawyer’s letter demands the city tell, by Tuesday, what it plans to do to resolve the problem. “Failure to do so will result in continued escalation of this matter,” lawyer Josh Boehm wrote. “Our client is committed to seek an appropriate resolution through continued escalation of this matter, including but not limited to filing suit if necessary.” Source: Marion County RECORD

City council members unanimously endorsed plans Monday to turn over youth recreation to Marion’s school district. David Mayfield plans to draft a letter of understanding with the district for a plan of cooperation, which would include turning over the city’s ball fields to the school district. The school district would take over most youth sports, but the city would continue to support Art in the Park, Chingawassa Days, holiday events, and similar celebrations. “I think that is the best thing for everyone,” Mayfield said. “They would represent their school district, not just the city.” The move would allow the city to [...]

“Preserving the past to enjoy the future.” The motto of Florence Public Library succinctly expresses the wide-ranging goals set by its board to not only preserve written history but also the historic building in which it is located. “We are so excited about this building,” said board president Kathy Inlow. “We want to keep it functioning.” Located at the south end of Main Street, the building originally housed the First National Bank, built in 1921. The east end housed the town’s first library, established a year later. The library was moved to two other locations before it settled at 4th and [...]

A new ambulance station at Hillsboro is closer to being built. County commissioners Monday heard from emergency medical services director Travis Parmley and Hillsboro city administrator Matt Stiles that Hillsboro has done a site survey of the proposed new EMS building in Hillsboro. The station is to be located near Hillsboro’s police department and also near a planned new fire station. Source: Marion County RECORD

An effort to revamp Peabody’s City Park has raised $110,500, placing it within $69,500 of its $180,000 fund-raising goal. The deadline for the second phase of the project is April 30, less than two months away. The new playground equipment will meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Volunteers will help install the new equipment when it is delivered. Source: Marion County RECORD

In her first year as a drug dog, Blue’s nose for illegal substances already has led to multiple drug busts for Marion’s city police. A few times, an arrest would not have been possible without her, said officer Aaron Slater, who serves as Blue’s handler for the department’s K-9 unit. “She has been working really well,” he said. “I’ve bonded with her for sure.” Source: Marion County RECORD