10 years ago

FEB. 24, 2016

Marion County has acquired yet another empty building to add to its collection of tax-delinquent properties, and it’s a big one.

An auction for the abandoned Florence High School building took place Tuesday, lasting not even one minute. No one appeared to bid on the building, which has been vacant for almost 20 years after last serving as a middle school.

The Marion Warriors were a juggernaut Friday and Saturday at the Class 3-2-1A regional tournament in Marion, winning the team championship and qualifying seven wrestlers for state.

Bryce Schults and Tyler Palic won the 138- and 195-pound brackets. Ezra Darnell, Jarrett Johnson, Charlie Nordquist, and Remington Putter racked up second-place finishes. Noah Albin finished in third place in the 145-pound class.

With only 18 students expected in first and second grades next fall, Centre schools will combine the two grades under a single teacher and a full-time aide.

Longstanding animosities between cities and with the county were in the crosshairs Thursday at an economic development meeting attended by 50 businesspeople and officials at Marion Community Center. County commissioners sponsored the meeting to obtain ideas on how to proceed.