Marion News

A McDowell County slaying suspect won't face a McDowell County jury. A Superior Court judge recently ruled that the murder case against Daniel Wayne Scott, 43, of Nix Creek Road in Marion will be heard in Rutherford County.

Before she sells her South Center Street Building, Carol Burke wants to turn back the clock on the old Army-Navy building.

The Downtown Statesville Development Corporation handed out a number of awards and selected new board members at its annual meeting Monday at the Second Fret Coffeehouse and Music Hall.

Tuesday afternoon saw the end of a long wait in Marion and a new beginning, as the Historic Marion Tailgate Market opened with the dedication of the new shelter.

A grand jury has indicted a Marion man on charges that he swiped cash from a convenience store after determining the smokes he wanted to buy were too expensive.

On Tuesday the state legislature passed its controversial anti-bullying bill by a one-vote margin in its final vote in the House.

McDowell County saw an increase in unemployment claims for the month of May, giving the community the second-highest unemployment in the state.

A prison escapee's flight Friday didn't take him very far. Sam Dotson, the unit manager of the Marion Minimum Security Unit on N.C. 226 South, said Robert W. Herrmann, 32, fled through the woods while on work detail mowing the grass at the facility Friday.

The state Senate today approved an overhaul of North Carolina's sex education curriculum. Seventh-, eighth- and ninth-graders would hear more about contraception if the House accepts the Senate's version of the measure and Gov. Bev Perdue signs it. Educators would continue to tell teens they should abstain from sex until marriage, as they do in most school systems today. But separately, teens would also hear about other ways to prevent disease and unintended pregnancy.

By Mike Conley | The McDowell News Published: June 18, 2009 Health Director Buck Wilson is stepping down from his job here to become the director of the Cumberland County Health Department.

The City of Marion has installed a free wi-fi network in the downtown corridor. Several months ago, the City released a Request for Proposals to interested companies to build the wi-fi network.

At the Tuesday meeting, the Marion City Council adopted a $9.5 million budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 that does not call for a hike in the property tax rate.

Andy McDowell said in the Marion Forum:

Hey MHS Parent, I agree completely with you. I had 3 kids that graduated from MHS, and I was appalled at each graduation. What a bunch of effen dumb a-- red necks. This county is full of inbred, uneducated morans. I would love to get the he-- out, but can't because of the job I have, I have been blessed with a good one and can't leave. My kids hate this place, two have gone already and the third will soon. There is nothing here except beautiful scenery, when not blocked by cars on blocks and single wides. It is sad really. Now I know what Christene Navant meant.

Question All Authority said in the Marion Forum:

A few thoughts of mine. How many local teaching positions could be saved by having only one superintendant? How many positions could be saved by selling off all but 1 or 2 main office employees school supplied vehicles? How many jobs could be saved by getting rid of the double dippers first-you know those that retired but come back and draw a salary? For example, didn't a current county commissioner retire from the school system and then come back for a salary of $43254? Would not $43254 pay for a first year teacher and a part time teacher's assistant at minimum? Does a first year teacher make anywhere near $43K? Could we not have a moritorium on school board travel? The only reason they didn't spend 50K + on travel last fall was public outcry and reelection worries. Where did all that education lottery money go? Didn't the NC house cut spending to the educational budget thinking the lottery would make up for it? Wasn't the lottery money supposed to be over and above the money allotted for the schools rather than a substitute?

At Tuesday's regular meeting, the Marion City Council received a check for $15,000 from James Nations, president of McDowell County Farm Bureau.

The real estate firm working to develop a new shopping center on Sugar Hill Road confirmed on its Web site what many people have long suspected: a Wal-Mart Supercenter will be the anchor store for the new shopping center.

Authorities rounded up five other suspects Tuesday whom they say played a role in the killing of a Nebo man last month.

One person of interest in a case believed to be a homicide was found Sunday afternoon.

If there's one thing that teachers know how to do, it's create engaging learning environments with limited resources.