This Week's Top Stories

city services

Rake to the Curb: Marion's Leaf Pickup Kicks Off Oct. 19, Runs Through Dec. 4

Mayor Bill Collins announced the 2026 leaf-collection season this week, giving city residents three ways to dispose of leaves without raking them into the street.

Mayor Bill Collins announced on October 12 that the City of Marion's annual leaf-collection program will begin Monday, October 19, and continue through Friday, December 4, 2026. The announcement, posted to the city's official website, outlines three disposal options for residents. The first option is curbside vacuum collection. Residents may rake leaves to the tree-lawn area between the curb and the sidewalk, where a vacuum-type collector will gather them throughout the season.

elections

Marion Voters to Weigh Four-Year Council Terms on the Nov. 3 Ballot

A charter question on the upcoming general-election ballot asks Marion residents whether city council and council-president terms should shift from two years to four, with seats elected in staggered cycles.

When Marion residents head to the polls for the November 3, 2026 general election, they will find a local charter question: whether to change the terms of office for Marion City Council members and the council president from two years to four years, with seats elected in staggered cycles so that a portion of council stands for election every two years. The question appears on the official election notice issued September 14 by the Marion County Board of Elections.

behavioral health

Free Public Event Oct. 20 Will Present Marion's Behavioral Health Summit Findings

A gathering at Marion First Church of the Nazarene on October 20 will bring local agencies' mental health, addiction, and developmental disabilities recommendations to the broader community.

Marion-area residents are invited to a free community event on Tuesday, October 20, where representatives from more than two dozen local agencies will present findings and potential solutions developed over several months as part of the area's first Mental Health, Addiction, and Developmental Disabilities Summit. The event will be held at Marion First Church of the Nazarene.

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 19

Marion City Committee Meeting

📍 Marion City Hall, 2nd Floor Courtroom, 233 W. Center St., Marion · 6:30 PM · Verify · City of Marion, OH

Tuesday, October 20

Community Behavioral Health Event

📍 Marion First Church of the Nazarene, Marion · Verify · Marion County Now / Yahoo News

Tuesday, October 20

Marion City Planning Commission

📍 Marion City Hall, 233 W. Center St., Marion · 6:30 PM · Verify · City of Marion, OH

Saturday–Sunday, October 24–25

Hack OHI/O 2026 at Ohio State Marion

📍 Ohio State University at Marion, Marion · Various times · Verify · Ohio State University at Marion

Monday, October 26

Marion City Council Meeting

📍 Marion City Hall, 2nd Floor Courtroom, 233 W. Center St., Marion · 6:30 PM · Verify · City of Marion, OH

More from the Community

Ohio Magazine Names Marion a 2026 Best Hometown — Feature Hits Newsstands This Month

Marion has been named one of Ohio Magazine's five Best Hometowns for 2026, joining Loveland, Marietta, Massillon, and Tiffin.

Marion Palace Theatre Holds 'Christmas at the Palace' Auditions Oct. 18

The Marion Palace Theatre will hold open auditions for its annual Christmas at the Palace production on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Community Directory

Every listing, kept current, in the full edition.