Question Mark Town Roundup for the week of 2/12 - 2/11
Town Announcements
The Question Mark Sentinel Lives On
People of Question Mark,
Never before have I seen this town—this country—so divided by uncertainty and purposeful misinformation. And although our beloved local newspaper, The Question Mark Sentinel, ceased publication in September 2022, I believe citizens have a right to know and access the many events that have shaped this town.
The Sentinel began publishing in 1932 under the editorial eye of Samuel Lindholm Sr. in order to hold local government accountable and to shed a light on the critical challenges facing this community. Through war, economic challenges, local elections, and cultural turning points, The Sentinel helped this town better understand itself and its relationship to the rest of the world.
And then, in September of 2022, the challenges that shuttered many newspapers across this country finally came for The Sentinel. It was a loss, for the region, for Question Mark, for all of us. The Sentinel shone a light in the darkness of this town more than once and, as its final Editor-in-Chief, I worry what darkness grows here since The Sentinel's end.
I believe that understanding the past is a key element of charting a course forward and so, as we continue to struggle with questions about this town’s past and future, I am very pleased to announce that a broad selection of stories from The Question Mark Sentinel’s 90 year history is now searchable through a recently-updated archive. Thank you to Ms. Gabby Peters for all her help and expertise with this important civic project.
I hope that our new archive aids you in better understanding this moment in time that Question Mark finds itself in, and that, to paraphrase the words our founder Samuel Lindholm Sr. wrote so many years ago, from out of our current darkness will come the light.
Posted by Ben Fortune, Editor-in-Chief, Question Mark Sentinel, 2009-2022 on February 13, 2024
Elizabeth Zisk has been removed as Mayor
People of Question Mark,
Our town has been through a lot recently, but today the Town Council has taken action. After our fact-finding investigation and public comments regarding the catastrophic events of December 17, 2023, an event which led to decimation of the power substation and many homes and businesses, as well as the full evacuation of town for six weeks, the Town Council has concluded that the town now finds itself in the midst of “exigent circumstances” and today has voted to remove Elizabeth Zisk as mayor, invoking Appendix Eight from the town’s historic charter.
The Town Council does not take this action lightly but we feel we must address the systemic failures of the Zisk administration and its inability to keep this community safe. Over the last ten months, ordinary citizens have faced all manner of disappearances of household objects and pets, the unexplained loss of important civic landmarks, the encroachment of giant fungi, a floating purple light capable of electrocuting victims, unremitting cult activity, extended sleep paralysis, two unsolved murders, and many other deleterious events, all culminating in a fire and flood that led to the evacuation of town. The Town Council would be derelict in its duty if we were not to take action at this moment.
The deliberation we undertook today was methodical and long. There were many moments where the Town Council was deadlocked and it seemed that the path forward was that of indecision. However after hours of arguments, our newest Councilmember, Gerald Ames, stepped forward and cast the deciding vote, declaring “Let justice be a reckoning.”
Following Ames’ vote, which brought the final tally to 4-3, there was a mild disturbance from our outgoing mayor and I thank our Question Mark Police for handling the outburst with professionalism.
The Town Council would like to thank Mayor Zisk for her many years of service. We wish her well in all her future endeavors. Lt. Mayor Brandon Feely will serve as Interim Mayor until a special election can be scheduled for November 5, 2024.
Posted by Tom Weathers, Town Council on February 17, 2024
Read all our Town Announcements.
Community Notes
2-19-24
Hi there everyone!
Well, it sure has been a wild and crazy few days but also a lot of fun meeting so many important people and getting to sit behind the mayoral desk. My self-confidence has literally gone through the roof!
My uncle, Tom Weathers, has told me the Town Council has complete faith in my abilities and if I don’t understand anything to simply ask and he will be willing to help me work through it! With support like that, I’m sure Question Mark is going to be an incredible place to live!
Also, gosh, some of things people are saying about me and my lack of experience online and in person are pretty personal and intense!
At the pancake breakfast yesterday at St. Sabina’s, a child challenged me to an arm-wrestling match and I lost and, boy, that was embarrassing! I guess I still have so much to learn!
Did you know Lt. is short for “Lieutenant” not “Light” How crazy is that? All this time I thought I was the Light Mayor, like I was supposed to be in charge of the lights but I don’t know much about electricity other than it comes from the sky.
I’m so glad my uncle Tom Weathers loaned me the money to run for Lt. Mayor when the real Mayor asked if I wanted to be her running mate. I thought I was going to spend the rest of my days sorting out copies at my uncle’s copy shop but now look at me!
One pretty but mean reporter from Marietta asked me about nepotism but I do not eat seafood because I have a shellfish allergy. But it always looks delicious!
Even though I have only been mayor for two days, I think things have been going pretty good. I accidentally ate some salmon at the pancake breakfast and had to get my uncle, Tom Weathers, to stab me with an epi-pen, but other than that, everything has been great! I’m literally having so much fun!
—Brandon Feely, Interim Mayor
Crime Reports
February 17
3:58 p.m. — 1000 Center Ave., disorderly conduct. Question Mark Town Hall evacuated due to policy dispute and removal of mayor. Officers R. Dublowski and T. Holland reported to the scene.
February 16
7:15 p.m. — 710 County Route 54, possible parole violation. Titus Towns, a Question Mark man (28), reported to have broken parole. Officer B. Lindholm reported to the scene.
Read all our Crime Reports.
Upcoming Events
February 23, 2024
The Songbird performance. A play written by former FBI agent Adam Oberman, directed by Holly Peterson, performed by Question Mark Elementary 3rd and 4th graders. 7pm.
Question Mark Elementary School
February 24, 2024
Question Mark High School Auditorium Fundraiser. Featuring Parker and Dash Holland’s Magic-a-Thon. 6pm.
Question Mark Elementary School
February 29, 2024
Reginald Willey Day and Parade. Children under the age of eighteen are encouraged to dress like our town’s beloved founding father, Reginald Willey. 3pm
Question Mark Town Square and Main Street
See all our Upcoming Events
Did You Know?
In 1853, only two years after Reginald Willey helped found Question Mark, the commemorative silver key to the town went missing and has never been recovered.