There are a number of Marion residents who are tired of watching things go away — one business or one person at a time. I’m among those people.

I appreciate the power of a small but mighty group of residents who got behind the sales tax issue to support the construction of a new county jail. This newspaper set out as much information as possible about the issue, so voters would be able to make an informed decision. I believe with these efforts, the issue passed — overwhelmingly.

The Marion Lions Club disbanded last year, which meant another organization needed to step up and take the reins of the community Easter egg hunt. I asked around but no one wanted to take the lead.

Marion has lost so many things in the past six to 12 months; I couldn’t bear to see another thing go by the wayside.

I have this stubborn streak — my Dad and my better half would say it’s the Czech in me — where I will not give up on something until I have exhausted every avenue. Well, that was the way I felt about the Easter egg hunt. One way or the other, there was going to be a hunt.

And there will be.

Thanks to the generosity of Carlsons’ Grocery, MHS Key Club members volunteering to fill the eggs, and Marion County Record employees who are willing to give up a Saturday morning to set up and operate the hunt, there will be the annual event.

Hopefully next year there will be a civic organization willing to do the Easter egg hunt.

We, as a community, need to decide if Marion is going to sink or swim. We can no longer wait for opportunities to come to us. We need to encourage existing businesses to expand, to make up for the loss of a department store. Some of the local retailers are doing that — good for them. It needs to continue.

This is springtime. Stores should have oil and parts for maintaining mowers, seeds and plants for gardens, garden and lawn tools, fishing gear, coolers, and camping and boating supplies.

In a few weeks, we’ll be seeing hundreds of visitors coming to our community. Are we going to be ready for them?

I hope so. Because if we aren’t, Marion is going to lose again and we can’t afford for that to happen.

— susan berg