Marion rolls out welcome for Old Settlers

By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Saturday’s Old Settlers Day, with a theme of “Better Roads Ahead,” will kick off with a parade on Main St. at 11 a.m.

The grand marshal, selected months ago, is Dorothy Conyers.

A different grand marshal was not chosen after Conyers’ death in July.

“We’re still going to honor her,” parade coordinator and announcer Alex Case said. “One of her kids will drive a car in the parade.”

Several Old Settlers grand marshals have died before the next Old Settlers Day, but this apparently will be the first time no living grand marshal will be present.

This year’s parade will feature Marion High School classes from 1970 to present.

Many also plan reunions. As of Tuesday, classes holding reunions include:

• Class of 1970 reunion organizer Anita Brookens said her son, Nathan Hoffman, will drive a 1936 Dodge truck in the parade. After lunch and festivities at Central Park, the classmates will meet for a private gathering and evening meal.
• The class of 1975 will be on their own for lunch, then gather at 6 p.m. at Marion County Lake Hall for a catered meal.
• The class of 1980 will have a picnic lunch in the park after the parade.
• The class of 1985 will drag Main St. after the parade and have a picnic style lunch of Gumbo burgers and sides at the Chris Meyerhoff home. Later, they will have a “cream can” meal.
• The class of 1990 will have a fish fry at Dan and Tina Hague’s house after the parade.
• The class of 1995 will have a private gathering and evening meal together.
• The class of 2005 will gather Friday evening, then ride in the parade Saturday. In the evening, members will gather at Marion County Lake Hall.
• Members of the class of 2010 will grill at the lake at 2 p.m.
• Class of 2020 members will have a reunion Saturday evening in the old West Main building.

Other classes may turn out for the parade.

Other parade entries include:

• Trail Life Scouting Organization.
• Marion County Sheriff Jeff Soyez.
• Board of Education candidates Amy Soyez, the sheriff’s wife, Roman Hofer, and Jenna Meyerhoff.
• St. Luke Hospital.
• Dave Leith.
• Roger Hannaford.
• Spur Ridge Vet Hospital.
• Christian Pedersen driving a 1929 Mercedes Roadster convertible.
• The Marion High School senior, junior, sophomore, and freshman classes; the cast of MHS’s musical “Wizard of Oz”; homecoming candidates; the cross country team; and the MHS and MMS marching bands.
• IdeaTek.
• Marion Assisted Living.
• 56 Express Tire and Service’s new service truck pulling a train.

After the parade, revelers can eat lunch at Central Park. A meal will be sold by Marion Kiwanis.

Entertainment will include games at 1 p.m., a high school band concert, and introduction of this year’s honored classes at 2 p.m.