By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Marion boasts a new bait and ammunition shop offering 24-hour service.

Owned by Shannon Allen, Twila Legg, and Joe Legg, Coyote Crossing Bait and Ammo is located at 404 W. Santa Fe St.

Allen said he’d been thinking about opening a bait shop since before Steve Hudson resigned as supervisor of the county park and lake in June and his bait and tackle shop closed.

Then when Rachel Naerebout decided to close a bait shop she operated near Marion Reservoir, that clinched it.

“It was like the Good Lord whopped me on the back of the head,” Allen said.

Allen works at the transfer station. Twila Legg recently became unable to work, so she focuses her attention on the bait shop.

The pair designed a portable building for the bait shop, then they went to Chisholm Trail Outfitters in Hillsboro to look at portable buildings in stock.

They found one just reduced that fit their price range.

The pair purchased remaining stock from Naerebout at a price they could afford.

The store sells earthworms, minnows, goldfish, bullheads, prepared bait products, fishing gear, flashlights and cap lights, tent stakes, fire starters, lantern mantles, first aid kits, and knife sharpeners.