Marion Municipal Auditorium will have a modern new “state of the art” stage lighting system featuring electronic controls. City commissioners approved the purchase Monday afternoon after the Board of Education of Marion Unified School District agreed to pay $2,500 toward the project. The lighting system will cost $5,000 plus installation.

An open house will be held at the Marion National Bank Dec. 28 in honor of the retirement of Leroy Riggs.

Heckendorn Manufacturing Company of Cedar Point has been sold to Tolle Manufacturing Co. of Chanute. Heckendorn Manufacturing will become a new corporation called Heckendorn Turf Equipment. The company manufactures industrial riding lawn mowers.

Dear Santa: All I want for Christmas is a kitten, Debbie Gibson tape, and a new dress. My sister wants everything she sees. Love, Erin O’Dell.

Centre Masonic Lodge presented $50 U.S. Savings Bonds to students Christine Laue and Norman Entz Dec. 2. They were the winners in a recent essay contest conducted by the lodge.

Martin Marietta Aggregates officially took possession of Hallett Materials on Monday. The Marion offices are in the process of moving to South Third Street, into the former Kansas Drilling building.