You’re Invited to the Marion County Bicentennial Kick-off Program on January 24, 2023

County Board Chairman Debbie Smith and Bicentennial Committee Chairman Adam Smith invite everyone to the kick-off program for the 200th Birthday of Marion County on Tuesday, January 24, 2023. The event will start at 5:30 p.m. at the Marion County Courthouse located at Main & Broadway in Salem.

The program will begin at 6:00 p.m. with comments by Chairman Smith and a special presentation by State Representative Blaine Wilhour. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Iuka Junior High Band and singers from the Third and Fourth Grade students at Iuka Grade School.

The public is invited to bring an item to include in a time capsule that can be opened at future celebrations of the county. Please include information about your item if it is not obvious about what it is or the year it represents. Things to consider are old photographs (with the names of people) from events and activities over the past 200 years, old newspaper clippings, a sports jersey from your school, or old recipe book of the foods over the years. If multiple identical items are offered for the time capsule, we will accept on a first come basis due to storage limitations.

Preliminary plans are under way to host a “Beans & Cornbread Cook-off” on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at the historical United Methodist Church across from the County Courthouse beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a program to include a special presentation by U. S. Congressman Mike Bost. Several churches have been approached and will provide the beans and cornbread for the cook-off with desserts to be finalized later. Everyone who purchase a ticket for “200 Nickels” ($10.00 each) will  get to vote on their favorite beans and their favorite cornbread. All proceeds will be donated back to the churches who participate for their youth ministries, food banks, or other needs of their churches.