Voices Rise in Marion: Citizens Challenge Leadership on Transit, Transparency, and Governance.
On Monday, a tumultuous Night at Marion City Council: Voices Heard Amidst Deep-Seated Concerns.
Written by marion-watch
Written by marion-watch
Written by marion-watch
Public outcry, officials’ doubts: “No transparency! Funds don’t add up!” Trust is shattered.
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Alleged breaches in legal procedures and policy, given the Charter City ordinance’s significantly amended nature.
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Alan Dershowitz claims crucial Epstein files are suppressed, hinting at a “sky high” scandal.
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The tranquil geopolitical landscape shattered on June 21, 2025, as the United States launched “massive precision strikes” against key Iranian nuclear facilities. This unprecedented direct military intervention followed over a week of intense Israeli operations against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, thrusting the US into a conflict it had long sought to avoid. President Donald Trump declared the operation a “spectacular military success,” asserting that sites like the deeply buried Fordo plant were “completely and fully obliterated” by “bunker buster” bombs—the first combat use of such a formidable weapon.
This dramatic escalation is not an isolated event but the culmination of decades of distrust and shifting geopolitical dynamics. From the 1953 US-backed coup that sowed deep anti-American sentiment, to the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran into an ideological adversary, and the subsequent “maximum pressure” campaign that drove Iran to accelerate its nuclear program, each historical turning point has ratcheted up tensions.
While the immediate tactical success of these strikes is touted, their long-term strategic impact remains a perilous unknown. Experts warn that merely destroying infrastructure cannot eradicate Iran’s nuclear knowledge or its resolve. The risk of Iranian retaliation—whether through targeting the vital Strait of Hormuz, unleashing regional proxies, or even accelerating a covert nuclear weapons program—looms large. The world watches, holding its breath, as this new chapter of conflict threatens to plunge the Middle East, and potentially the globe, into an even deeper abyss of instability.
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Marion Watch’s investigation spotlights the interconnected experiences of Skylar Haberman and community activist Naomi Craig in Marion County. Haberman alleges his child’s welfare is severely compromised in the mother’s care and that a neighbor-initiated protection order is a tool for harassment, resulting in approximately 80 police calls to his home. He claims these calls were then used against him in his custody dispute, which is further complicated by the presiding judge having previously represented his ex-partner—a clear conflict of interest.
This situation intersects with Naomi Craig after Haberman hired her son for lawn work. Subsequently, Craig’s son faced alleged police harassment over a minor, unsubstantiated claim. Craig views this as retaliation, especially given prior police inaction on her own serious reports of threats and attempts by a council member to silence her public concerns.
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The controversial resolution of serious felony charges against Wayne E. Sisson III has intensified public concerns about justice in Marion County. Felonious assault, strangulation, and domestic violence charges, potentially carrying over eight years in prison, were dismissed. Instead, Sisson pleaded to a misdemeanor, receiving 180 days (158 suspended) and two years community control. Given the grave questions this outcome raises, legal and ethics experts consulted by marionwatch.com advise that an independent, thorough review by an appropriate external oversight body—such as the Ohio Board of Professional Conduct, the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, or a specially appointed independent prosecutor—is essential to investigate these matters comprehensively, aiming to restore accountability and ensure equitable justice.
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Ever heard of “fusion centers”? These roughly 80 state-run hubs, created post-9/11, are meant to help law enforcement share intelligence. But significant concerns exist regarding their operational secrecy, lack of independent oversight, and “mission creep” into collecting data on everyday activities, not just terrorism.
This becomes more concerning with technology like Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs)—such as Flock Safety cameras increasingly common in communities like ours and across the nation. These systems capture vast amounts of data on vehicle movements, mostly of innocent people, which can then be fed into fusion center databases.
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Local attorney Jack Herchel VanBibber is confronting a new wave of serious misconduct allegations, detailed in a “First Amended Complaint” filed on May 15, 2025, by the Supreme Court of Ohio’s Disciplinary Counsel. This follows a May 7, 2024, two-year stayed suspension for previous infractions.
The fresh accusations include profound client neglect, making false statements to courts and investigators, engaging in improper sexual conduct, and repeated failure to cooperate with disciplinary authorities. Alarmingly, some alleged new misconduct reportedly began just days after his June 2023 disciplinary hearing for prior issues. The complaint also highlights concerns from the Ohio Lawyers Assistance Program regarding VanBibber’s candor about substance use.
These developments cast a shadow over previous community support, including a 2023 letter from Marion County Prosecutor Raymond Grogan. The new allegations, if substantiated, could trigger VanBibber’s current stayed suspension or lead to more severe sanctions, including disbarment, further intensifying scrutiny of Marion County’s legal system.
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Years after his death, the shadow of Jeffrey Epstein’s predatory network persists, fueled by recent revelations. Attorney General Pamela Bondi’s claim that the FBI is reviewing “tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn” involving “hundreds of victims” dramatically raises the stakes. This potential trove of evidence hints at an industrial scale of exploitation, placing immense pressure on the FBI for transparent and diligent review. The ongoing saga highlights the deep-seated challenges of uncovering the full truth and achieving accountability for a criminal enterprise enabled by wealth and power.
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In early May 2025, Frio County, Texas, became central to the national election integrity debate following felony indictments against six individuals, including the county judge, city council members, a school trustee, and the former elections administrator. Brought by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office after a multi-year investigation, the charges primarily allege illegal “vote harvesting,” a third-degree felony under Texas law. Those indicted include Frio County Judge Rochelle Lozano Camacho, Pearsall City Council members Ramiro Trevino and Racheal Garza, Pearsall ISD Trustee Adriann Ramirez, former Elections Administrator Carlos Segura (also charged with tampering with evidence), and campaign worker Rosa Rodriguez.
This case unfolds within a polarized national climate where voter fraud concerns clash with voter suppression fears, particularly under Texas’s controversial 2021 election law, Senate Bill 1. Latino civil rights groups have criticized the investigation as politically motivated voter suppression. The involvement of a Republican Attorney General pursuing charges against primarily Democratic or nonpartisan officials in a predominantly Hispanic county with recent Republican gains highlights the significant political dimensions of this case.
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Marion, Ohio continues to face significant, long-standing fiscal challenges rooted in decades of documented financial mismanagement and increasing, often unnoticed, debt since the late 1990s. This extensive report, significantly shaped by the work and input of Marion citizens, details the cumulative crisis, focusing on the Auditor’s office since 1999. MarionWatch aims to inform residents about the issues’ deep origins, empowering them for future decisions, as many were unaware of the problem’s multi-decade history. Following a long-standing practice via its community action network, MarionWatch shared article drafts with numerous citizens for review before publication. The investigation reveals persistent oversight and planning failures impacting services and public trust. Meaningful recovery requires fundamental transparency, accountability, and long-term planning. Informed citizen engagement, including attending city council meetings, is vital for building a stable future.
A Quick Look: Marion’s Auditor Office: A Decades-Long Disaster Zone (Full Investigation Coming Soon)
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The Marion, Ohio, Auditor’s office faces a financial storm, with current Auditor Meginness accused of misappropriating funds and concealing IRS penalties. This follows years of financial mismanagement, including a predecessor’s resignation and issues dating back to 1999. Persistent failures raise questions about systemic weaknesses and the need for lasting reforms. MarionWatch will release its Auditor Investigative report soon!
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On April 29, 2025, Judge Jennifer L. Thurston issued a preliminary injunction in California, limiting U.S. Border Patrol stops and warrantless arrests. The ruling, in United Farm Workers v. Noem, stemmed from a lawsuit alleging targeting during a sweep far from the border. The judge expressed concern about racial profiling, stating, “You just can’t walk up to people with brown skin and say, ‘Give me your papers.'”
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Ultimately, ensuring council adheres to these principles may require sustained public engagement. Marion Watch encourages residents to attend future meetings – because if we, the people, do not speak up now, our grounds to complain about what happens next are diminished.
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This analysis examines the legality of excluding a Marion, Ohio council member from meetings due to whistleblower actions, and closing meetings to discuss related matters. A leaked audio recording features Twila Laing and Mayor Bill Collins discussing Councilman Jason Schaber’s exclusion and closing meetings, actions prompted by Schaber’s alleged whistleblowing on unlawful or unethical activities.
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When we look at the views of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America, we get a better viewpoint regarding a tyrannical government—the type of government the Founding Fathers had just escaped from.
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Part I: Robert Landon: Timing, Resources, and Political Motivation in the 2019 Marion City Auditor Election Executive Summary This report examines the circumstances surrounding the criminal charges filed against Robert Landon during his successful 2019 campaign for City Auditor in Marion, Ohio. Landon, a Republican candidate, was charged with misdemeanor election law violations concerning the […]
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*A Note from the Senior Editors of Marion Watch: With deep concern for our community, we share the following information, compiled over months of careful work. Please know that gathering this was difficult, and there is more that needs to be understood. We believe these sensitive issues must be brought into the light with compassion, […]
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Justice Questioned in Marion County: An Investigation into Prosecutor Ray Grogan’s Case Handling Introduction: Scrutiny on the Marion County Prosecutor’s OfficeSetting the Scene Marion County, Ohio, a community known for its rich history and as the birthplace of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, operates within Ohio’s established legal framework.1 Central to its local justice system is the […]