[caption id="attachment_123681" align="alignright" width="250"] Chris Cage is pictured on Wednesday inside the Willie 103.5's Toy for Tots trailer outside the Walmart store in Warsaw. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

WARSAW — Willie 103.5’s Chris Cage is always an optimist, but there was a hint of concern in his voice Wednesday when it comes to the radio station's weeklong toy drive at Walmart in Warsaw.

Unlike recent years, the amount of toys collected so far for the weeklong event is less than normal, while the demand has been on the rise.

Cage, who is the coordinator for Toys for Tots for Kosciusko and Marshall counties, said donations since Monday's week-long toy drive for Toys for Tots have been a bit slow.

"I feel like we're a little bit behind from years past. I think some of that has to do with the weather over the last couple days," Cage said. "We have some catching up to do, but the community always comes through when there is a need."

He says that for those in a hurry, monetary donations are also a great option when wanting to make an impact.

The toy drive continues today and Friday outside of Walmart from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Toys for Tots campaign continues Saturday morning with WNDU’s toy drive at the Martins Supermarket in Warsaw.

"They've been doing their drive for years, and this has been our 19th year doing ours and we work well together. There's no competition," Cage said. "The toys that come in, they stay here in the community."

To learn more online, click here.

Donations will be open until early next week.

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WARSAW — Toys for Tots of Kosciusko and Marshall counties recently got a boost with an unexpected donation.

The local organization learned last week that Safe-Way Garage Doors and 1st United Doors donated $5,000.

Company representatives presented the check to Willie 103.5's Chris Cage at Kensington Digital Media offices in Warsaw.

Cage is the coordinator of Toys for Tots in Kosciusko and Marshall counties.

“Hopefully, our small donation will be able to help over 1,000 kids get toys this year,” said Carmen Lepe, the vice president of human resources for the company. “It’s really not about the bottom line or profit, it’s really about giving back. That’s why we’re here.”

Safe Way Garage Doors has locations in Warsaw and Tempe, Arizona.

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WARSAW — When Kosciusko County fire departments delivered their collection of toys Saturday to the Toys for Tots toy drive at Martin’s Supermarket in Warsaw, the impact was substantial.

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WARSAW — Warsaw will be one of four locations spotlighted by WNDU-TV this morning as they support the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

Willie 103.5's Chris Cage wrapped up a week-long toy collection Friday night at the Meijer store in Warsaw and will drop in for some of the fun Saturday with WNDU's event at the Martin's in Warsaw.

The event runs from 7 a.m. to 10  p.m.

Toys collected at Saturday's event will be distributed in Kosciusko and Marshall counties, according to Cage.

This marks WNDU's 30th year,  and the South Bend TV station estimates they have helped the Marines collect more than 549,000 toys for children in Michiana

Many fire stations will participate in Saturday's event. Overall, though, supporters dropping off toys are asked to remain in their vehicles while volunteers help collect the gifts.

WNDU will be in four locations Saturday:

• Warsaw Martin’s (1150 Husky Trail)
• WNDU-TV Studios (54516 State Road 933, South Bend)
• Grand Design CR 17 (5200 Hoffman Street, Elkhart)
• Stevensville Martin’s (5637 Cleveland Avenue)

Which kind of toys are best? Any new, unwrapped toy will be appreciated. Keep in mind, that toys for younger children and older children are often in high demand, so please consider these types of toys as you make your toy selections.

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WARSAW — Warsaw Parks and Main Street Warsaw are coordinating events for what might be the biggest gathering in Central Park this year with the Country Concert for St. Jude — featuring Kimberly Perry.

Main Street Warsaw’s Third Friday is part of the fun and will again start slightly earlier than normal so that everyone at Third Friday can head down to Central Park in time for the country concert.

Third Friday will take on a farm and country theme that will include hobby horse races, pony rides, Cornhole, and possibly some line dancing, according to Scott Wiley, with the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.

Roughly 30 vendors will be part of the fun on the downtown courthouse square.

Echoes of the Past will have a display and one of their tractors will serve as a shuttle down to Central Park, Wiley said.

Third Friday activities will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m., which is a shorter duration, marking the second time this year that Third Friday organizers have adjusted their schedule to accommodate a Central Park concert on the same night. The first one was the Everclear concert in June.

Unlike the annual rock concert that saw hot and humid conditions, Friday's show is expecting pleasant with a high near 78.

Kaitlyn Baker & Joe Lasher will open the show at 6:30 p.m., and Kimberly Perry will follow at 8 p.m.

Willie 103.5's Chris Cage expects a big crowd.

"Every year, we get four to five thousand people — maybe a little more — and there's no reason with the weather and Kimberly Perry — should be a great crowd," Cage said.

The concert is a fundraiser for the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Last year, the concert helped raise $9,000 for the research hospital.

"We'll have volunteers pass around donation buckets throughout the show to help raise money for St. Jude to continue the great research they do at the hospital," Cage said. "Bring a couple extra dollars and them off in the buckets and we'll greatly appreciate it."

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WARSAW — The day has arrived as millions across the midsection of the United States — including parts of Indiana — prepare for today’s eclipse this afternoon.

And like many, you might be wondering how much cloud cover to  expect across north central Indiana when the moon crosses in front of the sun.

Meteorologist Matt Rudkin predicts morning clouds will give way to dry air in the afternoon, providing pockets of clear sky by the time the eclipse happens (around 3pm) in north central Indiana as well as the Indianapolis area where full totality will occur.

School districts will have varying plans for the day, according to a report from the Times-Union.

Manchester Schools will have an e-learning day and Triton School Corporation will dismiss at 1 p.m.

Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation will release students 30 minutes later than usual.

Warsaw and Wawasee will have a full day of classes and both districts are providing approved solar glasses for students.

Wawasee asks families that wish to pick up their children to watch the eclipse to pick them up before 2:30 p.m. to avoid disruption during eclipse viewing activities.

Warsaw superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said he's not too worried about the weather conditions.

"There are things in life that you cannot control and clouds are definitely one of them," Hoffert said. "We're hoping the sun peeks through because these are the types of activities that students remember for years to come."

If you’re looking for a good place to view the eclipse, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation will host an Eclipse Watch Party at Levinson-LaBrosse Lakes and Wetlands Education Center on SR 13. The viewing party starts at 2:30 p. and is open to the public. Viewing glasses will be available to the first 40 people.

Kensington Digital Media’s Kris Lake and Chris Cage will be in Indianapolis for the eclipse and will be broadcasting the event live on 107.3 WRSW and Willie 103.5.

Remember, staring directly at the sun during a solar eclipse or at any other time can lead to permanent eye damage. The eclipse is only safe to witness with the naked eye during totality, or the period of total darkness when the moon completely covers the sun.

Protective eyewear should say they comply with ISO 12312-2 standards.

The eclipse is expected to begin shortly before 3 p.m.

If you're unsure when the eclipse will start, use this line from Grace College which has a countdown clock.

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WARSAW — Prepare to move and groove, Kosciusko County!

The Warsaw Performing Arts Center, in collaboration with Kensington Digital Media, joyfully announces the revival of "Dancing with the Stars for Charity," a fundraising extravaganza set to sizzle this spring.

After a five-year pause, this electrifying event returns to the stage of WCHS PAC on Saturday, March 23. It promises to be a cornerstone fundraiser, benefiting 11 local charities. Each participating team has rallied behind a regional not-for-profit, standing as their advocate on the glittering stage. All proceeds from ticket sales will be divided among the nine charities, as well as supporting the WCHS Dance Department and Warsaw PAC.

A stellar lineup of eighteen luminaries from Kosciusko County will don their dancing shoes, collaborating with student choreographers from the WCHS Dance Department. Together, they'll deliver an evening brimming with live entertainment and heartfelt community engagement.

Among the local luminaries taking center stage are individuals like Shawn Brown (Lake City Living Magazine), Chris Cage (Willie 103.5), Sea Grandon (Atelier), Lakesha Green (Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts), Trace Hansen (Eastlake Skate Center), Mike King (107.3 WRSW), Travis McConnell (McConnell Law & B&B Courthouse Market), Chris Plack (Cardinal Services), Randy Polston (Combined Community Services), Laura Rothhaar (Kosciusko Convention & Visitors Bureau), Jim Smith (Kosciusko County Sheriff), and Suzanne Stokes (Warsaw Parks Department).

Additionally, shining stars from Warsaw Community Schools include Angela Dieleman (WCHS/Middle School Orchestra Teacher), Megan Dinse (WCHS Step One Teacher), Kayla May (Eisenhower BSL), Karri Morgan (Claypool 6th Grade Teacher), Emily Gough (WCHS Science), and Paul Zakaria (WCHS Senior Class Principal).

WCHS Dance Student Choreographers include Courtney Brower, Emma Bradford, Dakota Gardner, Ella Gonzalez, Michael Hertel, Malori McDaniels, Victoria Peloza, Kennedy Polk, Shannon Smith, and Kaelyn Stoffel.

The evening's emcee will be Kris Lake, the Morning Show Host from 107.3 WRSW and Brianne Stewart, WCHS Dance Instructor, will oversee the student participation.

Various not-for-profit organizations will be supported through the efforts of each dancing team. Charities chosen include Joe’s Kids, Magical Meadows, Combined Community Services, Kosciusko County TNR, Cardinal Services, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, CASA of Kosciusko County and Kate’s Kart.

Tickets for "Dancing with the Stars for Charity" will be available for purchase starting in January.

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WARSAW — Chris Cage has begun his weeklong Daily marathon telecast for Toys For Tots and is hoping you make it worth his while (and everyone’s) as he endeavors through five days of 12-hour shifts at the Meijer supermarket parking lot in Warsaw.

The voice of Willie 103.5 (as well as the Toys For Tots coordinator for Kosciusko County) literally wants to fill the Willie RV completely full of toys by 6 p.m. Friday when his one-man marathon concludes.

"It's hard to believe we've been doing this for sixteen years, but the need is great and the goal is to fill up this RV full of new and unwrapped toys for the kids here in Kosciusko County," Cage said early Monday morning

He said they've done it before and hopes supporters can do it again.

Cage broadcasts from inside the RV and as the week continues, room inside gets eaten up as toys begin to overwhelm the interior.

"It's so humbling to see throughout the week when this fills up as more toys come in," Cage said. "By the end of the week, we're running on pure adrenaline, but I wouldn't be anywhere else this time of year."

Willie 103.5's efforts comes on the heels of the traditional WNDU Toys For Tots event which was held Saturday at Martin's Super Market in Warsaw. This year, Saturday's event resulted in 3,000 toys and $3,050 in money being donated.

You can learn more about this year's program by clicking here.

[caption id="attachment_86523" align="aligncenter" width="1026"] Chris Cages sits alongside the first few gifts that arrived early Monday morning at the Toys For Tots remote at the Meijer store in Warsaw. The one ma effort continues daily from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW — In their Santa Claus-red fire trucks Saturday morning, firefighters from all across Kosciusko County delivered boxes and bags of toys to the Toys for Tots toy drive at Martin’s Super Market in Warsaw.

It’s a tradition that dates back so many years, Kevin McSherry, Kosciusko Fireman’s Association, can’t remember exactly when the 14 fire departments in the county began participating in the toy drive, but it’s definitely been a long time.

“We don’t know, but we’re going to keep doing it,” McSherry said. They’ve already started for next year, he said, as he received a check Saturday morning for it.

[caption id="attachment_86505" align="alignright" width="375"] Kevin McSherry (second from right), Kosciusko Firemen’s Association, answers a question from WNDU Meteorologist Andrew Whitmyer (R) Saturday at the Toys for Tots toy drive at Martin’s Super Market. McSherry is joined by his grandson, Max Spangle, 10, and Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith (L). Photo by David Slone, Times-Union.[/caption]

The fire departments gathered at JB’s Furniture on Center Street in Warsaw early Saturday morning before caravanning over to Martin’s on Husky Trail to drop the toys off. Before the fire trucks left with their lights and sirens sounding, JB’s Furniture gave McSherry a $1,000 check for Toys for Tots, which he handed over to Chris Cage, coordinator for Toys for Tots of Kosciusko County.

McSherry, Burket Fire Department chief, said the purpose of it is “to make sure kids can have a decent Christmas.” He said it was the fundraising for the toys that really has to be planned.

“Little fire departments like myself and Sidney, Silver Lake and Etna Green - that’s a lot of money. We bought $1,300 in toys the other night and that’s a lot of money for us,” he said. “We started a thing a few years ago where, at our fish fries, when somebody, say their fish bill is $18 and they say, ‘Here’s a 20, just keep the change,’ so the ‘keep the change’ goes into the Toys for Tots fund. And, luckily, every fish fry we’re able to make a $100 or $120 in ‘keep the change’ money.”

This year the fish fries helped raise $1,300 for Toys for Tots.

The firefighters chip in themselves, too, with McSherry estimating $200-$300 coming in from them.

Turkey Creek Township Fire Chief Mickey Scott said his fire department has participated in the toy drive ever since the beginning, but he also didn’t know how far back that’s been.
He said they are able to participate “from donations and stuff that we receive.” They have a pork chop and chicken barbecue in the summer and they ask for donations for Toys for Tots then.

This year, Scott said they were able to purchase about $500-$600 in toys. “It worked out pretty good,” he said.

Milford Fire Department is known for the amount of toys they collect every year for the toy drive.
Virgil Sharp, Milford fire chief, said a lot of what they raise just stems from the fact that their members like to donate and the department also donates a little bit.

“There’s been times where we’re standing around talking and somebody will put down a $20. Here comes somebody with a $5 bill, a $10 bill, and it all adds up and that’s how a lot of times we end up with so many toys,” Sharp said.

He said they don’t do any fundraiser or special event for it.

“We just have a lot of giving families and a lot of the families will take their kids shopping and drop their stuff off at the station. And it’s all members of the department that do it,” Sharp said.

Most years, he estimated they are able to buy $1,500 to $2,000 in toys. They’ll go shopping on Black Friday and get the toys cheaper.

“It helps to go when there’s sales and you get more for your money then,” he said.
The Milford trailer and equipment van were used to transport the toys Saturday. There were approximately 10 bicycles in the trailer.

“This is a special time as a department ... everybody on the department as a family comes together, and their kids, and we enjoy it. It’s a special time,” Sharp said.
Kevin Wagoner, Sidney fire chief, said they begin to look for toys after Christmas to get deals then for the following year’s event.

“All of our toys come through the volunteers fund,” he said.

Winona Lake Fire Department Public Information Officer Mike Cox explained, “We donate money from our department funds every year and we go buy toys. We did have a couple of the boxes out this year, and that helped because people were generous with their toys. We raise money in a lot of ways - we play bingo in Syracuse and then we use some of that money. But it’s all money from the department, not the town budget.”

He said they usually do the toy shopping as it gets closer to the toy drive because of sales and people are willing to provide “extra stuff” when they let them know what it’s for.

“The guys went out Wednesday and picked out almost a room full of toys. That’s probably the best we’ve done in recent years, anyway,” Cox said.

Terry Himes, WLFD, said they went to R.P. Home & Harvest who made them a really good deal of 50% off. They were able to purchase about $1,300 in toys there.

“Our goal was to beat Milford,” he said. “... So we’re going to start earlier next year getting toys bought and stuff.”

R.P. “really helped us out a lot with their sales because it’s going to be Runnings out there now. A change of hands and they want to get rid of all the R.P. stuff, so they got us a good deal on all the toys and stuff we needed,” Himes said.

Runnings, a Minnesota-based retailer, announced in April it was acquiring R.P.

If a child gets to open just one gift on Christmas, that’s better than nothing, Himes said. “And having delivered toys in the past, nobody gets just one,” Cox said.

Two hours into the three-hour toy drive Saturday, Cage said, “Everything’s going well. It’s a good morning this morning. I had quite a few donations. Some of the big groups came in: BCI Solutions, Echoes of the Past, American Legion Riders out of Syracuse came in with a big trailer full of toys and we’re getting ready for all the local fire departments to come in through here shortly and that’s always a good time to see the parade of fire trucks come through.”

If a person couldn’t make it out to the toy drive Saturday at Martin’s, Cage said the boxes are still out at participating businesses - Menard’s, Martin’s, Walmart, Meijer, Dollar General Stores, etc. - for a few more days. The Willie 103.5 radio station toy drive also will be out at Meijer 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. all week.

“If you pick up a new unwrapped toy, drop it in a box, we’ll get it collected and get it out to the warehouse and get it distributed,” Cage said. “I can tell you, we thought the need was great last year, but we have just right now, with a few days left in sign-ups, we’re pretty much where we were last year with a few days left. So, the need is great and we need toys.”

Over 400 families had signed up as of Saturday. Sign-up ended Sunday. “And that’s just the families, not counting the kids,” Cage said.

He thanked the Warsaw Community High School choir for caroling during Saturday’s event, as well as all the volunteers who helped out as well.

Toys will be handed out Dec. 16, a little differently than in past years. Instead of the toys being delivered to families, families will pick them up from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 16. The address of the warehouse will be provided to the families.

“They’ll be able to just pull up, and we’ll go in and grab the bags and load them up for them,” Cage said. “It’s a little different this year, but a lot of the other Toys for Tots campaigns are doing the same thing.”

If a family can’t find a way to pick up the toys on Dec. 16, Cage said other arrangements can be made.

“A lot of the other Toys for Tots organizations said they have been doing it for a few years now, and it works out great, and it cuts down on our volunteers driving all over the county to find addresses. It’s a good thing. We’re going to try it out this year and see how it works,” Cage explained.

This is the 29th year WNDU Channel 16 has been a part of Toys for Tots throughout Michiana.

Meteorologist Andrew Whitmyer was live at the Martin’s in Warsaw. Saturday was his third year of airing live for WNDU for Toys for Tots.

“It’s really to just give back to the community. WNDU, Gray Television, we’re all about giving back to the community and helping the community as best as we can and to serve that community, so that’s what Toys for Tots is about, it’s about giving back to those families that need the help during this holiday season,” he said.

Whitmyer said the toy drive made him feel happy about helping the community and families in need.

“It’s just kind of nice to give back in that way and know that you’re helping someone that could use a leg up this year,” he said.

People will come out to donate whether it’s snowing, icy, pouring down rain or sunny and 60 degrees. “Either way people will still come out,” Whitmyer said, adding that Saturday’s decent weather provided a leg up with the toy drive. “Thankfully, this year, it’s been about 40 degrees. It’s a little cloudy, a little damp, but we can’t complain this year. We’ve seen much worse weather for Toys for Tots at all of our locations.”

Tim Martin, store director for Martin’s, and Missy Albright, assistant manager, bakery, brought out some toys in shopping carts Saturday for the drive.

Martin said they were asked to host the toy drive from the beginning and “basically, from there, we’ve just been taking it on every year and we’re just glad to be a part of it.”

On the toys in the shopping carts, he said some generous folks sometimes just drop them off at the front of the store and Martin’s just brings them out. “We try to donate some toys ourselves,” he said.

Albright said, “It’s always a good time of the season to be able to give. I’m always one I’d rather give than receive, so that’s what we need to do and be positive about it. That’s what Christmas is all about - giving rather than receiving.”

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WARSAW — Kosciusko County has two high-profile Christmas toy collection efforts and the organizers behind both are being profiled this week on In the Know, the public affairs show that can be heard this weekend. on Kensington Media radio stations.

The people behind the efforts are Ami Pitt, who leads the annual Toy Time program, and Chris Cage, the voice of Willie 103.5 who heads up the annual Toys for Tots.

Pitt is in her 30th year of running Toy Time, which she established 30 years ago this month shortly after she ventured into the Combined Community Services office back when it was still on Market Street.

At the time, she was pregnant with her third child and got involved with with a program called Project Independence, which eventually helped send her to college (She's now the director of that program).

One of her first tasks involved establishing a new toy program for CCS.

The first year, she said, involved supporting some 37 families but blossomed significantly over the years.

"Our end goal is to cover about 1,700 Kosciusko County children with Christmas gifts," Pitt said. "Our main goal is we want to give them Jesus — and toys. What better package can you have than that? Jesus and Toys."

In addition to a complex toy collection program, they also seek donations of Bibles that are also distributed to many of the families.

Toy Time happens over the course of ten days in December at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds. 

The first step is a the drop off of children's items (Dec. 11-14) followed by a consignment sale on Dec. 15. That's followed by a huge toy sale on Dec. 16, which generates money for the purchase of new toys that are distributed at the New Toy Giveaway on Dec. 19.

Meanwhile, Cage has been involved with Toys for Tots for for some 16 years as a result of his involvement in toy collection effort through Willie 103.5. He began overseeing the entire program in Kosciusko and Marshall Counties two years ago after David Morales stepped aside after some 20 year.

The toy collection effort involves two big projects.

WNDU will host its annual toy drive at 7 a.m. on Dec. 2 at Martin's Supermarket in Warsaw. Donations will be taken until 11 a.m.

The second is the toy drive by Willie 103. that runs from Dec. 4-8 with a live remote at the Meijer store in Warsaw from 6 a.m. to 6 p. m. each day.

The station is seeking both donated toys and monetary donations.

Toy Collections will be taken until Dec. 9th at any of the drop-off sites across the community.

Both Pitts and Cage said they are seeing signs that the need for support the toy programs appears to be greater than recent years due to the economy. 

As of Wednesday, about 180 families had signed up, Cage said.

“We know there’s a need in the community and we need to step up and the community always does,” Cage said.

* * * 

To learn more about Toy Time, check out the website.

To learn more about Toys For Tots, check out their website

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