WARSAW — The Warsaw Rotary Club met to hold their annual “Rotary Salvation Army Day” and collected $60,260.53 to support the efforts of The Salvation Army in Kosciusko County. 

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the event, following the late N. Bruce Howe's establishment of the effort to honor Brigadier Brice Phillipson, a Rotarian and longtime Salvation Army officer.  

The event collected just over $800, which would have the buying power of $8,228 today. 

 The celebration has continued over six decades, with John Hall serving as co-chair and now Alan Alderfer and Envoy Ken Locke as current chairs.  

Club President, Ben Rice, thanked everyone who attended the meeting and for the donations given to this worthy cause.  

The club participated in their 98th Annual “Rotary Toy Day” earlier in the month collecting $773.70 worth of gifts to support Angel Tree and Veterans Christmas outreach.  

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WARSAW — Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose is nearly 18 months into his new career after nearly 35 years as a government teacher at Warsaw Community High School.

And as one sits and listens to him speak recently before a service group, it feels as if the former basketball standout has transitioned from one to the other without missing a beat.

[caption id="attachment_109145" align="alignright" width="420"] Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose makes a point during a talk to members of the Warsaw Rotary Club on Friday. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Grose often gives presentations to service clubs in Warsaw, and he did that last Friday with the Warsaw Rotary Club when he showed up with — you guessed it — handouts providing a breakdown of city government as well as a few fact sheets highlighting projects being undertaken by the city.

Right off off the bat, from the beginning of his presentation, Grose sounded more like a teacher with great insights into city government, much of which he picked up over the course of 24 years on city council.

"The handout that you're getting ... please don't look ahead," Grose said. "Don’t feel like you have to look at it. I’m just giving you something to take. Also, don't fold any of it. No Super Glue!"

His 40-minute presentation before the Rotary Club on Friday included many familiar faces, including his father, Frank, who was a guest, Superior Court Judge Chad Miner and 103-year-old Bob Gast, a city councilman who served in the late 1980s.

He quizzed the audience on the number of parks the city has (20) and how many of the city’s 220 year-round employees work in the police and fire departments (half).

He also touched on the top tennents of his administration — building trust, building bridges with other communities and the importance of basic government.

"Local government is all about public works, police and fire," he said.

 “This community strongly believes (in) limited government," Grose said. "I taught that stuff for 35 years. That’s who we are as a nation. But limited government doesn’t mean no government. It means good government.” 

Grose also pointed out that $2 million to $3 million arrives into city coffers each year from state and federal government, both of which have been tightening its budgets in recent months.

"Is Jeff a little concerned about that? Yes I am. When you talk cuts," he  said, "That's going to have an impact on services."

"Those are big concerns I have. We'll work through it. Why? Because I love the community and I want good government," he said.

Grose provided an education in what the city is currently working on, touching on plans for two housing projects and the future orthopedic innovation center planned for Argonne Road, as well as a looming cooperative effort with Kosciusko County leaders in efforts to construct a parking garage in the downtown.

He said he thinks the innovation center — a longterm project that directly involves Grace College — could help transform Argonne Road.

Grose also told the audience that he thinks renovating Winona Avenue from Detroit Street to the roundabout on the edge of Winona Lake town limits should be a top priority on a list that's been developed by OrthoWorx, which is overseeing $30 million in state money aimed at stimulating job attraction for the orthopedic industry.

And when construction on Winona Avenue starts, he said he thinks it should begin near the roundabout and move west toward downtown Warsaw.

"That's Jeff talking," he said playfully. "If you don't like it, you can run against me."

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WARSAW — The city's first dedicated dog park being planned by the Warsaw Rotary Club will likely include a canoe launch.

That was one of the details shared by City Planner Justin Taylor after the city board of works approved a $3,000 grant from the Kosciusko Community Foundation that will go toward the Rotary Club’s plans for a four-acre dog park along Hand Avenue.

The proposed park is just a block away from Rotary Park, which the club established about five years ago.

The park could cost about $200,000 to construct, according to a preliminary estimate. That would be about twice as much as the Rotary Park endeavor.

Taylor, whose is also an honorary member of the Rotary Club, said the park will include a walking trail, canoe launch and roughly $30,000 in fencing for two enclosed areas — one for big dogs and another for smaller dogs.

The land is in a floodplain that doesn’t have good potential for development and the city sees the park as a good potential use.

It would also provide a bit more of balance in terms of overall geography of parks across the city by having another greenspace on the west side, he said.

The city acquired the land for the club and is helping with grand writing opportunities, Taylor said.

Efforts by the Rotary Club to raise money are already underway, Taylor said.

No timeline for the project has been outlined.

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New toys are collected to support the Angel Tree program of The Salvation Army. This year the toys are going to benefit children of veterans as Angel Tree. American Legion Post #49 is assisting with the program to help children of active duty personnel and veterans.  

Anyone wanting to donate toys for Veteran families may drop them off at the Angel Tree at Walmart or at The Salvation Army, 501 E Arthur Street both in Warsaw by December 14th.  

Toys should be put in a bag and marked "Veteran." 

The Salvation Army is also seeking information on any active duty or Veterans who may need assistance for the holidays. Send details to Envoy Ken Locke, Administrator of The Salvation Army at Ken.Locke@usc.salvationarmy.org.

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