"Community Gathering In Prayer" will be held at 6 p.m. today at Central Park, Warsaw.

According to local pastor Denny Wilson, the gathering is an opportunity for the community to come together to pray for the victims in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, and for the nation's leaders.

"We're going to try to keep it real simple," said Wilson.

Tuesday, he said, was a chance for families to get together and discuss and pray about the terrorist attacks. Tonight, he said, it's a chance for the community to get together.

Andy McCleary, Warsaw Parks director of recreation, who initiated the gathering, said it will be "a short simple time of prayer and time of praying for our nation."

The whole event, Wilson said, will last approximately a half hour.

McCleary said the event is not being sponsored by one particular organization, church or group. The gathering is a community event.

"It's an opportunity for our community to be involved," McCleary said.

Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins said of the terrorist attacks, "Obviously, it's a very tragic state when those things can happen." He said when McCleary talked to him Tuesday about having a prayer gathering, he thought it was a "wonderful" idea.

"Any and all of the churches who want to take part can," Wiggins said.

He also spoke on the emergency preparedness of Warsaw. Last month, representatives from the State Emergency Management Agency were in the county, working with Warsaw, the county and Kosciusko Community Hospital on emergency preparedness. "Even though we think it can't happen here," said Wiggins, "we need to have a plan in place. Those kind of efforts are being looked at."

NIPSCO, he said, also contacted him and said they are on heightened security. The local police agencies also are on alert.

He concluded by saying, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to those people in New York." [[In-content Ad]]