Winona Businessman Buys Traded-In DARE Van
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
Anderson will donate the van to the Polston family Friday.
The van will be brought to the Health Force Of Indiana, 801 Park Ave., Winona lake, parking lot at noon Friday when the Polston family will accept the vehicle.[[In-content Ad]]Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety at its May 1 meeting approved trading in the van to Kelley Chevrolet, Fort Wayne. The van was one of several vehicles recommended for trade-in by Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter.
DARE Officer Terry Polston drove the van while serving as a DARE officer for Warsaw Community School Corp. He died Dec. 2 after a battle with lung cancer.
Terry served 26 years with WPD. The last 15 years of his career were spent as a DARE officer in the Warsaw school system.
After Terry's death, the van was displayed at WPD and was signed by the community and DARE students.
Anderson, CEO of Health Force Of Indiana, Winona Lake, called Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins Wednesday to express his desire to purchase back the vehicle.
"I knew buying back the van and donating it to the Polston family was the best thing to do," Anderson said during a phone interview this morning. "When I saw the number of signatures on the van, it clearly showed me what needed to be done."
Anderson said Terry was his children's DARE officer and he has known the Polston family for some time.
Anderson said he will go to the Fort Wayne dealership today to purchase the vehicle and bring it back to Warsaw.
Randy Polston, Terry's brother, attended Monday's Warsaw City Council meeting and expressed his concerns with not knowing the van was traded in by the city until last Friday.
Randy said during a phone interview this morning that Wiggins called him Wednesday to let him know the city was willing to purchase the van back. Wiggins told him if the city purchased the van back, it would have needed to be used to serve a non-profit organization since it already was traded in by the city.
Wiggins also informed Randy of Anderson's wishes to buy the van back for the Polstons.
Wiggins, during an interview this morning, said he contacted Kelley Chevrolet Tuesday to inquire about the city purchasing back the van.
Wiggins notified city council members of Anderson's decision to purchase the van for the Polston family.
"I think Anderson buying the van is the best resolution, and how the van will be used is up to the Polston family," Wiggins said.
Randy said it brings closure knowing the community will have the van back.
"This is phenomenal and we are blessed and appreciate Jim donating the vehicle to our family," Randy said.
He said the van belongs to the community and DARE students whose lives Terry touched.
Randy said the van will be put into storage, and he will conduct a survey next school year to allow Warsaw Community School Corp. students and the community to decide the best use for the van.
Latest News
E-Editions
Anderson will donate the van to the Polston family Friday.
The van will be brought to the Health Force Of Indiana, 801 Park Ave., Winona lake, parking lot at noon Friday when the Polston family will accept the vehicle.[[In-content Ad]]Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety at its May 1 meeting approved trading in the van to Kelley Chevrolet, Fort Wayne. The van was one of several vehicles recommended for trade-in by Warsaw Police Chief Perry Hunter.
DARE Officer Terry Polston drove the van while serving as a DARE officer for Warsaw Community School Corp. He died Dec. 2 after a battle with lung cancer.
Terry served 26 years with WPD. The last 15 years of his career were spent as a DARE officer in the Warsaw school system.
After Terry's death, the van was displayed at WPD and was signed by the community and DARE students.
Anderson, CEO of Health Force Of Indiana, Winona Lake, called Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins Wednesday to express his desire to purchase back the vehicle.
"I knew buying back the van and donating it to the Polston family was the best thing to do," Anderson said during a phone interview this morning. "When I saw the number of signatures on the van, it clearly showed me what needed to be done."
Anderson said Terry was his children's DARE officer and he has known the Polston family for some time.
Anderson said he will go to the Fort Wayne dealership today to purchase the vehicle and bring it back to Warsaw.
Randy Polston, Terry's brother, attended Monday's Warsaw City Council meeting and expressed his concerns with not knowing the van was traded in by the city until last Friday.
Randy said during a phone interview this morning that Wiggins called him Wednesday to let him know the city was willing to purchase the van back. Wiggins told him if the city purchased the van back, it would have needed to be used to serve a non-profit organization since it already was traded in by the city.
Wiggins also informed Randy of Anderson's wishes to buy the van back for the Polstons.
Wiggins, during an interview this morning, said he contacted Kelley Chevrolet Tuesday to inquire about the city purchasing back the van.
Wiggins notified city council members of Anderson's decision to purchase the van for the Polston family.
"I think Anderson buying the van is the best resolution, and how the van will be used is up to the Polston family," Wiggins said.
Randy said it brings closure knowing the community will have the van back.
"This is phenomenal and we are blessed and appreciate Jim donating the vehicle to our family," Randy said.
He said the van belongs to the community and DARE students whose lives Terry touched.
Randy said the van will be put into storage, and he will conduct a survey next school year to allow Warsaw Community School Corp. students and the community to decide the best use for the van.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092