Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
More than 70 local elementary school kids and their parents attended a reception in Central Park Tuesday for the unveiling of a new school bus.
Kosciusko Area Bus Services, along with Cardinal Center, teamed with the Esther Pfleiderer Charitable Trust to purchase the bus.
The bus, obtained with the help of a grant from the Pfleiderer Trust, is for those children who do not qualify for regular bus service pickup during the school year. The service transports students to and from school, youth programs and childcare. The new bus extends its services to all public elementary schools in the area, as well as Warsaw Christian School and Sacred Heart.
Rita Baker, KABS general manager, began brainstorming 1-1/2 years ago and created the idea to have elementary school students from the area draw flowers to be printed on the side of the bus. One submitted flower from each classroom was chosen and the "Children's Garden Bus" was created.
Lana Mynhier from CC Graphics transferred the flowers onto the bus.
"This is the first chance for the parents and their children to see their artwork on the bus," said Cardinal Center Community Relations Manager Michelle Boxell, of the reception.
After a brief presentation by Boxell, Baker and John Elliot, trust officer for the Pfleiderer Trust, children and parents milled around the bus, taking pictures and admiring the artwork on the bus.
The grant from the Pfleiderer Trust made the purchase of the bus grow from a brainstorm to a reality.
"I wish Esther could be here today," Elliot told the eager crowd of children and parents. "This is a project Esther would have loved to see ... to know the kids painted this bus - she would have been excited."
