Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
After a few years away, Janelle Wilson says it's good to be near family.
Wilson, 28, was hired as the new Warsaw Parks Department activities director in January, replacing Andy McCleary, who quit last fall to accept another position. Wilson began her duties this week.
Originally from Fort Wayne, she graduated from Purdue University in the winter of 1997. Since then she has worked for the Goshen Parks Department and most recently for the Peoria, Ill., Parks District.
In Peoria she was the teen coordinator and worked in the the arts and leisure department of the Recreation Division.
She has family in Warsaw, too: Wilson's sister, Lynette. is married to Warsaw police officer Joe Hawn.
Her husband, Casey Wilson, is membership and facility operations manager at the central branch of the Fort Wayne YMCA. His boss is former Kosciusko County YMCA director Don Enterline.
Casey was offered his job two days before she was offered hers.
The couple moved here last Thursday - during the county- wide power outage.
"We spent the night in Columbia City," she said about the inconvenience. "We knew it was only temporary."
Currently Wilson is meeting the community, learning about the parks' role in the city and the programs other agencies offer the public.
Setting up the 2002 summer concerts in Center Park has been keeping her busy, too, although she said most of the "big" acts have been booked.
First up, though, is the parks-sponsored Easter egg hunt March 30.
"I'm weeding through all if it," she said of all the new information, "and everyone has been so helpful."
Park board member Bob Richmond was on the selection committee and so far he's the only board member she has met.
"He asked me a great question," she said. "'What gets under your skin the most?'"
Her answer: People who don't do what they say they'll do.
