Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Lions, tigers and bears - oh, my!
No, Warsaw hasn't turned into the wonderful world of Oz. Rather, it's time for the annual third grade trip to the Shrine Circus in Fort Wayne.
It began as a way to help troubled kids find new meaning in life.
Approximately 50 years later, the annual trek to the Mizpah Shrine Circus is an event all third-graders in Kosciusko County schools can enjoy, as well as the handicapped, the elderly and guests of the Kosciusko County Shrine Club.
"The main reason is that it's just a traditional thing that's been happening for 50 years with the third-graders. The local Shrine Club puts it on and we donate the tickets for the kids," said Mike Hall, chairman of the Shrine Circus committee.
This year, the Shrine Circus trip is Feb. 4. The caravan of buses, local law enforcement and other emergency vehicles will leave the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds at 9:15 a.m., with the performance slated to begin at 10:30 a.m. The caravan will leave the fairgrounds in Warsaw and meet up with another group in Pierceton. A mile long, the caravan will travel along U.S. 30 to the Fort Wayne Memorial Coliseum.
Loren Tridle, 85, Mentone, has been involved in the annual event from the start.
"It's been a long time, about 50 years," he said. "I've been going to the Shrine Circus for 50 years or better and I only missed one year."
He said when they began taking children to the circus, it wasn't too different from the way it is now. They didn't have the facilities they do now, and the roads weren't too great to travel on, but not much else has changed, he said. And he's looking forward to going again this year.
"I plan to go. I've got to look after the kids at Mentone, Burket, Akron and Triton. I've got to talk to them the day before (on what to expect)," he said.
The best part about the circus, he said, is "just seeing the kids."
He said, "They have a good time. They never forget it. It's been a lot of fun. I've enjoyed it, anyhow."
After the circus is over, when the clowns have washed the paint off their faces, and the children are falling asleep in their seats from an exhausting and exciting day, the caravan is escorted by law enforcement officers nonstop back to Kosciusko County, where each bus then returns to its school. All before the school day is over.
"The kids get a lot of enjoyment from it and they remember it for the rest of their lives," said Hall.
There are many different committees that make the annual trip memorable for the third-grade students. And it's not just the Shriners who make the trip a success. Law enforcement officers from the state, county, towns and cities are involved as is the Warsaw Fire Department.
There are 29 Kosciusko County school buses in the caravan, one EMS medical team, a large wrecker and 10 local law enforcement units.
Lunches are packed the night before at Bertsch Vending Co. by Shriners. Charles Bertsch donates the company facilities to help make the lunches. Each person attending the circus is given a sack lunch and drink immediately after the circus. Each sack lunch has a sandwich, a candy bar and a sandwiched cracker, and an orange drink is provided. More than 1,500 sack lunches are provided.
"Without (Bertsch Vending), the lunches wouldn't be available due to the sheer number of kids," said Hall. "As far as law enforcement, they help get us there and back. Without them, it wouldn't be possible. They've helped since the beginning, too."
The day before the scheduled circus trip, Shrine members visit each school and tell the third-grade students how best to prepare.
If a student misses his or her trip, they are allowed to go the following year.
