Photographed with the new KABS buses (from left): Cardinal Services Corporate VP, Randy Hall; Bob List, Saemann, board member and great nephew of Frank and Irene Saemann; and KABS General Manager Robert Cunningham.
(Photo provided)

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Saemann Foundation board member Bob List visited Cardinal Services recently to learn more about the foundation’s grant made to Cardinal’s KABS program. Cardinal’s Randy Hall and Rob Cunningham of KABS showed List the new bus, pointing out special features and explaining KABS ongoing need for new buses.

Kosciusko Area Bus Service has eight buses and vans providing public transportation throughout Kosciusko County. Last year they provided more than 47,000 rides to local citizens, adding nearly 184,000 miles of wear and tear on the vehicles.

Not surprisingly with such high volume, keeping the fleet updated is a constant safety concern. As a vehicle ages and becomes more difficult and costly to repair, KABS makes every effort to update it with a new bus. This winter KABS has two new buses on the road, replacing older ones in the fleet.

KABS is a public transportation service, owned by the county and administered by Cardinal Services. The buses were purchased with funding from the Indiana Department of Transportation which provided 80 percent of the cost. The remaining 20 percent came from a $10k match from the City of Warsaw, and a $6,375 grant from the Franklin I. and Irene List Saemann Foundation.

KABS runs Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. To schedule a ride, call to pre-schedule at (574) 267-4990. Learn more at www.KABSbus.com.