SALVATION ARMY PLANS UPGRADE

Now that he has a bigger and better facility, Salvation Army Capt. Elmer Trapp wants to upgrade the services.

Trapp will develop a questionnaire in the next couple of weeks to determine what people want from the Salvation Army.

"I want to feel the heartbeat of the community, now that we can do so many more things for the people who helped us get this awesome facility," Trapp said.

The new Salvation Army building is the result of a $1 million campaign.

"It took a lot of leadership from some great people in this community and the surrounding area to make it all happen," Trapp said.

The Salvation Army's old headquarters, some 4,000 square feet in an old bank building, kept Trapp from helping flood victims last summer as much as he would have liked.

"We couldn't offer showers or a big enough space for people to stay overnight," he said. "You want to be able to feel as if you can comfort disaster victims at one of the worst times in their lives. Now I feel we can."

With the building's 17,000 square feet, Trapp believes he has the room to begin youth programs and cater to the needs of more adults.

Relief from tragic consequences won't be the only thing Trap will offer, however. There will be a new gymnasium built behind the bank building.

Trapp said he would like to begin a midnight basketball league with games played from 6 p.m. to midnight, adding that he would ensure strict supervision while the games are being played.

The midnight basketball league would give youths an alternative to walking the streets at night, he said.

"Sometimes kids are on the streets because they don't know what else to do," he said. "This would give them something to consider, maybe even change their lives."

Trapp started moving boxes and various items into the new building Friday and plans to be open for business Monday.

Some furnishings won't be delivered until next week, but Trapp couldn't wait to begin his new operation.

The first worship service was planned at the center today at 9:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend.