WarriorCall

Have you ever wondered if there was a place for you to go, just to hang out? A group of volunteers has made it their mission to provide a safe, drug free environment where kids can go to have fun.

The Y.A.R.D. is run completely by volunteers in the communities in and around Hartland. It is affiliated with the Methodist Church. Anyone from the ages 13-18 may go on Friday nights from 6-9. Ms. Spurlock, one of the volunteers at The Y.A.R.D., says that the kids needed a positive environment outside of school.

The Y.A.R.D. is located in the old ambulance hall on Seekins Street. The food cupboard that used to occupy the building has moved to the old firehouse.

Some of the activities that the Y.A.R.D provides is basketball, volleyball, ping pong, D.D.R., and crafts. Dances are also held quite often. Among the volunteers are Social Workers, Nurses, E.M.T.'s.

"The kids in the area have been respectful & well behaved," said Ms. Spurlock. The Core group that started the Y.A.R.D. is in the process of applying to become an official non-profit organization. The average number of kids that attend the Y.A.R.D. every Friday ranges from 30-35 every week.

The ability to open the Y.A.R.D. for more nights in the week depends on the number of volunteers that come and help out.

By Micah Brown 

Pointless. That's the basic idea of what most students think of Warrior Time.

For some, it cuts into their favorite classes, it causes the Tri-County Tech students to arrive late for their training. But for most, it just seems like a pointless waste of time.

When students were asked exactly what they thought of Warrior Time, some responded with a mild apathy, while most made their opinions known with derogatory, unprintable phrases and terms.

The reason for the students' apparent annoyance, seems to have stemmed up from the "stupid" activities that they have been required to partake in, thus far (i.e. singing the school song).

There are, however, a few people that don't mind Warrior Time, all that much, because they get to see friends that they wouldn't during a regular school day. These students, unfortunately, are few and far between, and none seem to be influential persons in the student body.

Mrs. Gould, head of the English Department, is optimistic about Warrior Time. She likes it because, "It gives teachers the ability to get to know a small group and watch them develop." It is important for every student to have an adult advocate, she said.

She also remains hopeful that students will warm up to Warrior Time eventually, noting that the Freshmen don't seem to mind it as much as the upperclassmen.