Walterboro High School - Paw Print / Lair Yearbook (Walterboro, SC)

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Teens Find Something To Do Walterboro was a town in transition. It was in the middle of the painful but necessary process of growing from a small town to a city on the move. But as is usually the case, this rapid change cre- ated problems. One such problem was the advanced growth of population and service related industries without a comprehensive growth in business catering to the recreational needs of teenagers. With no mov- ie theater, bowling alley, or arcade, students were left with nothing to do but get into trouble or travel fifty miles to Charleston. in view of the predicament, school staff member Mrs. Pat Rhode became a sympathetic activist to make the plight of the students known. The fruit of her efforts was the formation of a teen commis- sion composed of students Robert Cuzzone, Liz Parrish, Tim Simmons and Recreation Commis- sion Director Derek Stewart. Also on the commit- tee were Mayor Elton Culpepper and parents Jo- del Johnson, Rex Beach, and Diane Jones. The aim of the organization, as Tim Simmons said, “was to provide well-rounded recreational activities for the youth of Colleton County. The organization’s first attempt to carry out its objectives was “A Teen’s Night Out,” the evening of Saturday March 5. Held at the Recreation Cen- ter Gym, this event featured a dance with locaf radio celebrity Barry Hill. Randy Beach, sophomore, said, There was a lot of good music and company.. . We all appreci- ated the efforts of the commission to show us a goodtime.” When asked what he thought of the dance, commission member Tim Simmons said, I think it was certainly a step in the right direction. Another step in the right direction was the open- ing of a teen club called Jammin’ on Hwy 15. The club featured a game-room, non-alcoholic bever- ages, a dance floor and top 40 rock n’ roll. This whole episode was a lesson in community action for Walterboro’s adolescents. They saw something missing in the community and voiced their opinions both to local and public officials and entrepreneurs. The results of their outcry were the establishment of a public commission to create recreational activities for the youth of the commu- nity and a private sector effort to invest in youth- centered endeavors. MIKE HIOTT, JR., OPENED his teen club, Jammin’, after witnessing the outcry of local adolescents for a place to hang out. Dancing at the club are Terry O’Briant, Shawna Davis, Lisa Groves and Gayle Carroll. GREG FENNESSY AND FRIEND Woody Nettles sit at the bar at Jammin’ on a Friday night and enjoy the beginning of the weekend. Youth Commission

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35 Minutes When asked about lunch, students commented on the usual. What they remembered most was the common menu of hamburger, “everyday” french fries, fruit and milk. “Even though the food lacked variety,” Dale Hoover said, “the price was right.” However, Tim Smoak expressed, “Person- ally I think seventy-five cents is a little much to pay for a plain soybean burger and limber fries.” But for some students, lunch was not a time to eat. They preferred to spend this free time talking with their friends. “Lunch is the only time I get to see my friends,” Nancy Hiers commented. “Because I do not have any classes with my friends, thirty- five minutes at lunch is not exactly enough time to catch up on what is going on.” Lunch became cram-time for the next class in some instances. Kathy Lawson agreed, “Lunch gave me the op- portune time to study for advanced algebra and trigonometry tests. Karen Manneraak and I were known for last minute studying during lunch.” For the athletes, lunch was a necessity. “Whether bad or good, food is food,” commented Dan Purvis. “I ate lunch everyday and expecially during soccer season.” MR. HUBBARD gladly makes sure his students remain or- derly as they rush to lunch. Lunch 1

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OBVIOUSLY EXCITED just to be somewhere, Kathy Drawdy and Donna Chapman show it by “getting into the groove.” “Teens Night Out was just that. Teens from Colleton County attended the bash that was DJed by the “doctor Barry Hill from Q107. “We need to have one of these every weekend!” exclaimed Junior Denny Hall. The dance began at 8:00, but the ball didn’t get rolling until 8:30. After that there were dancing feet for every song until 12:30 A.M. Students from Walterboro High, Ruffin High, and John C. Calhoun were in atten- dance. One student commented, “It is great to see all three schools having fun togeth- er. The dance was just the beginning of scores of activities planned for the youth of the county. On May 9 a lock-in was planned at the recreation center. SCHOOL STAFF MEMBER PAT RHODE, Recreation Com- mission Director Derek Stewart, and Mayor Elton Culpep- per exchange ideas at a meeting of the newly formed Teen Activities Commissions. Youth Commission