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"Where is he?! Where is he?" panicked 6th grader Nathan Oertli. "I don’t know, I don’t know! Oh man, I died!" responded LBJ Middle School peer Thomas Tobolka. On Saturday, March 6th these two young men were facing off in an epic battle of Halo 3 with some of their friends. What made this battle different, was that it took place in a karate studio on a Saturday night.

Oertli and Tobolka had joined approximately 20 other middle school aged students for the second monthly Youth Committee Assistance Program (YCAP) event. The event was the brain child of four co-founders: JCPD Police Chief Randy Holland, his wife – Jenifer Holland, Raymond Weeks, and Kebirn Rush. The idea was to provide a cost free, drug and alcohol free location for young people to "hang out," while allowing positive role models from the community to mingle and get to know the kids.

The logic and purpose behind YCAP is simple. "We saw a need in the community that needed to be filled. We’re just down to Earth folks who have a desire to help kids…by giving them a place to go… a positive outlet – where they aren’t getting into trouble and causing any kind of criminal mischief around town," Chief Holland said

Although the events are currently being held at the ASB Karate Studio – the goal of the co-founders is to have their own location where they can host similar events on a weekly basis on a much larger scale, rather than on a monthly basis. They have been looking at various properties around town to create a cost free, drug and alcohol free, youth center where "any youth in the county can go and hang out." Ideally, they would love to move into the old Super S Building in town, however nothing formal has occurred to acquire the property as of yet. The thought is that such a building actually has ample enough space to hold a volleyball court, as well as a skate park of sorts – all in doors.

"We’re trying to get to know these kids – to spend quality time with them and provide them with a place to go and hang out… a place where they can be with their friends, but not in a school setting… there’s just not much for them to do here in town," Holland stated.

The past two events have included food such as burgers, hot-dogs, chips, and Gatorade completely free of charge. Oh, and don’t forget about the fun these kids are having while they are there. On March 6th, the Video Game Tournament night opened from 6:00 – 9:00 pm for the middle school aged students. From 9:00 to midnight, the party started for the high school aged students, of which 47 attended. According to Chief Holland, parents were also welcome to attend and stay the whole time if they would have liked.

These nights out, however, were about more than just video games and food. While some kids were playing Halo 3, others were playing "Dance, Dance, Revolution" with a Nintendo Wii, a few more were playing ping pong with each other, and (at least during the middle school event) there were a good number of young people who were simply playing on the mats in the studio and having fun being together. Though this sounds like in and of itself would be plenty to offer the local youth, especially on a volunteer basis – the co-founders for YCAP have much grander plans.

"Eventually, we want to be able to take the kids camping, take them out to the movies, Pizza Hut, things like that," Holland stated. "We want the young people to want to come and hang out at these events." To do that, the events need to be fun… not to mention "cool."

But staying "hip and trendy" with the "Net Generation," as the current crop of teens are now called, is not easy – nor is it cheap.

Though the YCAP founders have not sought out help with their functions just yet – they welcome it with open arms. "Obviously if folks want to help out – time is one of the most valuable things they can give. We’re in the process of putting together a board of trustees," Holland said. "Our plan is to have an account at the Johnson City Bank open for the Youth Committee Assistance Program. If anybody would like to make a financial donation to that account – they most certainly can!"

To make donations, ask questions, or provide support, Chief Holland was also gracious enough to provide his cell phone number to the community. His cell phone number is (830)868-3189. Any financial donations can be mailed to PO BOX 1410, Johnson City, TX 78636 Attention: YCAP Committee.