Globe-Gazette from Mason City, Iowa • Page 19

Hi-Dive swings at "sweet 16 (Copy by Davt Dale and Pholos by Jo Muorc) Hi-Dive, the youth center operating Friday and Saturday nights at the Mason City YMCA, turned "sweet 16" this year. And, according to director Glen Buchanan, it's still swinging like always. "Hi-Dive is a place where teenagers can come to meet their dance, to chat or just to lounge," says Buchaann. "That's why its always has been and still is popular." The program started in January 1944, growing out of a youth center inaugurated a few months earlier by the YMCA's Senior Hi-Y Club. Since then, it has been an independent, self-supported program run by an adult committee and a student committee.

Buchanan has directed it for the last years. Sessions are held Friday and Saturday nights except for the summer months and on nights of all-school dances sponsored by Mason City High, Holy Family or St. Joseph schools. Total attendance for last year's Hi-Dive sessions was 14,077, or an average of 256 teenagers a night. Price of admission is 15 cents a head.

Hughes J. Bryant is chair- man of the adult committee, composed of representatives of several sponsoring organizations. Student commilteemen are Steve Skram, Holy Family; Judy McAleer, St. Joseph, and Stephanie Bastian, Mason City High. Most of the students attending Hi-Dive sessions are sophomores, juniors and seniors from the city's three high schools, though some junior coilege students also take part in the activities.

"Hi-Dive isn't intended to be a cure for juvenile delinquency," Buchanan adds, "but it does do a job in keeping kids off the streets." A SLOW ONE Tcenaged couples crowd the dunce floor (the YMCA's banquet room) i'or some shuffling to "a one." Hi-Dive patrons this year are requesting fewer rock 'a' roll rec- ords and more of the slow, dreamy stuff, director Glen Buchanan reports. Generally, however, fast and slow tunea are alternated on the Hi-Dive phonograph. SOME SIT IT OUT With part of the the sidelines. Participating students set crowd occupying the dance floor, several their own pace and many prefer chit- Hi-Dive patrons (background) rest on chat or table tennis to dancing. DISC JOCKEYS No one's likely to ord-spinners "erring" in their choice of offer any "payola" but Mike Bastian a tune often hear cries of "Reject it" and Marcy Haigh serve as disc jockeys and if the complaint is popular, they do at one of Hi-Dive's dance sessions.

Rec- just that. TO FEED AN Hi-Dive director Glen Buchanan and his wife set out some of the refreshments for an eve- ning's crew of sociables. Soft drinks, candy, pea- nuts and chewing gum supply dancing energy. "COME ON IN!" Ted Bair the youth center's nine chaperons, and Dana Jones are greeted at the ticket Other chaperons are the Buchanans, table by Mrs. Strobel Hostctler (left), Mr.

and Mrs. Rod Kerner, Mrs. Olson Merlyn Olson and Hosteller, three of and Earl Goodnow. "YOU DON'T SAY!" Anywhere you man, as Kem Grouse spreads the word go, among adults or teenagers, gossip- and Marilyn Jensen (right) strains an ing is popular sport. Catching up on the ear.

latest news at Hi-Dive is Shirley Ship- a wds a Di ha ve a EN a break at Gerry Heivilin, Bob Winter, Dave Leonard, Bob Fish search through a mountainous heap of coats 250 youngsters a night for 16 years and that's a lot the Hi-Dive refreshment TefTare noTds, for their lipsticks, prior to a trip to the Hi-Dive pow- of coats. Stephanie Bastian, Mrs. Merlyn Olson( a chaperon),.