Teens take full
advantage of weekly TGIF Bus
service
By DANA
DUGAN
Express Staff Writer
The ‘Thank
God its Friday" bus began hauling kids up to Ketchum on Friday nights
last year in the spring, and has slowly built up steam.
The Blaine
County Teen Advisory Council charters a KART bus, known as the TGIF Bus,
for teens going to Ketchum and returning to Hailey. It costs TAC $150 each
night the bus is in service. Funds come from the annual summer
fund-raiser, Best of the Valley, as well as from a grant received through
the Department of Juvenile Corrections.
The TGIF
Bus has proven to be successful for the teens who ride it bus weekly
to and from Ketchum. Express photo by Dana DuGan
Every
Friday at 6 p.m. on Hailey’s Bullion Street teens, primed for some
weekend fun, line up for the bus to take them to Ketchum for such
activities as ice hockey, movies, or pizza. They each pay $1 and there is
always a volunteer adult organizing the boarding. The adult also rides the
bus up and back to ensure safety and to monitor behavior.
"Its
been quite successful, as far as the kids," said Angenie McCleary,
facilitator TAC.
The driver,
Dean Richardson, said the average number of riders varies from between 35
and 50 kids. One girl said there have been times they have had to squeeze
three into a seat.
The bus
will continue all summer.
"If
the numbers dropped below five, say, like last summer, we might take a
break," said McCleary. She doesn’t imagine that will happen
however, based on the increased ridership.