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Cadets, businesses repair city gazebo
0610 Gazebo repair
YCA cadets and Job Corps participants Eric Alexander (left), Gaylin Deal (left center), Devin Griffith (right center) and Kalen Ransom (right) help repair the roof of the gazebo in Main Street Park on Wednesday. - photo by Photo provided.

When Youth ChalleNGe Academy Facilities Maintenance Instructor Rodney West called Hinesville City Manager Billy Edwards and offered free construction services, Edwards jumped at the opportunity.
Representatives from Coastal Roofing, Ace Hardware and Turner Job Corps at Youth ChalleNGe Academy-Fort Stewart volunteered their time and skills Wednesday to repair the roof of the gazebo in Main Street Park at no cost to the city.
“The shingles were in grave need of repair and I wanted to get the boys started on a hands-on project,” West said.
Equipped with materials donated by Ace Hardware and the assistance of Jerry West, owner of Coastal Roofing Company, four cadets from the facility maintenance program repaired the structure and got hands-on experience for credit towards their training as well as community service hours.
“This project gives me the hands-on experience I was looking for,” Eric Alexander, 19, said.
The project was initiated by Wells, who said he wants to continue helping local students tackle community projects and beautification efforts to further their training.
“I would love to train these cadets because these are some of the trades people don’t want to do anymore,” he said.

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