BETHANY - Several girls and a few boys toss around a huge inflated football on a bike-littered lawn outside of what has turned into the hottest youth hangout in town.

Chairs are piled high on a new wooden floor, and the place still has the smell of new paint.

The youths outside are enjoying their new-found freedom at the refurbished 90-year-old house in Bethany that recently opened as a youth center.

Phil Ozier and John Book purchased the house in July and did all the construction and remodeling work on the youth center.

"You wouldn't believe how bad of shape this house was in," Phil Ozier said, pointing out the ceiling in the back room had to be redone. All the floorboards had to be ripped up to replace the joists underneath.

John McLaughin also donated his time working on the house, and Jack Thomas did all the electric work.

Ozier and his wife, Lisa, knew exactly what they wanted to do with the house when they got it.

"The youths needed something to do; everyone in the community has said that these kids need something to do," said Lisa Ozier.

Foosball and air hockey tables are located in the main game room of the house. The center's computer room has one computer hooked up so far. Employees of Miles Chevrolet in Decatur are donating more computers, according to the Oziers.

Bags of chips, candy bars and other snack goodies line the counters inside a fully equipped kitchen.

Past the kitchen is a room with a long table where the youths can sit, eat and relax. They also can play with the basketball and hoop game or hit balls back and forth across the ping-pong table.

Against one wall, some of the boys were huddled around a television concentrating on a PlayStation NCAA football game.

Harley Miller, 17, and his friend, Trenton Prahl, 17, were battling it out, with their team running across the football field.

"Ooh," Trenton yelled and covered his eyes with his one hand while the other manned the controls as the word "fumble" popped up on the screen.

Before the youth center, Harley said he "would sit at home and do nothing."

"It gets us out of the house, and we can do things with our friends," added Trenton.

Jaclyne Crowe, 15, and her sister, Payton Prahl, 11, attend youth activities at Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany but said there wasn't much else to do.

"We have more games here at the youth center, and we can come here and hang out," Jaclyne said.

The Oziers had a baby girl during the summer, and their 4-year old son was hospitalized and had surgery. Yet, they persevered in getting the youth center ready and opened.

Bethany Mayor Barb Meador commended the Oziers for taking on the task.

"It gives our youths somewhere to go and to be with their friends," she said. "We also put in a skate park. So now the youths in Bethany have choices to make rather than being bored and getting into trouble. Both projects will need upkeep, and our youths can take a great deal of pride in what they have done to help."

Bethany's center is open from 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Hours eventually will include weekends.

The village is paying a portion of the utility bills, but donations are needed to cover operation costs.

The Oziers established only two rules for the center: Everyone must respect each other and respect the property.

"I think it's wonderful what Phil and Lisa have done," said Phyllis McReynolds, who brought her grandson, Micka, to the youth center.

"My grandson would ride around town on his bike, and I would have to go look for him. I just don't want him hanging out with the wrong crowd."

Cindy Crowe, a mother of two, said, "When you live in a small town, sometimes there isn't much to do. And I have really been impressed with this youth center."

Meanwhile behind the center, Phil Ozier had no problem jumping in the air and catching a football with some of the boys. That would seem to be something he'll be doing a lot of.

Sheila Smith can be reached at sheilas@herald-review.com or 421-7963.