The heavens cried on Tyrone Thursday night, and so did many of the audience as the Town Council denied a request for a youth center in the town’s Shamrock Industrial Park.

For nearly three years, John Paone has been trying to open a Christian youth center that would give teens an alternative to many of the bad influences in today’s society.

Paone tried to address many of the council’s concerns about safety and security.

“I’ve staged many events in this county and have never had one single problem,” he said.

He also said that he was aware safety concerns about a building in the industrial park that would have kids present, but said the town should not worry about that issue.

“I’ve had to help people that were shot on the battlefield. “It may not be the perfect place, but it’s the best place,” he said.

But Councilwoman Grace Caldwell still believed an industrial park was not the best place for a youth center.

“It’s not in compliance with the codes of Tyrone and we would have to change the uses in a zoning category to allow this,” she said.

Still, speaker after speaker, walked up to the microphone and asked the Town Council to find a solution that would allow the center to be built.

“It’s changed my life. There’s so much negative stiff out there and this would give hope to our generation,” said Paone’s daughter, Kristin Prichard.

Other speakers echoed her sentiment.

“You’ve got a tremendous opportunity to impact lives. Y’all are fixing to miss out,” said Craig Wiley.

Matt Williams, who lives in Fayetteville, said Paone led him to Christ, and that he’s now a successful manager for Federal Express.

“All you’re doing is hurting the children,” he said.

The lone dissenter was Cheryl Willis, who owns a business in the industrial park. Willis said her business has a lot of heavy equipment and she has safety concerns.

“Somebody’s going to get hurt. There will be a lot of people who won’t want to move a business in there,” she said.

But in the end, Caldwell and Councilwoman Gloria Furr voted to deny the request, while Councilman Mike Smola and Paul Letourneau supported it. Mayor Sheryl Lee had to break the tie and agreed it was not the right location for the center.

“This is a sad day for Tyrone,” said Smola.