PAL tries to make a comeback

Plans to revive a defunct youth activity group will be presented to the Willows City Council on Tuesday.

The Willows Police Activities League was the largest youth group in Glenn County until it was suspended in 2006 under a firestorm of allegations of financial mismanagement.

Former police Chief Rick Shipley served as executive director of Willows PAL and resigned in 2006 following the controversy.

In February, the City Council formed a committee to study the feasibility of reviving the dormant youth program.

"It looks promising," said Carol Lemonager, city recreation director.

The committee was made up of Lemonager, police Chief Bill Spears, and Councilmen Jim Yoder and Gary Hansen.

"If anyone else in the community wants to step up to the plate and join the committee, we're very open to that," Spears said.

According to a staff report, the city concluded after several staff meetings that the program would be in the public interest if operated under "the right supervision."

One way to do that, city officials suggested, is to run day-to-day operations through the Recreation Department instead of the Police Department.

Spears said many police youth leagues are now run through recreation departments throughout the nation.

The league plans to offer several new programs such as boxing, but would also expand current recreation programs such as soccer and basketball, Spears said.

Contact Rob Parsons at 934-6800 or rparsons@tcnpress.com.

KNOW AND GO

What: Police Activities League
Who: Willows City Council
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: City Hall, 201, N. Lassen St.