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Show PAL Lifted Off Dead Center By Richard Barnum-Reec- e Mike Fields, Tooele High School class' of 74 is perring out from behind the windshield wipers as they slush across the windshield. Hes gesturing with his right hand and smoothly making turns with a one-hande- d finesse that only policeman, driving and conversations with the police dispatcher, can boast. Its something that the community needs," says Sgt. Fields. Its something that makes it a lot easier work with the kids on the streets because, you know, you work out with them during the day and its easier to keep that dialogue going later on." long used to right-hande- left-hande- d d Hes talking about the fledgling Police Athletic League, PAL for short. Its nothing much to look at right now. Olympic weights, yellow lockers against the wall, a poster of the Dallas cheerleaders on the floor. But, when it comes down to the value of providing alternative forms of enter- tainment to Tooele's young people, Sgt. Fields says theres nothing more constructive than the weight lifting program offered through the Police Athletic League or the new boxing program which the PAL will offer starting this week. Right now wed like to get more kids involved, says Sgt. Fields, still driving and talking. "Ill bet we could easy have more than 500 kids involved in the pro- gram." Sgt. Fields, Officer George Winkler and Lt. Jared Gourdin are now volunteering their time to make the Police Athletic League a success in Tooele. Both Sgt. Fields and Officer Winkler help with the weight lifters, Lt. Gourdin is a boxing coach who held a few AAU titles and military crowns. The shining star of the Police Athletic League is Larry Modena, son of Larry Modena, who recently set a few state records in his class at a meet in Park Larry Modena, recognized as one of the top weightlifters in the state, works out regularly at the Tooele Police Athletic League. City and who is now attempting to get to Oklahoma City, Okla. for a national meet. weight lifting championship-leve- l Larry has done Larry had done a sup- er job," says Fields. "Hes worked hard and now its starting to pay off for him. I think thats exciting. So it is for young people, policemen will tell you. Give them an opportunity to develop their skills; give them a place where they can go and work out, boxing or weight lifting, and you wont find them hanging out in the parking lots or cruising the streets looking for excitement. Theyve got constructive entertainment at the PAL club. "Years ago we had an athletic league but it was dropped, says Lt. Gourdin. That was about 1971. We had a boxing team. But it was dropped because ' of a lack of time. The club is run by volunteers. Primarily police volunteers. But if you'd like to volunteer to help out the youth of Tooele, Lt. Gourdin and Sgt. Fields say your assistance will be much appreciated. And if you happen to have a set of Olympic weights, maybe a pool table, some paint just setting around in a back room, consider donating it to the PAL club. The reason why the Police Athletic League exists right now is that we see a need for it," says Lt. Gourdin. The need to give the youth of the community something constructive to do rather than drag Main or sit in the parking lots." Having goals is important," says Lt. Gourdin. You get a person like Larry Modena who has set goals for himself and has got as far as the nationals and that's quite an accomplishment. Hes QUESADILLA, SALAD & DRINK SPECIAL Taste them once and youll want to come back for more! Two kinds of cheese, with green chiles piled on a large flour tortilla, grilled in butter and served with sour cream and guacamole. Plus a dinner salad and drink for only . . . 22 E. 100 N. 882-200- 0 mm 75 WEST MAIN, GRANTSVILLE 804-6- 1 (Infant Sizes Up To Teen Size 18) Dressy Clothes Playwear Nightwear Sportswear Swimwear 34 been involved in it for two years and look at what he's done." It started in a small building owned by Joe Busico but as the PAL club continued to develop it was obvious that they needed a larger building. Just across the street, the Hometown Bakery owns a building and it was offered. "We took it," says Sgt. Fields. We outgrew our other building. The new building is twice as large." So today as many as 50 young people pump weights at the PAL club on Broadway, at the building with the door that has lost some of its sheen and a storm door with "Geo" lettered in the frame. Its at 81 N. Broadway, to be ex- act, just across from Reds and the J. J. Lounge and up from the Road Runners. "Maybe a tougher part of town but the price was right," says Sgt. Fields as he closed the door to the club. "We were real happy to get it." But what the club needs right now, Sgt. Fields says, other than volunteers and money, is more kids. "Yeah," he says, "Tell the kids to come out. Weve got a bunch of seniors right now and they'll be leaving. We'd like to see more kids get involved. Its a good program for them. Theyll enjoy it." Sgt. Fields and Lt. Gourdin say that local businesses have been particularly supportive of police efforts to get the PAL club off the ground but the club could still stand a financial boost or two. In the future we'd like to provide a track club and a winter time basketball program," Lt. Gourdin says. "Wed like to be involved in any activity that involves kids from 13 to 18. We have one drive a year to raise money and what we're trying to do is provide something for the kids who are older than 13, who havent got programs available to them, and who have been left up to themselves to provide their own entertainment," he says. Which is asking for trouble, says Lt. Gourdin. You put the kids out on the streets and tell them to come up with their own form of excitement and the gremlins that govern the streets will answer you in spades. "The vast majority of crime in Tooele County is committed by young people," says Lt. Gourdin. "Only a small amount of crime here is the work of professionals." So, he agrees the social value of providing activities to Tooeles youth is an investment in not only the future but also a safeguard for the present. Right now the PAL would like to come up with about $3,500 in their drive to provide new equipment for the club. Theyd like to see the Elks Lodge drawing be a huge success. For $1 a ticket you can purchase the possibility of drawing a ticket for a color TV, a radio, or a Quasar stereo provided by Paul Hervat of Radio Electric. The Elks' Lodge drawing will be April 20. "The thing is," says Lt. Gourdin, "Its the same with all sports. If a young boy is able to get involved in a program they develop their self assurance. They find they dont have to go out in the streets to prove themselves because they know what they are capable of doing. Those are the kids who dont get involved in street fighting because they know what they can do and they have nothing to prove." (Continued On Page Three) socially-acceptabl- e walk-ma- n |