Bake sale Sunday went to the dogs

More than $1,000 was raised at a bake sale Sunday by the residents' council of Eskaton Manor on Humboldt Street for the proposed K-9 Unit for the Willows Police Department.

"We all agree that the police need to have a dog," said Eva Whitham, president of the residents' council. "We have problems with kids jumping the fence behind us (from Cedar Hills Manor) and we're hoping a dog could help catch some of the ones making the trouble."

The committee sold dozens of bunt cake, cookies, brownie and cupcakes to raise more than $1,000 and were still counting up their totals Tuesday afternoon.

"Those ladies really kicked butt for us," Willows police Chief Bill Spears said.

Police department efforts to raise funds through donations for a new K-9 Unit kicked off in January with a "Tip-A-Cop" dinner. Police officers traded their nightsticks and guns for aprons and water pitchers, and worked as servers competing for large tips all night. The $2,300 raised was also donated to the department's planned K-9 fund.

Since January, the department received two $50 donations and, on Tuesday, received an additional donation of $200 for the fund.

Spears said he was grateful for "all the community support, especially given the current economic troubles everyone is going through."

Spears said additional fundraiser are planned, but no dates have been set.

When the department could be ready to proceed with a K-9 program also remains unclear, but Spears said such fundraisers are "really helping us make progress."

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