Since You Asked: Graffiti no big deal?

Q: Why does Yuba County allow graffiti to be drawn on Spenceville Road just outside of Wheatland? It looks awful, it's unsafe for the kids who place it there as they could be hit by cars. When the paint is wet it gets on the wheels of cars and makes a mess. Why doesn't Wheatland High School stop this? Many people are afraid to speak up as the kids are supposed to be friends and neighbors. The spray paint makes south Yuba County ghetto-looking.

A: Wheatland Police Chief Mike McCrary said he was a bit surprised to see the paint when he first came to the city but learned it's an annual ritual performed by Wheatland High School seniors.

If other people are upset as you are, they apparently haven't talked to McCrary, although it should be noted that the stretch of road in question is outside the city limits.

"I've never had a complaint. As far as I know, it's never been a safety problem," he said.

Seniors do the deed late at night around graduation time but apparently are accompanied by adults. Officials at the high school neither condone nor condemn the activity, he said.

Paint applied by seniors who graduated two or three years ago can still be seen on the road, he said.

Yuba County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Melanie Oakes said the kids like to spray-paint their names and year of graduation. Like the chief, she didn't seem to think it's an issue.

Q: In Yuba City there's a large vacant lot between the new Riverbend School and homes on Garden Highway with a sign posted in the front saying the land is owned by the Yuba City Unified School District. Any plans for use of the land by the district?

A: Baldev Johal, the district's deputy superintendent of business services, fielded your question about the field.

"The long-term plan for the vacant lot is to either sell or trade for a new school site," Johal said.

The new school site would depend on housing growth.

"Given the current economic climate, there's not much growth or development in the pipeline," he said.

Since You Asked is published Tuesdays. Send questions to reporter Rob Young at the Appeal-Democrat, P.O. Box 431, Marysville CA 95901, e-mail him at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com or call 749-4710.