'Since You Asked': What about a veterans medical facility in Y-S?

Q: I see that the state is going to build a multi-million-dollar facility to treat incarcerated felons. What ever happened to the intention of placing a facility in this area for veterans? Do offenders of the law deserve better treatment than our veterans of war? Veterans of this area have to travel to Sacramento (if they can find transportation) in order to receive treatment.

A: Plans are still on for a veterans clinic in either Yuba City or Marysville, and it's expected to open sometime between late September and December, said Marvin King, Yuba County veterans service officer.

The Mather Veterans Affairs Medical Center, which will operate the clinic, is accepting proposals from property owners for the clinic, which probably will operate in a rented building, said King.

The clinic will have a full-time doctor and should be able to serve about 600 patients. First to be served will be veterans with 100 percent service-related disabilities who are now traveling to Sacramento or Chico, he said.

The clinic probably will contract with local providers for some services, such as MRIs and CAT scans, he said.

Former Yuba County office buildings on 14th Street are no longer being considered because of their poor condition. That site would have been ideal because of its closeness to Marysville's rescue mission, which is used by a number of veterans, King said.

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