Why did cops sit idle while parking lot was zoo?

Q: Tonight, leaving the Marysville football game, the parking lot was a zoo — kids throwing footballs and pushing each other in front of cars. A little girl was following behind her mother. A driver didn't see her and almost hit her. The male driving the car slammed on his brakes and continued to drive fast through the parking lot. To my right were about six Marysville police officers just shooting the (expletive) and having a good old time. I hollered over to them, but they ignored me. I then called the Police Department but the lady on the phone said they're not paid to direct traffic. I don't want to read in the paper tomorrow that a child was hit when the Police Department could have prevented it.

A: You're referring to the Nov. 14 game with Lindhurst High School.

Marysville Police Chief Wallace Fullerton agreed with you about one thing: parking lots are generally like zoos after athletic events.

But he also agreed with that "lady on the phone" at the Police Department: directing traffic after Marysville High School football games is not officers' responsibility.

"The school district hires personnel to provide this function and they generally do a good job," Fullerton said. "The reason for (police officers) on campus during game nights is to ensure the safety of the players and those attending the game from violence and other inappropriate criminal acts."

That being said, if an officer saw someone driving unsafely through the lot, he or she should have taken action, Fullerton said.

"I encourage the citizen observing the occurrence to call the on-duty watch commander and report their concerns as soon as possible," he said.

Fullerton added, however, that "hollering" at the officers in a crowded, noisy parking lot was not the best way to get results.

"Under the circumstances, it would have been more helpful if the concerned citizen had simply approached the officers and fully expressed their observations," the chief said.

High School Principal Gary Cena said the school's own security staff, supplemented by staff from Lindhurst High School and Yuba County Probation Department officers, were directing traffic that night at the game, which was attending by 4,000 to 5,000 people.

You didn't say exactly what time you saw the unsafe conditions, but it was possibly when the security staff was concentrating on the south gate as the teams were leaving the field. That's where most problems occur, said Cena.

At least one Marysville officer was directing traffic that night at the Ramirez Street gate, Cena added.

Fans are generally courteous, Cena said, but added that "we'll heighten our awareness."

"We want people to feel safe and we make a great effort to do that," he said.

Q: The water level in the Feather River went way down this year, and I noticed wooden pillars sticking up north of the Fifth Street bridge between Marysville and Yuba City. Are they parts of old piers?

A: No, they're part of a railroad bridge that was taken down after World War II, said Marysville history buff Henry Delamere.

The tracks, part of the Southern Pacific Railroad, crossed the river and went southwest toward Knights Landing. The line went east to E Street and hooked up with another that went to Binney Junction north of the city, Delamere 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.