Linda fights, rather than switch

When Linda had its ZIP code changed, many said the town’s identity was taken away, but now some residents are trying to get it back.

In June, the United States Postal Service informed residents in Linda, west of Highway 70, that they had a new ZIP code. Instead of remaining a part of Marysville’s 95901 code, those residents were reassigned to 95961, as part of Olivehurst.

“That’s crap,” said longtime Linda resident Murial Paterno, 72. “I don’t live in Olivehurst, I live in Linda.”

Paterno said many of the Linda residents were notified of the change, but without public input.

“It came as quite a shock,” Paterno said. “I immediately got sick. The cutoff (for Olivehurst) used to be Erle Road. I was born and raised here, and it’s always been Linda.”

Linda is an unicorporated community south of Marysville with a population of about 14,000 in 2000.

Representatives from the U.S. Postal Service said ZIP code changes often occur when there is growth in the area. As a result, the post office adjusts delivery to ensure adequate service is provided to all homes.

“We only have so many numbers to work with,” postal spokesman Augustine Ruiz said of the five-digit identifying code. “Studies are happening constantly throughout the country looking at ways to improve service.”

Ruiz said southern Yuba County experienced growth, prompting officials to look at the area and make the necessary changes, which occurred in June.

“An indication of growth doesn’t necessarily mean there is going to be a new post office,” he said. “It takes years for these types of decisions to happen. We will entertain any request. But we focus on adequate service in any given area.”

Even with the growth, Linda residents said they do not want to lose the identity of Linda or its history.

“There’s so much here,” said Supervisor Dan Logue about the area’s history. “Linda is the oldest community outside of Marysville. What we want is to use Linda instead of Olivehurst so we don’t lose our identity. We need to preserve it.”

To help the cause, Logue asked the Board of Supervisors to sign a letter he is sending to the U.S. postmaster general and California’s federal representatives for support.

“We have our own Fire Department and water, why not our own post office” Logue asked. “The city is rising up and saying we do not want our name to disappear.”

In addition to the letter, Logue said he will hold a petition drive in the near future to collect signatures in support of a Linda post office.

Paterno said she supports any effort to preserve Linda. In the meantime, residents have one year to change addresses to say Olivehurst. That, however, is one requirement Paterno is not going to abide by.

“I’m going to keep putting West Linda,” she said. “ I get to choose where I live, and I chose to live in Linda, not Olivehurst.”

Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey can be reached at 749-4709 or at akoskey@appeal democrat.com