By Staff, KRIS-TV
July 22, 2004

Corpus Christi Caller Times - Corpus Christi,TX,USA

The markings of bored kids, that's what Laura Rodda with the Volunteer Center says about graffiti.

It dots the fences along O'Day street off of Weber, and behind the trees lining the street, graffiti.

Rodda says, "It's interesting sometimes. There's several people in town that I see over and over again, and I feel like I'm being challenged by these individuals to stop them."

Rodda has been working on "Project Wipe Out".

It's a clean up effort designed to target graffiti painted on area fences and alley doors.

Rodda says without more volunteers, it's a challenge that's becoming harder and harder to keep up with, "We're facing a problem with trying to get the community involved, so we can take back Corpus Christi."

Rodda says she sees an increase in graffiti during the summer season because most kids are on summer break.

On the other hand, many of the volunteers that help clean up the graffiti are also students on vacation , and not putting a stop to graffiti could lead to bigger problems.

Rodda says, "Graffiti is just the beginning of any crime. If they think it's okay to paint on a wall then the next thing they'll thin, it's okay to take the gas for free out of a pump."

If you would like to help out with a cleanup this weekend contact the Volunteer Center at 887-8282.

This story is written and published by KRIS Communications. Please send your comments to newsroom@kristv.com.