The farmers' market structure in Butler has been victimized by destructive vandals and graffiti "artists" several times during the past couple of years. Now, vandals with paint cans have turned their attention to defacing the support pillars of the new General Richard Butler Bridge.

Some of the eyesore is visible to traffic on Pittsburgh Road at the bottom of the South Main Street hill.

The situation speaks to the need for additional police patrols of the parking area under the bridge, the place where the graffiti is being applied. The situation also calls for a determined effort by police to learn the identities of these "artists."

If apprehended, one of the penalties for the damage should be for the perpetrators first to remove — not paint over — the words and "artwork" that they've affixed to the span.

In suburban Johnstown a number of years ago, a group of students had to do just that after they were apprehended for painting graffiti onto the walls of a rival high school.

The paint-removal process wasn't fun; there weren't any subsequent incidents of that kind involving the schools.

Those painting the graffiti onto the Butler bridge pillars are too small-minded to realize that theirs or their parents' tax money is what will be used to buy the paint and employ the manpower to paint over the graffiti — that is, if the perpetrators aren't apprehended first and also ordered to buy paint and do the repair work.

In a town the size of Butler, the identities of the "artists" should become known to authorities eventually through informants.

Along Route 8 near the bridge is a sign welcoming people to Butler and touting the city as a great place to live. But what will people who see that sign think if they see the graffiti on the pillars?

On the one hand, the Butler Shade Tree Commission is working diligently to beautify Main Street. Those responsible for the graffiti are undermining those efforts.

A walk around the under-the-bridge parking area Friday revealed the red, blue, green, purple, white, orange and black writings and drawings. Words on the pillars — painted with large letters — include "Snakeeye's," "Stacy," "ZEST," "M.O.B.," and "Nick."

There also are other difficult-to-read initials and illegible markings.

But one thing is consistent regarding all of the graffiti: It's ugly and should not be allowed to remain — or to be expanded.

Butler is in need of many improvements on many different fronts. When improvements are achieved, they should be the foundation for further improvements, not a new plaything for immature vandals of whatever age to demonstrate their thoughtless mentality or this destructive brand of "fun."

Whether by ordinance, restrictions or stepped-up surveillance, authorities must come to grips with the situation under the bridge.