nuclear-news

Pike County residents protest nuclear facility after Uranium detected at school

https://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/pike-county-residents-protest-nuclear-facility-after-uranium-detected-at-school, by Rachael Penton, May 22nd 2019  PIKE COUNTY, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) 

 Marilyn Ison goes to the doctor next week to find out if the nodules on her thyroid are cancerous, but on Tuesday, she protested against the Pike County nuclear waste facility outside the YMCA.

Inside the YMCA, a bi-annual Department of Energy open house is happening, where people can learn more about the project.

Ison’s mother has cancer, as do many other friends and family, but she says it’s the children she’s here for today.

“I’m scared for all the kids. I’m the voice of the kids,” Ison said. “They can’t speak for themselves (or) the kids inside that are scared. And they are, they know.”

Ison says her grand kids attend Zahn’s Corner Middle School that closed early for the year after enriched uranium was detected. She says it’s simply not fair to Pike county’s kids, so she’s protesting.

“I never feared that,” she said. “I feared a tornado but not radioactive waste in my school and home and my friend’s dying.”

Crystal Glass came out to protest with her family in matching t-shirts.

“It’s just what we want- don’t dump on us,” Glass said. “Don’t dump on our future.”

Glass grew up next to the nuclear facility and went to Zahn’s Corner, and was diagnosed with a tumor at age 14 and cancer 20 years later.

“We’ve been sick for a long time and it seems like nothing is happening.”

Now she too is worried her kids will one day suffer, and hopes the 

recent publicity and Tuesday’s protest will get someone’s attention.

“I’m most concerned about the people that live around the plant,” Glass said. “At what point do they realize they’re so sick in that area? Why don’t the buy them out? They can’t afford to move.”

May 23, 2019 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | opposition to nuclear, PERSONAL STORIES, USA