As a resident of northwest Ohio, I am deeply concerned about the health of our community.

My children grew up in Oak Harbor in the shadow of Davis-Besse. While the kids thought of the cooling tower as a big cloud machine, I often wondered what would happen in the event of a nuclear accident.

Twenty years later, I wonder what will happen as the result of corporate negligence. My blood runs cold when I hear that there have been cracks in the nozzles for some time despite warnings of inspectors and engineers.

I am outraged that FirstEnergy would imperil the lives of millions of residents to keep from spending a relative pittance on maintenance. I am disgusted by government officials who are, in my opinion, criminally lax in enforcing their own regulations designed to safeguard our people and our environment.

With the horse out of the barn, it's too late for preventative maintenance. Even if the plant could be brought up to standard, which is highly dubious, the cost would be horrendous, and I am not prepared to share that burden.

Recently, Ottawa County was called a "labor surplus county," and I agree. But to imply that blame lies in Davis-Besse's closing is ludicrous. What about the numerous manufacturing jobs that have been sold down the river around Port Clinton in recent years at the expense of hundreds of local families? Who will pay the ultimate price of reopening this virtual time bomb? Our people and our environment, that's who.

For the sake of the community, now and for generations to come, keep Davis-Besse closed and bring safe jobs back to the community.

Anita Toth

905 Hayes Ave.

Fremont

Originally published Wednesday, December 18, 2002