Five New Radio Towers Are Unwelcome In Neighborhood

Thirty years ago, my husband and I decided to move into the country. We acquired 23 acres on Stutler Road, fixed up an old house, raised six children, paid off the house and planned to leave this piece of paradise to our children.

Now, however, they might not even want it. You see, KGA practically is moving into my back yard.

Instead of observing hawks, deer and coyotes from our screened-in back porch, we soon may be watching the construction of five radio towers programmed to emit 50,000 watts of power.

Instead of listening to the hoot of an owl, we’ll hear the hum of transmitters and the clicks of blinking lights on giant radio towers. If the electricity should go off, as can happen fairly frequently during severe storms, we’ll be treated to the noise of a powerful backup generator.

I love my house and the peace and quiet of the country. And so do my neighbors. There are about 700 of us living in more than 200 homes within a two-mile radius of the proposed towers. Right across the road, 10-acre lots are for sale to about 20 other families wishing to live in a new development called Stutler Estates. New homes are being built in just about every direction.

I wonder why KGA wants to build in a rapidly growing area and face the same protests so eloquently and vehemently expressed by its former neighbors on the South Hill.

It broke my heart last fall when I heard there was a small piece of paper posted at U.S. Highway 195 and Stutler Road announcing the intentions of Citadel Communications Corp., parent company of KGA and KJRB. When 80 acres behind my house were logged (illegally, without a permit, I found out later), my spirit sank even deeper.

I often ask myself what life will be like with these powerful radio towers. I can look forward to interference not only on my telephone but also with my sewing machine, garbage disposal, refrigerator coils and other appliances. Although studies are inconclusive at this time, I can’t help but wonder if there also is a health threat to me and my 700 neighbors, many of whom are small children.

So much for our legacy. One’s life can change so suddenly with the posting of one little piece of paper.

MEMO: “Your Turn” is a feature of the Wednesday and Saturday Opinion pages. To submit a column for consideration, call Rebecca Nappi/459-5496 or Doug Floyd/459-5466.