The schools were built in 1962 on 78 acres where the military used to burn or bury tons of highly toxic chemicals. Canvassers for Citizen Action have gone door to door in the neighborhoods around the school complex, but it is not within Marion's city limits. The River Valley school district has signed an agreement with the state and federal governments to build new schools, but they won't open until 2003. Citizen Action has called for the students to be relocated immediately and has criticized Governor Taft and state regulators for their handling of an environmental investigation. Yesterday, Citizen Action officials stopped short of directly accusing Marion officials of trying to squelch attention about the River Valley schools controversy.
People can draw their own links.
Marion Mayor Jack Kellogg declined comment yesterday. He referred questions to the city's law director, Mark Russell, who did not return a message seeking comment. The suit says Citizen Action canvassed in Marion for several years before 1999 until 9 p.m. and without charge. The group submitted a list of canvassers to the police department before going door to door, Ms. Vaclavikova said. In early 1999, Marion city officials informed Citizen Action that it would begin to enforce a 7 p.m. curfew against the group - unless it agreed not to solicit donations.