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The Decision Nears on a Missile Site Proposal in Portage County

Loading Inceptor Missile in Silo at Fort Greely Alaska
MDA - http://www.mda.mil/mdalink/html/nmdimg.html (Now hosted at http://www.mda.mil/news/gallery_gmd.html)
Loading Inceptor Missile in Silo at Fort Greely Alaska

Camp Ravenna is one of three locations under final consideration for a national missile defense base.  A $3.6 billion economic infusion, 2,500 construction jobs and 850 permanent ones are at stake, so Ohio’s congressional delegation is stepping up a joint-effort to push for the project.

Bi-partisan

Both U.S. senators and 14 of its 16 of congressional representatives have signed and sent a letter to the head of The Missile Defense Agency.  In it they point to advantages in transportation, workforce and more as reasons for picking Camp Ravenna over Fort Drum, N.Y. and Camp Custer, Mich. 

13th District Congressman Tim Ryan says it's an important economic and security issue.
Credit KEVIN NIEDERMIER / WKSU
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WKSU
13th District Congressman Tim Ryan says it's an important economic and security issue.

Formerly the Ravenna Arsenal

TheRavennasite is in Congressman Tim Ryan’s13thDistrict.

“There will be big economic benefits for the entire region, and expertise that’s going to be in our community. So we’re making a really hard push for this. And we’re thinking the next phase of the decision will probably be in November. So, it’s getting close.”

East coast defense umbrella

The installation would includesilosfor 14 interceptor missiles designed to knock down enemy ICBMs headed for the eastern U.S.  Congress mandated building such a site to in 2013, partly in response to North Korea’s efforts to develop nuclear warheads and  long-range missile testing.  

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Tim Rudell
Tim Rudell has worked in broadcasting and news since his student days at Kent State in the late 1960s and early 1970s (when he earned extra money as a stringer for UPI). He began full time in radio news in 1972 in his home town of Canton, OH.