PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — The controversial sale of Zahn’s Corner Middle School, a now-defunct and radioactive property in Pike County, has concluded, with Vanguard Ministries of Piketon purchasing the site.
Vanguard Ministries, a Christian ministry and church known for its recovery programs, was the sole bidder for the school, acquiring it for the minimum bid, according to sources familiar with the situation.
The sale has ignited a wave of anger from local activists and community members who have long opposed any use of the building, citing health concerns. Activist groups, including the American Nuclear Activist Alliance, Don’t Dump On Us, and Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Security, have united in condemning the sale as “ludicrous” and “a slap in the face” to those who allegedly contracted cancer or died after attending the school.
Controversy deepened following the auction, when the Scioto Valley Local School District held what some attorneys argue was an illegal school board meeting to approve the sale. The meeting was reportedly conducted with a directive barring public recording, a move that some legal experts say violates Ohio’s sunshine laws. Activists in attendance have vowed to file a grievance with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and are considering further legal action.
As the sale of Zahn’s Corner Middle School becomes official, activists have pledged to continue their fight to keep the building closed and to seek justice for the residents of Pike and northern Scioto Counties, many of whom they say have suffered due to the radioactive contamination of the neighboring atomic plant.
