It's been years in the making, and today destruction of VX began. VX Nerve Agent is so deadly just a drop will kill a full-grown man. It's stored at the Newport Chemical Depot since the end of World War II. But now, the steps to get rid of it have begun.

The deadly chemical weapon stored just down the road doesn't bother Denise Mitchell. She says, "It's been here longer than most of us and I guess that's the reason. There are a lot more things in life to worry about. To me there is."

But on Thursday the Army began destroying VX. It's good news for many folks in Newport. Mitchell says, "I think our property values will go up. No, I think there will be a sign of relief."

As soon as newspapers hit doorsteps on Thursday, neighbors here knew it was an important day. Papers had a brochure from the Army rolled up inside, explaining how destruction works, and why it's so important for the safety of everyone in the Wabash Valley. Jeffery Brubaker with the Newport Chemical Depot says, "Post Nine-Eleven the threat of terrorism is out there, so it is good that we expedite the disposal of these chemical agents."

VX will be turned from a killer to something much like the cleaner found under your kitchen sink. The first steps on Thursday went off without a hitch. Lieutenant Colonel Scott Kimmell says, "We are extremely pleased with what we've seen up to this point with executing our plan with safety as our number one priority."