Where's Bush spending the 4th?

[LadyTevar]

From the Charleston Gazette

July 02, 2004
Security concerns put Bush at Capitol Complex for 4th


If you’re POTUS — President of The United States — it’s safer these days to be embraced by a state Capitol than stand along the edge of a riverbank, amid tall buildings and surrounding hills.

So even though organizers had hoped President Bush would join Charleston’s annual Fourth of July celebration at Haddad Riverfront Park on the Kanawha River, he’s opting for the state Capitol Complex, not quite 2 miles upriver.

And he’ll be in the building’s courtyard, enclosed on three sides by the Capitol itself and a much easier location to secure. The Capitol is a popular site for political rallies, although they are usually held on the more open South Steps — the building’s “front door,” facing the river.


Bush’s visit Sunday, his ninth to this battleground state since taking office and second on the Fourth, comes amid the FBI’s warning for police to be on the lookout for terrorist activity during the upcoming holiday.

The FBI’s weekly bulletin Thursday to 18,000 state and local law enforcement agencies cited recent intelligence indicating continuing al-Qaida interest in attacking a range of targets, including gas stations and refineries; subways, bridges and tunnels; financial and government institutions; civil aviation and power plants and dams.

The Secret Service has been coordinating security with city police. West Virginia State Police will assist with such tasks as traffic control, with the state Fire Marshal’s office and the National Guard pitching in, as well.

Charleston’s three-day holiday celebration is budgeted at $100,000. An estimate of what the president’s visit will add is not available. Last week’s visit by Vice President Dick Cheney to Missouri for a campaign rally, for instance, left taxpayers there with about $3,000 in police overtime and other costs. Cheney’s appearance the previous week at a Nebraska fund-raiser, meanwhile, cost Lincoln an estimated $31,900.

Cheney plans to be in Wheeling on Saturday.

“The White House always seeks to not inconvenience the local communities where the president may be speaking when he travels to places outside Washington,” said Taylor Gross of the White House Office of Media Affairs. “The White House, along with the Secret Service, work with local law enforcement agencies to ensure the president’s security and to ensure that local residents aren’t inconvenienced too much by additional security.”

Local homeland security officials say they view the president’s planned stop and the ongoing vigil against terror separately.

Well... at least I can go to Haddad park and not have to listen to him.

[LadyTevar]

It will be much more fun at Haddad park.. once again, from the Gazette:

July 02, 2004
July Fourth celebration starts today with concert


Fighter jets will rocket over Haddad Riverfront Park on Sunday to start the final evening of Charleston’s three-day July Fourth celebration, city officials said Thursday.

Air Force Gen. Robert Foglesong helped secure a military flyover using F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to complete the July Fourth festivities, mayoral aide Rod Blackstone said. The flyover, which will take place around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, will kick off the evening’s entertainment.

City officials have described the Independence Day celebration as a salute to the state’s armed services personnel. All concerts will take place at Haddad Riverfront Park, and will use the stage located on the American Wind Symphony’s specially designed barge. The symphony started to set up the barge Thursday.

The celebration will start at 6:30 tonight with a concert by B.E. Taylor. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, radio station WQBE will sponsor musical entertainment at Haddad, followed by the American Wind Symphony at 7:30.

After the F-16 flyover Sunday, local band Route 119 South will perform. After the concert, sponsors and local leaders will have a chance to greet the crowd. Foglesong, the state’s highest ranking military officer, will also give the keynote address.

The Air Force Ceremonial Brass Band will perform around 8 p.m., followed by a concert with country music singer Aaron Tippin. Tippin’s performance will lead into a flag-raising and fireworks display around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

Starting at 9 a.m. today, Charleston police will close off all four lanes of Kanawha Boulevard from Court to Capitol Street. At 3:30 p.m. Sunday, the Boulevard closing will be extended from Court to Clendenin Street. At 8 p.m., the closing will be extended again from Court to Brooks street. The Boulevard will reopen around midnight Sunday.

Police will also shut down MacCorkle Avenue from Porter Road to the intersection of U.S. 119 from 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday, so crews can set up the fireworks launch.

Loudon Heights Road from the South Side Bridge to Grosscup Road will close around 8 p.m., and reopen when the fireworks end.

The South Side Bridge will be closed during the fireworks. Before the fireworks, people may use all lanes of the bridge, but drivers headed south will only be able to turn west on MacCorkle Avenue or head up Bridge Road.

Paid parking will be available at the municipal parking garage on Court Street. Additional parking will be available at the Town Center parking garage, and any metered space.

Vendors will sell food and beer on the Boulevard. Backpacks, coolers, bicycles, skateboards, open containers, pets and weapons are not allowed in Haddad Riverfront Park.

[Col. Crackpot]

I'm going to Newport to see the Tall Ships and the Queen Mary 2 is in town co Cunard Lines has doubled the fireworks budget for the city! Granted, i'll be at a wedding on the Navy Base but we're all going outside for the fireworks. That shoud be pretty friggen cool, fireworks exploding over the bay and the bridge with old wooden warships, 2 old aircraft carriers and the largest cruise ship in the world. What is everyone else doing?

[LadyTevar]

Update from the Evening paper, the Daily Mail:

Tickets needed to hear Bush
Friday July 02, 2004

People who want to see President Bush speak in Charleston on the Fourth of July need to get a ticket from one of several community organizations.

The president is speaking about 1 p.m. Sunday near the fountain and courtyard area on the north side of the state Capitol.

The White House provided tickets to organizations such as the city of Charleston, the governor's office, the West Virginia National Guard, the Air Guard, the Naval Reserves and military recruiters in the area.

Every member of the state Legislature who wants to attend also received a ticket. Gov. Bob Wise also is expected to attend.

"While we provide the tickets, we don't distribute them," said Taylor Gross, a spokesman for the White House.

He was not sure how many people would be able to attend.

Weather might not cooperate with the presidential visit. Forecasters were predicting a 50 percent chance of showers.

"Looks like we could have some rain with some heavy downpours possible," said Lisa Teachman, a meteorologist with WSAZ NewsChannel 3.

White House officials did not know whether the Secret Service would allow people to bring umbrellas, but they advised people to use discretion.

Kanawha Boulevard is expected to be closed near the Capitol during the president's remarks, city officials said.

"I think that's going to be the case," said mayoral aide Rod Blackstone, who suggested that people who are blocked might be able to divert their routes onto Piedmont Road or onto the interstate.

The president's visit coincides with a three-day Fourth of July celebration put on by the city. Country singer Aaron Tippin is set to headline the extravaganza with an 8:20 p.m. Sunday concert.

Immediately following Tippin's hourlong performance will be a 15-minute fireworks display set to music.

The president's visit will be preceded by entertainment, but the White House could not provide specifics.

"I would expect there would be a program before his remarks, but I'm not sure about the specific entertainment," said Gross, the White House spokesman.

[RogueIce]

I'm going to Newport to see the Tall Ships and the Queen Mary 2 is in town co Cunard Lines has doubled the fireworks budget for the city! Granted, i'll be at a wedding on the Navy Base but we're all going outside for the fireworks. That shoud be pretty friggen cool, fireworks exploding over the bay and the bridge with old wooden warships, 2 old aircraft carriers and the largest cruise ship in the world. What is everyone else doing?

Get pictures. Lots of pictures.

[LadyTevar]

The guys in The Mess will understand what I'm tlkig about, and probably the HAB as well. Hell, they could describe the sound for you better, how it vibrates through you as 4 F-16 Fighting Falcons fly in V-Formation about 300ft over your head.

Nit and I had walked down to the riverside about 6:15p. The AirForce was supposed to have a flyby as part of the July 4th celebrations. I was *sure* that the planes would follow the river, so we could have a more private spot away from the crowded riverfront park and still see them. The day had been hot and muggy, but the river had a constant refreshing breeze so we were quite comfortable on the embankment steps. Several minutes went by as we chatted and waved at the boats passing by. Even with the noise of jetskis and cigarette boats hopping the wakes it was a peaceful experience. I keep looking up-river, expecting the planes to fly past. When they came, however, it was from down-river.

I can't describe the sound myself, that loud rush of engines that went before them, accelerating as they glided majestically overhead, and leaving roaring echos in their wake that remained even as they turned south and vanished over the mountains on the other side of the river. The grey bodies with their triangular wings and sharp noses. The vibration that was heard/felt when they were on top of us. It was simply elating. I was happy to have seen them, and sorry to see them go.

Thinking that the show was over, Nit and I started walking down the riverbank, talking about what we'd seen. An older gentleman stopped us a few minutes later, asking if the planes had flown by yet. We sadly informed him they had, and spoke for a while about how it'd looked.

And the incoming rush of engines started again. In delighted amaze, I watched the formation sweep overhead again. Nit says I was exclaiming "It's Them, It's Them", while jumping up and down like a little kid. I don't know who I was happier for, myself for the man who'd missed the first run. Here I'd thought it over, and they'd simply swung wide for another pass.

But soon even the echos died away, and this time I knew that it was done. We lingered, talking more to the older gentleman, but something told me they wouldn't pass again. Nit and I walked back home and didn't look back. It's 7:13 now, and no, they haven't returned. Later, I might drag Nit back to the river to watch the fireworks. We can't see them from our house. It depends on if his little wound from this morning will let him sit down that long on concrete steps. But I don't need to see Fireworks this 4th of July.