Those lining 175th Street caught a glimpse of a familiar silhouette in the back seat of the primary vehicle of the presidential motorcade Thursday. (Photo by Kristen Waggener)
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Bucyrus abuzz over Bush
Whirlwind visit draws throng of onlookers as president comes to area for Republican fund-raising luncheon
By Doug Carder and Brian McCauley, Staff Writers
Anne Vohs drew pictures of elephants when she was a young girl and her Republican father, Norman Gaar, served in the state Senate in Topeka.
But Vohs has grown disillusioned with the Republican Party during George W. Bush’s presidency. So when her daughter called to let her know President Bush was going to be in Bucyrus on Thursday, her first reaction was, “Should I get out my Obama sticker?”
“I’m sure he had good intentions, but those good intentions have gone way awry,” Vohs said Thursday as she mailed a letter at the Bucyrus Post Office. “This is exciting for Bucyrus, but why would he come here?”
Some of U.S. Postal Service worker Kristen Furnish’s regulars had the same reaction when they dropped by to pick up their mail Thursday. But unlike Vohs, several were excited to have the President paying a call to their rural community, even if he wouldn’t actually be setting foot in Bucyrus.
Bush was attending a Republican fund-raiser for U.S. House of Representatives hopeful Nick Jordan just north of Bucyrus on Quivira Road at the residence of Dalton and Christine Hermes. Jordan, a 12-year state senator from Shawnee, is trying to unseat five-time Rep. Dennis Moore in the Third Congressional District. Republicans hoped to raise $400,000 at the $500-per-plate luncheon at the Hermes’ home. The couple owns a local landscaping business.
The fund-raising event didn’t impress Jerry Rutherford, who owns Shirt Hole Screenprinting and Embroidery in Bucyrus.
“I could totally care less,” Rutherford said. “He’s a lame duck.”
Rutherford’s complaints ranged from the war in Iraq to a lack of fiscal responsibility.
“In his eight-year tenure, we’ve lost 5,000 of our youth, and he’s given more money to special-interest groups than (Bill) Clinton,” Rutherford said.
Nick Guetterman, who helps work his family’s farmland in Bucyrus, said Bush often gets a bad rap.
“I think he’s a good guy. He makes choices from his heart,” Guetterman said. “It’s kind of cool he’s coming to Bucyrus.”
Furnish found herself handing out as many directions to the Hermes’ home as she did mail Thursday morning.
“I’ve had three or four people ask me this morning where the President is going to be. We have people stop in here all the time asking for directions. We’re the post office, so they probably just assume we know everything,” a smiling Furnish said.
Furnish said she planned to drive down Quivira toward the Hermes’ home when she got off work about noon.
“I’m sure they will have the road blocked off, but I plan to take a picture from the closest spot I can,” she said.
Furnish said she heard the president was flying into the Gardner airport. A Spring Hill resident, Furnish hoped the president’s motorcade would not traverse 175th Street en route to Quivira Road.
“I don’t want the president’s impression of our community to be the (topless) clubs (at 175th Street and U.S. Highway 169),” Furnish said, laughing.
But the President’s motorcade did indeed travel that route about 1 p.m. Thursday to reach the Hermes’ residence.
Law enforcement officials blocked off traffic and checked for anyone suspicious. They even inspected trash cans along the roadside, looking for unusual packages.
Jeff Thomas and Kyley Delphia stood in front of the former Hilltop Elementary School shortly before noon Thursday as they looked up and down 175th Street at the sea of law enforcement vehicles.
Thomas, who handles food services for the school district, jokingly said the President should stop by the school for lunch, and he’d cook him up his specialty.
“I’d make him chicken nuggets, tater tots and broccoli and cheese sauce,” he said with a smile.
Delphia, who does maintenance at the school, said he heard about the President’s visit the night before, but he didn’t find out the motorcade would be cruising by Hilltop until Thursday morning.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
When buildings and ground director Tim Meek pulled into the Hilltop parking lot, he said he was amazed by the number of law enforcement officers stationed along 175th Street.
“They’re parked in every driveway,” he said.
At the post office, Furnish processed packages and letters like usual. Only Thursday, she had a gleam in her eye.
“This is the most excitement we’ve had around here in a while,” she said.
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But Vohs has grown disillusioned with the Republican Party during George W. Bush’s presidency. So when her daughter called to let her know President Bush was going to be in Bucyrus on Thursday, her first reaction was, “Should I get out my Obama sticker?”
“I’m sure he had good intentions, but those good intentions have gone way awry,” Vohs said Thursday as she mailed a letter at the Bucyrus Post Office. “This is exciting for Bucyrus, but why would he come here?”
Some of U.S. Postal Service worker Kristen Furnish’s regulars had the same reaction when they dropped by to pick up their mail Thursday. But unlike Vohs, several were excited to have the President paying a call to their rural community, even if he wouldn’t actually be setting foot in Bucyrus.
Bush was attending a Republican fund-raiser for U.S. House of Representatives hopeful Nick Jordan just north of Bucyrus on Quivira Road at the residence of Dalton and Christine Hermes. Jordan, a 12-year state senator from Shawnee, is trying to unseat five-time Rep. Dennis Moore in the Third Congressional District. Republicans hoped to raise $400,000 at the $500-per-plate luncheon at the Hermes’ home. The couple owns a local landscaping business.
The fund-raising event didn’t impress Jerry Rutherford, who owns Shirt Hole Screenprinting and Embroidery in Bucyrus.
“I could totally care less,” Rutherford said. “He’s a lame duck.”
Rutherford’s complaints ranged from the war in Iraq to a lack of fiscal responsibility.
“In his eight-year tenure, we’ve lost 5,000 of our youth, and he’s given more money to special-interest groups than (Bill) Clinton,” Rutherford said.
Nick Guetterman, who helps work his family’s farmland in Bucyrus, said Bush often gets a bad rap.
“I think he’s a good guy. He makes choices from his heart,” Guetterman said. “It’s kind of cool he’s coming to Bucyrus.”
Furnish found herself handing out as many directions to the Hermes’ home as she did mail Thursday morning.
“I’ve had three or four people ask me this morning where the President is going to be. We have people stop in here all the time asking for directions. We’re the post office, so they probably just assume we know everything,” a smiling Furnish said.
Furnish said she planned to drive down Quivira toward the Hermes’ home when she got off work about noon.
“I’m sure they will have the road blocked off, but I plan to take a picture from the closest spot I can,” she said.
Furnish said she heard the president was flying into the Gardner airport. A Spring Hill resident, Furnish hoped the president’s motorcade would not traverse 175th Street en route to Quivira Road.
“I don’t want the president’s impression of our community to be the (topless) clubs (at 175th Street and U.S. Highway 169),” Furnish said, laughing.
But the President’s motorcade did indeed travel that route about 1 p.m. Thursday to reach the Hermes’ residence.
Law enforcement officials blocked off traffic and checked for anyone suspicious. They even inspected trash cans along the roadside, looking for unusual packages.
Jeff Thomas and Kyley Delphia stood in front of the former Hilltop Elementary School shortly before noon Thursday as they looked up and down 175th Street at the sea of law enforcement vehicles.
Thomas, who handles food services for the school district, jokingly said the President should stop by the school for lunch, and he’d cook him up his specialty.
“I’d make him chicken nuggets, tater tots and broccoli and cheese sauce,” he said with a smile.
Delphia, who does maintenance at the school, said he heard about the President’s visit the night before, but he didn’t find out the motorcade would be cruising by Hilltop until Thursday morning.
“It’s exciting,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
When buildings and ground director Tim Meek pulled into the Hilltop parking lot, he said he was amazed by the number of law enforcement officers stationed along 175th Street.
“They’re parked in every driveway,” he said.
At the post office, Furnish processed packages and letters like usual. Only Thursday, she had a gleam in her eye.
“This is the most excitement we’ve had around here in a while,” she said.
Comments on "Bucyrus abuzz over Bush"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.John grun wrote on May 30, 2008 11:29 AM:
" Since this was a private fundraiser, are the people benefiting from this affair going to pay for the extra police, and presidential transportation on air force I? As I see it, the fundraiser was the only reason he flew all the way to Kansas City. Let the super rich and well connected that attended this fiasco pay for all these extra costs, not the poor taxpayer. "
Standards wrote on May 30, 2008 10:59 AM:
" Even though he didn't Visit, like have a Taco at El Tap, see the John Brown Park, and shop at the Alco in Lousiburg.. who cares! I think it's awesome the President just came to the area, and all the media coverage that came with it. I would agree when I read the story at first I a little taken back. But towards the end it gave a little of both sides which is fine. But I would agree it was a little on the Negative side. I don't care for Bush's policies or views, but I still think it was awesome to see a tiny peak of him in that black suv. "
Think about it wrote on May 30, 2008 10:31 AM:
" First off, the President didn't visit Miami County. He never entered the small town of Bucyrus and never made it any further south than 191st St, I believe.
Second, this is how all stories are written. Bush coming to this area (even if not this county) is a big deal, and the reporters go out to survey the residents on how that impacts them — the same approach that they take on any other story. If you want to write a story about a tornado that struck or gas prices climbing, you do the same thing — talk to a handful of local people affected by it and transribe their experiences.
The only problem you have with this story is that the people interviewed weren't big Bush fans. Is that the newspaper's fault? Look at the approval ratings - if you talk to 10 people, the majority are not going to be thrilled about our President. Should their opinions be cast aside when writing this article?
Finally, "Bucyrus abuzz over Bush" is still an appropriate title. The area was abuzz - Bush was all anybody could talk about. He just didn't have many fans. "
Second, this is how all stories are written. Bush coming to this area (even if not this county) is a big deal, and the reporters go out to survey the residents on how that impacts them — the same approach that they take on any other story. If you want to write a story about a tornado that struck or gas prices climbing, you do the same thing — talk to a handful of local people affected by it and transribe their experiences.
The only problem you have with this story is that the people interviewed weren't big Bush fans. Is that the newspaper's fault? Look at the approval ratings - if you talk to 10 people, the majority are not going to be thrilled about our President. Should their opinions be cast aside when writing this article?
Finally, "Bucyrus abuzz over Bush" is still an appropriate title. The area was abuzz - Bush was all anybody could talk about. He just didn't have many fans. "
PHSgrad wrote on May 30, 2008 8:53 AM:
" I have to agree. This was a great honor for Miami County and I think the coverage should have focused on that and not on the political leanings of a few select people. "
Left Wing Media wrote on May 30, 2008 8:02 AM:
" I find it funny how the article is called... "Bucyrus abuzz over Bush", but 3/4 of the article is Bush bashing. Not even including the name drop of Obama. The President of the United States visited Miami County, and no matter what is popularity that is a big deal and honor for the community. It's not like anything else exciting ever happens around here. "