Posted on 04/21/2010 8:45:58 AM PDT by Al B.
WILKESBORO - Sarah Palin and Laura Bush won't be coming to Wilkesboro for a women's event this summer after all.
Organizers said yesterday that they are moving the venue from Wilkes Community College to Charlotte's Time Warner Cable Arena for better security, safety and parking.
The Blue Ridge Educational Resource Group said in February that Bush, the former first lady, and Palin, the Republican Party's 2008 vice-presidential candidate, would appear June 5 in Wilkesboro as part of the Complete Woman Expo 2010. The group had signed a contract to use the college's Watson Stage and grounds.
But organizers never provided an adequate plan to town and college officials for managing an anticipated crowd that grew in estimates from some 3,000 to more than 30,000 people. MerleFest draws more people than that, but it spreads the crowd over four days and requires a year of planning, with buses running constantly to move people in and out during the festival.
On Friday, Wilkesboro police told the Blue Ridge Educational Resource Group that it would not get a permit for a public assembly because organizers hadn't shown the ability to handle traffic, security and safety concerns.
Officials suggested that the event could be held in the college's Walker Center, which seats 1,100 people. A ticketed event there would not have required a town permit.
The group considered the Walker Center, but it decided to move the event to the Charlotte arena, which seats 18,000, it said in an announcement.
(Excerpt) Read more at 2.hickoryrecord.com ...
Oh how I miss Laura Bush.
Saw her on Fox News this morning. She looks great!
I’ll put our women up against those nasty looking liberal broads any day!
Wow, two of the lovliest women in politics in one place.
I miss Laura Bush so much. She just exudes class!
First you need a football stadium....second you need another football stadium for these two..........for tickets..they would sell 75,000 tickets....
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