W-B rolls red carpet for Clinton

WILKES-BARRE – President Bill Clinton will speak at Coughlin High School this afternoon on behalf of his wife Hillary’s Democratic candidacy for president. He is expected to arrive in Wilkes-Barre around 3:45 p.m. and will meet with local elected officials prior to his public address.

Event spokesman Matt McKenna said the doors will open to the public at 3:45 p.m. today. The event will be in the gymnasium, which seats about 1,200, but additional seating may be added on the floor to accommodate as many people as possible, said Wilkes-Barre Area Superintendent Jeff Namey.

According to the Clinton’s national headquarters in Virginia, the event is open to the public and no tickets are required. Those hoping to get inside the gym are advised to arrive at the school at least an hour or two early. Seating will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Gerry Dessoye met with the Secret Service late Tuesday and toured the gym and discussed security precautions.

Dessoye said North Washington Street from Union to Market streets will likely be shut down for during Clinton’s visit. Dessoye said he didn’t know what other streets might be affected.

Namey said the Secret Service will be in the school around 10 a.m. today to do a security sweep of the two Coughlin buildings. Namey said students will have a full class schedule, but the eighth period will be canceled to allow students and school buses to be out of the area by 2:30 p.m.

Namey and Coughlin Principal John Woloski said students are encouraged to attend the campaign rally.

“I’m in the hallways encouraging them to be there,” Woloski said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see and hear a former president speak.”

The Wilkes-Barre visit is one of four Pennsylvania stops the former president will make today in conjunction with Hillary Clinton’s “Solutions for America” campaign.

Mayor Thomas Leighton said Tuesday he expects both New York Sen. Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama to visit Wilkes-Barre before the April 22 state primary and Republican contender John McCain to visit before the November election. No dates have been confirmed, he said.

Obama, who was in Scranton on Monday, leads Hillary Clinton in delegates; 158 delegates are at stake in the Pennsylvania primary.

IF YOU GO

Former President Bill Clinton will speak on behalf of his wife Hillary Clinton this afternoon at Coughlin High School gym, 80 N. Washington St.