- Oct 28, 1999
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The Prez is in town for a few days....
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CEDAR RAPIDS -- The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids will be closed to air traffic for two short periods and portions of Interstate 380 will also be blocked for brief periods today when President Bush comes to town.
"We're recommending that people give themselves some extra time" going to and from the airport and while traveling in the downtown, Cedar Rapids police Sgt. Joe Cerruto said.
Bush is scheduled to arrive this afternoon and leave early evening, though exact times are not announced for security reasons.
Cael Sanderson, four-time undefeated NCAA wrestling champion from Iowa State University, will be among those greeting Bush, according to the ISU sports information office.
The president's two announced stops are at General Mills, where he will make a "Tax Day" speech to about 1,000 workers, and at the U.S. Cellular Center, where he will give a keynote address at a $250-a-plate fund-raising dinner for Rep. Greg Ganske.
Some 1,300 people are expected at the fund-raiser for Ganske, a Des Moines Republican who is seeking his party's nomination to challenge Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, this fall.
The general public will have no chance to see the president on this visit.
Cerruto said people in Cedar Rapids for the fund-raiser and needing to do business downtown will find plenty of parking, though traffic will be detoured around the U.S. Cellular Center for much of the day.
"We're encouraging motorists to use Second and Third avenues and to avoid First Avenue" this afternoon, he said.
Bush's visit is being met with even more security precautions than usual, given the war on terrorism.
Upwards of 60-plus Cedar Rapids police and reserve officers will be on the job today, Cerruto said.
Cerruto coordinates security with the Secret Service about sites the president will visit and the routes and alternative routes he will take.
Railroad schedules are adjusted. Ambulance crews are notified. Parking meters are hooded and parking lots are cleared. Security fences will be installed.
"Lots of agencies are linked with police" during the visit, Cerruto said.
As always, the airport is closed when the president's plane arrives and departs -- usually 15 minutes on each end.
The short closure should have little or no effect on airline schedules, according to Cmdr. Mark Ekstrom of the airport's police, fire and safety force.
Interstate 380 is traditionally closed, too, for brief periods when a presidential motorcade enters and leaves the city, with law enforcement officers blocking exit and entrance ramps.
The president's car arrived early by military transport and has been stored under guard. The city's police helicopter usually flies the motorcade route ahead of the presidential entourage.
"Since Sept. 11, I'm sure there are even more things done than in the past," said Linn County Sheriff Don Zeller, whose officers are assisting with security measures.
Even with the added nervousness, though, a visit from a president is still a thrill.
"It's an honor we're very excited about," said Sharon Cummins, executive director of the U.S. Cellular Center, where tables will be set up in the arena for the fund-raiser.
The center's box office probably will close at noon, and metal detectors will be in place for anyone entering the center, she said.
"We pretty much had our plan in place. With having had presidential visits before, we knew what to expect," Cummins said.
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CEDAR RAPIDS -- The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids will be closed to air traffic for two short periods and portions of Interstate 380 will also be blocked for brief periods today when President Bush comes to town.
"We're recommending that people give themselves some extra time" going to and from the airport and while traveling in the downtown, Cedar Rapids police Sgt. Joe Cerruto said.
Bush is scheduled to arrive this afternoon and leave early evening, though exact times are not announced for security reasons.
Cael Sanderson, four-time undefeated NCAA wrestling champion from Iowa State University, will be among those greeting Bush, according to the ISU sports information office.
The president's two announced stops are at General Mills, where he will make a "Tax Day" speech to about 1,000 workers, and at the U.S. Cellular Center, where he will give a keynote address at a $250-a-plate fund-raising dinner for Rep. Greg Ganske.
Some 1,300 people are expected at the fund-raiser for Ganske, a Des Moines Republican who is seeking his party's nomination to challenge Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, this fall.
The general public will have no chance to see the president on this visit.
Cerruto said people in Cedar Rapids for the fund-raiser and needing to do business downtown will find plenty of parking, though traffic will be detoured around the U.S. Cellular Center for much of the day.
"We're encouraging motorists to use Second and Third avenues and to avoid First Avenue" this afternoon, he said.
Bush's visit is being met with even more security precautions than usual, given the war on terrorism.
Upwards of 60-plus Cedar Rapids police and reserve officers will be on the job today, Cerruto said.
Cerruto coordinates security with the Secret Service about sites the president will visit and the routes and alternative routes he will take.
Railroad schedules are adjusted. Ambulance crews are notified. Parking meters are hooded and parking lots are cleared. Security fences will be installed.
"Lots of agencies are linked with police" during the visit, Cerruto said.
As always, the airport is closed when the president's plane arrives and departs -- usually 15 minutes on each end.
The short closure should have little or no effect on airline schedules, according to Cmdr. Mark Ekstrom of the airport's police, fire and safety force.
Interstate 380 is traditionally closed, too, for brief periods when a presidential motorcade enters and leaves the city, with law enforcement officers blocking exit and entrance ramps.
The president's car arrived early by military transport and has been stored under guard. The city's police helicopter usually flies the motorcade route ahead of the presidential entourage.
"Since Sept. 11, I'm sure there are even more things done than in the past," said Linn County Sheriff Don Zeller, whose officers are assisting with security measures.
Even with the added nervousness, though, a visit from a president is still a thrill.
"It's an honor we're very excited about," said Sharon Cummins, executive director of the U.S. Cellular Center, where tables will be set up in the arena for the fund-raiser.
The center's box office probably will close at noon, and metal detectors will be in place for anyone entering the center, she said.
"We pretty much had our plan in place. With having had presidential visits before, we knew what to expect," Cummins said.
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