Democrat Gazette article on School of Whitewater Paddling

[tkennon]

Here is the article in the Outdoors edition of the Democrat Gazette today. Nice coverage by Buddy Gough, too bad he could not get on the river.

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Outdoors/259062/

[Gordon Kumpuris]

Excellent article. One of the best I've seen on the club in 15 years. He forgot to mention however that Clinton and our current Secretary of State also made a surprise visit about 10 years ago when he was President. I've got a photo somewhere to prove it. Rick Ramsay and Larry Crane beat each other up trying to get in position to get a photo with him .

Walter just sat back and growled.

[KAYAKN]

Even got Louisiana in it "WOW"!!

[Crane]

Hey! I made the front page of the NY Times with that one!! 1.2 seconds worth of my 15... His Secret Service guys were going NUTS at the sight of him working a rope-line with about 150 drunken paddlers... as several conservative radicals watched from across the road grumbling amongst themselves saying "I wouldn't walk across the street..." Bill actually didn't come "to" Canoe School, he appeared only to stop by Brad's store and smoke a cigar... really.

[Gordon Kumpuris]

Yep he just kinda happened by as if the leader of the free world could just "happen by" in a place that most folks would consider the middle of nowhere. The funniest thing was that Bill hopped out of his limo and was met by his old friend Larry Crane. Bill took one look at him and said "Larry!! what are YOU doing here!!" The irony was hysterical!

[dthrasher]

The year President Clinton visited the canoe school was 1998. I don't think he stopped for a cigar, however, a cigar did cause quite a stir. The Monica Lewinsky scandal had just broken and the story going around was that a cigar had been used in the act of "not having sex with that woman". One of the participants in the lineup waiting to shake hands with Clinton (I think I remember who it was but the name will remain untold here to protect the guilty) offered Clinton a cigar. Clinton's reply was "No thanks, I'm trying to quit." I thought it was hilarious. Anyway, it was a good article on the canoe school and I am glad that everything went well in spite of the high water. By the way, this was the first canoe school that I have missed (1976 - 2008, dadburn that's a long time). My congratulations to all for making a good tradition even better.

[kenny peerson]

Brads got a picture of the visit on the wall at turner bemd

[Gordon Kumpuris]

We missed ya David. Hope you have something good that kept you away.

[Crane]

Arkansas really is part of a very small world... and no President could stop by for a visit with a better bunch of folks... liberals, conservatives, rich folks (I hear), poor folks, professionals, and working folks... all gathering together to teach and share what we love! All Presidents should plan a stop by for a visit with a really fine cross-section of our state!