TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Obama will visit Arcadia

The Associated Press

President Barack Obama will visit Arcadia on Tuesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

By GARY PINNELL

Highlands Today

Published: October 25, 2009

ARCADIA - A presidential visit is big news anywhere in America, but in a city so small that Friday night football games are still the weekly happening and politicians gather under the Tree of Knowledge, hearing "Hail to the Chief" at a presidential visit is the chance of a lifetime.

President Barack Obama will make history Tuesday when he becomes the first commander in chief ever to come to Arcadia.

When the news broke Friday afternoon that the leader of the free world would swing through central Florida, people in surrounding counties also penciled in a trip to the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, where 90,000 solar panels have replaced orange trees.

"The NAACP is calling a special meeting," member Arnold Wilson said on Saturday morning. An hour later, he called back. They were in the park, making instant decisions.

"We want to see the president," Wilson said. Well, there was one ulterior motive: his brother is in solar energy, so Wilson wanted to investigate a business angle.

"I just heard of it," said Avon Park city councilor Al Joe Hinson, president of the Highlands County NAACP chapter. "We might want to go as a body, just to see the president. He's coming this close; we should be able to reach out to him."

His fellow council member, Vice Mayor Brenda Gray, was listening on speaker phone. Is she going?

"Yes, she will!" Gray shouted, in a voice that was giddy but left little doubt.

"We want to be there, at least to wave," Hinson said.

"I've never seen a president close, up front, and I want to see him," Wilson said.

"The Lord's will, I will be going Tuesday," Hinson said.

Those who are interested in attending but need a ride should call Hinson at 863-399-2243.

The Democrats are coming along too, said Cheyenne Morin, chairman of the Highlands County executive committee.

Obama's schedule

Arcadia is part of a two-day Florida sojourn. On Monday, Obama will meet soldiers and sailors at the Jacksonville naval air station.That night, the president will fly to Miami for a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee fundraiser.

On Tuesday, Air Force One flies to citrus and cow country, starting at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, and then the president will travel to Arcadia, which is Florida Power & Light's solar energy mecca. A White House news release says the program begins at 11:45 a.m.

The president promised to cap greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, which would force electric companies to seek cleaner energy sources. Politics make strange bedfellows, so the president could help Gov. Charlie Crist's clean-energy agenda, which stalled in the Florida Legislature.

Some state leaders think solar is too expensive. Final testing of the solar facility is underway and it should be operational by the end of the month.

IF YOU GO

WHERE: The DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, 4051 NE Karson, is a half-mile south off the Hardee-DeSoto county line, and four miles north of Arcadia.

WHEN: Tuesday

Directions from Sebring:

South on U.S. 27

Right on S.R. 66

Left on U.S. 17

Left on Karson

Highlands Today reporter Gary Pinnell can be reached at 863-386-5828 or gpinnell@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT