George W. Bush to spend 4th of July in rural Okla.

WOODWARD, Okla. -- Former President George W. Bush, who has turned up in a handful of out-of-the-way places since leaving office, was set to spend part of Independence Day speaking at a remodeled rodeo arena in northwestern Oklahoma. Bush surprised city leaders in Woodward - population 12,000 - by accepting their invitation to speak at festivities celebrating the $25 million renovation of a local park. About 9,200 tickets have been sold for the event, which would be the biggest crowd for Bush since he left office in January. Seats for the speech - being held at a rodeo arena built in the 1930s as part of the Works Progress Administration - range from $25 up to $500 for the "Oval Office Ticket" in the first rows, close to Bush, with VIP parking and complimentary beverages. Event promoter Landon Laubhan declined to say how much... [read full story]                    

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