Poplar Bluff petitions for Bush visit

Daily American Republic

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- About 10,000 people in this Southeast Missouri town hope their signatures will encourage President Bush to come for a visit.

Residents Hardy Billington and David Hahn are behind a petition drive they started in June to ask the president to stop by their community.

About 35 businesses agreed to place petitions on their counters. The drive ended when the last signatures were collected at the Butler County Fair.

Billington and Hahn said they're still trying to figure out a way to get the petition to Bush.

Billington also bought a billboard at the city's north entrance to voice his support for Bush and American troops. Then, veterans put up additional signs elsewhere in the city.