Hundreds turn out to greet former VP candidate

SANDPOINT — Dick Jewell made a quick request to 2008 vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, who returned to her birthplace Thursday evening to promote her book, “Going Rogue: An American Story.”

“I told her to run for president because we have a lot of cleaning up to do,” said Jewell. “She said she would do her best.”

The Newport, Wash., man was among 700 who streamed through the Sandpoint Business and Event Center, where Palin made her final stop on a three-week, 36-city tour to promote her book.

Standing nearby the former Alaska governor was Palin’s father, Chuck Heath, who graduated from Sandpoint High School, where he set a record for the 100-yard dash in 1953.

“It’s a good homecoming,” said Heath, noting that one of his proudest moments was being inducted into the Sandpoint High School Athletic Hall of Fame. “I’ve been in Alaska for more than 40 years, but this is still home.”

Heath grew up in Hope and met his wife, Sally, in college. They lived in Sandpoint from 1961 to 1964. Three of their four children were born here, including Palin on Feb. 11, 1964. Heath taught science and coached track at the former Sandpoint High School, which is where the book signing took place.

Lynda and Brad Scott, who renovated the old school into what’s now Sandpoint Business and Event Center, were thrilled to host the book signing.

“We’re very pleased to have this happen in our building,” Brad Scott said. “We’re huge supporters of Sarah Palin.”

“It’s exciting and this is good exposure” Lynda Scott added. “It’s a great gathering for our town.”

Palin supporter Lincoln Bevers stood in line for nearly four hours to get Palin’s autograph in his book.

“I spent the last two days on the treadmill reading her book,” said Bevers, a 25-year-old from Ponderay majoring in communications at North Idaho College. “I loved it. She’s very real and very personal. She made her points very clear.”

Lila Osborn of Sandpoint arrived at 1:30 p.m. for Palin’s visit.

“We just love her because she’s great and she’ll do a good job no matter what she chooses,” Osborn said.

Jewell said he appreciates Palin’s conservative values.

“We love Sarah Palin and we want her to run for president,” said Jewell’s wife, Kathy. “We think she shares the same values that we do. She’s more like the rest of us.”

Palin planned to spend the night in Coeur d’Alene and return to Alaska, where a book signing is planned for Elmendorf Air Force Base at Anchorage.

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