Bush Shocks Small Town

When Woodward, Okla. invited George W. Bush to their Independence Day celebrations, they thought they'd never hear back. But they did—with an RSVP yes! The former president will attend Woodward's Let Freedom Ring 2009 festival on July 4th. And now the community of 12,000—where cows outnumber people—is rushing to get ready for what locals are calling the biggest event ever to happen to their tiny town. And almost everyone's turning out to greet him: so far 9,200 tickets have been sold—the largest crowd Bush has greeted since he's left office. Said the shocked event promoter who sent the invitation to the former president: "I thought, `President Bush, July 4, no way is he even available. I almost asked for an off day in October or November, because I felt it would even be a stupid question to ask for the Fourth."