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Cheney will stop at Crater, in Medford By Dani Dodge Republican vice presidential candidate Dick Cheney�s visit to Medford Thursday will include a fund-raiser at the Medford airport, a forum on student leadership and agriculture at Crater High School and a sendoff back at the airport. Only the airport sendoff will be open to the general public. The Southern Oregon swing is intended to "show the campaign�s commitment to winning all of Oregon," said Dan Lavey, a Republican consultant advising the Bush/Cheney campaign in Oregon. "And to focus on the importance of natural resource issues to Oregon�s economy," he added. At Crater, Cheney will meet with students leaders from around the Rogue Valley as well as students from the school�s Future Farmers of America program. "We thought it particularly appropriate to give focus to the Future Farmers of America at Crater High," Lavey said. "It underscores the importance of natural resources and agriculture in Oregon�s economy." Cheney will not visit North Medford High School as previously believed, but North students who had been invited to meet with Cheney will be invited to the Crater event. Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush selected Cheney, 59, as his running mate last month. Secretary of defense under Bush�s father, Cheney was a Wyoming state representative before joining the Cabinet. Since leaving government service in 1995, Cheney has been the chief executive officer of Halliburton Co., the world�s largest oil field service company. Cheney�s visit to Medford will start at 10:15 a.m. Thursday, when the candidate and his wife, Lynne, arrive at the airport. They will be greeted by Sen. Gordon Smith and 2nd District Rep. Greg Walden, both Oregon Republicans; state Republican Party Chairman Perry Atkinson and former 2nd District Rep. Bob Smith. Cheney will attend a private fund-raising reception at the airport. From 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Cheney will be at Crater for what is being billed as a "Leadership in Education Forum." School superintendents will organize the forum audience, inviting teachers, students, school board members and parents. At the forum, three or four students will have a chance to address the vice presidential candidate about leadership. Cheney will give a short address followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience. From 1 to 1:30 p.m., Cheney will hold a "Southern Oregon Send-off" from the airport. This will be the best chance for the public to see Cheney. He will shake hands and chat with supporters. For more information on the events, call the Oregon Republican Party (503) 587-9233. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA