By By JAN GRIFFEY / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- "Absolutely awesome."
Those were just a few of the reactions from Niles area city and school officials, who have been through a whirlwind last week, working with members of the White House staff, Bush re-election committee and U.S. Secret Service, preparing Niles for President Bush's visit on Monday.
He said Brian Langley, the senior officials with the events team, told him "This is the best school they'd ever worked with to pull off this kind of event."
Law and his staff worked with determination to not only accommodate the president, but to also make certain this was a memorable event for Niles Community Schools students.
About 300 Niles High School students were waiting outside the Niles High School building when the president arrived.
Niles Mayor Mike McCauslin, who met the president and Mrs. Bush when he arrived at the high school, said, "I think the day and the event was just increible."
McCauslin mentioned the day had its somber moments, too, when Niles' McDonald's restaurant was destroyed by fire.
He, too, said he fielded a stream of compliments from the president's staff.
The most memorable moment for McCauslin was getting to meet the president.
Niles City Administrator Terry Eull said, "I think it was truly an exciting day for the City of Niles, a neat experience to be there and to see it and to see what takes place, to see the president deliver his speech."