RSS | 
Twitter
| 
Be a fan!
Sarah Palin packs them in
But the Peters Township mother had another reason to stand with her sister, Sharon Jacobs of Greer, S.C., and the dozens of others overnight for a chance to see Palin. Gerwing wanted to thank Palin for the note she sent after Gerwing was diagnosed with breast cancer. The note said in part, "Todd and I want you to know our prayers are with you. We send you and all your family our love and encouragement. God bless."
With the note tucked inside the book, Gerwing showed it to Palin.
"She took a minute with me after seeing the card," Gerwing said. "I thanked her, and she asked how I was doing and how the baby was."
Rate This Story:
1 the lowest - 5 the highest
Current rating:
Jacobs said while her sister is a big Palin supporter, she was ambivalent about the former Republican vice presidential nominee and Alaska governor who may be heading for her own run to the White House. Jacobs said she did not vote for her in the 2008 election, which Palin and running mate John McCain lost.
"I am trying to educate myself and learn more about her," Jacobs said as she stood in line waiting to go inside the store.
But after the time Palin spent with her, Gerwing is convinced her sister is a Palin convert.
Palin's three-hour stop Saturday was part of a book-signing tour to promote "Going Rogue." She spent Friday in Ohio and was headed for Rochester, N.Y., after her South Strabane stop for a signing tonight. She was scheduled to be in Roanoke, Va., today. The parking lot adjacent to the discount club was full, and other drivers jockeyed for spots in the other lots. Many of the vehicles had bumper stickers touting Palin.
Addie Witt of Seven Springs made the trek to Washington County after standing in line for four hours and missing out on a chance to be one of 500 to have her book autographed by Palin during a signing in Columbus, Ohio, Friday. She got into Washington, where Palin was to sign books for 1,000 people, about 11 p.m. Friday.
"I am an extreme Palin fan," said the sophomore pharmacy major at Otterbein University. "She is a very classy woman in touch with the American lifestyle."
Witt, who is taking final exams next week, said she plans to read the book during her semester and Christmas break.
Katie Cuervo and Devan Gisoni, both students at Peters Township High School, like Palin's message.
"I like her views and think she has the best interest of the country," said Gisoni, a 17-year-old senior.
Betsy Popovich of McMurray, who was with the girls and several other Peters students, said she was disappointed that the girls could not go in for the signing since they were not 18 years old and not members.
"These girls are interested in current events and keep up with what is going on," Popovich said. "They are going to be voters someday. Their interest shouldn't be discouraged."
Lou Raymond of South Strabane Township had one of the shorter trips to Sam's Club, getting in line about 7:30 a.m. and getting a wristband with the number 729 on it.
"It will be interesting to see what is detailed in there," Raymond said. "I didn't vote for her last time, but that could be changing."
Amber Pavlek of Canonsburg read a few pages of the book as she stood in line overnight, keeping warm with a blanket and a new set of hand warmers.
She said she wasn't looking so hot after a night outdoors, but seeing Palin would be enough.
Nora Kelley of Elizabeth lucked out, getting wristband No. 1,000, which guaranteed her a chance of getting the two books she had just purchased signed by Palin. Kelley said she got to the store a little before 10 a.m. Saturday, went inside and bought the books before getting into line.
Amy Akers of Denbo and Jessica Welsh of Vestaburg were among the first to get through the line.
"We got here about 8 p.m. Friday, and it was so worth it," Akers said.
Welsh said that Palin even personalized the book she bought for her father.
Ron Kropf of Mt. Lebanon, who spent much of the night in line with Akers and Welsh, said they all enjoyed the time spent together waiting in line.
"We all exchanged e-mail addresses so we could keep in touch," Kropf said.
Township police reported no problems with the crowd, including those who spent the night.
Related articles:
Palin appearance draws thousands to South Strabane
Fans line up early for Palin
Palin admirers camping out tonight at Sam's Club
Home
palin : 11/22/2009
sarah palin supports small business but has her book signing at sams club........the lady is a joke
Sarah Palin packs them in : 11/22/2009
Nicely written article. Wish we could have been there! This Nation leads fresh leadership and Sarah just might be the one to provide it! Seems a little unfair that those young women were denied admission. We need younger people to get involved in politics. These youngsters are the Nations future and should be encouraged, not discouraged!
Glorious sadness : 11/22/2009
Remember, corporate sets the tone in America today. Give the people sports palins and they will sleep happy and peaceful at night, as if nothing else was happening in the world. More than 1.01 billion hungry people in the world. US banks will collect roughly $38 billion in overdraft penalties this year. Five days until black friday, let's go everybody, the prophet palin and the interest rates are on our side.
SARAH : 11/23/2009
She has her book signing in a store that is owened by china ,or as close to it as it could be .
SMALL BUSINESSES : 11/23/2009
Sams Club was large enough to hold the massive amounts of people that they predicted were going to be there. If you can name another store that sell books in the Washington area that would be able to hold that many people, GOOD LUCK. She is not a joke and look out because she is not going away. I feel sorry for the people that hate her so much and cannot look past her looks and family history. It seems to me that she is more like the common people that any other politician I witnessed in the past. She is fresh and did not get where she is now because of lack of smarts.
Sarah Palin packs them in : 11/23/2009
Sarah Palin; a true American who is one of us and has her priorities in order. God, Country and Family. A person who has traditional family values that comes right from the Word of God. It's refreshing to see and hear from a person that is not Un-American. The Un-Americans are Godless people who are out of touch with the American people.
Owned by China : 11/23/2009
Hate to tell you, but the entire country is owned by China thanks to our government's policies. And this current administration is doing nothing to curtail the problem. Borrow and spend, borrow and spend. We're all Chinese now.
wow... : 11/23/2009
she isn't stupid, but she isn't the brightest bulb on the tree... come on now, she claims she had no clue that her daughter was sexually active. How many parents of teens are so possitive that your kids are not sexually active? If you are that blind to your own household, how are you going to run a country?
Sarah : 11/23/2009
I've got news for you, dm, our entire country is practically owned by China, since they hold over $800 billion of our debt, which Obama and the democrats are adding to daily through their out-of-control spending.
PT BARNUM WOULD BE PROUD : 11/23/2009
Yep. She sure went "rogue." It's shock and awe city on how "roguish" Palin is. As PT Barnum said, "there's one born every minute." And she had them lining up to buy her book..... Put your time and money to better use. Volunteer at the Food Bank and donate to the Salvation Army.
Palin book sign. event. : 11/23/2009
Love or hate her, regardless of your political affiliation, beliefs, or ideals/values. People just don't know how to take her, or are scared of the unknown or worry/jealous that someone might provide new fresh blood leadership to the nation. We have corruption/cronyism/greed on some many levels of our society in this nation that need cleaned up that it's not funny & people don't wanna hear that (the truth, due in fact that you can't handle it & it hurts - quote from "A Few Good Men" by Jack Nicholson). Now everyone is entitled to their 2 cents on things, & that's the beauty of free speech under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution of the USA, & have that priveleged right free of tyranny, persecution, ridicule, &/or annihalation; which we are protected from those things by the Armed Forces of the U.S. Military, Law Enforcement & 1st Responders (& thanks to all those in such ranks!) the Left fears her because she can relate & has issues just like we all do, meanwhile the right fears she might actually really relate better than most & don't wanna be upstage, in other words, the political powers that be don't wanna be rocked or unseated of power, prestige by vote by a newcomer.
thank you : 11/24/2009
i am a supporter of president obama and i wanted to thank sarah! for making that possible
your welcome : 11/25/2009
to mp hopefully your eyes will be opened to the occupier who stinks up the WH to high heaven!!!
Your welcome : 11/25/2009
only one term and the novelty will be gone, thank you indeed !!!
duh : 11/26/2009
sara palin makes me look like a rocket scientist and i didn't finish high school
palins fans : 11/26/2009
checking out the people at sams club who support palin i saw a lot of those wacko women with their long denim dresses and their 15 home schooled kids clinging to their guns and religion......thats not the real america
duh is DUH! : 12/4/2009
Thanks for pointing out your lack of education, duh. Nobody would be able to tell by your lack of capitalization, punctuation, basic grammar and spelling skills alone. Fail.
