Island Dispatch, 1999-01-22

              Island DISPATCH .Complete Community Coverage Diamond Ball Page 21 Animal Antics I Page 23 Cusack's orner page o Award Winning Newspapers 54 Years As the Voice of Grand Island I January 22, 1999 32 Pages + Special Tab: Veterans Park \ Vol. 54 No. 41 (716)773-7676 Clinton states national agenda in Western New York by Gregg Schnitzer In front of a flag-waving, cheering mob of over 20,000 at Buffalo's Marine Midland Arena, President William Jefferson Clinton and an entourage of democratic heavy weights reemphasized Clinton's agenda for America that the President put forth in his State of Che Union address Tuesday night before Congress. Just about every democratic office-holder was either on the stage or in the audience. After over 90 minutes of local entertainment that included a church Gospel Choir, the Albion Marching Band, the Niagara Falls All-High Band and a group of Dancers representing the Six- Nations the President, Vice President Al Gore and their wives took the stage at 12:15 to a thunderous applause and a standing ovation that lasted almost five minutes.Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello opened the oratory and spoke, as all did, about the boom times the country has been in economically for most of the decade. The Mayor told of the criticism heaped on NY Governor DeWitt Clinton at the building of the Erie Canal that eventually showed great vision and turned Buffalo into a gateway to the west and that the A SPECIAL VISIT - (Lto R): Legislature Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples; Legislature Chairman Charles M. Swanick; Erie County Demoeratke Chairman Steven Pigeon; and President Bill Clinton. (Photo: Robert Graber) Clinton's visit sets stage for special homecoming of Island native by Rick Forgione Paul and Josephine Klock, of 1030 Baseline Rd., joined thousands of Western New Yorkers Wednesday and traveled to the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo to hear President Bill Clinton speak. However, it was not the President of the United States that they came to see. It was one of his Secret Service Agents — their son, James. James Klock, a graduate of Grand Island High School where he was a three-star athlete, was one of approximately 75 Secret Service agents that made the trip to Buffalo. Thanks to the President's visit, he had a free homecoming with his family, which he only sees a few times a year. As a member of the K-9 Division of the Secret Service, James had the responsibility to wake up early Wednesday morning (about 3 a.m.) and walk the floors of the Arena with his 90-pound K-9 Sydney to search out explosives. After his search duties were over, James had the rest of the day to relax and enjoy being back in his native county. However, he was called back on duty to assure that his mom and dad got in to see the President. "We got there a little late and there was a line of people all the way around the arena waiting to get in," Paul said. "We went to the security area and asked for our son. A couple of minutes later he came out and brought us in and got us good seats." After the president's departure, James stayed behind to spend some quality time with his family. He enjoyed a delicious Italian "home cooked" meal and caught up on old times. However, it was back to work early Thursday morning for James and Sydney as they left for their next stop — a job with the Pope in Missouri. Paul, who attended the University at Buffalo and worked for Cannon Design before Continued on page 3 Continued on page 3