DaytonDailyNews.com

TIPP CITY — All available tickets to Thursday's speech by President George W. Bush at Tippecanoe High School have been distributed, the Chamber of Commerce said Wednesday morning.

The secretary at the chamber office said she is telling callers that the people invited to attend the speech already have their tickets.

Around 500 people have been invited to hear the president speak on the global war on terror.

Tipp City businessman Steve Bruns, a former chamber president, invited the president on behalf of the Tipp City Area Chamber of Commerce, Tipp City and Miami County to visit the community and talk about the fight against terrorists and the war in Iraq. Bruns was notified Friday of the president's acceptance of the invitation.

Most students at Tippecanoe High School will watch the speech via a simulcast. Around 40 advanced government class students have been invited to attend.

Schools Superintendent John Kronour said school representatives have been meeting with those planning the event, but said planning is being done by The White House staff, not the schools. School officials have heard complaints about the event not being open to more students.

"We would have loved for all of our kids to have the opportunity" to be in the room for the president's speech, Kronour said. "It is not our call."

Contact this reporter at (937) 335-4357 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.