A Hometown Connection to John McCain's VP Pick
RICHLAND -- The news broke to the world early this morning: Alaska Senator Sarah Palin is the pick for Vice Presidential nominee.
"When I got up this morning I turned on the Television and there it was," said Palin's aunt Katie Johnson, a long-time Richland resident.
The announcement was news to Katie. The family found out like everyone else.
"And then 15 minutes later her mother called and said 'can you believe it? We just found out!' And they hadn't even known," Johnson said.
"It's very exciting. I just wish her parents were here to see it. They'd be really proud."
Sarah Palin's family ties in the Tri Cities stretch back generations.
"Sarah and the family have always come here," Johnson said.
Palin's mom's family grew up in Richland. Her uncle is the late Franklin County district judge Patrick Sheeran. Sarah's aunts and uncles, and her mom Sally, graduated from Columbia High, which is now Richland High.
"During spring break when most kids would go to Hawaii or somewhere exciting, Sarah and her brothers and and sisters would always come here to the Tri Cities," Johnson said.
Palin's parents, Chuck and Sally, met at Columbia Basin College where they went to school.
She was born in Idaho, where her dad's from, but raised her in Alaska.
Palin came back this way for college, where she graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in journalism.
Then she moved back to Alaska where she raised her family.
Palin became mayor at 32, governor at 42 and VP hopeful at 44.
"What Sarah says comes from her heart," Johnson said. "She'll do good. She'll do good."
Palin's family said, before the announcement, they already had plans in the works to go see her in Washington D.C.
They wanted a chance to meet Palin's new baby boy, Trig, who was born four months ago.
"When I got up this morning I turned on the Television and there it was," said Palin's aunt Katie Johnson, a long-time Richland resident.
The announcement was news to Katie. The family found out like everyone else.
"And then 15 minutes later her mother called and said 'can you believe it? We just found out!' And they hadn't even known," Johnson said.
"It's very exciting. I just wish her parents were here to see it. They'd be really proud."
Sarah Palin's family ties in the Tri Cities stretch back generations.
"Sarah and the family have always come here," Johnson said.
Palin's mom's family grew up in Richland. Her uncle is the late Franklin County district judge Patrick Sheeran. Sarah's aunts and uncles, and her mom Sally, graduated from Columbia High, which is now Richland High.
"During spring break when most kids would go to Hawaii or somewhere exciting, Sarah and her brothers and and sisters would always come here to the Tri Cities," Johnson said.
Palin's parents, Chuck and Sally, met at Columbia Basin College where they went to school.
She was born in Idaho, where her dad's from, but raised her in Alaska.
Palin came back this way for college, where she graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in journalism.
Then she moved back to Alaska where she raised her family.
Palin became mayor at 32, governor at 42 and VP hopeful at 44.
"What Sarah says comes from her heart," Johnson said. "She'll do good. She'll do good."
Palin's family said, before the announcement, they already had plans in the works to go see her in Washington D.C.
They wanted a chance to meet Palin's new baby boy, Trig, who was born four months ago.
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