Watertown High School prepares for visit of First Lady Michelle Obama

WATERTOWN (WITI) -- On Thursday, September 12th, First Lady Michelle Obama will be in Watertown -- where she is set to launch a new nationwide effort to encourage people to drink more water. And Watertown residents couldn't be more excited!

The first lady is expected to visit with Watertown High School students, and encourage them to drink more water. It is part of Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move" campaign -- to ensure kids grow up healthy.

Watertown Mayor John David says this may be the biggest visit Watertown has ever had.

"They told me, because one: we have water in our name, and two: they liked our location in the middle of the United States," David said.

David has been working with the White House and the Watertown School District for the last 10 days, preparing for the first lady's visit. The Secret Service was in town last Friday to go over security plans with Watertown police and Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies.

Meanwhile, truckloads of equipment are being set up inside the high school. It will take eight hours for crews to set up in advance of the visit, but like security plans, what is being set up in the gym is being kept tightly under wraps.

Three years ago, Watertown was singled out by the American Water Association for having the best drinking water in Wisconsin.

"That stuff right down here was bottled here - came right out of the ground.  I'm going to give some to the first lady," David said.

The community is also home to Wis-Pak, a manufacturer and distributor of leading soft-drink brands, and one of Watertown's largest employers.

"That was a concern.  I have been assured on different occasions that there is no soda-bashing here," David said.

Mayor David says 90% of the feedback he has received about the first lady's visit has been supportive. He says a few falsely believe the event will be political. School leaders say the visit will be strictly about health and the importance of drinking more water.