Our Lady of the Greenwood students Andy Elliot, 14, left, and Bryan Elliot, 13, watch the CBS Evening News about the D.C. Sniper on Oct. 16, 2002.
Daily Journal Archives
News from around Johnson County as reported on Oct. 14 in the pages of the Daily Journal and the Franklin Evening Star from the last 112 years.
On this day in 2002, the main story on the front page of the Daily Journal was how a sniper striking at random in the Washington, D.C. area was making local schools question their planned trips to the nation’s capital.
More than 100 seventh and eighth graders from Our Lady of the Greenwood Catholic School left that morning for the D.C. area, which was paralyzed by fear after a series of sniper attacks left nine dead.
Educators and families around Johnson County had been weighing whether to send their children on annual school-sponsored trips to D.C. considering the attacks.
Anne Elliot, a White River Township parent, said safety concerns entered her mind as the trip approached, but did not stop her from letting her two sons —- Andy, 14, and Bryan, 13 —- go on the Our Lady of Greenwood trip.
“I’m not worried about them,” Elliot said. “I feel like they will be safe. This is a great opportunity for them. We can’t let this man or person stop our lives.”
Still, other parents grew increasingly worried for their kids as the date of departure approached. Principal Kathleen Fleming sent a letter home to parents addressing those fears. Ultimately, though, the decision was left up to them.
Center Grove Middle School was rethinking its plans for a trip scheduled for the following week.
Teacher Rick Miller met with parents to discuss their concerns earlier that week, and when he left the meeting, they were definitely going on the trip. However, when he came home and found out that Hoosier native Linda Franklin had become the sniper’s ninth victim, he reconsidered the decision.
“We’ll wait up until the last minute,” Miller said. “Hopefully, they’ll catch (the sniper); if not, we will reschedule the trip for a later date.”
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Other memorable Johnson County stories from this day
2019
The Johnson County Commissioners approved an ordinance prohibiting the use of public records by commercial entities.
2014
The city of Franklin was seeking improvements to the Interstate 65 area.
2005
The new Clark-Pleasant Academy was showing early signs of success.
