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American Morning

Terre Haute Preparing for Worst During McVeigh Execution

Aired April 10, 2001 - 10:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Timothy McVeigh is being held at a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. As the clock ticks toward execution day, the city is preparing for an onslaught of media attention. Also out there is the possibility of violence.

Judy Anderson is the mayor of Terre Haute and she joins us now by phone to talk about what is ahead for the city.

Madam Mayor, good morning. Thanks for joining us.

MAYOR JUDY ANDERSON, TERRE HAUTE: Good morning, Daryn. I appreciate the opportunity to share this with you today.

KAGAN: Absolutely. Are you concerned for the safety of the citizens in Terre Haute?

ANDERSON: Well, I just will tell you that our police chief and our force here in Terre Haute is preparing for the very, very worst and praying for the very, very best. But the protection of our citizens and our community are topmost in their minds. So I have great confidence in our department, with the working that they are with the sheriff's department, with the federal officials, that we will be safe and secure.

KAGAN: Let's talk about some of the precautions that your city is taking. First of all, schools will be closed on that day?

ANDERSON: Schools will be closed on that day, which is really a wonderful idea because so many of the buses have to travel in front of the prison. Also, we have several schools that are located within just a few miles of the federal penitentiary and they were concerned about the traffic and about the onslaught of people being in that area.

So when Mr. Tanoos decided to close the schools, we all felt like that was the exact proper thing that he should be doing.

KAGAN: And then it also frees up all law enforcement, which I understand has also been told to cancel any vacations so that it is on full staff?

ANDERSON: You're exactly right. That's right. We have full staff. Every police car that we have will be out. The marked and the unmarked ones will be out into the community. But again, they will be protecting, number one, our citizens, but they also will be hopefully protecting everybody who will be new into Terre Haute, into the area for this occasion.

KAGAN: Well, it brings up a good point. I mean there are certain things you know are going to happen on that day. First of all, the onslaught of media.

ANDERSON: Right.

KAGAN: You know there's going to be a ton of media in town.

ANDERSON: Right. Right. We don't feel like you're going to be abusive in any way, shape or form.

KAGAN: We can be well-behaved, I can assure you of that.

ANDERSON: I know. We think, and we're counting on you being well behaved. This will be something brand new for us. I mean we have, many times our hotels are full and we have lots of people in when we have the 500 race, which is just 60 miles away, or we have the big park covered bridge festival.

But we've never had an onslaught of media before. So this is, you know, they'll be highlighting our community as well as the federal penitentiary and as the execution of Timothy McVeigh.

So we're doing everything to put our best foot forward to make your stay as pleasant as possible while you're here.

KAGAN: Well, it will be a difficult day, indeed, and we wish you well, Madam Mayor.

ANDERSON: Thank you so much. Have a good day.

KAGAN: Yes, yes, thank you for joining us. That's the mayor of Terre Haute, Indiana joining us, Judy Anderson. Thank you.

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