Okay, I reworked my story, fixing my math. Here's the breakdown of dates:
1966 - Clark born
1967 - Lois born
1976 - Clark orphaned
1977 - Batman makes his first appearance in Gotham City. Clark runs away from foster care & joins circus as "Dick Grayson".
1981 - Dick Grayson adopted by Bruce Wayne (Robin appears) - Clark's 15
1984 - Robin disappears (Dick/Clark goes to college)
1986 - Batman is injured / retires (aka disappears)
1989 - Dick/Clark graduates from college. "Batman" returns.
1990 - (New) Batman meets Vicki Vale
1991 - Arkham explodes apparently killing (new) Batman
Early 1993 - Clark and Superman arrive in Metropolis
Late 1993 - Superman doesn't return from saving Earth from Nightfall (yet, Clark still works at Daily Planet.)
mid-1994 - Lois almost married Lex Luthor, realizes her mistake only after Clark leaves Metropolis
1995 - Flash arrives in Central City
1997 - Time of this story.