300 new tips since Delphi murder charges revealed

Plus, Drew Brees gives United Way of Greater Lafayette a shout out. New early voting sites open today. And what happened when the Purdue Glee Club visited Columbian Park’s new carousel house

Today’s edition is sponsored by the Delphi Opera House, which will host the Midwest premiere of the newly restored historic film, “The King of the Kongo,” at noon Nov. 13.  The 3½-hour film will be shown in segments with dinner courses served during the breaks. Indiana based film preservationist Eric Grayson will speak on the restoration process beginning at noon.  Special guest, Sara Karloff, daughter of Boris Karloff, will also speak about her father, who stars in the film. “The King of the Kongo” is a 1929 cliffhanger serial.  It follows the exploits of Larry Trent (Walter Miller) tracking the footsteps of his missing brother into the lost African temple of Nuhalla.  There he meets Diana Martin (Jacqueline Logan), a young woman desperately searching for her father, whom she has never met.  Each weekly installment had Larry and Diana imperiled by dinosaurs, wild animals and a gang of ivory smugglers.  The leaders of the gang, Scarface Macklin (Boris Karloff) and Jack Drake (Larry Steers) seem to know a great deal about a mysterious gorilla called the King of the Kongo. 

FOR TICKETS AND MORE INFORMATION: drfilm.net/delphi.

For the trailer:

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TIPS PILE UP SINCE MONDAY IN DELPHI

Police recorded roughly 300 tips in the first 24 hours after releasing the name of a Delphi man charged with two counts of murder in the 2017 deaths of Abby Williams and Libby German, middle school friends killed near the town’s Monon High Bridge trail.

Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby said that was the number reported to a Delphi double homicide hot line, as of Tuesday, after Indiana State Police and Carroll County Prosecutor Nick McLeland said the case remained an open investigation.

Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby. (Photo: Frank Oliver)

Richard Allen, 50, a Delphi homeowner who worked at a local CVS, was arrested late last week and charged Friday for murder.

McLeland said Monday, when Allen’s name was officially released, that he had requested that a judge seal the probable cause affidavit. The probable cause would include details about why police believe Allen was tied to the murders. McLeland and Indiana State Police Supt. Doug Carter deflected questions about why they requested the unusual measure of secrecy, including whether it meant someone else was involved in the girls’ deaths. They said they were looking to protect the integrity of the case while investigators gathered more evidence.

“This investigation is still very ongoing,” McLeland said during a press conference before dozens of local, state and national media outlets. “We're keeping the tip line open, the tip email open. We encourage everybody if you continue to call in tips, not only about Richard Allen, but about any other person that you may have.”

What you can do: The tip line is abbyandlibbytip@cacoshrf.com and 765-822-3535.

• Here’s coverage from Monday’s news in Delphi:

‘Just eerie:’ Abby and Libby’s suspected killer found living in Delphi

• This was my conversation with Kelsi German after Monday’s news conference:

Q&A: Kelsi German, Libby’s sister, on new murder charges in Delphi

• And here’s the full press conference from Monday:

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This and that …

INSIDE THE CAROUSEL HOUSE: Who knew Columbian Park’s new carousel building – all there, minus the carousel, for now – had such great acoustics? The Purdue Glee Club recently stopped by the park in Lafayette to test out the space. Hear for yourself with this rendition of the “Purdue Hymn.”

As for the carousel, there’s no firm timetable of the installation. Samantha Haville, marketing manager for Lafayette Parks and Recreation, said work continues on a project that has been delayed for various reasons, including sourcing materials and staffing issues during the pandemic. The 42-foot diameter carousel, featuring 36 carved horses and other animals, also was delayed when the initial contractor went bankrupt.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

EARLY VOTING SITES EXPAND, STARTING TODAY: The days of voting at Greater Lafayette Pay Less Super Markets are gone for now. (Good times, good times.) But the extended-stay early voting sites ahead of Election Day, Nov. 8, are still around. Here’s the schedule, starting today.

Starting Wednesday,  and running through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. each of those days, the Tippecanoe County election board will have polling places at these sites.

Wednesday, Nov. 2, to Saturday, Nov. 5, noon-6 p.m.:

• Wea Ridge Baptist Church, 1051 E. County Road 430 South, Lafayette

• Eastside Assembly of God Church, 6121 E. County Road 50 South, Lafayette

• Faith West Community Center, 1920 Northwestern Ave., West Lafayette

• Northend Community Center, 2000 Elmwood Ave., Lafayette.

Through Friday, Nov. 4:  8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St.

Nov. 5: 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St.

Nov. 7: 8 a.m.-noon, Tippecanoe County Office Building, 20 N. Third St.

For more about the election:

2022 Voter Guide: Your ballot, candidate Q&As and where to vote

WEST SIDE SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE FORUM: West Lafayette school board candidates were invited tonight to the second of two forums organized by Brady Kalb, who was among 15 candidates running for four West Lafayette school board seats in 2020. In this one, candidates each will get five minutes to make a statement, followed by questions from those in the audience. The forum will be 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Fresh Thyme Community Room, 2410 N. Salisbury St., West Lafayette. Kalb said he had commitments from four of the six candidates.

DREW BREES FOR YOUR UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN: Purdue legend, Super Bowl champ and Greater Lafayette business owner Drew Brees offered a pitch this week for the United Way of Greater Lafayette campaign, now in its final push.

The United Way of Greater Lafayette has a goal of $5 million for a campaign scheduled to end Nov. 17. The annual campaign will help support 26 Greater Lafayette nonprofits that get part of their funding from the United Way.

What you can do: To donate or to get your company involved, go to uwlafayette.org/donate.

Thanks, again, to the Delphi Opera House for helping make this edition of the Based in Lafayette reporting project happen.

Tips or story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com. Also on Twitter and Instagram.