🌱 Child Molester Sentenced To 44 Years + Hearings For Water Rate Hike

Hey, Lafayette. I'm here with your fresh copy of the Lafayette Patch newsletter, full of all the things you need to know about what's going on in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Hazy sun. High: 84 Low: 63.
• Thursday: A strong thunderstorm. High: 91 Low: 67.

Here are the top three stories today in Lafayette:

1. Paul Staggs, a resident of Lafayette, was sentenced to 44 years in prison after being found guilty of child molesting. The guilty verdict came after a one-day bench trial. Staggs was babysitting the boy at his home when the crime occurred. (wlfi.com)
2. The nearby West Lafayette Board of Works has approved a road closure on the Fourth of July so a group of children can bike down the street to celebrate the holiday wearing red, white, and blue. Wilshire Avenue from Essex Street to Barlow Street will be closed on Jul. 4 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for the annual Barberry Heights Neighborhood Children’s Bicycle Parade. (Purdue Exponent)
3. Hearings are scheduled regarding a planned 30 percent increase in rates requested by Indian American Water. The rate hike would happen in increments over a two-year period. The 30 percent increase would raise water bills in the area by an average of $14. Hearings are planned for 6:00 p.m. on Jun. 29 at the Hamilton County Public Library East and Jul. 6 at the Gary Public Library and Cultural Center. (wlfi.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Lafayette:

Wednesday, June 28

• Lapsit Storytime At Tippecanoe County Public Library- Downtown (9:30 AM)
• Downtown Teen Scene At Tippecanoe County Public Library- Downtown (4:00 PM)

Thursday, June 29

• Tecumseh Orchestra Concert At Jefferson High School (4:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Columbian Park Zoo will be holding a Zoo Camp for Grown-Ups. The first session takes place on Thursday, Jul. 6, and the second session starts on Saturday, Jul. 29. The Jul. 6 camp includes tickets to a Lafayette Aviators game. There are many special activities planned at the zoo for the camp but remember, no kids are allowed. (Columbian Park Zoo via Facebook)
• Lafayette Parks and Recreation invites all service members to receive free admission to the Tropicanoe Cove on Tuesday, Jul. 4 in honor of Military Appreciation Day. (Lafayette Parks and Recreation via Facebook)
• Rainforest Randy and his animal friends will be hosting Silly Safaris at the Wyandotte Branch Library on Thursday, Jun. 29 at 10:30 a.m. All ages are welcome to attend and you can call (765)-447-4774 to reserve a seat. (Tippecanoe County Public Library via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Wednesday off right! I'll see you around.

— Danielle Fallon-O'Leary

About me: Danielle Fallon-O’Leary is a content manager with content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. Danielle also holds a Master’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and works part-time as a pediatric speech therapist.