When a cover-up is good
The writing on the wall for Delphi
By Debbie Lowe

Cover it up! Graffiti on the US421 overpass on South Washington Street from a Jan. 9 widespread vandalism incident was painted over by state highway workers immediately after it was reported. Experts advise the best course of action when graffiti is discovered is to read it, record it, report it and remove it. Comet photo by Debbie Lowe

Usually the concept of a "cover-up" holds a negative connotation. But as many business owners and Delphi area residents came to learn last week, sometimes a "cover-up" is the thing to do.

The night of Jan. 9 seemed to be a busy one for one or more individuals in possession of cans of spray paint in and around the downtown area of Delphi. As the community awoke on the morning of the Jan. 10, it was discovered that many surfaces were sporting unplanned and unwelcome graphics on walls, doors, light poles, bridges, city stop signs and dumpsters.

Wallmann's owner John McKean said as soon as he noticed the graffiti, he contacted the Delphi Police Department to make a report about the two different areas marked on the building.

By the next day one area was painted over while the other was sprayed with a paint remover so it could soak in and be pressurewashed off later.

This was not the first time Wallmann's was marked with graffiti, according to McKean.

"There are too many groups of kids out at night," he said. "I don't know where their parents are."

Delphi Community High School was also vandalized by spray paint Jan. 9. Maintenance supervisor John Eller said he immediately reported it and removed it with a product called

Delphi Police Chief Ed Chapman said there were 30 to 40 incidents of marking reported. He said the street department would take the marks off of the backs of the stop signs. State highway workers painted over the marks on the bridge over Sugar Creek and the US421 overpass over south Washington Street.

Chapman said although he does not believe the incidents were gang-related, he wanted the public to know they received police attention. He said he brought in a consultant from the Lafayette Police Department to look at the damage and provide an opinion.

"He doesn't think what we got was gang-related," Chapman said. "It upsets me that people think we aren't doing anything,