Early trick pulled on town treat
By Kevin Schnepp Staff writer

Down and out This light pole along Riley Park's boardwalk in Delphi was one of several items marred by vandals last Thursday night. Rossville resident Bob Miller, who frequents the park, was walking there Friday morning while crews cleaned up the mess and commented on the damage. "I just don't see what people get out of tearing up nice things in the community," he commented. Comet photo by Kevin Schnepp

Riley Park in Delphi withstood a beating Thursday night when vandals damaged property there according to parks maintenance supervisor Chuck Foreman.

A light pole along the boardwalk was knocked down and domes from three other lights were broken loose and thrown into Deer Creek from the suspension bridge. Security lights were broken at the Boy Scouts building. Virtually every table, bench and bleacher in the park was overturned, trash recepticles were placed atop playground equipment and the concession stand was broken into, ransacked and a window knockedout.

Foreman said he believed more than one perpetrator was involved due to the extent of the damage.

"The vandals exposed live electrical wiring when they broke the lights," he explained. "They took quite a risk even with their own safety."

Foreman said he reported the damaged lights to Duke Energy, which supplied the poles for the park, and power to the lights was turned off.

Parks superintendent Richard Farrer told the Comet Friday he assumed the actions were early Halloween pranks and not regular occurences.

"We hope this does not continue," he said.

Police chief Ed Chapman told the Comet Tuesday the department had no leads but were working diligently on the case. He added night-time patrols would be increased through city parks through the trick-or-treating season and beyond.