🌱 Neurologist Starts Med School Scholarship + 2020 Murder Sentencing

Hello all. I'm back with your new edition of the Lafayette Patch newsletter. Here's all the community news you need to know right now.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: Sunny and very warm. High: 82 Low: 54.
• Sunday: Sunny and very warm. High: 85 Low: 56.

Here are the top three stories in Lafayette today:

1. A local neurologist has established a new scholarship designed to recognize and support the next generation of medical professionals in our community. Dr. Julian Ungar-Sargon has set up a one-time award of $1,000, which will be awarded to a medical student who demonstrates exceptional dedication to the advancement of healthcare and patient care. Candidates must apply by Feb. 15, 2024. (Digital Journal)
2. On Thursday, the second of four defendants who pled guilty in the 2020 murder of a former Purdue employee was sentenced to 33 years in prison. Last week, another co-defendant was sentenced to 50 years after pleading guilty to felony murder. Two others who were also indicted in the case have yet to be sentenced. (Purdue Exponent)
3. Up the road in South Bend, the city’s oldest commercial building, the Lafayette Building, is set to receive renovations after the Redevelopment Commission met yesterday and unanimously approved its sale. Originally called the Dean Building, the Lafayette Building was the first commercial office building in South Bend, built by Dr. Edwin Dean from 1900 to 1901. The city agreed to sell the building for only $10,000, with the developers investing $8 million to transform the five-story building into an apartment and retail space. The historic building was falling into disrepair over the last six years and faced demolition. (WDNU)

Business owners and marketers in Lafayette: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Today and tomorrow in Lafayette:

Saturday, September 30

• Stories Under the Sculpture At Tippecanoe Public Library, Downtown Branch (10:30 AM)
• Laughayette Comedy Festival At Long Center for the Performing Arts (7:00 PM)

Sunday, October 1

• Purdue Collegiate Band, Wind Ensemble and Alumni Concert Band At Long Center for the Performing Arts (2:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• The County's bi-annual electronics recycling event takes place TODAY at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Come drop off electric and electronic devices such as TVs, computers, laptops, vacuum cleaners, and printers to be recycled for free. Please note: items with refrigerant (AC units, refrigerators, dehumidifiers, etc.) will not be accepted. (Tippecanoe County)
• The Columbian Park Zoo's annual Community Pumpkin Decorating Contest is almost here, and you can sponsor a pumpkin to be on display during "Boo at the Zoo." You and your team decorate a provided pumpkin, and the Zoo will display your creation throughout the event, ensuring visibility for your brand or company. To learn more, call the Zoo organizers at (765) 807-1544. (Columbian Park Zoo via Facebook)
• Interested in plants and seeds native to the area? On Oct. 7, the Wabash River Enhancement Corporation is hosting a tour of local stormwater infrastructure. On the tour, you'll learn how to collect seeds from established native plants and identify some of the plants, as well as proper seed collection and processing techniques. Click the link to learn more! (City of Lafayette via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox soon with a new update!

— 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.