There are about 175 children in Tippecanoe and surrounding counties currently in foster care. Statewide, the figure is 5,600 abused and neglected children.

The Department of Child Services is calling attention to those in need, and those who open their homes, during National Foster Care Month.

Angela Archibald and her husband are foster parents in Clinton County. She says many people ask her about the experience.

Some new animals are coming to Lafayette’s Columbian Park thanks to the Mayor’s Youth Council. The ten animals are concrete statues that line the tracks of the train ride.

City Clerk Cindy Murray says the teens were responding to a challenge to liven up the area.

“We had them painted. We tried to keep to the same color scheme the park already has with the rides. We have a pink zebra with black stripes and green giraffe with yellow dots,” she says. “We also have three benches. One is a caterpillar and butterfly on one end. We have a giraffe bench.”