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Bill Bailey, who used the name W. Axl Rose when starring with the rock 'n' roll band Guns n' Roses, toured with a second band, Metallica. Rose hurriedly visited Lafayette, and Arni's Restaurant in Market Square, in July without advance fanfare, riding about in a limousine. Fellow Lafayette native Jeff Isbell, who left Guns n' Roses in '91, bought an historic home on County Road 200-N, and started a band he called JuJu Hounds.
To clear the way for widening of Indiana 38, the familiar Aca Y Alla rollerskating rink, opened in the 1940s, was razed over protests of skaters young and old.
Wabash National Corporation reported that its net income had risen 81 percent in the first quarter, compared to 1991. The company's president and CEO, Jerry Ehrlich, was named 1992 Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine. At one point the company obtained a $22 million order for RoadRailer trailers, about 7 percent of its expected revenue for the year.
Mayor James F. Riehle accepted the final installment of $2.6 million in state funds earmarked for the railroad relocation project. The new Indiana 26 bridges over the Wabash River and the new railroad corridor opened in May.
Great Lakes Chemical Corporation announced plans to build its new corporate headquarters near the existing one off U.S. 52 northwest of West Lafayette. Completion of the pyramid-style structure was scheduled for May, 1993. The $7 million building, with an exterior of white marble and glass, contained 100,000 square feet of office space. Great Lakes also planned to spend $1 million more to renovate existing W.L. facilities.
Arnett Clinic announced construction plans for the next two years that included a building near Home Hospital and expansion of one near St. Elizabeth Hospital.
A ceremony marked the start of removal of CSX Railroad tracks from Fifth Street through Lafayette, part of the railroad relocation project. The tracks had been in place since 1852. At about the same time, the Amtrak "Cardinal" passenger train became the first to use the CSX tracks in the new corridor.
Lafayette native Shannon Hoon, a rock 'n' roll singer and star in the Blind Melon band, recorded an album; and performed in Lafayette.
Meijer, Inc., a Michigan-based retail chain, announced plans to build east of Lafayette on Indiana 26, and employ up to 700 people. The company optioned to buy 37 acres for a 200,000-square-foot store.
Tippecanoe County voters gave the losing Republican ticket of President George Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle 23,050 votes, and 17,343 to the victorious team of Democrats Bill Clinton and Al Gore. The independent candidacy of Texas oil billionaire Ross Perot attracted 9,684 county voters. The county helped re-elect Republican Dan Coats to the U.S. Senate with 29,129 votes to 17,867 to Democrat Joe Hogsett. Local voters showed a strong preference for Democrat Gov. Evan Bayh, helping re-elect him with 29,840 votes to 18,742 for Republican Linley Pearson. And they helped 7th District Congressman John T. Myers return to Washington by giving him 28,002 votes to 20,756 for West Lafayette Democrat Ellen Wedum. State Sen. Katie L. Wolf, D-Monticello, defeated Tippecanoe farmer Alan R. Kemper although Kemper carried the county 6,265 to 5,236. State Rep. Sue Scholer, R-West Lafayette, topped Democrat Sharon Wood 10,061 to 7,075 in the county; Rep. Sheila Klinker, D-Lafayette, defeated Republican challenger Linda Phillips 13,385 to 9,569.
Country music and dance fans welcomed the opening of West Lafayette's new dance spot Neon Cactus on Brown Street Levee.
Lafayette's City Council voted 5-3 for preliminary approval of a controversial ordinance intended to protect the rights of gay residents. The "gay rights" issue brought hundreds to argue both sides of the matter. The ordinance would empower the Lafayette Human Relations Commission to investigate complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation. Lafayette would become the only Indiana city with such an ordinance.
Lafayette's Board of Public Works approved an agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation to acquire 88 properties in the next two years for railroad relocation work in north Lafayette.