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A Legendary Indiana Basketball Story Lives On
Plus - LIV Golf Coming to Town & a Wonka-Like Candy Factory
Austin Sellers & Nate Spangle
November 14, 2024
Thursday, November 14th
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☀️ This week’s INsights
This week in Indiana History - Basketball is massive in the state of Indiana, especially at the high school level. No movie greater encompasses that than Hoosiers, which was released this week in 1986. For those who have not seen it (and if you haven’t, WATCH IT), the movie tells the story of the Hickory Huskers, a tiny school in the fictional town of Hickory, Indiana, and their basketball team as they go on a run all the way to the Indiana High School basketball state championship.
The movie is loosely based on Milan High School’s run to the state championship in 1954, and it was filmed in various places in Indiana. The film's location shots were filmed in New Richmond, and the state championship game was filmed at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The majority of the basketball scenes were filmed at Knightstown Elementary School’s gym, which is still standing today and is affectionately known as the “Hoosier Gym.” The gym hosts 80 high school games each high school basketball season, and still plays host to about 75,000 tourists a year.
The movie is a perfect story about this state’s love of high school basketball. “In 49 states, it’s just basketball… But this is Indiana
⚡ Hoosier Headlines ⚡
LIV Golf is Rolling into Town - Westfield, just north of Indy, is hosting a big-time LIV Golf tournament at the fancy Chatham Hills course. It’s going down August 15-17, 2025, and they’re expecting 50,000 people to show up.
This isn’t just any tournament either; it’s the individual champions final, so the winner’s walking away with a cool $4 million. And, of course, we’ll see some heavy hitters from the golf world — big names like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and a bunch of other champs.
Plus, it’s not just golf; they’re planning some live music to cap off the weekend. In the past, they’ve had acts like Macklemore and Dan + Shay, so maybe we’ll get something along those lines too. Should be a blast.
Sandhill Crane Fall Migration - Alright, here’s something you don’t hear every day — if you head up to the Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area this time of year, you’ll see thousands of sandhill cranes hanging out in the marsh. It’s like a little crane convention! Apparently, this is prime crane-watching season, and the Indiana DNR even has an observation deck set up so you can get a good look at these giant birds without, you know, wandering into a marsh.
Now, if you’re serious about seeing them up close, they suggest going at sunrise or sunset. They’ve got a few scopes on the deck for viewing. So even if you’re not into cranes, you’ve gotta admit, that’s some pretty wild Indiana nature right there.
🎧 Listen to Our Latest Podcast 🎧
🎙 I sat down with Lindsay Gramlich, the President and CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis to talk about all the ways they are helping empower girls across the state. We cover:
Key partnerships with Eli Lilly and Cummins
Introducing girls to STEM careers
The tangible impact Girls Inc. has had on the Hoosier state
💎 Hidden Gems 💎
Wilson Farm Market, it’s right off Highway 31, and let me tell ya—it’s not just a farm market. You pull up, and it's this huge red barn like you're about to step into an agricultural Disneyland. They’ve got everything from Amish cheeses to fudge, pickles, spices, and pies—just… endless pies. You think, ‘Who’s buying all these pies?’ And then you realize… it's probably you. They’ve even got this whole wall of candy, like they're trying to give Willy Wonka a run for his money.
And they don’t stop at just food. There’s soap, there’s home decor, and somehow, just enough taxidermy to remind you you’re still in Indiana. It's the kind of place where you come in for a loaf of bread, and you leave with a three-foot-wide tin sign that says ‘Home Sweet Home’ and, like, a life-size buffalo statue. It’s the best.
Avon Gardens is this hidden gem in the woods—like you’re walking into a secret garden. There’s every plant you can think of, streams running all over, and these little benches placed around so you can sit and just take it all in. People get married here, and you get why; it’s just beautiful, peaceful, and full of flowers. You can buy plants, garden stuff, or just stroll around like it’s your own personal oasis.
Is like stepping into candy heaven right here in Indiana. They’ve got a massive store, every gummy you could think of, and stuff you didn’t even know they could make into a gummy. There’s a factory where you can see candy actually being made—like Willy Wonka, but without the weird boat ride. They’ve got chocolate, sour stuff, sweet stuff, and a whole wall of gummies, as if Indiana had some kind of gummy emergency and they were the first responders. You go in for a little candy and end up leaving with enough sugar to last a lifetime. It’s amazing.
👏 1 Big wIN 👏
Indiana and Notre Dame Poised to Make College Football Playoffs
Alright, folks, here we are—Indiana, the football state. Let that sink in for a second. For years, if you said “Indiana football,” people thought you meant “basketball.” But now, Indiana University and Notre Dame are both sitting pretty in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Indiana is ranked fifth. Fifth. I’m still waiting for someone to tell me it’s a typo, but no, it’s real! The Hoosiers are 10-0 and just took down Michigan. And then there’s Notre Dame, doing what they usually do, but now quietly hovering in playoff territory like it’s just another day. They’ve got their sights set on the top, as always.
So, we’re a football state now? I mean, this was the place known for Larry Bird and Hoosiers, the movie, not the mascot. But suddenly, we’re talking playoff berths, and big rankings like Indiana’s been football-crazy all along.
But hey, it’s a big deal, and we’re rolling with it. We’ll see if we keep this football-state thing going, but right now, Indiana’s actually in the conversation. Let’s just hope we don’t jinx it!