Indianapolis, IN
Former Notre Dame kicker signs undrafted free agent deal with XXXX
Nobody in the history of Notre Dame football has made a longer field goal than Spencer Shrader. The one-year transfer portal rental out of South Florida is parlaying that into an opportunity in the NFL.
Shrader signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Indianapolis Colts.
Shrader set the record for longest made field goal in Notre Dame history with a 54-yard connection at NC State. Shrader made four kicks of 50-plus yards, which tied the all-time Fighting Irish record.
Overall, Shrader went 15-of-22 (68.2 percent) in 2023 and 43-of-63 (68.3 percent) in his five-year collegiate career. He was asked to kick seven field goals from 50-plus yards out in his one season at Notre Dame, connecting on the four aforementioned attempts. He was 3-of-6 from 40 to 49 yards and 8-of-9 inside of 40 yards.
Shrader’s big leg is most certainly his greatest asset moving on to the next level. He trained at the same kicking academy, Kornblue Kicking, that produced NFLers Eddy Pinero and Jake Moody and former Notre Dame kicker Kyle Brindza.
“I don’t bring in just anybody,” Brandon Kornblue told Blue & Gold prior to last season. “If I’m going to spend that amount of time and be that concentrated with a kicker, I want it to be somebody who legitimately has a chance. I want to be able to give everything I have to help make that possible.”
Shrader is now getting that chance despite an admittedly shaky performance at Notre Dame’s Pro Day in late March.
“Today was obviously not the best performance that I was looking for, but I think there are growth opportunities and learning opportunities within that. You move on from it. You allow it to make you mentally stronger and you get ready for the next opportunity.”
Shrader is taking the route of former Notre Dame kicker Blake Grupe, who spent one season in South Bend after five at Arkansas State. Grupe went 14-of-19 for the Fighting Irish in 2022, signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft and worked his way into starting status for the Saints for the duration of the 2023 season. He ended up making 30 of his 37 field goal attempts and all 40 of his extra point tries.
Grupe proved having success as a kicker at the highest level is possible after one season at Notre Dame not going exactly to plan. Now it’s Shrader’s turn to do the same.
Indianapolis, IN
State police arrest man in connection with two Monument Circle attacks
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.
29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.
Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.
Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.
Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.
In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.
Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.
Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.
Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.
Indianapolis, IN
Where to find cooling stations in central Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.
Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.
Marion County
For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.
Those Cooling Centers are:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.
Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:
- Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers
For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.
Marion
- St. Martin Community Center
- Grant County Family YMCA
- Grant County Rescue Mission
Kokomo
- The Kokomo Rescue Mission
- The Excel Center in Kokomo
Peru
- Community Resource Center
- Miami County Courthouse
- Miami County Health Department
- Miami County YMCA
- Peru City Hall
- Peru Public Library
- Peru Schools Administration Building
Indianapolis, IN
Heat Advisory and Warning for central Indiana
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.
WRTV
A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.
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