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Bloomington Resident Wins Dunes Sand Sculpture Contest

A Bloomington native won this year's sand sculpture competition at Indiana Dunes State Park.

Stephanie Jones, along with six family members and friends, sculpted the state of Indiana with several icons inside, including the logos of Indiana University, Notre Dame, the Statehouse, a Cardinal, and the Hoosier National Forest.

"We come back every year, we have such a great time," Jones says. "It's fun to watch everybody else watch sand sculptures. And the competition keeps getting tougher and tougher so we're looking forward to coming back."

The team drove up to the Lake Michigan lakeshore for the tenth time this year. They've placed in the top three every year they've entered the contest.

The theme this year was Indiana's bicentennial. Other entries included Michael Jackson's face, an Indy Speedway Car and a Hippo from the Indianapolis Zoo.

Next year's theme hasn't been decided yet, but state park officials say they'll run a poll so that people can help decide.

Next year will be the 20th annual sand sculpture event.