(Radio Iowa) – Schools at all levels have shifted courses online, so it shouldn’t be a big surprise that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is now offering a virtual workshop to teach how to hunt, field dress and cook waterfowl. The Jamie Cook, a program coordinator for the D-N-R, says the course will target Iowans who have little to no waterfowl hunting experience — and they’ll make it work during the pandemic.

“We will take every measure to make camera angles really, really good and high index,” Cook says. “I field dressed a dove last night on my computer screen and had it to where it looked really good and did everything to accommodate as much as we could.” While these types of skills usually require hands-on training, Cook says they’re making the switch to using Zoom webinars with a panel of expert instructors for the two-part workshop series next month.

“Immediately following, probably within a week of the courses, we’re going to send them an email that’s going to have detailed information, it’s going to have recipes, it’s going to have a link to a PDF of the hunting regulations,” Cook says. “We’ll also send some video clips along to them that we’ve used over the years for these courses.” Ideally, Cook says they’ll invite the participants on a hunt during the upcoming season with experienced hunters from Delta Waterfowl.

People who take part in the free workshops will learn basic strategies for hunting waterfowl, things like proper equipment, where to hunt, safe shooting practices, decoys and calling, and how to field dress, clean and cook waterfowl. Cook says participants will have plenty of chances to ask questions. “Last night, with our Learn to Hunt Dove course, we had about 30 questions that came in. We were able to answer those both live and privately through the question-and-answer feature,” Cook says. “We have a lot of positive feedback from the participants.”

Course One will be held September 3rd and will cover waterfowl habitat and identification, hunting regulations and calling techniques. Course Two will be held September 10th and will cover hunting equipment, decoy spreads, cleaning and cooking. Participants can sign up for either or both courses.

(Radio Iowa) — The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld a harassment conviction against a woman involving a Facebook post. Miranda Simpson was found guilty of third-degree harassment after evidence was presented that she made a Facebook post about an Ankeny massage salon. The owner of the salon took a screen shot of the post which said one of the massage therapists could provide a “happy ending” and her “bosses knew” or did not “care.”

An Ankeny police officer testified that he asked Simpson about the Facebook post and “she claimed that she was sticking up for her friend.” Simpson appealed the conviction saying the officer’s statement was misunderstood as a partial confession — but the Appeals Court ruled there was substantial evidence to indicate Simpson made the post.

LeCLAIRE, Iowa (AP) — Authorities say a second person has died from injuries he received in an eastern Iowa boat crash on the Mississippi River. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says 61-year-old Craig Verbeke, of Moline, Illinois, died in a hospital Wednesday, three days after a boat he was aboard collided with another boat on the river near LeClaire.

The crash also killed Dr. Anita Pinc, of Moline, Illinois, a 52-year-old Davenport obstetrician and gynecologist. Officials said she and Verbeke were aboard the same 19-foot Bayliner boat. Officials say a 36-year-old woman on the other boat — a 35-foot center-console vessel — suffered minor injuries.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Drake University has removed more than a dozen students from its Des Moines campus, saying they violated coronavirus safety and prevention guidelines at gatherings both on and off campus. Television station KCCI reports that 14 Drake students were asked to leave campus for two weeks. Drake University asks undergraduate students to sign a compact in which they agree to social distance, self-monitor for symptoms and wear face coverings in campus buildings.

The compact states that students will be disciplined if they host or attend parties on or off campus. Students who repeatedly violate the compact could be suspended or expelled.

DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) and more than $2 million in funds to Iowa counties to utilize for the November 3 general election. The PPE includes face shields, masks, gloves, hand sanitizer and social distancing markers for use at the polls on Election Day. Additionally, more than $2 million from the CARES Act will be made available to counties. “Making sure Iowans can safely cast their ballot is vital. It is your choice whether you want to vote absentee or at the polls,” Secretary Pate said. “Polls will be open on November 3. We are providing the materials necessary to protect voters and poll workers and reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.”

The CARES Act funds that will be distributed to each county include a base amount of $5,000, along with an additional $850 for each precinct. Counties can use the funds to purchase additional PPE, polling place supplies such as pens and secrecy folders, training materials for poll workers, and for disinfecting polling places.

The Iowa Secretary of State’s Office plans to mail all active registered voters an absentee ballot request form near the end of August.

CEDAR RAPIDS – Officials with the Iowa Department of Corrections say 22-year old Derek Keith Morrison Jr., who was convicted of Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury and other crimes in Linn County, failed to report back to the Larry A. Nelson Residential Center as required this (Wednesday) morning.

Derek Morrison, Jr.

Morrison is an African-America male, 6-feet one-inch tall. He weighs 164-pounds. Morrison was admitted to the work release facility on June 3, 2020.  Persons with information on Morrison’s whereabouts should contact their local police.

Sheriffs Deputies in Pottawattamie County, late Saturday night, arrested a Nebraska man following a pursuit. The incident began with a broadcast about a man driving a car with no license plates. The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office today (Wednesday), says a little after 11-p.m. Saturday, the vehicle was seen exiting Interstate 80 westbound at Madison Avenue in Council Bluffs. When a Deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop at the Bucky’s gas station, the car sped-off from the parking lot. The chase ended with 33-year-old Tony Collins, of Omaha, being arrested for Eluding While Exceeding the posted Speed Limit by 25 mph or more, and Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree. He remained in the Jail today on a total of $12,000 bond.

The Pott. County Sheriff’s Office says also, 46-year old Sandra Annette Graham, of Omaha, was arrested Tuesday for Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)/1^st Offense, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $1,300.   64-year old Jon Craig Sorensen was arrested following a traffic stop, Sunday, at the intersection of Railroad Highway and Road -L34. Sorensen was charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked.

Authorities say 47-year old Michael James Gregg, of Carter Lake, turned himself-in to the Pott. County Sheriff’s Office, Monday. Gregg was wanted on a warrant for Violation of Probation. He remained in the jail today (Wednesday).  26-year old Ryan Thomas O’Doniel, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody Monday at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse, on a warrant for Child Endangerment/Abandonment. He was being held in the jail on a previous misdemeanor Escape from Custody charge. Bond was set at $3,000.

And, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s officials say an 11-year-old male faces charges that include Going Armed with Intent, and Harassment 1^st Degree. Deputies were dispatched to a report of an armed person (with a cutting instrument) at a residence located along 410^th Street, near Shelby.

Sheriff’s officials in Union County arrested 33-year old Jeffrey Donald Drake, of Afton, Tuesday evening. Drake was taken into custody at the Union County Law Enforcement Center for Driving While Barred, and on a Union County warrant for the same offense. He was later released from the Union County Jail on a $2,000 bond, along with a Promise to Appear in court.

The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports 20-year old River Jordan Studey, of Glenwood, was arrested Tuesday night, on two-counts of Violation of Probation. Studey was being held in the Mills County Jail on a $10,000 bond.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal magistrate judge in North Dakota has sentenced an Iowa man to a year of probation for unlawfully bringing two black bear hides into the United States from Canada. Manitoba licensing laws prohibit more than one big game license of the same type in the same hunting year. Prosecutors say Louis Floden Jr. admitted he shot the second bear and knew it was illegal.

He agreed to forfeit the hides that he brought through the Pembina Port of Entry in North Dakota. Magistrate Judge Alice Senechal also fined the 69-year-old Floden $7,500 Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to unlawful transport of wildlife in foreign commerce.