LEAWOOD, Kan. (AP) — For the first time in nearly two decades, the Super Bowl champion Chiefs will have a new punter. Identifying who that will be in the midst of a pandemic is no easy task. The Chiefs have signed Tyler Newsome and undrafted rookie Tommy Townsend to compete for the job. But with healthy players barred from the practice facility, the organization is relying on videos of their private workouts to keep tabs on the race for the job.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa women’s volleyball program is on probation for one year and must vacate 33 wins over two seasons as part of its penalty for violations committed by former coach Bond Shymansky. The university’s athletic department also will pay a $5,000 fine to the NCAA as part of the negotiated resolution. Shymansky admitted making two cash payments totaling $2,000 to a prospective player during the summer of 2017. He was fired in June 2019. The 33 vacated wins came in matches in which the player appeared in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds paved the way for the possibility of summer high school sports at her press conference on Wednesday. She has granted approval for practices to begin on June 1st for high school athletics.

It will now be up to the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union to determine if a plan for starting summer sports is feasible and what guidelines would have to be followed.

A lot of hurdles are in place for that to happen with scheduling, travel, crowd management, and shared equipment all posing difficulties.

The spring sports season was officially cancelled on April 24th when the pandemic ramped up.

(Radio Iowa) — The coronavirus pandemic may’ve led to a surge in the number of wild turkey hunters this year and a record harvest of the birds. Iowa D-N-R wildlife research biologist Jim Coffey says the season ended Sunday and hunters reported taking 14-thousand-600 birds. “This will be our highest number recorded from our modern records since 2007 when mandatory reporting came into effect,” Coffey says.  The total is well about the previous high for the turkey take of 12-thousand-173 back in 2016. Coffey says one thing stands out as the reason for the increase.”Most likely more hunters. We haven’t got all the data in yet and we will look at success rates — which typically range around 22 to 25 percent — but we are looking at almost a 25 to 30 percent increase in turkey hunters this spring,” according to Coffey.

The wild turkey hunt came as everyone was forced by the pandemic to stay at home and Coffey says that’s likely why more turkey licenses were sold. “That’s kind of the speculation — that you could social distance yourself outside with nature,” Coffey says.  Hunters bagged a bird in all 99 Iowa counties. Coffey says the increase in harvest comes as there’s been a decline in the wild turkey population. He says recent years of wet weather could be part of the reason for the population decline. “Timing of rains can be impactful to wild turkeys and then, of course, cold conditions as well. That might impact the production of insects, which are the primary food resource for the young growing poults,” Coffey explains “So, weather and habitat are always the main factors that are considered with any bird population. But we are always looking at other factors such as predators or disease that might be impacting the populations as well.”

He says the main habitat for wild turkeys is forest land. “Which is mostly found in the eastern third or the southern third of our state — that’s where most of our turkeys are harvested. But we do know that wild turkeys will live in those north-central, northwest areas along river corridor systems,” he says. Coffey says turkeys are smart and they make it very hard to have a successful hunt. He says the way the birds are hunted also makes it tough. “Males stay in one place and call the females to come to them. And as hunters, we act like a female and try to get the male to come to us. So, we are kind of putting ourselves at a disadvantage right off the bat in trying to mess with Mother Nature,” Coffey says. “So that makes success very difficult. And when we look at 20 to 25 percent success rates — that’s actually pretty good in most years for most hunters.”

Coffey says the decline in the turkey population is something that is also happening in other states and they are studying various issues to try and find a pattern to the population losses.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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NFL readying, diversity push…Nationals Series rings virtual ceremony…Shorter Belmont Stakes

UNDATED (AP) — Some NFL training facilities are reopening, while many are prohibited by government restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. Commissioner Roger Goodell gave the 32 clubs the go-ahead for limited re-openings as long as state and local municipalities allow them. Coaching staffs and all players, except those undergoing injury rehab, are barred from the facilities in the first phase of the league’s plan.

NEW YORK (AP) — Changes designed to enhance opportunities for minorities to get executive, head coaching and coordinator positions were passed by NFL owners. They include addendums to the Rooney Rule, which has fallen short in its goal of increasing diversity in the league. All clubs will now be required to interview at least two minority candidates from outside the organization for head coach vacancies.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Jazz say forward Bojan Bogdanović underwent surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his right wrist. The procedure was performed Tuesday in New York City. The team says in a release that he’ll begin rehabilitation “at the appropriate time.” The NBA season remains on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bogdanović was averaging 20.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in his first season with the Jazz. He signed a four-year, $73 million contract with Utah last summer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals will unveil their World Series championship rings during a “virtual” ceremony shown on television and online Sunday — an unprecedented approach brought about by the coronavirus pandemic. Teams typically unveil their title rings at a home stadium packed with fans.

ELMONT, N.Y. (AP) — The Belmont Stakes will be run June 20 on Long Island in front of no fans as the first leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. This is the first year the Belmont will take place before the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. The Derby was moved to Sept. 5 and the Preakness to Oct. 3. The rescheduled Belmont will be a shorter distance of one and an-eighth miles instead of the race’s trademark mile and a half that has been in place since 1926.

The 7:20-a.m. Sportscast with Jim Field.

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CAM has found their next head football coach. Barry Bower was approved by the CAM School Board on Monday night to take over the position.

Bower takes over for CAM Activities Director Joe Wollum who announced at the end of last season that he would be stepping away from football to have more time with his young family. Wollum guided the Cougars to seven playoff appearances during his tenure.

Bower moved into the CAM School District three years ago from the Red Oak school district, where he was the head coach for the Tigers football program for a number of years. Bower has been an assistant with the CAM team since coming to the district. Bower is the Principal at CAM North Elementary.

At their meeting on Monday night the Griswold School Board approved the hiring of a new football coach and boy’s basketball coach. Chase Wallace was promoted from an assistant to the head football coach position. Jake Speer will also move up from assistant to the head boy’s basketball coach spot.

Wallace is a Griswold alum and spent the past season as an assistant with the program. He currently is working as a para-educator at the elementary level. He takes over for the coach he played for and worked with in Andy Everett.

Speer has spent the past couple of seasons as an assistant for the boy’s basketball team. He came forward and applied for the head coaching position when it opened up. Speer is the PE teacher at the high school and he takes over the program from Mark Carlton.

Officials with The Trevor Frederickson Memorial Fund in Atlantic, announced today (Monday), this year’s 11th Annual Trevor Frederickson Memorial scholarship recipients. Two awards went to Clayton Jipsen and Annamaria Lowary. Trevor’s mom and fund spokesperson, Melanie Petty said “We would like to take a minute to Congratulate all of the 2020 Graduates.  We know it’s been an unprecedented year for all of you and wish you the best in your future endeavors.  Also, a big shout out to our scholarship committee who takes the time to review the applications we receive and make the very difficult decision they do.”

Grant Petty presents scholarship certificates to Annamaria Lowary (left pic), and Clayton Jipsen (Right pic) (Photos courtesy Melanie Petty)

Petty reminds golfers: The 12th Annual TFred Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Nishna Hills on Saturday, August 8th.  She says “We look forward to having another great turnout this year so we can continue to give out scholarships in the future and also donate to other things in our community that Trevor loved.”  A mailing will be going out soon with options to sign up a team to golf, be a hole sponsor or donate to our silent auction.  If you have any questions please call Melanie Petty at 712-249-3696.