The good
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced that more than $882.4 million in excise tax revenues were generated in 2012 by sportsmen and sportswomen and will be distributed to state and territorial agencies to fund fish and wildlife conservation and recreation projects. The Service’s Midwest Region will receive more than $102 million in Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration funds and more than $69 million in Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration funds this year. Iowa will share these funds with its neighbors, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.
The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines is looking for nominees qualified for the Better Together Award for social capital efforts — that’s nonprofit organizations, civic groups and individuals that build connections among diverse people or groups, based on trust, and which enhance cooperation for mutual benefit. Winners of the award will receive $1,000 toward a charitable organization of his or her choice. If a nonprofit organization or civic group is selected as the award winner, it will receive a $2,500 grant to use toward its social capital work. The Better Together Award recipient will be announced at the Community Foundation’s 2013 Celebration Luncheon and Report to the Community on May 13. Nominations are due April 5. Complete an online application at www.desmoinesfoundation.org/bettertogetheraward.
The bad
Polk County deputies arrested two Des Moines residents last week following a short pursuit. A deputy attempted to stop a vehicle, just before 8 p.m. at Northeast 14th Street and Broadway. The driver, 46-year old Mark Jackson, sped away and led police in several directions before finally leaving the road to cut through a grass lot behind a church. He returned to the road, stopped the vehicle and both occupants jumped out and tried to flee on foot… but they didn’t run quickly enough. Jackson was charged with eluding, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of interference causing injury, improper registration lamp and a work release violation which stems from an escape from Fort Des Moines earlier this month. His passenger, Jody Dorsey, 43, was charged with interference with official acts.
In the Land of Oz, trees throw their apples at pesky passersby. In northeast Iowa, though, they use bullets. To be fair to the tree, it was merely defending itself after 27-year-old Logan Bunn started the fight. He reportedly fired a gun at a tree at a home near Lansing last weekend. Authorities say the bullet ricocheted off the tree and hit him, injuring him to the point of hospitalization. Bunn is expected to survive, and officers said no foul play is suspected. Bunn may want to think twice in the future about what tree to pick on.
The ugly
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for college students in the country: More than 4,300 young Americans took their own lives in 2009. A 2012 study by the American College Counseling Association found that more than 37 percent of students seeking help are suffering from severe psychological problems, doubeld compared to 2000. Researchers and counselors report that young adults and college-aged students have the highest rate of diagnosable mental illness, yet they are also the group least likely to seek help. The leading cause of death among that age group is accidents, including overdoses and drunken driving deaths, which experts say are also tied to depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
We know some people like to unload at a gentlemen’s club, but this is ridiculous. Something apparently triggered a 24-year-old Illinois man’s temper last weekend at Davenport strip club, Chorus Line. DeMarko Williams has been accused of gunfire outside the club and was arrested early Sunday morning. He’s been charged with three felony weapons counts, a misdemeanor weapons count and a misdemeanor drug count. Police say a plainclothes officer witnessed the incident just before 3:30 a.m. on Sunday. Bullets reportedly hit the building and several vehicles. Fortunately, no one was injured. CV
