CEDAR RAPIDS — The Natural Resource Commission is expected to give final approval to name a Northeast Iowa archery range for Don Avenson, former speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, who died May 19.

Avenson enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid archer, according to Scot Michelson, Iowa Department of Natural Resources northeast district parks supervisor.

He said the suggestion to name the archery range at the Volga River State Recreation Area came from DNR Director Chuck Gipp of Decorah, a former House member.

Avenson sparked the development of the recreation area near Fayette, according to Michelson and Travis Wymer of West Union, a member of Echo Valley Archers. After leaving the Legislature in 1990, Avenson was a lobbyist at the Capitol. Among his clients was the Iowa Bowhunters Association.

The 120-member archery club helped develop the new range at the recreation area where a dedication ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday, pending approval of the naming by the Natural Resource Commission.

More at the Waterloo Courier: http://wcfcourier.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/archery-range-to-honor-late-iowa-speaker-don-avenson/article_f334008e-70dc-52a2-ae0f-97e926fbff01.html