(Radio Iowa) – An expert at Iowa State University is conducting an online survey of Iowa wine drinkers to learn more about how and why they choose products made in the state. Aude Watrelot says the survey on white and red wines covers many aspects of the decision to buy a product. “Do they buy those wines at a specific place? So maybe at a winery, or is it more in a restaurant? Or is it in a grocery store? And then what do they look at when they try to purchase wine?,” she says.

The questions also ask about the packaging of wine and how that influences a purchase. “The design of the label, or do they look at the production of the wine? Do they look at the place of production of the wine,?” she says. “And then what do they do with this wine? As soon as they purchase the wine, they probably won’t drink the wine right away.” Watrelot is a chemist who focuses on the chemical composition of wines produced in the Midwest. She says the way wine is used once you get it home is an important factor. “Once you open the bottle of wine, if you don’t drink everything right away — what do you do with this wine? Do you keep it open? To have some air coming into in contact with a wine? Or do you close the wine? Do you try to remove the air? Do you store in the fridge?”

Watrelot says there are around 98 wineries in Iowa and some 250 vineyards, and the number of wineries is always increasing. She says the survey can help ensure they are moving in the right direction. “Those answers will be helpful for the grape and wine industry just to improve the winemaking practices. So trying to improve the quality during the process to make sure the wine that is provided to consumers is of high quality and will remain of high quality,” she says.

The survey is be available through February 13th. To take the survey, visit https://iastate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eJArChzeYKnSBzo.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – When the Atlantic School District’s Board of Education met Wednesday evening in the High School Media Center, they agreed to set March 8^th at 5:30-p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on bids received for the Washington Elementary School Playground Improvement Project. The Board authorized Snyder and Associates’ Dave Sturm to begin the bid letting aspect of the project. The bids will be due by 2-p.m. March 7^th. Board President Laura McLean and Superintendent Steve Barber said it’s hoped that by fast-tracking the project, work can take place this summer.

Snyder’s Dave Sturm and Tim West, Snyder Landscape Architect, spoke with the Board about some of the agreed upon project features.

Speaking via video conference call, Tim West said they worked with the manufacturers to select structures that offer a whole range of developmental challenges and mobility.

There’s a large rope climber was chosen over a circular, spinning-type of element.

Not everything on the wish list, Dave Sturm said, could be included in platform footprint, like a split, high slide. Tim West…

The project would be paid for through SAVE, in the amount of $650,000.

(Creston, Iowa) – Police in Creston report the arrest a little after 10-a.m. Wednesday, of a Creston man. 18-year-old Nathan Lee Novotny was arrested at his residence. Novotny was charged with Criminal Mischief 5th, Harassment 1st Degree, and Harassment 3rd Degree. He was taken to Union County Jail and held without bond until seen by Judge.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has released a report on three separate arrests that took place, Wednesday. At around 2:22-p.m., 30-year-old Jesse Robert Schleip, of Council Bluffs, was arrested at the Pottawattamie County Jail, on a Montgomery County warrant for Violation of Probation. His bond was set at $10,000.

A little before 4-p.m. Wednesday, Deputies in Montgomery County arrested 43-year-old Robert Charles Harvilicz, of Jefferson, following a traffic stop just north of Stanton. Harvilicz was charged with having expired license plates, and driving while license revoked. He was later released on a $2,000 bond.

And, at around 7:30-p.m., Wednesday, 50-year-old Timothy James Laughlin, of Villisca, was arrested in Villisca on a traffic stop for Failure to stop at a stop sign. Laughlin was charged with OWI/1st offense, and later released on a $1,000 bond.

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(Atlantic, Iowa) – A public hearing for patrons of the Atlantic Community School District will be held during the March 8th, 2023 meeting of the Atlantic School Board. The hearing, which begins at 5:45-p.m., is with regard to the proposed 2023-2024 District Calendar.

Superintendent Steve Barber explained the proposed calendar was created through input from a Calendar Committee, consisting of Mr. Barber and Asst. HS Principal/ AD Andy Mitchell, five teachers and two parents.

The draft proposal for publishing, he said, has a couple of differences from last year.

When the Committee looked at days available, Barber said they looked at those days in the second semester.

The differences, he says boil down to not losing school on December 22nd. Spring Break this year was seven days, with students and staff coming back on January 2nd.

Steve Barber said the Committee looked at and decided to keep the Parent-Teacher Conferences dates in October and February as they are now. One change involved Spring Break.

The change will allow for the last place of school to be May 22nd, 2024. The Committee also moved the Nov. 22nd dismissal time from 1-p.m. to 1:30-p.m.to keep it consistent with Wednesday early out’s.