Chris Umscheid

NORTH LIBERTY– Pianos are complex instruments, hand-assembled by craftsmen, that produce melodious sounds for decades. However, like any mechanical device, eventually they need attention and tuning. The seven-county area, known as Iowa’s Creative Corridor, including North Liberty in particular, now has an artisan dedicated to restoring a piano’s full musical potential.
Steve Junge, of North Liberty, began offering professional piano tuning services in November. A corporate reorganization led to Junge reevaluating what he wanted to do. Music was the answer, but what aspect of music?

SWISHER– So far 2017 has been a very good year for Jeff Quint and his Cedar Ridge Winery and Distillery located near Swisher.
On March 28 a key piece of legislation, long fought for by Iowa’s distilleries, cleared the Iowa House of Representatives, 93-1. House File 607 allows Iowa distilleries to sell their products by the glass, and as cocktails, in their tasting rooms. It also increases a daily sales limit from two bottles per person to a full 12-bottle case and raises a state-imposed cap on the annual production of distilled spirits.

IOWA CITY– Sometimes raw statistics can be misleading. On paper, the Clear Creek Amana (CCA) Clippers’ girls varsity soccer team should have rolled over the Regina Regals, of Iowa City, on Monday, May 8, in a non-conference match-up at Regina. The Regals entered the contest with a 2-6 record to the Creek Girls’ 10-2 showing.

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CEDAR RAPIDS– West High’s varsity Trojans improved to 7-2 overall Tuesday, April 25, on the road at Lower Kingston in Cedar Rapids where they pounded the winless Jefferson J-Hawks, 10-0.
Sam Choi opened the Trojans’ attack with a goal in the second minute of the first half and went on to complete the hat trick (three goals) later in the period. Choi finished with five goals. His second came in the sixth minute after the ball bounced off of the Jefferson keeper’s hands for a rebound shot.

ANAMOSA– The Clear Creek Amana (CCA) girls’ track and field team placed fifth in team points Tuesday, April 11, at Anamosa’s Early Bird Relays. Monticello won the meet with 160.5 points followed by the host Blue Raiders (116), Maquoketa Valley (102.5), Center Point-Urbana (100), the Clippers (87), Springville (67) and Dyersville Beckman (62).