Beer, Obama, Republicans and Neil Harl this weekend on IPTV

A big few days ahead for Iowa Public Television. It starts with a replay of our Beer Industry show on Friday night at 630p. But also includes the republican candidates for governor debating at the Iowa Broadcast News Association’s annual convention in Cedar Rapids.

Iowa Journal host Paul Yeager, left, talks with, from left, Iowa Brewers Guild president Dave Coy, Sioux City Journal beer writer Tim Hynds and John

First off, here’s the background on our TIJ beer show. The feature is already posted which includes a visit to Olde Main in Ames and Beer Crazy in Urbandale. The discussion will post later is posted now and lives here.

Thanks to our guests of Dave Coy, Doug Alberhasky and Tim Hynds. Tim made the farthest trip from Sioux City, but he also turned out a blog post about the show you can find here. That is where we stole the picture from as well. Thanks Sioux City Journal!

The IBNA debate will air live at 330p on IPTV World or our .3 channel. Then it will air again in primetime on our main service at 8p. The event will also stream on our website of http://www.iptv.org. I will be a panelist for the debate with Todd Dorman of the Gazette of Cedar Rapids and Jeneane Beck of Iowa Public Radio. Bob Fisher of KGLO/KRIB Mason City is the moderator.

Here’s the official rundown of programs on IPTV this weekend as written by the IPTV press shop.

Tonight at 6:30 The Iowa Journal looks at how consumer demand for more varieties of beer in Iowa has affected local breweries and even state laws. You can also watch The Iowa Journal at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on IPTV WORLD, and online at http://www.iptv.org/iowajournal.

At 7:30 tonight, watch Iowa Press as the statehouse reporters discuss the rural economy with economist Neil Harl. The program can also be seen Saturday at 9 a.m. on IPTV WORLD, Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on IPTV, and online at http://www.iptv.org/iowapress.

Market to Market focuses on the rural economy tonight with coverage of President Obama’s “White House to Main Street” tour of the Midwest at 8 p.m. This episode covers President Obama’s town-hall meeting in Ottumwa, the President’s visit to Fort Madison, and his stop in Macon, Missouri. You can also watch Market to Market Saturday at 8 a.m. on IPTV WORLD, Sunday at noon on IPTV, and online at http://www.iptv.org/mtom.

Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on IPTV WORLD, watch live coverage of a debate among candidates for the GOP nomination for governor. The debate, sponsored by the Iowa Broadcast News Association, will also be streamed online live at http://www.iptv.org/live. You can also see the debate in its entirety at 8 p.m. on IPTV.

A crime wave has swept across England after V-E day and Foyle stumbles upon an international cover-up in Masterpiece Mystery! Foyle’s War, Series VI: The Russian House Sunday at 8 p.m.

Monday – Thursday of next week at 6:30 p.m., tune in for the 2010 Iowa Jazz Championships.

Also on Monday, Roads to Memphis: American Experience (8 p.m.) tells the disparate yet entwined stories of James Earl Ray and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., against the backdrop of the turbulent forces that led these two men to their violent and tragic collision.

On Tuesday at 7 p.m., NOVA: Mt. St. Helens Back from the Dead documents the dramatic return of plant and animal life to the disaster zone’s barren landscape. (Rebroadcast Thursday at 7 p.m. on IPTV WORLD)

Wednesday at 8 p.m., Live from Lincoln Center: Perlman, Ax, and Ma @ The Penthouse features masters of the concert stage – Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and Emanuel Ax – playing Mendelssohn and more.

Thursday at 8 p.m. on IPTV WORLD, award-winning scientist and author (and ISU professor) Sean Carroll talks about his latest book, Remarkable Creatures, which was a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award, on Intelligent Talk Television: Epic Adventures in the Search for the Origin of Species. You can see this and other Intelligent Talk Television episodes at http://www.iptv.org/intelligenttalktv.

Iowa brewed beer here, are you drinking it?

We’re talking beer in Iowa this week on The Iowa Journal. We will be looking at the brew process, the growing popularity, the higher alcohol content and other facets of the industry. A preview to the preview was done here this week.

Here’s some of my research notes for tonight.

• 23 Breweries and brew pubs in Iowa.
• New law brings in higher-alcohol brews to Iowa. Now beer in Iowa can be up to 12% alcohol content. This levels the playing field with out-of-state breweries.
• Iowa Brewers Guild is active in building discussion and promotion of the Iowa beer industry
• Millstream in Amana opened in 1985. At the time, it was one of 4 microbreweries in the U.S. Now 1,500 are in operation. Millstream’s Schild Brau took first place in the Vienna lager style category at the World Beer Cup in Chicago.
• Craft beer industry defined by 4 markets: brewpubs, microbrews, contract brewing companies and regional craft breweries.
• In 2009, craft brewers represented 4.3% of volume and 6.9% of retail dollars for the total U.S. beer category. (Brewers Association)

Those are some of the stats we’re working from for the feature about beer in Iowa. Producer Judy Blank took a trip to Olde Main in Ames and Beer Crazy in Urbandale. The piece will set up our roundtable on the issues mentioned above.

See our work Thursday at 8p on Iowa Public Television and Friday at 630p.

Here’s the official release from the IPTV press shop.

The Beer Industry in Iowa
On the Thursday, April 29 edition of The Iowa Journal

(Johnston, Iowa) –Thursday’s episode of The Iowa Journal will look at the growth of the beer industry in Iowa. This program airs Thursday, April 29 at 8 p.m. It will be rebroadcast Friday, April 30 at 6:30 p.m. on statewide Iowa Public Television and Saturday, May 1 at 8:30 a.m. on IPTV WORLD. It will also be available online at iptv.org/iowajournal.

Nationally, the number of small, independent microbreweries and brew pubs has grown to more than 1,540. Some of that growth has occurred in Iowa, where craft breweries have popped up in towns of all sizes including Ames, Des Moines, Davenport, Amana, Northwood and Shenandoah. The Iowa Journal visited Olde Main Brewery & Restaurant in Ames. The company boasts it has doubled production every year since opening in 2004 and now distributes beer across the state. The Iowa Journal also visited Beer Crazy, a retail specialty beer and home brew supply store located in Urbandale.

In the studio to discuss what’s brewing in the Iowa beer industry are three guests: Dave Coy, president of the Iowa Brewers Guild and head brewer at Raccoon River Brewing Company in Des Moines; Doug Alberhasky, store manager and bier guy at John’s Grocery in Iowa City; and Tim Hynds, chief photographer and beer writer for the Sioux City Journal.

This episode of The Iowa Journal will also feature an excerpt of a speech by author and film maker Peter Hedges. The West Des Moines native first gained national attention with his book “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” which was later made into a movie.
For more information about The Iowa Journal, visit http://www.iptv.org/iowajournal or call (515) 242-3146. For information on how to watch IPTV WORLD in your area, visit Iptv.org.

Here’s a few of the comments generated earlier in the week about folks’ favorite Iowa brew.

Christine ‘Darby’ Weydert Paul – any Millstream beer is great. The brewers/owners are a great assest as well. They work closely with the Thirsty homebrew club in Iowa City. And John’s Grocery can’t be beat for beer selection from around the world! While Old Main here in Ames has a great relationship with our brew club – ABL – their beer just doesn’t compare to Millstreams – pale ale and pilsner.

Sean Smith What about the new law regarding alcohol content that seriously benefits Iowa’s micro-brewers? WIN!

Trent Rice The kids at Olde Main Brewing in Ames do a nice job. Not only do they sell their product in the restaurant, they also have deals worked out with Fareway, Hy Vee, etc.

Robert Lehmann I put in a plug for Millstream ‘Brewing Co, Amana. Schild Brau Amber and Hefeweissen are a couple of theirs.

Randall Schroeder Iowa Pale Ale from Millstream! Anybody passing through Michigan? Bring some. Signed, desperate displaced and thirsty Hawkeye.

From Twitter:
@MarcMorehouse: Millstream, but Peace Tree has a chance to unseat it.

@ryanbrancheau Check with @mikebgp. A local beer enthusiast I used to work with. He would be a good one to talk with. http://bit.ly/aMLYZT

@MikeBGP there are certainly a number of items worth talking about regarding Iowa’s new laws and brewers.

What’s your input on our program?
Which Iowa brewed beer do you like?

Obama Ottumwa Links

Looking to view President Barack Obama’s speech in Iowa on April 27, 2010, well Iowa Public Television can help.

We’ve got the speech and town hall here that took place in Ottumwa. Here’s the link to that speech.

Then The Iowa Journal took the discussion a step further with Bill Brown, chairman of the board of directors of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry. Brown also is a lawyer with BrownWinick in Des Moines. His clients largely are manufacturing companies. Also on the panel was David Swenson, associate scientist in the economics department at ISU.

Both have been on the program before.

Here’s our discussion which includes reaction to the Obama speech, what is unique about the southeast Iowa economy and how is Iowa doing when we talk economy.

We do mention Waverly, Jesup, Jewell and Jefferson to name a few spots on the map. What context ask? Click here and find out for yourself.

The Iowa Journal will also discuss the economy again on May 13.

Iowa Teacher to be named National Teacher of the Year

An Iowa teacher is the 2010 National Teacher of the Year.

Sarah Brown Wessling, who teaches at Johnston High School, is the current Iowa teacher of the year. She was nominated for the national position and word this morning from the Governor’s press office she has won the top honor. I had heard about a month ago that this was a strong possibility.

Congratulations to Sarah Brown Wessling on this honor.

Here’s the press release from the Governor’s press office.

IOWA TEACHER TO BE NAMED NATIONAL TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Johnston Community School District teacher Sarah Brown Wessling selected out of four national finalists.

DES MOINES – Johnston Community School District teacher Sarah Brown Wessling will be named the 2010 National Teacher of the Year by President Barack Obama at a White House ceremony on April 29, 2010. She was among four finalists for the honor, which is a program of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and sponsored by Target and the ING Foundation. The finalists are from California, Florida, and Michigan.

“I join all Iowans in saying how incredibly proud I am that an Iowa teacher is being recognized as the best in the nation,” Governor Chet Culver said. “Sarah Brown Wessling is an outstanding educator whose inspiration stays with her students far beyond the high school classroom. She plays a vital role in shaping the young people she teaches into thoughtful, productive citizens. Iowa is fortunate to call Sarah our own, and I offer my heartfelt congratulations to her on this honor.”

“I congratulate Sarah on being chosen National Teacher of the Year,” said Iowa Department of Education Director Judy Jeffrey. “Her passion for teaching and unending professionalism is a model for all teachers. Iowa has long been recognized for the outstanding quality of our educators. Sarah now has the opportunity to continue to show the nation what we have always known – Iowa is honored to have amazing teachers.”

Wessling was named the 2010 Iowa Teacher of the Year by the Iowa Department of Education. Former student and past Johnston school district board member Tyler Buller nominated Wessling for the Iowa teaching award. In his nomination letter, he wrote, “I find myself craving the same lifelong learning that drives Sarah to connect with students and constantly seek to improve her own knowledge and education.” He noted she has had a long-term positive impact on all her students.

Clay Guthmiller, Superintendent of Schools at Johnston Community School District, agrees. “We are extremely proud to have Sarah as part of our district,” he said. “She is a shining example of the quality teachers that serve our students each day. Sarah is an enthusiastic, dynamic educator who symbolizes what teaching is all about. She sees the potential in all of her students long before they discover it themselves. Her passion for teaching and learning is evident in everything she does. Sarah is an inspiration for Iowa and will serve as an outstanding representative and advocate for educators nationwide.”

Wessling has taught at Johnston High School for 10 years, where she is chairperson of the English department. Wessling also taught in the Cedar Falls Community School District for one year. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education and a Master of Arts degree in English from Iowa State University. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi International Honor Society and the Phi Beta Kappa Liberal Arts and Sciences Honor Society. Wessling is a National Board Certified Teacher and has received the Iowa Governor’s Scholastic “Favorite Teacher Award” recognition, the Future Leader in Education Award, and the Promising Teacher Award from the Iowa Council of Teachers of English.

She is a member of the Iowa Council of Teachers of English, the National Council of Teachers of English, and the Johnston Education Association. In addition, she has served on many district committees, including its professional development team, building improvement team, reading leadership team, and high school literacy team.

Wessling was raised in Winterset, Iowa, and graduated from Winterset High School in 1993. She is married to Tim Wessling and they have three children, ages six, three, and four months.

The Johnston Community School District will welcome Wessling home from Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 6, 2010 with a high school student assembly from 2:15 to 2:50 p.m. at Johnston High School. A community reception will follow from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The National Teacher of the Year is selected by a committee of representatives from 15 national education organizations. The teacher is selected from among the state teachers of the year, including those representing American Samoa, the Department of Defense Education Activity, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. State teachers of the year are selected on the basis of nominations by students, teachers, principals, and school district administrators throughout the states. Applications are then submitted to CCSSO, where the national selection committee reviews the data on each state candidate and selects the four finalists. The selection committee then personally interviews each finalist before naming the National Teacher of the Year. Additional information on the National Teacher of the Year Program can be found at www.ntoy.org.

For more information on the Iowa Teacher of the Year program and how to nominate an Iowa teacher, please visit http://www.iowa.gov/educate/.

We’ve got several Iowa Journal links to education programs on IPTV.
We most recently discussion education innovations. You can view that program here.

President Obama to Iowa, Missouri and Illinois

President Obama is in Iowa Tuesday before heading to Missouri and Illinois on Wednesday.

You can watch the town hall meeting from Ottumwa on www.IPTV.org as it happens or after the event. For my friends in Iowa, you can watch the White House to Main Street event on our .3 signal or as it is called IPTV World. If you don’t get all 3 channels we offer here at Iowa Public Television, you are really missing out on some great programming that does not make our main service. All you need is an antenna, digital tuner and some electricity to power your TV.

My coworkers at Market to Market are working on a series of events called the Rural Economic Summit. There’s been a town hall in Iowa and Wisconsin and now the three state tour of the president will be a part of the new installment seen Friday at 8p in Iowa on Market to Market. The show also has a new Twitter feed. You can follow us @MarketToMarket.

There’s also a blog that updates many things about the rural economy not only in Iowa and the midwest but ag regions. You can see that blog here.

Tuesday night IPTV will re-air the president’s speech and town hall tonight at 8. Then we’ll host an Iowa Journal discussion in the studio about how to revive the Iowa economy, will the president’s plan work, why did he pick Ottumwa for the visit and several other questions that I have on notebook. That will follow the speech, around 9 tonight.

Dave Swenson and Bill Brown will be in studio with me tonight around 9. Swenson is an associate scientist in the economics department at Iowa State University. He’s also an adjunct lecturer in Community and Regional Planning at ISU, and lecturer in the Urban and Regional Planning Program at The University of Iowa. Nonetheless, his primary appointment is as a staff research economist at ISU.

Brown is a partner in the BrownWinick law firm in Des Moines, this year he is also serving as chair of the board of directors for the Iowa Association of Business of Industry.

Brown and Swenson have both been guests on TIJ before.

We will be showing Frontline about 30 minutes later tonight at 930, so bear with us.

We’ll also be talking beer on Thursday’s regularly scheduled Iowa Journal slot of 8p. Here’s a post on that program.

First wine, now beer on TIJ? What’s next, Jack Daniels?

The Iowa Journal hits on another popular topic this week by looking at the beer industry in Iowa.

Even before we aired our discussion on the wine industry in Iowa, the question from a staff member was, “what about beer?”

Great question, Mr. Torpy. Here’s your answer.

This Thursday at 8P The Iowa Journal will look at what the beer industry means to the state for sales, marketing and distribution. No, there won’t be any samples, but there was fun in the production of this story by producer Judy Blank.

Tim Hynds of the Sioux City Journal maintains a blog called Sioux Brew. Here’s the post on our upcoming show. Thanks to him for the publicity. He’ll be a guest on the program on Thursday. You can see it Thursday night in HD and Friday at 630p in High Definition as well.

Here’s his post if the link doesn’t work.

Iowa’s beer industry will be subject of IPTV program; yours truly slated as panelist
By Tim Hynds | April 26, 2010 – 11:42 am

Iowa’s beer industry will up for discussion this week on The Iowa Journal, a weekly current events program on Iowa Public Television.

I have been selected as a panelist on the program and will appear with David Coy, president of the Iowa Brewers Guild and brewer at Des Moines’ Raccoon River Brewing Co., and Doug Alberhasky, the manager and “bier guy” at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.

The network has done extensive taping at Ames’ Olde Main Brewing Co. for the program.

The panel will be moderated by Iowa Journal host Paul Yeager.

The episode is scheduled to air this Thursday, April 29th at 8 pm on IPTV stations across the state. It will be rebroadcast April 30th at 6:30 PM and at 8 AM May 1 on IPTV World. The program will be available for viewing online at iptv.org/iowajournal.

-Tim Hynds

I certainly know there’d be an interest to having a Templeton Rye program…

What should we talk about in our discussion?

What questions do you have about the Iowa beer industry?

What’s your favorite Iowa produced beer? Why?

President Obama to Ottumwa

President Barack Obama is coming back to Iowa on Tuesday. He’ll be coming to Ft. Madison, Mt. Pleasant and Ottumwa. Iowa Public Television will be there at two of those stops. The first stop in Ft. Madison will be documented by Chris Gourley.

Our larger crew will be in Ottumwa to cover the town hall meeting. That will air on our IPTV World or .3 channel as it happens Tuesday afternoon. That will be around 4p. Then we’ll replay the President’s remarks at 8p follow that up with a discussion in our studio.

You will be able to view the President’s Speech and Town Hall in Iowa by going to our Iowa Public Television website of http://www.iptv.org

Here’s the official release from the IPTV press shop.

Iowa Public Television Coverage of
President Obama’s Town-Hall Meeting in Ottumwa

Presidential Town-Hall Covered Live on IPTV WORLD at 4 p.m.
Rebroadcast with a Follow-Up Program on IPTV at 8 p.m.

(Johnston, Iowa)  – Iowa Public Television will provide live coverage of President Obama’s town-hall meeting at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa on Tuesday, April 27 at 4 p.m.

The town-hall meeting will be broadcast live on IPTV WORLD (.3 or Mediacom channel 119), at approximately 4 p.m. The meeting will be rebroadcast on Iowa Public Television (.1) that evening at 8, followed by a special edition of The Iowa Journal to discuss the issues raised during the Ottumwa event. In the studio to discuss how the president’s visit and proposals may play out in rural Iowa are two guests: Iowa State University Staff Research Economist David Swenson, and Bill Brown, chairman of the board of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

Calling his trip to the Midwest the “White House to Main Street Tour,” President Obama will make three stops in Iowa, culminating with a town-hall meeting where he is expected to focus on the rural economy.  The speech will be followed by questions from the audience.

For inquiries about the broadcast, or for information about the availability of this coverage online, contact Jennifer Konfrst at 515-242-3146.

The President is planning to spend the night in Des Moines before flying to Missouri for another economic event. WHO-TV reporter Dave Price says the President will be at a reception at Baby Boomer’s for staffer David Axelrod. Here’s Dave’s post.

The last time President Obama was in Iowa, he was talking healthcare while in Iowa City. IPTV also carried that event. You can watch the speech and the Iowa Journal discussion that followed here.

4 Years of Noah

Noah Lynn Yeager, birth day.

Hard to believe this little dude is 4-years-old already. It seems like only yesterday that we were calling family and friends to tell them we had a baby boy.

Noah was born in Moline, Illinois on this date in 2006.

He’s been a good little boy. He’s had some TV time in life and even has his own Twitter page.

Happy Birthday to my favorite oldest son.

My sister Kris

Kris with Levi

Big day for my sister Kris. She’s 30. I know, you’re not supposed to say ages, but that’s what big brothers can do, make sure everyone knows the story with their sister.

As much as I make about her age, she’ll get me this summer when my day comes of a milestone day.

All my sisters are great, but this is the only one who will enjoy the true internet embarrassment that a big brother can offer. Kris is the sister closest in age to me, so we were around each other the most growing up. Now, she’s a mom and older.

Ha!

Lots of great stories. Where do I begin? It all starts in Jesup on the farm.

Her broken nose?
Her blonde hair?
Her quilt she used to carry around as a toddler?

Nope. I’m sure there are pictures of some of those events, but there’s a good chance there’s evidence of me as a child and no one needs to see that. Or read her response to those stories.

Kris with Maddox at his 1st birthday party.

Kris is known as Aunt Kris by my boys and she was a big help when we moved to Ankeny from Bettendorf. She would drive up and take care of Noah when we had something to do. She did that for all my sisters and their kids. When you’re the youngest, you take your turn taking care of others.

She’s now a mother to Maddox. He’s an active little guy and always smiling and happy. I think that comes a lot from the parenting of Kris and Brian.

Kris holding Maddox at the I-Cubs game, Mother's Day, 2009.

You’ll see Kris and I sitting next to each other at Iowa Cubs games in our Uncle Gordon’s seats. So we can keep in touch during the season.

Her career in PR and politics has allowed us to cross paths professionally. That’s been fun as people have gotten to know us both and only later realized, hey, you’re her brother? You must be cool if Kris is your sister. We can then talk TV and media shop and she knows the players.

Or know when a good Yeager joke is in order. MIke Colon, KWQC-TV photojournalist is always quick with the quips. “My favorite story is when we covered some political event and she was there and after we met I turned to you and said “Gosh, PY, I guess the good-looking genes only got passed around to the ladies of your family!” Ooh, BURN!”

Ah yes, the burns. We won’t even quote Michael Graham, Michael Van Gorkom, John Bloomberg, Jay Boeding or anyone else that knows us both too well.

She also went to Wartburg, so I had an excuse to the be recent graduate who was always hanging around campus.

Everyone’s friend Romelle Slaughter says his favorite story was “meeting Kris at the Lava Row Christmas open house. Of course, Paul was the big topic!”

Family is fun, isn’t it?

Happy Birthday, Kris. I know you think this is a tad bit embarrassing, but hey, I’m your brother. I can do that.

Curtain closes on YBHA II – Thank Goodness

Reunited

The epic that included tours through 5 European countries finally closes after a 13-day run.

Amy’s European Adventure ended Thursday afternoon with her airplane touching down just after 1230p in Moline at the Quad City International Airport.

Her journey was a wild one that I’ve documented here. I’ll do a recap on another day, but a little bit on the end of this adventure.

Amy started the day in Spain, flying on the Deere corporate jet with a direct flight. Some 250 Deere employees were stranded by the volcano is Iceland in various places.

Amy’s boss Gary and other travel companion left Thursday as well on a commercial flight that went from Madrid to Washington, D.C., and then to Chicago and Des Moines. So, they were going to have a long day.

Touchdown in Moline. Photo by Michael Graham.

Amy landed in Moline and Chef Mike became chauffeur Mike. The best friend a guy could have, drove from Iowa City to Moline to pick up Amy. Huge thanks to him. He even played photographer for the moment, capturing this picture of plane taxiing into the hanger.

The wife of one of the pilot’s was stuck in Europe. She too, was stuck with the KWQC-TV6 viewer trip to France.

So, Noah’s birthday party will happen on Sunday. We will be going to the Kindermusik family fun night and all sorts of other stuff together.

Again, thank you all for the concerns, thoughts and prayers about Amy’s travel. Her story was just one of the many. We gave a ride back to DM to someone from another DM area Deere facility. He had been in India. Got a flight to Italy, couldn’t get off the plane because there was no hotel rooms, eventually landed in Germany. Then to get to Madrid to catch a plane, he and almost 2 dozen others rode on a bus for 22 hours. He was glad to be home.

Thank you again for thinking of us in our situation.