Sheriff’s officials in Union County are investigating incidents of theft, in Lorimor. A resident reported someone entered two of his vehicles. In one of the vehicles,  a mothers ring and perfume was taken. A socket set and miscellaneous wrenches were taken from the other vehicle. The loss was estimated value at $750.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

Many Iowans are dragging at work or school today (Monday), thanks to the weekend switch from daylight saving time to standard time. Even though we “gained” an hour, the disruption in sleep schedules can make some people feel groggy and lethargic. Dr. Brett Kuhn (COON), director of the Behavioral Sleep Disorders Clinic in Omaha/Council Bluffs, says many of his patients are sleep-deprived.

“If you’re having trouble maintaining alertness and attention during the day, you’re probably not getting enough sleep,” Dr. Kuhn says. “A telltale sign, I hate to say it, but if you’re having to be awakened by your alarm, you’re not getting enough sleep.” It may be next week or well into November before some people’s body clocks can properly recover from the change.

“Depending on your age, your natural sleep rhythm and how sleep-deprived you are, this could take a matter of three or four nights or it could actually take two weeks to adjust,” Kuhn says. “Sleep-deprived adults and teenagers probably look forward to this time of the year where, if they choose to do so, they can always sleep that extra hour.”

If you’re having a tough time, Kuhn says it’s not just the time but the lack of sunlight that may be putting you on edge.  “We always talk about making adjustments to your sleep schedule but light is actually the number-one influence on our sleep-wake routine,” he says. “You want to make sure that while you’re making adjustments in clock time, that you’re also carefully managing your light exposure.”

It may help if bright lighting is used at home during the early evening hours. The time change is likely the hardest on young infants and those early to bed and early to rise. He says more people have problems adjusting in the spring when we turn our clocks forward one hour for daylight saving time.

(Radio Iowa)

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley has closed the gap with Republican State Sen. Joni Ernst, leaving the Iowa U.S. Senate race a 47 – 47 percent dead heat, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today (Monday). Four percent remain undecided. That as compared to results of an October 29 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University, showing Sen. Ernst at 49 percent and Rep. Braley at 45 percent.

The latest results show independent voters divided 44 – 44 percent. Republicans back Ernst 95 – 2 percent. Democrats back Braley 94 – 5 percent. Men and women still are locked in a reverse gender gap as women back the Democratic man 51 – 42 percent, while men back the Republican woman 52 – 44 percent. Braley leads 56 – 36 percent among those who already have voted.

One day before Election Day, 95 percent of Iowa likely voters who name a Senate candidate say their mind is made up, while 5 percent say they might change their mind. Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll, says “Iowa’s U.S. Senate race is a dead heat. The candidate who best gets his or her folks to the polls is going to win.”

Iowa likely voters remain divided on their feelings about the candidates:
• Ernst gets a 47 – 45 percent favorability;
• Braley gets a 43 – 45 percent likability score.

In the Iowa Governor’s Race, State Sen. Jack Hatch, the Democratic challenger in the governor’s race, inches up on long-time Republican Gov. Terry Branstad and now trails 52 – 41 percent among likely voters. This compares to Gov. Branstad’s 56 – 37 percent likely voter lead in an October 29 Quinnipiac University poll.

Men, women, Republicans and independent voters all back the long-time governor, while Democrats back Hatch 82 – 12 percent. Hatch leads 52 – 37 percent among those who already have voted.
Only 5 percent of voters who name a candidate say they might change their mind by tomorrow, while 95 percent say their mind is made up, Branstad gets a 57 – 35 percent favorability rating, compared to Hatch’s 36 – 27 percent score, with 34 percent who still don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.

From October 28 – November 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 778 likely voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

Two people were arrested recently on separate charges, in Mills County. The Sheriff’s Dept. says 31-year old Jason Michael Eppenbaugh, of Red Oak, was arrested Friday on a Warrant for OWI/1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000. Eppenbaugh was taken into custody at around 8:15-p.m. near the intersection of Highways 34 and 59.

And at around 2-p.m. Sunday, 30-year old Robyn Leigh Salmons, of Independence, Mo., was arrested at the Mills County Sheriff’s Office on a charge of  Burglary in the 3rd degree.

Police in Creston report the arrest on Sunday of 23-year old Joshua Lee Jones, of Creston. Jones was arrested at the Union County Law Enforcement Center on two warrants for Probation Violation and Failure to Appear. Jones was being held in the jail without bond, while awaiting an appearance before the magistrate.

And on Oct. 29th, the Creston P-D took a report about a theft. Jason Keller said someone entered his vehicle as it was parked in the 800 block of west Mills Street, and took a .357 Ruger, a ,380 gun, and a Bow Tech Destroyer bow. The theft occurred sometime between 3:25-p.m. Oct. 27th, and 3:30-p.m. Oct. 29th.

The loss was estimated at $1,100.