Most Iowa children will be heading back to school in a week or two, and a sleep medicine physician recommends parents start preparing their kids now to get the proper amount of shut-eye. Dr. Stephen Grant, at the Iowa Sleep Disorders Center in West Des Moines, says it’s a lot easier to adjust to a new sleep schedule when it’s done over several days or a few weeks, especially after a summer of late nights. “Kids can have what’s called a physiologic delay, in other words, the bright light they receive later in the day makes sleep onset more difficult,” Dr. Grant says.

“One of the countermeasures we have for that is trying to get the kids up earlier and have the sunlight on them earlier in the day so they’ll be able to fall asleep quicker earlier in the evening.” Moving up bedtimes and wake-up times by 15 minutes a day over the next week or so works well to help many young people adjust. Electronics should be switched off an hour before bedtime because smartphones, tablets and TVs stimulate the brain.

“We know this can certainly cause a delay in a child’s ability to fall asleep at night,” Grant says. “Children that watch TV or entertain a lot of electronic media at night have a higher point prevalence of sleep-talking as well as nightmares.” Eliminating that blue light from gadgets close to bedtime will help the body produce melatonin, the hormone that makes you feel sleepy. Bedrooms should be cool, dark and comfortable, he says, and not a place for anything besides rest.

“What I’d prefer is for patients to cue themselves that the bed itself is actually for sleeping and that if they’re going to be doing other activities, like reading or watching TV — and that is absolutely something I do not recommend, having a TV in the bedroom — that any activities aside from sleep happen outside of the bedroom.” Even on the weekends, it’s important to stick to your set sleep schedule, Grant says, as doing so will reduce the chance of feeling groggy when Monday morning rolls around.

He says most children are “greatly sleep-deprived,” as are many adults. The average child through middle school age needs nine to 11 hours of sleep a night to feel and perform at their best. For mid-to-late teens, eight to ten hours is usually ideal.

(Radio Iowa)

Do you help take care of an older family member or friend? If so, you are not alone. Over 65 million family caregivers in America provide a vast array of emotional, financial, nursing, social, homemaking and other services on a daily or on an intermittent basis.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an educational series designed to provide tools you need to take care of yourself. If you take good care of yourself, you will be better prepared to take good care of your loved one. As a participant you will learn how to: reduce stress, improve self-confidence, better communicate your feelings, balance your life, increase ability to make tough decisions and locate helpful resources.

Iowa State University Extension is sponsoring Powerful Tools for Caregivers in Villisca beginning in late August. This program has been tested and evaluated through a grant from the U.S. Administration on Aging. Local supporters include: Good Samaritan Society, Red Oak & Villisca and Iowa State University/Montgomery County Extension.

Classes consist of six, 90 minute sessions held once a week. Two experienced leaders conduct each class. Interactive lessons, discussions and brainstorming help you take the “tools” you choose and put them into action for your life. Sessions are scheduled every Monday (except for Labor Day) for six weeks and begin on August 24th. Classes will be held at Good Samaritan Society from 6:00 – 8:30 PM. Good Samaritan Society had a special grant to defray costs for this program.

For more information or to register, contact Montgomery County Extension at 712-623-2592 by August 19th.

Members of the Page and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Departments teamed-up Thursday to arrest a man wanted on numerous felony warrants. 38-year old Ricky Dean Peterson was taken into custody at 1389 O Avenue in Page County, on valid Page County Warrants for felony charges that include Burglary 1st degree and Dominion / control of firearm / offensive weapon by domestic abuse offender. Peterson also faces misdemeanor charges of Criminal mischief 3rd degree, Domestic Abuse Assault – injury or mental illness, and Contempt of Court – Violation of no contact / protective order. His bond on those charges was set at $32,000.

During the arrest, Peterson was also charged with another of Contempt of Court – Violation of no contact / protective order, due to where he was arrested. No bond will be set on the additional charge until Peterson is seen by a Magistrate.

Ricky Dean Peterson

Police in Red Oak arrested a man Thursday afternoon on Domestic Abuse Assault and Obstruction of Emergency Communications, charges. 38-year old Danny Samuel Skaggs, of Red Oak, was taken into custody in the 800 block of N. 6th Street at around 12:50-p.m., and brought to the Montgomery County Jail, where he was being held without bond.

A traffic stop early this (Friday) morning, in Red Oak, resulted in the arrest of a man on drug and other charges. Red Oak Police say 26-year old Jimmie Fred Hockett II, of Red Oak, was arrested at around 1:30-a.m. for Driving While Suspended and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Hockett was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $300 cash bond.

(In an update to our posting Thu. night) Search and Rescue crews recovered the body of a man from the West Nodaway River early this (Friday) morning, near Clarinda. According to Iowa State Patrol Trooper Aaron Nordyke, authorities were notified at around 9:05-p.m. Thursday, that a male who was last seen in the river near the Washington Street Bridge, and struggling to stay above water. The man was identified as 23-year old Trent Lee Hayden, of the Clarinda area.

Members of the Midwest Regional Dive team were called to assist in the search, along with the Council Bluffs Fire Department’s Hover 5 airboat. The airboat crew located Hayden’s body in the middle of the river south of the Washington Street bridge, just after 2:15-a.m. today (Friday). The same area of river claimed the life four-years ago, of an 11-year old boy from Chicago.

Agencies assisting in last night’s search and rescue efforts included: The Midwest Regional Dive Team, which consists of personnel from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, Clarinda Fire Dept., Ringgold County Water Emergency Team (WET), Adams County EMS, the Montgomery and Page County Emergency Management Agencies, as well as the Clarinda and Red Oak Fire and Rescue Departments, Clarinda Police, the Iowa DNR and Iowa State Patrol.