SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the lawsuit against the maker of an infant formula that’s being blamed for brain damage suffered by an Iowa girl.  The Sioux City Journal says  5-year-old Jeanine Kunkel, of Sioux City, is unable to speak. She takes six medications a day and is given nourishment through a tube.

The lawsuit filed in February 2011 alleges that powdered Similac powder prepared by the girl’s mother led to Jeanine contracting bacterial meningitis that caused severe brain damage just days after Jeanine was born in April 2008.

Spokeswoman Tami Jones for Similac manufacturer Abbott Laboratories says all of Abbott’s powdered infant formula products are extensively tested before release to ensure they meet nutritional needs and to ensure the their safety.

The Adair County Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting this morning beginning at 9, at the courthouse in Greenfield. During their session, the Board will receive funding/budget requests from: Steve Bolie, with the Southern IA Trolley; County Veteran’s Affairs Director Rick Schaecher; Building and Grounds Foreman Rich Wallace; Midwest Partnership; the R-C & D, and County Auditor Mindy Schaefer.

The board will then hold a budget workshop, beginning at 10:45.

The Museum of Danish America in Elk Horn reports they are waiving admission for all visitors beginning today (January 6th) through Jan. 31st,  while exhibits are in transition and construction continues on its curatorial center. Museum goers who visit during the free admission period will be able to view the museum’s permanent exhibit, Across Oceans, Across Time, Victor Borge kiosk, LEGO play area, Jens Jensen Prairie Landscape Park, and Museum Shop.

Danish Modern: Design for Living, the popular 30th anniversary exhibit that occupied two floors of the museum in much of 2013 is headed to the Goldstein Museum of Design in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Goldstein will host the exhibit from February 1 to April 27. Interested parties who missed seeing the exhibit can purchase an exhibit catalog with photos and essays through the Museum of Danish America’s Museum Shop.

Taking Danish Modern’s place on the main floor at the Museum of Danish America will be Søren Kierkegaard: The Global Dane from February 1 to April 13. As a theologian, philosopher and author, Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855) is hailed as one of the most influential figures of the 19th century. This exhibition, prepared for the bicentennial of Kierkegaard’s birth, explores his life and work. English-language text is by Kierkegaard scholar Joakim Garff.

Also opening in February is another new exhibit, Schleswig-Holstein: Turmoil on the Danish-German Border, which will open in the mezzanine gallery on February 22 and run until September 1. The region of Schleswig-Holstein sits on the border between Denmark and Germany, and for centuries has had a mixed population of German-speaking and Danish-speaking communities. In 1864, 150 years ago, Denmark’s military defeat by Germany transferred Schleswig-Holstein into German control. In 1920, some of that territory was returned to Denmark in a popular vote. Many immigrants from the Schleswig-Holstein region, both Danish and German, settled in Iowa – in fact, there are two towns in Iowa called Schleswig and Holstein. The exhibit promises to teach visitors the history of this region and its impact on immigrant communities in the Midwest. The exhibit and its related programming was developed in collaboration with the German-American Heritage Center in Davenport, Iowa, with support from Humanities Iowa and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

In addition to transitioning exhibits, the museum’s west side is taking on a new look. Construction on the curatorial center has progressed steadily since the groundbreaking in August. The concrete foundation footings were poured in late November, and over the past several weeks, the support posts and exterior walls have begun to take shape. The 8,000 square foot expansion will house artifact storage and staff office areas and will feature an environmentally-friendly green roof, planted with native grasses and wildflowers.

More information about the museum can be found on their website, www.danishmuseum.org or by calling (712) 764-7001.

Getting your car to start in the extreme cold can be a problem if you haven’t taken the proper precautions. Nick Hoss, the service manager with Total Sales and Service used cars in Le Mars, says one of the most important things is making sure your battery is up to the job of cranking out the power needed. “Any battery that gets between a four and six year lifespan — someone can pretty much guaranteed it’s going to be time to be replaced,” Hoss says. He says you should also make sure the antifreeze strength is good. Once the car is started, Hoss says give it five or 10 minutes to run.

“So everything, all the fluids get warmed up before you take off. That’s hard on them to just get in them and start them up and expect them to go when it’s that cold,” Hoss explains. He says engine block heaters are another way to make sure the car starts if it has to be outside. He says a lot of vehicle have them and it’s worth it to have one and know your engine is going to crank right over. Hoss says you can get a heater for your car, but need to check to be sure you get the right one.

“Every one of them is a little bit different, they have to go in a soft plug hole and not every vehicle is user friendly to get them installed. It kind of depends on the make and the model,” Hoss says. The auto mechanic suggests using a fuel additive, and keeping your tank full of gasoline, not just for your car’s sake, but to give you added security, should you find yourself stranded.

(Radio Iowa)