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)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowans are preparing to deal with bitter cold temperatures over the next few days. The National Weather Service says temperatures will fall as low as 15-to-25 degrees below zero overnight into Monday. And strong northwest winds will create wind chills of 35-to-60 degrees below zero across the state.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Many school districts in Iowa and Nebraska will remain closed today because of the dangerously cold weather. Wind chills as cold as 55 degrees below zero are expected in parts of Iowa Monday morning.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Roughly 130 members of an Iowa Army Reserve unit are being deployed to Cuba to help guard prisoners at Guantanamo Bay’s prison for about a year. The Quad-City Times reports family members gathered Saturday to say goodbye to the soldiers of the 339th Military Police Company. The unit left Sunday for a month of training in Texas before going to Cuba. The Davenport-based unit has also deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in the past.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Ben Brust scored 19 points and Number 4 Wisconsin remained unbeaten with a 75-71 victory over Number 22 Iowa last night. The game was physical at times, and Iowa coach Fran McCaffery was hit with two technical fouls almost 8 minutes into the second half after a foul was called on Gabriel Olaseni in Madison, Wisconsin.

Officers with the Red Oak Police Department arrested a Nebraska woman early Sunday morning, after they responded to multiple disturbance calls at a residence. Officers were called to a home in the 500 block of East Oakwood Avenue in Red Oak at approximately 4:52-am Sunday, for a report of a woman that was intoxicated and causing a disturbance.

Upon arrival officers found the individual had left, but they were called back to the residence two more times.  During their last visit, officers discovered 31-year-old Kari Renee Repaal of Papillion, NE in her vehicle, outside the residence.

The woman was allegedly intoxicated and charged with OWI 1st offense. Repaal was brought to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where she was being held on $1,000 cash bond.

355 PM CST SUN JAN 5 2014

…EXTREME LIFE THREATENING COLD EXPECTED THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING…

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN DES MOINES SAYS AN EXTREMELY COLD ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN ITS GRIP ON IOWA INTO THE NIGHT AND PERSIST INTO TUESDAY. COMBINED WITH STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS…LIFE THREATENING COLD AND WIND CHILLS WILL OCCUR…ESPECIALLY TONIGHT AND MONDAY.

A WIND CHILL WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH NOON TUESDAY, FOR MOST OF THE STATE OF IOWA.

* SHORT TERM TRENDS…NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 30 MPH AND HIGHER GUSTS…COMBINED WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE SINGLE DIGITS AND TEENS BELOW ZERO AFTER SUNSET…WILL CREATE WIND CHILL VALUES FROM 25 TO 45 BELOW ZERO BY LATE EVENING. THE COLDEST OF THESE READINGS WILL OCCUR OVER NORTHERN IOWA.

* WIND CHILL VALUES…AN EXTENDED PERIOD WITH EXTREME WIND CHILL VALUES AT LEAST DOWN TO 20 TO 40 BELOW ZERO WILL OCCUR INTO TUESDAY MORNING. THE WORST AND MOST LIFE THREATENING WIND CHILL INDICES ARE EXPECTED EARLY MONDAY MORNING…SEVERAL HOURS EITHER SIDE OF DAYBREAK…WITH WIND CHILLS FROM 35 TO 55 BELOW.

* IMPACTS…EXTREME WIND CHILLS OF THIS MAGNITUDE CAN RESULT IN FROST BITE IN MINUTES AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE COMBINATION OF EXTREMELY COLD AIR AND STRONG WINDS WILL CREATE LIFE THREATENING LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THIS WILL RESULT IN FROST BITE AND LEAD TO HYPOTHERMIA OR DEATH IF PRECAUTIONS ARE NOT TAKEN.

A Des Moines man suffered minor injuries during an accident Sunday afternoon, north of Atlantic. According to dispatch reports, a vehicle driven by 56-year old James W. Hohl went into the west ditch off of Olive Street, near the Farm Service Co-op. Hohl suffered from an injury to his head, but was conscious and answering authorities’ questions while in the comfort of another motorist’s vehicle.

The accident was reported at around 3:47-p.m. Cass County Sheriff’s deputies, Medivac Ambulance and Atlantic Fire and Rescue all responded initially, to the scene. The man was treated at the scene and not transported to the hospital.

Atlantic School District Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein reports there will be no classes in Atlantic on Monday due to the extreme wind chill conditions. The district had planned to start 2-hours late as of last Friday, but administrators changed their minds once it became clear how dangerous and life-threatening the bitterly cold conditions are expected to be Sunday night through Tuesday morning. Man y other area school districts have also cancelled classes on Monday. For a full list of cancellations, see the “Cancellations” tab under the Community Hub on the front page at www.kjan.com.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Pet owners are being encouraged to bring their animals inside during the bitter cold snap. Temperatures are predicted to fall to at least 15 degrees below zero Sunday night and Monday morning in Nebraska and Iowa. Then strong winds will make it feel 30-to-60 degrees below zero. The Nebraska Humane Society says it’s best to bring pets inside during periods of extreme cold like this.

But if pets must remain outside, it’s important to make sure they have a solid structure to protect them with hay or straw inside for insulation. Dogs also need constant access to water, so pet owners should use heated bowls during freezing weather.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowans are preparing to deal with bitter cold temperatures over the next few days, and some schools have cancelled classes as a precaution. The National Weather Service says temperatures will fall as low as 15-to-25 degrees below zero Sunday night and Monday. And strong northwest winds will create wind chills of 35-to-60 degrees below zero across the state. The coldest temperatures are expected in northern Iowa, but all of the state will experience the artic blast.

Many school districts around the state have cancelled classes for Monday because of the frigid forecast, including Atlantic. School officials don’t want children to be standing outside waiting for buses during the dangerous cold. For a list of the cancellations and late starts, go to the Community Hub on the front page of www.kjan.com and click on the Cancellations category.

The Audubon Chamber of Commerce held its annual Community Banquet and awards program Saturday evening at the St. Patrick’s Parish Center. During the event, President Trish Nielsen gave a review of the past year’s activities and accomplishments, including the hosting and continued support f various events. Nielsen then turned the gavel over to 2014 President elect Dave Witt.  New CHamber Board of Director members this year include Vicky Robinson, Ashley VanAernam, Ann Wood-Randeris and Shane Lange.

The Audubon Chamber then presented its Citizen of the Year award to Roger Malmberg. Malmberg is a native of southwest Iowa who enlisted in the National Guard after high school and served two periods of enlistment. He graduated from college and moved to Audubon in 1964 while continuing to study for his Master’s Degree. He and his wife raised four girls in Audubon. During his years in the community, Malmberg has been active in the Knights of Columbus and teaches Christian education classes. He’s also served on the Conservation Board.

Junior Citizen of the Year awards went to Madelyn Christensen and Megan Deist, both of whom have been actively involved in high school sports, youth groups and community and other school-related activities.

And, the Community Service Award was presented to the Audubon County Memorial Hospital for their dedicated commitment and outstanding care provided to the community, and in recognition of the The Press Ganey Guardian of Excellance Award, along with 100 Great Community  Hospitals list and Top 20 Critical Access Hospital accolades.