Monday morning, President Barack Obama will take the oath of office before a crowd of tens of thousands of people gathered at the U.S. Capitol. Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were officially sworn in during private ceremonies on Sunday, a day which also included a visit to the Tomb of the Unknowns. Monday's ceremonial swearing-in will be followed by the President's inaugural address and a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.
A Siouxland man will be playing an active role in Monday's inaugural events. Rob Hach of Alta, Iowa was chosen by President Obama as one of eight citizen co-chairs of the inauguration. They were greeted by the President in the oval office this weekend. Hach is a registered Republican, but championed President Obama's wind energy plan during the election. Ten years ago, Hach started the small renewable energy business "Anemometry Specialists" in Alta.
Two Iowa lawmakers from Siouxland say they will introduce measures in the legislature this week to arm gun owners with more protections. Representative Matt Windschitl of Missouri Valley wants to make the right to bear arms part of the state constitution. Representative Tom Shaw of Laurens is working on a measure to keep federal agents from confiscating weapons in Iowa. He also wants to put an end to "gun safe" zones around schools, which he says makes students and staff sitting targets. The measures would face an uphill battle in the Democratically-controlled Senate.
Iowa's ice fishermen are loving the arctic blast, especially at Emerson Bay in Milford, Iowa. The lake is a hot spot for local ice fishermen. As the mercury drops, the frigid temps mean it's safer to go back out on the lake. The ice is thick so ice houses and ATV's are in place. Fishermen say it's a nice change after a couple of years of poor conditions.
