712 Digital Group - top

Pott. County “Freedom Rock” finds a home in Oakland

News

January 30th, 2014 by Ric Hanson

A large boulder painted with a patriotic theme by Adair County artist Ray “Bubba” Sorensen II, of Greenfield, will be found in the Pottawattamie County city of Oakland, thanks to the efforts of a local coffee clatch. The Daily NonPareil reports a “Freedom Rock” for Pott. County was approved by the mayor and city council, after the Oakland Coffee Ladies – a six-member group – approached Mayor Michael O’Brien about bringing it to Oakland.

LaDonna Applegate, a member of the Oakland Friday Coffee Ladies, said the rock will be placed in the Spring near Chautauqua Park. The rock is part of a statewide program that places a patriotic rock in each Iowa county. The rock will serve as a marker to attract tourists and also honor southwest Iowa veterans. Many counties have contracted with Sorensen to have Freedom Rocks painted, while four others (Shelby, Adair, Adams and Ringgold) already have their rocks in place and completed.

The original Freedom Rock is located just south of Interstate 80 on Highway 25 in Adair County, attracts about 14,000 people each year. Sorensen paints a different theme on it every year during the late Spring or Summer. The rock in Oakland is a pink granite and will be highly visible for drivers because of U.S. Highways 6 and 59 that pass through the town. The city paid $1,000 in fees to obtain the rock for Pottawattamie County.