Freese seeks to inform public with Eagle project

     Fourteen-year-old Keegan Freese of Monticello just finished his last year of middle school, and already he’s looking ahead to the future.

     Freese is working hard to complete his Eagle Scout project by the end of 2017. While most Boy Scouts earn their Eagle Scout Award by the end of their high school career, Freese knows his high school years will get busy. So, he has his mind set on earning the prestigious award before the end of his freshman year.

     Freese has been in Scouts since he was in first grade. He’s earned numerous patches and is well on his way to more.

     At the beginning of the year, his Eagle Scout project was approved as a suitable Eagle Scout project. The boy who lives on the Maquoketa River fishing and floating has come up with an idea that will benefit so many people who utilize the local waterway for recreation and more.

     Freese is working on a series of signs to be placed every half-mile along the Maquoketa River from the Highway 38 bridge to just before Pictured Rocks Park; a total of 14 signs along a 7-mile stretch.

     “That’s a large chunk of the river,” said Freese.

     Spending a lot of time on the river, Freese said he hears about accidents and injuries people sustain while on the water.

     “They don’t know where they’re at (on the river) when they call 9-1-1,” he said.

     Freese referenced an incident last summer when someone was on the river near Hopkinton and suffered a seizure.

     “They got stuck between Hopkinton and Monticello on the river,” said Freese, noting that the victim and his travel party did not know their location on the river.

     Each sign will be in accordance with the U.S. National Grid System (NGS) Emergency Location Markers (ELM). These are blue and white signs noting a specific GPS location, and tell people to call 9-1-1 in case of emergency. Below that sign, Freese will have green and white mile-marker signs.

     “The mile will be easier for people to remember,” he said instead of the eight-digit NGS code.

     He said this project would not only benefit those using the river, but emergency responders as well.

     “This was the only project I thought of doing,” Freese said. “Each mile number will be paired with GPS coordinance/access point.”

     Once his heart was set on it, he contacted the DNR and Jones County Conservation for permission to place his signs on state and county property near Pictured Rocks. Unfortunately both entities suggested that was not feasible. So, Freese decided to find out who owned property along the Maquoketa River, with the intent of placing his signs on private property.

     On the 7-mile stretch of the river Freese is working with, there are only five landowners. He already has permission from three of those.

     “I’m half way there,” he said with some excitement. Freese said Bill and Cammie Greif, one of the property owners, liked his Eagle Scout project idea because they’ve seen people get hurt while floating the river.

     On the permission slip presented to the landowners, Freese is taking full responsibility for the installation and future maintenance of the signs.

     Each of the 14 signs will be cemented into the ground with an 8-foot metal post. Freese, who did his research, decided not to use a wooden post because it could rot over time. His project is expected to cost about $700 in all, with the posts and signs. Freese will use his fellow Scouts to assist in the labor and installation of the signs. He said Monticello Canoe Rental, who is also a huge proponent of the project, offered use of their boats and tools to go up and down the river.

     “This is all about gaining public awareness so people know about the signs and how to use them” Freese offered.

     He is taking donations if businesses or people wish to help him out. Freese’s goal is to have permission from landowners and the materials ordered in time to install the signs before this fall.

     “It’s been a full year of planning on his end,” said Mom, Niki. After a couple of hiccups along the way, she said he almost gave up. “There are so many people behind him who see the benefit of something like this,” she added.

     Freese is the son of Kirk and Niki Freese.

     If contact Keegan Freese regarding his Eagle Scout project or to donate, e-mail him at keeganfreese07@gmail.com.