Snowman builders think big in Sergeant Bluff
By Molly Montag Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, February 15, 2008
A giant snowman sits at the entrance to 7284 Lakeport Road Thursday on the east edge of Sergeant Bluff. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
SERGEANT BLUFF -- With a 35-gallon drum for a hat, traffic cone for a nose and two eyes made out of coffee cans, the gigantic creation in Sergeant Bluff clearly is no ordinary snowman.
The massive snowman, towering an estimated 18 feet, looms large next to a light pole on the 7200 block of Lakeport Avenue in Sergeant Bluff for the third straight year.
It is the brainchild of Raymond Rogers, who was inspired by his daughter's wish to build a snowman. The first was 10 feet tall, but Rogers admits they get a little bigger each year.
"She wanted me to help her build a snowman and I thought it'd be cool to build a huge one," Rogers said. "I think big, you know."
So big that while Rogers had equipment from his sod farm, he had to rent more that was capable of rolling the heavy sections and hoisting them into the air. Two friends, Shannon Peschel and Bryce Lander, brought skid-loaders to help roll the balls, but Rogers had to rent a telehandler to lift the heavy sections into place.
A telehandler is a vehicle with a boom used for lifting heavy objects.
Peschel was the lucky one to get lifted up to sculpt the snowman and put on the accessories.
Sticklers for details, the men painted a 35-gallon drum black and nailed it to a board for the hat. The snowman's arms are made of tree branches.
It's all about believability, Rogers said, and the right snow conditions.
"Just like doing a small one, (the snow's) got to stick together," he said.
Like Rogers, Landers said he helps make the snowman because of the reaction from the community.
"It's always fun to see the kids standing next to it," said Lander, 28, of Moville, Iowa. "Even grandparents (are) standing next to it getting their picture taken."
The snowman will appear again next year, although Rogers said he's not sure how it's going to be bigger. The heavy snow sections for this year's creation strained the limits of the equipment.
"I don't know if you can get much bigger than that, without getting big, big equipment," he said.
Although the current snowman has been up a month, Rogers said it'll be around a while.
"It's melted some," he said. "But when it's that big it's hard to tell."
The massive snowman, towering an estimated 18 feet, looms large next to a light pole on the 7200 block of Lakeport Avenue in Sergeant Bluff for the third straight year.
It is the brainchild of Raymond Rogers, who was inspired by his daughter's wish to build a snowman. The first was 10 feet tall, but Rogers admits they get a little bigger each year.
"She wanted me to help her build a snowman and I thought it'd be cool to build a huge one," Rogers said. "I think big, you know."
So big that while Rogers had equipment from his sod farm, he had to rent more that was capable of rolling the heavy sections and hoisting them into the air. Two friends, Shannon Peschel and Bryce Lander, brought skid-loaders to help roll the balls, but Rogers had to rent a telehandler to lift the heavy sections into place.
A telehandler is a vehicle with a boom used for lifting heavy objects.
Peschel was the lucky one to get lifted up to sculpt the snowman and put on the accessories.
Sticklers for details, the men painted a 35-gallon drum black and nailed it to a board for the hat. The snowman's arms are made of tree branches.
It's all about believability, Rogers said, and the right snow conditions.
"Just like doing a small one, (the snow's) got to stick together," he said.
Like Rogers, Landers said he helps make the snowman because of the reaction from the community.
"It's always fun to see the kids standing next to it," said Lander, 28, of Moville, Iowa. "Even grandparents (are) standing next to it getting their picture taken."
The snowman will appear again next year, although Rogers said he's not sure how it's going to be bigger. The heavy snow sections for this year's creation strained the limits of the equipment.
"I don't know if you can get much bigger than that, without getting big, big equipment," he said.
Although the current snowman has been up a month, Rogers said it'll be around a while.
"It's melted some," he said. "But when it's that big it's hard to tell."
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Sgt. Bluff Resident wrote on Feb 20, 2008 3:25 PM:
In response to the comment about the cops watching Cheers. If you are leaving Cheers at 2am and are drunk, and get behind the wheel, then I am glad that the cops are watching for you. Isn't keeping drunks off the road a good thing? If you are leaving Cheers at 2am and are drunk and are not driving, then you have nothing to worry about. "
Sergeant Bluff sux! wrote on Feb 15, 2008 8:37 PM:
LoriL wrote on Feb 15, 2008 7:55 PM:
Love
the a MOM "
Alex wrote on Feb 15, 2008 2:39 PM:
Sunny wrote on Feb 15, 2008 2:28 PM: