News

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Evan and Jackie Sroufe put on kid-sized hard hats during an ice cream social held at Scott Quarry on Monday afternoon. Their mother, Tonya, brought them to the quarry to learn more about the facility’s operation. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)

SCOTT — It was hot … it was dusty … but those who came to the Scott Quarry on Richey Road in northwestern Van Wert County got the chance to learn a lot about the company — and down some ice cream to cool off.

Stoneco and its parent company, The Shelly Company, invited area residents to the quarry as part of a celebration of Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Awareness Week.

The event, billed as an “ice cream social,” with cake and ice cream and drinks provided, the event was more like a “show and tell,” allowing local residents to learn about the quarry, with several displays — and even a video showing stone being blasted out of the quarry walls — while company officials were on hand to answer questions.

“Best thing in the summer is (an) ice cream social, so that’s where that idea came from,” said Robin Kraner, who is involved in quality control at the quarry, but also conducts tours of the facility for area students and others interested in learning about the facility. “So we’re just basically celebrating Ohio Aggregates Awareness Week.”

The “aggregates” part of the week was the focus at Scott Quarry, originally Union Quarry when it was founded around the turn of the 20th century. Aggregates, basically another word for gravel, are the broken bits of stone used in concrete and road construction.

Road construction is a business the quarry’s current owner, knows well, since The Shelly Company is involved in road construction projects all over the state, including many of those in Van Wert County, such as the Shannon Street reconstruction and a paving project on U.S. 30.

The company also owns nearly 100 facilities around the state, including a number of quarries and asphalt operations that provide raw and finished materials for the company’s projects.

Road construction is a seasonal job, though, meaning that workers are often laid off during the winter months, and that includes quarry workers as well. However, the past 10 months have been a different story, mostly because of wind turbines being installed as part of the Blue Creek Wind Farm.

“This started last fall and they have been going gangbusters for the past 10 months,” said John Dibert, vice president of aggregate operation for The Shelly Company. He added that the Scott Quarry has been on 16-hour and even 24-hour days to keep up with demand created by both road projects and wind turbine construction. The production schedule has also allowed workers to log lots of overtime hours as well – which has also provided a positive financial wallop for their wallets.

“It’s been a boom for us, it’s been a good deal for us, a good deal for the workers,” said Dibert, noting that the company even had to bring in portable asphalt and ready-mix plants to the local quarry to keep up with product demand. “It’s been huge for this quarry.”

Providing stone for the various projects has been pretty much seamless, though, Dibert said, crediting quarry manager Rick Welch, a 20-year quarry veteran, and Todd Rittenhouse for making sure production needs were met.

That hasn’t been easy, though, since the quarry needed to produce four times as much stone the past 12 months — from 250,000 tons to an estimated 1 million tons from last September to this September — as is produced in a normal year.

That’s also led to a big increase in truck traffic to and from the quarry, Welch said, noting that the quarry at times has transported 10,000 tons of products a day in trucks that handle only 16-18 tons per trip.

Although Stoneco employees will likely miss it, it’s a situation that’s not likely to last long, Dibert said. “It’s tailing off fast,” he noted, adding that the last wind turbine bases will be poured this week, which would effectively end the ready-mix portion of the project.

Among those invited to the event was State Representative Lynn Wachtmann, who said he enjoyed learning more about the operation — although he was not as happy about the temperature outside.

by Stephanie Filson
GALLIPOLIS — The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 10 has been on site along Ohio 7 preparing for a $3.3 million resurfacing project that includes a section through Gallipolis. Contractor Shelly Company provided the successful bid for the project.

ODOT spokeswoman Brenna Slavens said that the work is being performed to fulfill ODOT’s obligation for general maintenance of the traveled roadway surface of Ohio 7.

According to Slavens, ODOT received consent by the Gallipolis City Manager’s Office through an MR 689 form, which is a commonly used form that provides consent legislation between the agency and municipalities that require maintenance and repair.

Gallipolis City Manager Randy Finney said that the project will begin in Eureka near the Robert C. Byrd Locks and Dam and will conclude at the intersection of Ohio 7 and the Silver Bridge Plaza. The work, according to ODOT, will consist of resurfacing with an asphalt overlay.

Finney said that the project will also include curb upgrades to provide handicapped accessibility along Vine Street, Second Avenue and Eastern Avenue. This portion of work will precede the paving operation, which is expected to begin in approximately six weeks.

Because the project is located in a business area, Slavens says ODOT will perform some of the work at night.

“ODOT is utilizing this type of work to help reduce congestion during daylight hours, as we don’t want our work to negatively affect local businesses and the economy,” said Slavens.

ODOT will fund all of the design and construction costs for the project. The city is responsible for right-of-way clearance, roadside hazard removal and speed limit adjustments where needed.

“We are very pleased that ODOT has chosen to pave through town,” said Finney. “The roads are in desperate need of repair, and the project is good for the city.”

The official completion date for the project is June 2012, but resurfacing could be completed by late fall if weather permits.

Read more: Gallipolis Daily Tribune – ODOT to begin Ohio 7 resurfacing includes section through Gallipolis

MEDINA – Celebrate, remember, fight back.
The annual Relay for Life was this past weekend and team members spent 24 hours walking the track at the Medina County Fairgrounds as part of the battle against cancer. The annual event, which was June 11 through 12, benefits the American Cancer Society. This year’s honorary survivor was three-year-old Joey Branham. The theme was “Cancer is No Game.”
“We try to celebrate the survivors, remember those lost to cancer and fight back against this disease,” said Kaci Wright, chair for the local event. “That goal was achieved this weekend at the Medina Relay For Life and many had fun, shared memories and enjoyed time with family and friends – all while making a difference in the fight against cancer.”
This year, 34 teams walked the walk, raising about $162,000. The overall event goal is $183,000, but Wright said teams can turn in donations until the end of August.
“We still have a very good chance at hitting this goal as several teams are still working hard to continue fundraising,” she said.
The team that raised the most money overall was Team S.H.A.R.O.N. led by Diane Schiele and Ellen Codding. They collected $34,036, making this the third year they’ve topped in the $30,000 mark. Following close behind them was Team Julie, led by Jason Masony, with $33,200. In the 29 months they have been a part of Relay, they have raised more than $100,000, according to Wright.
Medina was also selected as one of seven sites nationwide for the Cancer Prevention Study 3 being conducted by the American Cancer Society. The study’s goal is to link lifestyle choices, habits and hereditary factors with causes of cancer to try to prevent more cases in the future. A total of 131 local people enrolled in the study and will participate via regular surveys for the next 20 to 30 years.
“CPS-3 was a successful part of the event and we surpassed our goal of enrollment which was 126. We feel confident that this study will make a difference in the future for the fight against cancer,” said Wright.
Organizing the Medina Relay for Life, in addition to Wright, were committee members Jason Masony, Kristen Bossert, Chris Reprogle, Sharon Centner, Mary Jo Pecek, Bobi Jo Weger, Deb Spangler, Pam Hahn, Tiffany Hoesel, Scott Brubaker, Penny Rabung, Bev Fraser, Sylvia Sanderson, Bobbie Carpenter, Vicki Weger, Ryver Adair, Michelle Drogell and Rachel Kessler

THORNVILLE – The Shelly Company, an Oldcastle Materials company, incorporates wildlife habitats and biodiversity into its environmental stewardship commitment as part of its ongoing corporate social responsibility program.
The Shelly Company manages five Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) sites: four certified as “Wildlife at Work” and one certified as “Corporate Lands for Learning.” The wildlife habitat projects vary in nature and scope and are corporate-driven cooperative efforts between management, employees, community members, local conservation groups, and local, state and federal agencies.
“By creating volunteer-based wildlife teams of company employees and community groups like Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts and local schools, wildlife programs achieve a high level of success,” said Kevin Cooperrider, Dresden wildlife site project manager.
“The Shelly Company works in partnership with WHC to broaden understanding of wildlife values through the incorporation of environmental education, volunteer participation and community outreach programs,” said Cooperrider.“We started in 2006 with the Dresden site and now have sites in Montpelier, Ostrander, Shalersville, and Petersburg. The support from senior management and the environmental leadership team has enabled us to make significant progress.”
WHC is a non-profit, non-lobbying organization that works to increase the amount of quality wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. The Shelly Company has received several WHC awards including the prestigious “Rookie of the Year Award” in 2009 and in 2010 was nominated for the “Pollinator Award” for its Montpelier North Wildlife Habitat Site.
Based in Thornville, Ohio, The Shelly Company is the leading vertically integrated supplier of aggregates, asphalt, ready mix concrete and paving services throughout the state with operations in 74 of Ohio’s 88 counties and more than 90 production facilities throughout the state. More information can be found at www.shellyco.com.
-END-

Lanham, MD – The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) announced today that The Shelly Co., An Oldcastle Materials Co., of  Ohio, has won nine 2010 Quality in Construction Awards for excellence in construction of an asphalt pavement. The company received its awards on Wednesday, February 9, at a special awards breakfast during the Association’s 56th Annual Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

The Quality in Construction Awards recognize asphalt pavements of excellence. “NAPA selects the recipients of its paving awards using a known set of standards that have been shown to give a good result,” commented Larry H. Lemon, 2010 Chairman of the NAPA Board of Directors. “This award demonstrates the high quality of work that the asphalt industry is achieving.”

The Shelly Co. won the 9 awards for the following projects:  (1) construction of Eastown Road in Lima between SR 117 and Elm Street, part of a six-year, four-phase corridor project. The company produced a smooth, high-quality asphalt pavement that is aesthetically appealing and has won positive community response; (2)     construction on 6.4 miles of I-480 from SR 82 to the Ohio Turnpike in Streetsboro.  The company won 83.1 percent of the possible bonus for the smoothness of the ride; (3) mill and overlay of I-271 from Wilson Mills Road through the I-90 split including the ramps; (4) work on SR 315 between Goodale Avenue adn Akerman Road.  Using warm mix asphalt, an environmentally friendly choice, and scheduled work and production rates to meet the stringent time lines for the project; (5) mill and overlay of US 33 in Logan County from SR 292 to US 68.  The project has an exceptional ride quality and uniform surface textrue; (6) work on the I-271 express lanes from Mayfield Road to the overhead bridge for Maplegrove road.  To make the road safer for drivers, teh company milled the roadway and laid at least on course of asphalt before reopening the roads after a work shift; (7) work on the City of Findlay Airport Taxiway location.  The project added a seal course to the existing runway to enhance its snow melting capabilities; (8) work on Runway 5R/23L pavement and lighting rehabilitation, Phase 1, at Rickenbacker International Airport; and (9) work on Runway 5R/23L pavement and lighting rehabilitation, Phase II at Rickenbacker International Airport.  The company used a material transfer device to produce an extremely smooth pavement that exceeded teh airport’s stringent specifications. 

The National Asphalt Pavement Association is the only trade association that exclusively represents the interests of the asphalt pavement material producer/contractor on the national level with Congress, government agencies, and other national trade and business organizations. NAPA supports an active research program designed to improve the quality of asphalt pavements and paving techniques used in the construction of roads, streets, highways, parking lots, airports, and environmental and recreational facilities. The association provides technical, educational, and marketing materials and information to its members; supplies product information to users and specifiers of paving materials; and conducts training courses. The association, which counts more than 1,100 companies as its members, was founded in 1955.

For Immediate Release

Contact At NAPA, Tracie Christie

 Co-worker Lori Brooks drove the Stoneco parade vehicle, while Kraner, clad in a safety vest and hard hat, spread the important safety message that work zones aren’t just cones, barrels and equipment, but places where people work. Chris Kraner, 13, was proud to be the official safety mascot and sister Hannah, 10, assisted by handing out candy treats.

 There is a real need to circulate this message based on Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) statistics. According to their website, there were 5,012 crashes and 13 fatalities in Ohio roadway work zones in 2009. Through company and ODOT public awareness campaigns, behaviors can be positively influenced to create work zones that are safer for both workers and motorists.

By CLAUDIA BOYD-BARRETT
BLADE STAFF WRITER

Millbury resident Tim Miller has lost his house, and he wants to say thank you.

Not to the tornado which left him and his family homeless last weekend, but to the hundreds of people – most of whom he doesn’t know – who have come to help pick up the pieces.

Thursday, on what remained of his back deck and next to a hole in the ground that was once his house, Mr. Miller perched a handwritten sign addressed to the volunteers. It read “Thank You Everyone.”

Among them, a dozen employees from the Shelly Co. in Findlay and children from a little league baseball team ferried hundreds of hamburgers, hotdogs, and refreshments to residents and other volunteers in the Lake Township area.

http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100611/NEWS16/6110354/0/LOG02

by G. Sam Piatt 

LUCASVILLE — Scioto County got some good economic news Tuesday from U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson, (D OH-6) who came to the county garage to announce that the county will rece

ive $30 million in the federal government’s Recovery Act Investment funds.

Almost all of it — $29 million — will be in the form of a grant and loan to pay for a new wastewater collection system to serve 1,327 customers.

The federal government will provide half of that and the county the remaining half, said Tom Reiser, chairman of the Scioto County Board of Commissioners.

The county’s share will come from a low-interest loan.

The remaining $1 million will go for paving projects.

County Engineer Craig Opperman said portions of roads to be blacktopped are on Dixon Mill, Dogwood Ridge, Scherer Hollow, Lucasville-Minford and Gallia Pike.

County commissioners awarded the stimulus resurfacing project to the Shelly Company for their lowest and best bid of $1,263,038.51. A total of $1.2 million of that will come from American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds through the Federal Highway Administration and the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The remaining $263,038.51 will be paid for from the County Engineer Motor Vehicle License and Gas Taxes.

Congress passed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act on Feb. 13, 2009, and agencies throughout the country began applying for the money.

Scioto County’s success with the program was announced March 26 by Gov. Ted Strickland. It was one of 149 projects statewide receiving funding, Opperman said.

Wilson said the recovery is working and he’s glad that part of the funding is coming to Scioto County and his Sixth Congressional District.

“The road work, the laying of lines all mean jobs for this area, and that is great,” Wilson said.

The residents of the project area for the water/sewer projects are served by individual septic systems, which the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has determined to be illegal and failing, said county Sanitary Engineer Darren LeBrun.

The money will go for installation of the Minford project, estimated to cost just under $30 million, LeBrun said.

It includes over 30 miles of gravity sanitary sewer mains and a new wastewater treatment plant.

“To my knowledge this is the largest single grant received by Scioto County and it is also the largest-ever county-performed project,” he said.

A large number of existing sewage-treatment systems in the service area release partially-treated sewage or raw sewage into streams and ditches, posing an obvious health hazard, the engineer said.

In addition to that, he said, sewage pollution in Muletown, Minford, Clarktown and Rubyville is a financial liability to those communities.

The project will go out to bidders in 2011 and the project finished in 2013.

The funds will be distributed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.

March 7, 2010

ZANESVILLE –Smith Concrete, a division of Shelly Company, has added an unusual method to its community service efforts.

Beginning this month several Smith concrete trucks will hit the roads bearing new paint jobs that, in addition to saying Smith Concrete, will feature the logos and slogans of area non-profit organizations. The truck traveling primarily in Muskingum, Morgan and Perry counties will highlight the Ohio 4-H program.

The 4-H office in Morgan County was approached in January by a representative of Smith Concrete who asked if this was something 4-H might be interested in using as a way to promote the program. Because the Smith yard that services Morgan County is located in Muskingum County the suggestion was made that all three of the counties served be involved in the project. After receiving permission from the state 4-H office Smith began immediately to get the truck painted and have it ready to roll by Ohio 4-H week which is March 7-13.

Both the bowl and the cab of the truck for this area are painted with the 4-H clover and their slogan, “To Make the Best Better” along with the Ohio 4-H Web site www.ohio 4-H.org. In addition, the 4-H logo will be painted on the hardhat of the driver.

In addition to 4-H, Smith Concrete trucks traveling in Southeast Ohio also will feature the logos of the DARE program, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and others.

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20100307/NEWS01/3070349/1002/NEWS01/SMITH-CONCRETE-HELPS-PROMOTE-4-H

By: Audry Kensicki
WHIZ News

A program that helps students learn skills to succeed in life is getting a little local help and it’s in the form of a moving billboard.

4-H in Muskingum, Morgan, and Perry counties will be promoted around the area by Smith Concrete trucks now sporting the 4-H logo and website.

“This is the first,” said Vicki Schwartz, Associate State 4-H Leader. “This roving cement truck will be going through three counties and letting everyone know how they can get involved with 4-H. The website will be there. It’s a great way to say ‘Join 4-H’.”

Schwartz said she hopes the 4-H website will get more hits because of the advertisment.

Dick Wilson of Smith Concrete says the company is glad to help.

“Through the education and the values established in the 4-H program, we’re developing our future leaders coming out of our programs,” said Dick Wilson of Smith Concrete. “That’s what we’re hoping to accomplish, just trying to find a small way to support them.”

After the weather clears up and snow melts away, you’ll be able to see the Smith Concrete trucks with the logo driving around town.