Paunch and crew have been working on Benton County since early November.  We have protected the slab with a lot of covering.  This takes extra time and manpower.  It is not easy work but the crews did a good job.  Hopefully with a little luck all the paving will be done this week.  We still have subdrain and shouldering to do.

     Mike V and crew thought they would be done when we finished a job in Nevada.  But no, the IDOT had other plans.  They decided they wanted Hwy 30 in Marshall County opened with four lanes around LeGrand.  We bought extra blankets to cover the grand and slab.  Today we are paving the west end tie-in.  Hopefully next week we can pave the middle tie-in.

     Steve and Gary and crews are busy keeping the portable plants thawed out and supplying mix to both paving crews.

     Kenny and Jeremy and their crews are helping the paving crews where they can.  We still have 35,000 tons of rock to lay in Pleasantville.  We also have stripping at the Tama sand plant and, hopefully, will start the dirt for a subdivision in Brooklyn.

     Brian and crew are crushing in Grinnell and still have plenty of places to go.  (As in Ames, Des Moines, Newton and Robbins!)  Somewhere in the schedule we need to shut down for maintenance.

     Monte and Larry and crews are still in Huxley on a large underground sewer project.  Hopefully be done in a week or two.  Their next project is down in Knoxville.

     As I stated earlier, normally we are done with paving by now.  Cold weather paving is very non-productive and a lot of extra hard work.  I want to thank the crews for their extra effort to complete these projects.  I know it has been tough and not the ideal conditions, but the end is near.  Thanks again for sticking it out.

     We had a tragedy in early December; we lost one of our own.  Joan Linder with quality control was killed in a car accident.  Joan was a great employee, hard working and always had a smile on her face.  She was a good friend and will truly be missed by all.  Our sympathy goes to her family and loved ones.

     This is a reminder of what life is truly about.  It is not about work or how much production for the day.  It is about our families and coming home to be with them.  This holiday season let us feel blessed that we can go home and be with our loved ones.  Give an extra hug to everyone.  Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Hope to see you all next year.