As I write my last article for the year in the Manatt Mirror, I think back on all that has been accomplished this past construction season.  We really have done a lot of work around the state.  As a matter of fact, we have over 570 projects on the books completed or very close to completion this year with sales through October totaling over 200 million dollars.  Not bad for a small trucking company from Brooklyn, Iowa.  Employment ran about 650 at our peak season.

  We have many highlights for the year and I would like to list a few.

� Built a new state of the art ready mix plant in Ankeny.

� Put up a new concrete plant in Grundy Center.

� Purchased the assets of M. Petersen Company with American Concrete in Des Moines.

� Helped Valley Environment build a new building in Newton capable of storing 500,000 gallons of waste oil used at our asphalt plants.

� Paved 37.5’ wide on two different projects this year with two different paving crews.

� Our fly ash stabilization business just boomed this year.  Dave Schinckel, Kurt Kelley, and Steve Heishman really came together this year and expanded that business beyond what we ever hoped for.  We will have many repeat clients because of the good work they are doing.

� We continued to update our fleet of equipment last year and we are presently budgeting $10,000,000 for improvements next year.

� Our crews were heavily involved in the $3,500,000 project of reconstructing Grinnell’s downtown streets.  These are not easy jobs but our crews were well received in Grinnell despite their hardships.  That job should be done about the first or second week of December.

� I have to also thank the guys in Ames for taking over after we lost Tom in April.  Duane Hassebrock, Brad Lenz and Larry Ford, along with the rest of the Ames group did a great job of stepping up to the plate.

� Duane McDonald and Jason Spooner have also stepped up after we lost Mike.  Thanks to both of them for their support and knowledge.  The PCC paving crews, crushing crews, and underground crews are still the best in the state.

  Even though it was a year filled with many personal losses, lots of changes for the better did take place in 2005.  We won’t rest in 2006.  The future for our company looks bright.

  I hope everyone has a Merry, Merry Christmas and a Happy Safe New Year.  Best wishes to all of you and thanks for your contributions to this company.