Tony Manatt

Its here...!!!!! The official start of the season....!!! It is one of the best times of the year for so many of us. For many of us, it means getting outside and we all know what that does to mental attitudes!

Time spent getting ready for a new season is company wide. You can see it from ground development repairs to education on new ways of doing things.

I have a list, which goes on and on, as to why I like the start of a new season, but one reason I DON’T like the start of the season is ,"start up accidents".

It seems like the start of the year always brings more close calls and more preventable accidents. Why....?? "It's just the start of the year". This excuse is not acceptable for our company.

Although more wheels are turning, we must all take a stake in the big picture of safety. Watching out for the other guy is a must. Helping each other is a tool we should all use. Talking safety to your fellow employees is another important tool to use. When we have more talk of safety, it seems like it just happens throughout the whole crew or the whole company. Talk to each other.

The Truckers are now up and running out there. Material sales must be delivered with safety in mind. Help each other out. Use those CB's for guiding each other. Keep those channels clear of excessive conversation so they are open to warn each other of potential troubles. Watch for soft spots that can suck you in to a path you don't want. The shoulders of the roads are soft and can pull you over in a heartbeat. The open road brings our company many advantages, but it also raises the need to be very careful.

School is still in session and the farmers are also out there in slow moving equipment. Use your experience to your advantage and go slowly and conservatively so everyone comes home at night.

I attended our truckers meeting on April 4th, and for those in attendance, I thought it was a very good day spent dealing with issues from all sides. This company has great employees with the capabilities of accomplishing anything.

On a lighter note, on the 5th of April we had our company bowling tournament and fun was had by all. As I walked up and down the participants I was impressed with the friendship of everyone. Everybody laughing and joking. What fun it was. Lots of work was done by Jackie of Garrison and Kathy of our Robins office. Thanks again to you two and all who helped.

I am starting to feel comfortable about our season now that a few jobs have been let. We have gotten our share of the work due to a good job by our sales staff. A big “thanks” goes out to them. They would be the first to tell you that without the support of the whole team - Quarry Development, Quality Control, Stripping, Production, Administration, Truckers, Scale Personnel, Shop and Equipment, the list just goes on and on - they could not do the job I ask of them. We are all part of a team and must be moving in the same direction. Thanks to all who move in the same direction. Lets do it SAFELY in the same direction..!!!!!!

Finally, thanks for all those directly or non-directly involved in the war times we are in. The ability to live in the freedom that we do is due in part to those who serve. Thank you to these folks and their families.