“We look forward to working with the energy companies, municipalities, the Department of Transportation and county personnel, farmers, and business owners in the area,” Arntson said. “Knife River is a North Dakota home-grown company and is proud to be expanding within the state, providing more construction jobs and the necessary products and services to build the state’s infrastructure.”

Vulcan, Luck Stone Receive Gold Awards

The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) gave top honors to Vulcan Materials Co.’s Stafford Quarry and to Luck Stone’s Powhatan and Spotsylvania operations during the NSSGA Annual Convention held in late March in Las Vegas.

Vulcan’s Stafford Quarry in Stafford, Va., part of Vulcan’s Mideast Division, received an Excellence in Community Relations Gold Award, a national award recognizing a superior level of active involvement with and positive contributions to the facility’s neighboring community. Luck Stone’s Powhatan plant in Powhatan, Va., won a Gold Award for Environmental Excellence, and its Spotsylvania plant in Fredericksburg, Va., received a Gold Award for Community Relations.

Stafford Quarry has been a long-standing participant of Vulcan’s Adopt-a-School program, which partners with Friends of the Rappahannock — the largest donor to date to the Stafford County Civil War Park — and offers tours of the operation to school groups, Cub Scouts, and geology students.

“Vulcan has been an excellent community partner in Stafford over the years, especially when it comes to our school children,” says Cord Sterling, Stafford County supervisor for the Rockhill District. “Vulcan is committed to improving our children’s lives through tours, scholarships, stone donations, and educational opportunities. We congratulate Vulcan on this special recognition and are proud of their continuing success — as a business and a good neighbor — in Stafford County.”

Pictured left to right: Bill Schneider, NSSGA immediate past chairman of the board; Martin Bischoff, Vulcan’s Stafford Quarry plant manager; and Vulcan Sales Rep Todd Helton.

Pat Johnson, principal at Rockhill Elementary School, Stafford Quarry’s Adopt-a-School partner, says the operation, and Vulcan as a whole, has been a great supporter of the school. Todd Helton, Vulcan’s market manager, is an active tutor at the school, as well as a mentor to students. Vulcan also played an instrumental role in the construction of a student walking/running track, as well as having contributed labor and supplies to beautify the Children’s Garden at the entrance of the school, notes Johnson.

“Vulcan Materials Co. is highly deserving of this award,” says Johnson. “Vulcan supports our school in so many ways.”

Gray Kimel, Vulcan’s Mideast Division president, says this award exemplifies the commitment that Stafford Quarry employees have to the operation’s neighboring communities. “I am so very proud that our employees have achieved national recognition for their excellent community involvement,” says Kimel.

John Pullen, president of Luck Stone and chief growth officer of Luck Companies, is also proud of his company’s employees and notes that NSSGA’s recognition of the Powhatan and Spotsylvania plants is because of the “amazing work” associates at the plant have done.

Spotsylvania is involved with several community organizations, including the Spotsylvania Education Foundation, Spotsylvania Greenway Initiative, and Massaponax High School. The location proactively engaged federal and state officials to build relationships with members of Congress and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Powhatan implemented tactics that supported an environmental strategy focused on water quality, recycling, community involvement, and air quality.