News

February 4, 2012
By Ashley Rittenhouse (arittenhouse@mariettatimes.com) , The Marietta Times

The area’s rivers are used by many for recreational activities such as fishing and boating, but they also serve as a place where barges travel, carrying billions of dollars worth of coal and other materials each year.

In fact, according to officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District, 245 million tons of bulk commodities valued at $29.6 billion were moved on the Ohio River system in 2010.

“In the Parkersburg-Marietta area – miles 171 to 185 on the Ohio River – including the Little Kanawha, there were 490,000 tons shipped in between those mile points (in 2010) and the amount received between those mile points was 1.6 million tons,” said Lin Prescott, an economist in the Corps’ navigation center.

Prescott noted that in 2010, coal made up 58 percent of the commodities shipped on the Ohio River system, while aggregates like limestone were the next most frequently shipped commodity.

Jeff Spear, president of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen, pointed out that barge work is not easy.

“Some of these tows that come through Marietta…they’re longer than anything that floats on the ocean,” he said. “Those guys are really talented.”

Spear noted that barge traffic really started picking up around the time of the Civil War, mostly due to the rise of the coal market.

“Most of the south relied on northern coal for heating so the towing industry was huge in the late 1800s,” he said. “Traditionally, anything that was bulk could go by barge and it’s still that way.”

Although there are dangers that go along with barge transport, it does have many benefits, according to officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Prescott said a barge puts out 19.3 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per million ton mile, as compared to the 29.6 tons put out by a train and 71.6 tons put out by a truck.

He added that a barge carries an average of 1,750 tons of material but a single truck or rail car is not able to haul nearly that much.

“You would need 16 rail cars to haul that one barge worth or 70 trucks on the road,” he said.

Prescott said there is also less fuel required to move commodities by barge versus moving them by train or truck.

“A barge will move the commodity 576 ton miles on one gallon. For rail, it’s 413 and for truck it goes to 155,” he said.

Prescott said the large amount of coal moved on the river can be attributed mostly to the fact that American Electric Power is a big user of the river system.

Headquartered in St. Louis, Mo., AEP River Operations has offices in seven locations, including Lakin, W.Va., less than 50 miles southwest of Parkersburg.

“As far as coal goes, we move in excess of 30 million tons a year for the parent company,” said Mark Stoppel, director of sales and logistics for AEP River Operations. “We haul different types of coal to different plants AEP operates and coal for other utility companies and we haul coal that goes to the New Orleans area for export.”

Stoppel said the company operates 3,250 barges. Aside from coal, the barges also haul 75 million tons of other products annually, including grain, steel, fertilizers, alloys and road salt. He said they travel nearly all of the nation’s river systems.

“On the Ohio River, a typical tow of barges is 15 barges and it’s pushed by boat. That boat will have anywhere from as few as nine to as many as 12 crew,” Stoppel explained. “Generally the crews are out for a four-week time period and they have a four-week time period off. When they’re on the boat, most of the crew works two six-hour shifts.”

Price Inland Terminal, located in Belpre, is another company that has barges on the river.

Since 1969, the company has specialized in the loading, unloading and handling of building materials, as well as waterway transportation, according to its operations manager, Rudy Pennock.

In 2002, it merged with The Shelly Company and began operating its own barges. Today, it operates with 21 barges, four tow boats, a portable unloading rig, three docks and a barge loading facility.

“Our barges transport around 750,000 tons per year of sand and gravel from Shelly Materials Inc. owned quarries in Reedsville and Portland, Ohio, to customers on the Ohio, Kanawha and Monongahela Rivers,” Pennock said. “The sand and gravel barged from the quarries are typically used in construction projects.”

He added that there is a variety of agricultural, industrial and aggregate products loaded and unloaded at Price Inland, including sand and gravel, steel beams, limestone, coal and fertilizer.

Pennock said the company has 22 employees, most of whom work on or around barges every day.

“When a tow is being transported on the river, there will be a crew of three employees – one boat pilot and two deckhands,” he said.

He noted that a normal tow consists of 15 barges and between 1,600 and 1,800 tons of material per barge. For a full tow, he said, the average speed is five to six miles an hour, with the industry standard calling for a barge to travel 100 miles in a 24 hour time period.

© Copyright 2012 The Marietta Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/541877/On-the-move–The-historic-way-to-transport-bulk-loads-still-used.html

December 27, 2011
ATLANTA— For the fifth consecutive year, The Shelly Company received the Ohio Contractors Association’s 2011 Jerry Keller Memorial Safety Award in the Super Division. The award presentation was held at the association’s annual winter conference, Dec. 6. 

“Our safety record, achieved while working more than 2 million work hours, is outstanding, and demonstrates not only much hard work, but our devotion to safety in the workplace,” said The Shelly Company President Doug Rauh.“I’m proud of our team for leading the way in safety.”

Oldcastle Materials VP of Environmental, Health & Safety added, “It is quite an achievement to not only receive this award from the Ohio Contractors Association once, but to maintain this level of safety performance for five consecutive years.”
The Shelly Company is the leading vertically integrated supplier of aggregates, asphalt, ready mix concrete and paving services throughout Ohio. More information can be found at www.shellyco.com.
Oldcastle Materials is the leading vertically integrated supplier of aggregates, asphalt, ready mix concrete and paving services in the United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., the company has 1,200 locations in 44 states and employs approximately 18,000 people. Oldcastle Materials operates under Oldcastle Inc., the North American arm of international building materials group CRH plc based in Dublin, Ireland, with locations in 35 countries. Find more information at www.oldcastlematerials.com, www.oldcastle.com and www.crh.com.
CONTACT: Carolyn L. McDaniel
(770) 639-8234
Carolynl.Mcdaniel@oldcastlematerials.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andy Junn
Andy.Junn@alz.org

Medina, OH—In support of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Greater East Ohio Area Chapter, Medina Supply, a part of The Shelly Company’s Ready Mix Concrete Division, has rolled out an Alzheimer’s Association-themed concrete mixer truck. The company recently painted the distinctive Alzheimer’s Association logo, which represents the partnership of people and science, on one of its fleet of trucks that will be seen throughout Northeast Ohio.

D.Todd Surrarrer, Quality Control Manager for Medina Supply, noted that the company’s goal in this project is to help people. “This truck will serve as a moving billboard, raising awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association and informing individuals who have family members affected by Alzheimer’s disease that there is an organization out there that can help them through their journey with this fatal disease,” said Surrarrer.

Medina Supply began its themed-truck program in the fall of 2010. The program is coordinated by a committee of company employees, who look at the challenges their employees, community members and customers face in determining which nonprofit organizations to select for this public awareness. The Alzheimer Association truck is the fifth truck the company has outfitted with a logo of a nonprofit organization. The Alzheimer’s Association themed- truck is expected to stay in service for about three years according to Surrarrer.

“One of the greatest challenges we face as an organization is awareness. Educating individuals about Alzheimer’s disease and letting families know that we are here to help, is the first step in being able to assist these families,” said Pam Schuellerman, Executive Director of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Greater East Ohio Area Chapter. “Having this truck travel throughout Northeast Ohio is a wonderful way to generate awareness and let families know that there is help available.” she emphasized.

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer care, support and research. The Greater East Ohio Chapter offers support to individuals and their families through a wide variety of direct services and program. For more information on the Alzheimer’s Association call 1.800.272.3900, or visit www.alz.org/akroncantonyoungstown.

Medina Supply Co. unveils Red Cross themed truck
By Roger Ballas, Sun News

MEDINA

The latest, and third of five themed trucks planned for this year, the American Red Cross cement truck, was unveiled Aug. 20 by Medina Supply Company at its Medina office.

All the trucks help raise community awareness of the group they represent and also participate in the group’s events.

The brainchild of Mike Parker, vice-president of the northern Ready-Mix division of Medina Supply, the company’s themed cement mixers promote organizations doing important work in the community.

Each truck is painted completely in the organization’s colors. The Kimble Mixer Co. in Dover does the custom painting and Sunshine Graphics provides the art.

The first truck painted was for the American Cancer Society, and the second one was for Autism Speaks. Special Olympics and the Alzheimer’s Association may be on deck for a truck, as well. A committee of employees and managers review organizations for inclusion in the truck program.

The red and white Red Cross truck is one of 125 cement trucks Medina Supply has in its company’s rolling stock located at six yards around northern Ohio. Medina Supply is now a division of the Shelly Company, through a recent acquisition.

DOVER, OH. JULY 28, 2011 Smith Concrete, a division of The Shelly Company, a leading supplier of ready-mix concrete and building materials, has unveiled its newest theme truck. Smith has partnered with the Multiple Sclerosis Society to create a mixer truck advocating: “Join the Movement”. The mixer truck helps support the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s vision of “A World Free of MS”. The themed truck was unveiled at Smith’s main office located in Dover. This is the sixth themed mixer truck created by Smith. Each theme truck serves as a moving billboard which promotes awareness of special organizations.
Dick Wilson, Vice President of Smith Concrete said: “We see the themed trucks as a way to give back to the community. Our trucks will be seen at work on various projects and partnering with each organization. [This] is our way of supporting their cause and helping to promote public awareness.”
Employees and community members such as Don Bethel, Harrison County Commissioner, were among the supporters at the unveiling. With Smith Concrete’s Cadiz plant located in Harrison County, Commissioner Bethel was interested in getting a first-hand look at the newly styled mixer truck. Matt Faulkner, Community and Corporate Relations Coordinator with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society – Ohio Buckeye Chapter, shared some kind words of how appreciative the Society is of Smith Concrete’s involvement.
Smith’s themed truck program started in late 2009 after an employee survey determined which organizations to support. The so called “moving billboards” have been created for the American Cancer Society (ACS): Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, 4-H, the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association and Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E). “From our project we have made many new friends and are very proud to be representatives of each organization,” said Rick Kemper, Operations Manager of Smith Concrete.
The Shelly Company – a part of Oldcastle Materials, 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. Smith Concrete is a part of Shelly’s Ready-Mix Concrete Division and has 13 ready-mix plants servicing southeast Ohio. More information can be found at www.shellyco.com.
The Shelly Company
an Oldcastle Materials Company
80 Park Drive
P.O. Box 266
Thornville, Ohio 43076
(888) 743-5590
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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