Students plant trees for Earth Day

 

Grace Academy student Faith Thomas, parent Jean Tandy and student Jonathan Tandy plant a live oak tree at KBDJ quarry.

Eight students from Grace Academy of Georgetown plunged their hands and shovels into mounds of dirt to commemorate Earth Day by planting trees and wildflower seeds at KBDJ.

“What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by getting a little dirty?” said KBDJ President Jill Shackelford. “KBDJ is thrilled that Grace Academy traveled to the quarry to learn more about the local environment and take an active role in improving it.”

During the field trip, the students also got an up-close look at a working rock quarry and saw the steps KBDJ has taken to protect the environment and wildlife on the quarry site.

“I thought it was just going to be a rock quarry,” said eighth grader Kristen Klein. “It’s much more than that.”

Added Ashton Murphy, who is in ninth grade, “We’re currently studying the age of the Earth in school, so the quarry pit allowed us to see the different layers and colors of the Edwards limestone formations.”

Hays County Commissioner Karen Ford (center) joined students from Grace Academy in Georgetown and KBDJ quarry owners for an Earth Day tree and flower planting event at KBDJ.

Hays County Commissioner Karen Ford, also a member of the Clean Air Force of Central Texas, visited the event to encourage the students and to give them information on regional efforts to ensure Central Texans breathe clean air.

“We’re working very hard to get the word out about what people can do to keep the air clean,” Ford told the students. “Trees help clean the air, so thank you for being here.”

With help from quarry staff and a backhoe donated by Texana Machinery, the students planted three live oak trees, which they named “Grace,” “Faith” and “Love,” at the quarry entrance along FM 967. The trees came from the tree farm at Texas Disposal Systems, and KBDJ worked with the Hill Country Conservancy to pick the appropriate type of tree to plant.

Students also planted a mix of wildflowers at the quarry site, which included Black-eyed Susan, Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower, Indian Blanket, Lemon Mint, Bluebonnet, Plains Coreopsis and Clasping Coneflower.

The field trip was part of KBDJ’s commitment to education and the environment. Similar student field trips and other projects led to KBDJ in November 2008 receiving habitat certification and international recognition for its contributions to wildlife habitat conservation from the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) (www.wildlifehc.org).

Since July 2007, KBDJ (www.haysquarry.com) has implemented a number of wildlife enhancement projects on-site in order to earn the WHC certification, including installing bat houses, recycling Christmas trees to create new fish habitat, hosting a field trip for environmental educators and welcoming to the site members of the Hill Country Conservancy’s Emerging Professionals in Conservation.

KBDJ Miners Softball Team

Bring your used Christmas tree to KBDJ

Free Treecycling.

Saturday, Dec. 27 – Saturday, Jan. 10.

After you take down the Christmas tree, take it down to the KBDJ, LP quarry

in Hays County. As a certified wildlife conservation site, we’ll put it to good

use. Old Christmas trees make excellent habitats for fish, turtles, rabbits,

armadillos and other creatures. Think of it as a chance for your old tree to

do something green again. And speaking of green, it won’t cost you a cent.

Simply take your old tree to the KBDJ, LP quarry at 6185 F.M. 967, one-half

mile west of Ruby Ranch. The tree drop-off site will be clearly marked at

the entrance. For more information, log on to www.haysquarry.com.

KBDJ2572_Christmas Tree Disposal Ad.indd 1 12/19/08 2:55:10 PM

KBDJ hosts Bridgepoint Elementary fourth graders and KXAN-TV

KXAN-TV joined students from Bridgepoint Elementary School on a field trip to KBDJ.

KBDJ became an outdoor classroom for more than 140 fourth graders on Thursday, December 11th. The students from Bridgepoint Elementary School in Eanes ISD visited the quarry to plant wildflower seeds and for lessons in geology, mining, aquifer protection and habitat preservation. Reporter Erin Cargile covered the field trip in a story that aired on KXAN-TV.

It was the second school field trip hosted by quarry, which plans to reach out to other Central Texas schools.

“We hope that what you learn in the classroom, you’ll be able to see outside today,” KBDJ President Jill Shackelford told the students during her introduction.

One of the highlights of the day was a seeding project. Students clutched cups of native wildflower seeds, spreading them by the handful over prepared soil and then jumping up and down to bury them in the dirt.

The fourth graders also learned about the Edwards Aquifer and water conservation practices; studied rocks and attended a presentation from a geologist; heard from a representative of the Hill Country Conservancy; and peered into a giant pit where rock is being mined.

The field trip was part of KBDJ’s commitment to education and the environment. A similar student field trip and other projects led to KBDJ in November receiving habitat certification and international recognition for its contributions to wildlife habitat conservation from the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) (www.wildlifehc.org).

Since July 2007, KBDJ has implemented a number of wildlife enhancement projects on-site in order to earn the WHC certification, including installing bat houses, recycling Christmas trees to create new fish habitat, hosting a field trip for environmental educators and welcoming to the site members of the Hill Country Conservancy’s Emerging Professionals in Conservation.

Thank you, Sheriff Bridges

In the days following the sudden passing of Hays County Sheriff Allen Bridges, there isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about the wonderful life and career of the popular community leader. We at KBDJ would like to extend our condolences to the Bridges family and our sincere gratitude for the sheriff’s leadership. He was a tremendous resource for the community and we will miss him greatly.

KBDJ Crushers’ season kicks off

KBDJ is sponsoring a men’s soccer team called the Crushers.  The team plays Friday and Saturday nights at SoccerZone South Austin.  Three KBDJ employees are on the team: Juan Luera, Rafael Puente and Moses Santoya.  The team lost its first game but there was an impressive turnout of family, friends and KBDJ coworkers to support the team.  Go Crushers!

Three KBDJ employees play on the Crushers mens soccer team. Juan Luera is back row, second from the left. Rafael Puente is in the middle, front row. Not pictured is Moses Santoya.

KBDJ wins MSHA’s Sentinels of Safety award

KBDJ was awarded the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s Sentinels of Safety award for more than 13,000 employee hours without a lost workday injury.  To be eligible for the award, a mining operation must (1) have reported employment data to MSHA as required; (2) not experienced a work injury that resulted in a fatality, permanent disability, days away from work or days ore restricted work activity; (3) have a “no days lost” injury incidence rate less than the national incidence rate; and (4) have accumulated a specific number of employee hours during the calendar year.

Students’ seeding project coming along nicely

In May, more than 125 fourth graders from Highland Park Elementary School planted wildflower seeds on a one acre plot near KBDJ’s limestone quarry.  The seed mix, which was recommended by the Hill Country Conservancy, contained twelve different types of plants and grasses native to the region.  As you can see from the recent photograph, the plants and grasses are filling in nicely.  Thanks again to all of the students who helped make this project happen.

BEFORE

AFTER

KBDJ to help improve FM 967

KBDJ has offered to donate road base material to build a turn lane in front of Ruby Ranch.

 

The following letter was sent Tuesday August 26 to Hays County Commissioner Jeff Barton from KBDJ President Jill Shackelford:

 

Commissioner Barton:

 

Per your request, KBDJ, LP is willing to donate road base material for the construction of a westbound turn lane on F.M. 967 in front of the Ruby Ranch neighborhood.  With the rapid growth and development of Hays County, we support your effort to improve the safety and mobility of area homeowners and commuters.  We look forward to working with your office to negotiate the amount of material needed for this project. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Jill Shackelford

President, KBDJ, LP

 

Following Tuesday’s Commissioner’s Court meeting, Commissioner Barton posted a blog about the road bond package that voters will decide on in November, including this excerpt:

 

In Pct. 2 it’s important to note that the improvements to FM 967 and FM 150 are likely to be very limited. On FM 967, KBDJ, the quarry company, has offered to donate materials toward a turn lane at Ruby Ranch. If I can finalize that agreement, perhaps with help from other industrial companies that create truck traffic in the area, we will build the turn lane – if I find money from savings on other projects, as I think I can. We called it out in the package in order to leave open the possibility of using bond money. 

Trucks held in coordination with school

KBDJ prohibits trucks from traveling through school zone during drop-off and pick-up times.

Since 2005, KBDJ, LP has prohibited trucks hauling material from our quarry from traveling through the school zone at nearby Dahlstrom Middle School during drop-off and pick-up times for students.  Our policy is to hold eastbound trucks for 30 minutes prior to the opening bell and 30 minutes after the closing bell. 

 

For the 2008-09 school year, Dahlstrom’s school hours have changed.  We have been in coordination with the school administration and Hays ISD, and based on their input, we have made the following adjustments to our policy, effective immediately:

 

·     Eastbound trucks are held at KBDJ site from 7:40-8:10 a.m.  (Opening bell is 8:15 a.m.)

·     Eastbound trucks are held at KBDJ site from 3:25-3:55 p.m.  (Closing bell is 3:25 p.m.)

 

KBDJ, LP does not own a fleet of trucks, nor does it employ truck drivers.  Deliveries from our quarry are made by third-party trucking companies.  We enforce strict safety precautions for drivers entering and leaving our site and urge our neighbors to report any unsafety trucking practices they witness.  By working together, we can ensure that increased traffic from the widespread growth in our community does not threaten public safety.

 

Hays County Sheriff Allen Bridges recently told the Hays Quarry Advisory Committee that citizens may report traffic complaints by calling (512) 268-8441.