General Excavating

Directional boring is a trenchless technology that has tremendous advantages compared to open trench methods. With small hole techniques, the work is completed from above ground through a small opening. These trenchless techniques minimize restoration and easily triple productivity compared to conventional open track repair and backfill methods. The vacuum excavation system also plays an important role in directional boring by enabling operators to know the exact location of utilities intersecting the bore path and to remove slurry from the boring site.

General Excavating's boring team finished 2nd place at the INTERNATIONAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING RODEO. 28 teams from three different countries competed in this competition set in Perry, Georgia. Teams were required to run a 200-foot directional drill and pull back 4-inches of continuous conduit. They were required to hit a 6-inch target and then attach to a 4" conduit and install the conduit in the ground. The vacuum excavator was then used to verify depth and line at three different checkpoints. The General Excavating team finished only three inches off target.

Teams were judged on speed, accuracy, depth and line. For two days, the General Excavating team held first place until the final round. For runner-up, General Excavating received over $20,000 in cash, prizes and supplies.

Team Members from left: Derek Kreifel, Yancey Keiser, Steve Crosby & James Oldfield, Foreman

It's that time of year again. Grass is starting to avert to a beautiful shade of green. There is a pleasant smell in the air and bird's voices are beginning to ring in our ears. Spring has sprung, nature is changing and our winter coats go back in the closet.

What does this mean to homeowners? It means it's time to get the mower out... and it's time to start planning and maintaining your landscaping!

Every homeowner wants to achieve a certain "LOOK" for his or her home. Whether it is a simple berm of daisies or a plethora of pine trees that line the drive accented with decorative rock. From flagstone steppers to buck creek cobblers, every home is different.

Recently, many new themes for landscaping have entered our area. All you have to do is drive around some of the new subdivisions in town. Bedding is no longer a simple 1 to 2-inch river rock or hardwood mulch variety, there are legions of decorative rock choices that many homeowners have adopted. One popular rock is a Cherokee red rock blend, possibly accented with a large moss rock or boulder. Some homeowners are even building their entire walkway with Boston buff steppers or their back patio with Plumwood flagstone.

Even established homes are getting a new "LOOK". "With all of the new materials available now, we have decided to rip out our old landscaping and create a whole new theme," claims one Lincoln homeowner.

No matter how you "LOOK" at it, landscaping is a hot item for homeowners. Come and check out some of the new-fashioned materials in our yard. We'll help you pick out a "LOOK" that's right for you! You can also visit our website at www.generalexcavating.com.

LaNita R. Nelson takes great pride in driving a dump truck for General Excavating. LaNita has been with General Excavating for two years. She believes in doing her job to the best of her ability and foremost, pleasing the customers. She will do whatever she needs to ensure that this happens. In fact, many of our landscaping customers have commented that LaNita went out of her way to help them.

In 1997, LaNita decided to change careers by taking the "Women in Construction" class offered at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska. By taking this class, LaNita was able to obtain her CDL (Commercial Driver's License) and learn the fundamentals of driving commercial vehicles. Her main objective was to take care of her family and to be successful. After two years with General Excavating she is obtaining her goal!

Recently, LaNita was invited to speak to her daughter's class about her career as a woman truck driver. Northeast High School offers a program called SCORE that works with at-risk students. This program is designed to give students hope in obtaining employment and success regardless of their post high school education.

LaNita drove up in her small dump truck that day and wooed the students with her magnificent dumping demonstrations. She also educated the kids of the path she took in becoming a General Excavating truck driver.

A few days after the presentation, the students were still fascinated by LaNita's story and demonstrations, they decided to nominate LaNita for the KFOR Employee of the Day. Needless to say, LaNita won! She received a balloon bouquet, framed certificate, gift certificates and special recognition throughout the day on the radio station.

LaNita has made an effort to better herself and begin a wonderful career at General Excavating. She continuously demonstrates great PRIDE as a General Excavating truck driver. A well-deserved award!

When you take a walk to save babies, you really are a hero. By participating in WALK AMERICA 2000, General Excavating employees will be helping the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation in Nebraska raise money to implement a variety of local programs. This money will be used to provide funding for research into the causes and effects of birth defects and prematurity, as well as help sponsor the distribution of educational materials, films and videos to schools, healthcare institutions and to the general public.

General Excavating has set a goal of $1500 urging their employees to participate in the walk. The actual route will be 6.5 miles beginning at Holmes Lake Park, winding to Antelope Park and back to Holmes Park again. Along the way, there will be rest stations that are providing beverages, as well as free give-aways.

General Excavating is excited for this event to begin on April 29, 2000. We want to show support in our community by "saving babies, together".

The winner of the photo of the quarter contest is Dennis Willeford. The project is McLeod USA using "directional boring" for four 2" ducts in downtown Omaha.

General Excavating's on a roll... At the annual convention for the Associated Builders and Contractors, awards were presented for excellence in the construction industry. General Excavating received two awards for the 1999 year.

Ayars & Ayars was selected to remodel a room in an existing plant for the EXCEL Corporation, a subsidiary of Cargill, Incorporated. General Excavating was chosen to be a subcontractor of Ayars & Ayars and complete the demolition and rebuilding of the project. An award was presented in the category of RENOVATION to General Excavating for their ability to adapt to the surrounding, scheduling and ability to provide quality workmanship and safety under strenuous conditions.

General Excavating received a second award for the category of INFRASTRUCTURE. Gilbert Central Corp., a Peter Kiewit Company, hired General Excavating to construct seven In Line Amplification Sites to be serviced by Level 3 Communications. The seven sites were spread out between Lincoln and Denver at approximately 75-mile intervals. Factors that enabled General Excavating to receive this award included scheduling particulars, remote site locations, quality assurance and quality control procedures, as well as railroad coordination and safety requirements.