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Grove Stone & Sand Hosts Global Reebok Spartan

Last Saturday, August 29^th, Grove Stone & Sand Company (our mining location in Black Mountain, NC) hosted “one of the grittiest courses in the Spartan venue,” as described on the Reebok Spartan website. In deciding to host the race, Grove Stone knew that we had a unique opportunity to share our property with outdoor enthusiasts and provide a boost to the local economy. The race delivered on both accounts. Our mining quarry was a great venue for such an event because of the variety of washed and screened granite material on-site, which were used to design the challenges during the race. The steep slopes and rocky terrain added to the challenge.

5,725 daring participants finished the 8.5-mile race, complete with 30 obstacles, including a fire jump, barbed wire crawl, rope climb, spear throw, tire drag, wall traverse and more! Over all, the event was a blast for Grove Stone and for the community in which we work. Several of our employees and family participated in the event. Jon Neumann, our Western North Carolina Sales Manager and Race Director for the annual Rock the Quarry 5K coming up on September 19^th reported, “The race went great. The course was perfect and very challenging!”

Hedrick Industries employee, Hank Gason and wife, Michelle. All smiles post-race!

Son of a Hedrick Industries employee, Sam Lordi. They don’t call it a tough-mudder for nothing!

Hedrick Industries spouse, Leigh Ann Conner (right) feeling victorious after the event.

Hedrick Industries employee, Jon Neumann, showing his true Spartan spirit!

For more event photos, visit the Asheville Citizens-Times! webpage

For race results, visit Reebok Spartan! webpage

Rainbow over Grove Stone & Sand Company

Somewhere over the rainbow.. there is a rock pile!

Best Land Use Practices and Lake Norman Quarry Farm

Common to all aggregate mining locations is minable land, typically large tracts of it. All operations consist of a “quarry,” where the blasting, drilling, and material removal takes place. There is also land reserved for property line and waterway setbacks required by NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Land Quality. This land is typically referred to as “buffer.”

Then there is property for beautification and reclamation areas. In fact, within the last decade, quarries across the country have won numerous Environmental Stewardship Awards that have started trends with positive land use approaches. As a commitment to environmental sustainability, for instance, Hedrick Industries’ operations are building and maintaining wildlife areas on the property surrounding the quarry.

Lake Norman Quarry – a granite quarry that serves Lincoln, Gaston, Iredell and Mecklenburg Counties – has taken land use one step further. In effort to achieve best land use practices, Lake Norman Quarry built what they are calling “Lake Norman Farm.” Directly across from the scale-house office, Lake Norman employees have constructed a storage barn and built an open shed as shelter for the farm’s inhabitants: Norman and Sandy (the donkeys), 2 goats (to be named later), and 3 sheep (also to be named later). See the pictures below. The animals provide excellent company on the property and also assist in keeping the grass mowed. We are still working on getting them fitted for their customized hard hats!