Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Solar Power

The Fayetteville Public Library in Arkansas has installed a solar test bed on top of its roof to help produce electrical power and reduce energy costs. Garver provided guidance to University of Arkansas students in developing construction plans and specifications for the 60-panel, 15kW solar cell test bed facility. The test bed facility also includes a kiosk for public education and smart-meter for utility integration. A Website has been launched that shows the real-time energy generated by the solar array.

Garver's involvement included coordinating the project, conducting meetings, mentoring students, and providing quality control. Garver Electrical Engineer Bart Gilbreath, PE led Garver's services and helped students recognize the "real-world" implications of the engineering design process, such as functionality, safety, and system longevity.

The Library recently held a public presentation to show off its new technology. The project was funded through a $60,000 grant from the International City/County Management Association.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

ACEC Oklahoma Board of Directors

Garver congratulates Brent Schniers, PE for being elected as an officer to the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Oklahoma Board of Directors. Brent is serving as the 2010-2011 Vice Chair of Education/Public Relations. Brent is Garver's transportation team leader in our Tulsa office.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

ASCE Tulsa Branch Officers

Garver congratulates two of our engineers for being elected as officers for the Tulsa Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Jeremy Stahle, PE, CFM is serving as the 2010-2011 branch president. Jeremy is an aviation project manager in our Tulsa office.
Nick Braddy, EI is serving as the 2010-2011 branch secretary. Nick is a transportation project engineer in our Tulsa office.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

The Dehydrator Bike Race

Garver senior construction observer Randy Marsee (far right) recently competed in The Duncan Dehydrator bike race in Duncan, Oklahoma, finishing a 25-mile ride in 1 hour and 25 minutes. Not only did Randy beat his time goal by five minutes, but also completing the race was a great accomplishment. Randy ruptured his Achilles tendon in June and only recently could begin biking again.

Sporting Garver jerseys, Randy participated in the event with his wife and brother and sister-in-law. The Duncan Dehydrator is an annual event that supports the Duncan junior high and high school bands. This year 520 riders competed.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Duck Calling Champion

Garver construction observer Charles Petty has qualified for the World Duck Calling Championship for the 24th consecutive year after winning a regional championship. Charles won the Susquenhanna Flats Regional Duck Calling Contest in Easton, Maryland and will compete for the world title in Stuttgart, Arkansas this November.

"Endurance, determination, and the love of the sport has motivated me to continue to compete," Charles said.

Charles has previously finished as high as second place in the world competition, and for nine consecutive years he placed in the top ten. Charles, 61, is also the reigning Senior World Champion, and ESPN wrote a feature article about Charles after he won the 2009 competition.

Crooked Creek Productions created a video featuring Charles' winning duck call at last year's Senior World Championship. Check it out and then cheer on Charles later this year as he seeks the highest prize in the duck calling sport!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Big Dam Bridge Twilight 5K

Bill Ruck after running in the Big Dam Bridge Twilight 5K Race.

Two Garver employees ran in the Big Dam Bridge Twilight 5K race in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Battling 90-degree heat, Bill Ruck and Jason Johnston took part in the 3.1-mile run, which included two trips over the Big Dam Bridge. Bill placed second in his age group, averaging an 8:17-minute mile and completing the race in 25:42. Jason ran an average 10:08-minute mile and finished in 31:26.

Garver provided structural and electrical design services and a topographic survey as part of the bridge's construction. The Big Dam Bridge extends across a working lock and dam above the Arkansas River. Billed as the world’s longest pedestrian bridge specifically constructed for recreational purposes, the Big Dam Bridge traverses 4,200 feet across the water and connects the metropolitan areas of Little Rock and North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Funding Approved to Widen Martin Road

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby has announced that a Senate-approved appropriations bill includes $10 million to widen a vital corridor in Huntsville, Alabama, which is a Garver project. The Huntsville Times recently ran an article about Martin Road and its funding.


Garver is responsible for field surveying, preliminary design, corridor and environmental studies, traffic studies, bridge hydraulic modeling, preliminary bridge design, right-of-way acquisition documents, and design and construction plan preparation services to widen Martin Road from a two-lane facility to a five-lane roadway with curb and gutter, sidewalks, integrated bike lanes, traffic signal, and a new bridge structure over Betts Spring.


The Martin Road corridor provides a vital connection between Redstone Arsenal and Huntsville International Airport, and the proposed additional lanes will provide the needed capacity to handle the increased traffic volumes on Martin Road. This project will also provide the capacity needed for the rapidly growing residential developments in the area as well as the BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) related growth anticipated at Redstone Arsenal.

Monday, August 2, 2010

See You at SASHTO

The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department is pleased to host the 69th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO) in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event will take place August 28 – September 1. Sign up on the SASHTO website for e-mail updates and more information.

Garver is helping sponsor this event and will participate in the activities. Please drop by our booth at the SASHTO Trade Show and meet our staff!

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