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“The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things.”

— Ronald Reagan

THE ART OF LEADERSHIP

Leaders Inspire People to Greatness

Guiding Hands Ignite Citizens to Achieve Their Best Together Collectively

Leadership, in my years beneath the Capitol dome and behind that Oval Office desk, never resembled a solo spotlight. It felt more like switching on an arena’s floodlights so neighbors could see their seats in the grandstands of liberty. When people recognize the stage belongs to them, remarkable dramas unfold without prodding.

We governed by asking citizens to roll up their sleeves, not bow their heads. The farmer draining a field, the teacher unpacking chalk, the machinist tightening bolts, they understood better than any memo how to turn a shared vision into a working reality. Our job was to clear bureaucratic weeds and make the loudest noise when the harvest rolled in.

So remember, your influence blooms when you trade podiums for invitations. Point toward that higher hill, hand out the maps, and trust free people to blaze the trail. If you cheer every mile they conquer, soon they will arrive, together, shoulder to shoulder, someplace brighter than even your morning imagination dared to picture.

Illuminate shared vision, clear obstacles, applaud progress, and let every teammate star in today’s success story.

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COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Arkansas Timber Boom Shocks Nation

Weyerhaeuser Starts $500M TimberStrand Plant, South Arkansas Applauds Future Growth.

Chainsaws stayed silent Wednesday as executives, loggers, and legislators plunged chrome shovels into red Arkansas clay, launching Weyerhaeuser’s long‑anticipated TimberStrand® manufacturing complex between Monticello and Warren. The $500 million build, nestled within 30,000 acres of company‑owned pine forests, represents the most significant single investment in the history of state forest products and the first domestic green‑field TimberStrand mill in two decades.

Designers will erect a 650‑foot continuous press line, twin 300‑foot dry kilns, and a bioenergy boiler fueled by bark waste, allowing the plant to turn two million tons of sustainably harvested small‑diameter logs each year into straight, nail‑holding beams for multifamily frames and mass‑timber panels while trimming scope‑three emissions 40 percent over imported supply.

Construction manager Graycor expects to have 350 craft workers on site at peak, transitioning to a permanent workforce of 200 technicians when commissioning begins in 2027. State officials project $15 million in annual payroll and a ripple of sawmill upgrades, robotics startups, and community college forestry programs across the seven‑county Delta wood‑basket region.

INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY

Arctic Gateway: Nome Port Rising

Construction Begins On Nome Deepwater Port To Anchor Arctic Trade

Backhoes crunched permafrost Tuesday as Alaska officials and U.S. Maritime Administration leaders launched construction of Nome’s long‑promised deepwater port expansion. The $618 million project extends the causeway 3,500 feet into Norton Sound and dredges a new 40‑foot channel, letting Arctic Security Cutters, research ships, and coastal barges berth without tidal delays.

Contractor Kiewit will drive 900 steel monopiles through a silty seabed, backfilled with quarry armor rock barged 140 miles from Cape Nome. Two ice‑resistant quay walls support twin mobile cranes, while a buried microgrid powers heated bollards and fiber‑optic mooring sensors. Crews have a frigid seven‑month window; marine mammal observers ride every tug, and turbidity curtains ring the dredge.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act grants cover eighty percent; Alaska’s legislature bonded the rest, adding a tariff surcharge. Officials estimate that 725 construction jobs and $400 million in annual shipping savings will result from regional logistics when the berth opens in late 2029, positioning Nome as America’s northern gateway to emerging Polar Sea routes.

RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH

Floating Foundations Finally Get Greenlight

Louisiana Approves Amphibious Houses, Slashing Future Flood Rebuild Costs Statewide

Louisiana’s Building Code Council on Tuesday approved the nation’s first rules governing amphibious house foundations, allowing design firm Buoyant Dwellings to start a 43‑home pilot neighborhood near Morgan City next week. The change follows two years of prototype testing upstream.

Each cypress‑clad cottage sits on a steel‑reinforced concrete flotation tray guided by telescoping pile sleeves; when Atchafalaya floodwater rises, the house can float eight feet while gas, water, and fiber conduits flex safely. University of Louisiana engineers reported zero differential settlement after twenty simulated lift cycles and certified HUD mortgage eligibility. Sensors log buoyancy data to a dashboard every hour.

Builders say the tray adds $19,000 but cuts annual National Flood Insurance Program premiums from $3,200 to $900, recovering the cost in seven years. St. Mary Parish lowered base‑flood elevations, permitting cheaper single‑story ranch plans. FEMA notes the standard could unlock seventy-five percent of mitigation grants, inspiring buoyant suburbs across the Gulf marshlands. Local bankers have already prequalified five buyers for lots.

TOOLBOX TALK

The Importance of Safe Use of Masonry Saws

Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk is about the safe use of masonry saws. Masonry saws cut through brick, stone, and concrete efficiently, but can cause severe injuries if not used properly.

Why It Matters
Misusing masonry saws can lead to severe cuts, amputations, flying debris injuries, and dust inhalation issues.

Strategies for Safe Masonry Saw Use

  1. Wear Proper PPE:

    • Always use goggles, dust masks, ear protection, and gloves.

  2. Scrutinize Blades:

    • Check blades daily for damage or cracks, and replace immediately if needed.

  3. Secure Materials:

    • Firmly clamp or brace materials before cutting to prevent movement.

  4. Use Water Suppression:

    • Utilize water systems to control dust and reduce blade heat.

  5. Operate at Safe Speeds:

    • Avoid forcing the saw; allow the blade to cut at its designed speed.

Discussion Questions

  • Have you experienced masonry saw-related hazards?

  • How can we enhance our masonry saw safety practices?

Conclusion
Proper saw usage, PPE, and regular inspections prevent injuries.

Cut safely, protect yourself!

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