Construction Notebook

The new San Diego Ronald McDonald House was recognized as the "Overall Top Project" in Southern California by California Construction magazine in its "Best of 2009" awards competition.

The Ronald McDonald House opened in June, providing a resource for families with a child being treated at a nearby hospital.

Barnhart-Heery was construction manager on the $12.8 million project, which was constructed at cost thanks to the donation of nearly $3 million in labor and materials by Barnhart-Heery and 40 subcontractors.

The Ronald McDonald House also received awards for "Outstanding Project Management" in the Small Project category and the top honor in the Green Building category.

The facility uses 17.5 percent less energy than a typical similar-sized building in California.

Top honors also went to the $39-million Indian Wells Golf Club built by Barnhart-Heery for the city of Indian Wells. The club won the top award in the Sports/Recreation category.

Two other Barnhart-Heery projects recognized by California Construction magazine include the Henderson Community Center in Palm Desert, which won an Award of Merit in the Green Building category, and Fire Station No. 3 in the city of Encinitas, which won an Award of Merit in the Civic/Public Works category.

The statewide competition annually recognizes construction and design excellence in Northern and Southern California.

An independent jury of experts in design and construction judged more than 125 nominated projects in a variety of categories.

San Diego-based Barnhart-Heery is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Heery International,

(AP) -- Authorities in Reno are trying to restore lights in areas where copper thieves are stealing wiring and leaving stretches of freeway in the dark.

Nevada Department of Transportation district engineer Thor Dyson calls the problem costly and time-consuming, and says it's an ongoing battle to keep areas lit.

He says crews are trying to restore lights in what he calls "safety sensitive" areas where motorists are driving highways in the dark.

One Reno-area NDOT lighting crew is reported to be spending 70 percent of its time replacing wire in a way that makes future thefts more difficult.