BALLOON FROM STAFFORD LANDS IN ARKANSAS

A little red balloon, carrying an anti-drug message, went above and beyond
its call of duty, traveling from Stafford Intermediate School all the way
to Jones Mill, Arkansas.

The overachieving balloon finally dropped on the Martin Marietta Materials
facility after covering 500 miles, and the company to treat students in
Susan Hunter's fourth grade class to a day at a local branch of the company.

The balloon, released by Thomas LePori, was part of the school's annual
Drug Abuse Resistance Education program. All student's released balloons,
each having a postcard containing a pledge by the students to remain
drug-free, and asking finders of the balloons to contact the school.

"We knew we would get calls from the neighborhood, but we had no idea we
would be getting calls and e-mails from all over the state," says Stafford
Intermediate Principal Patty Suarez.

"We got things from neighboring counties, but this was the only one that
was from out of state."

Hunter, who has been with SMSD since its inception, says her students were
looking forward to their trip to Martin Marietta's Humble facility,
especially LePori.

"He is extremely excited," says Hunter. "And he is a really cute little boy."

The students toured the facility, and participated in a discussion on the
importance of a drug-free workplace and leading a drug-free life. They also
learned about geology and mining technology, relating both to roads, homes,
playgrounds and schools.

"The theme with the D.A.R.E. program really resonated with us because we
have a very strict, zero-tolerance policy for substance abuse with our
employees," says Donze Lopez, governmental and public affairs director of
Martin Marietta.

"We just thought that if kids are getting the message early that staying
away from drugs is a good thing, we need to enforce it at our end, to show
them the things they are learning at this age apply to the work force. We
saw this as an opportunity to underscore a valuable life lesson to them."

Suarez says the company's response to a positive message has been a good
reward for Stafford students who have pledged to remain drug-free.

"That community contacting our community for the sake of the kids and a
positive message...they wanted to do something special," says Suarez. "What
the company does, what their mission is, is to make people drug-free and
more responsible. The kids are very excited."

Hunter is still surprised that the balloon made it that far. "There were a
lot of balloons," says Hunter. "Some of them came right back down on the
playground, so for one to get to Arkansas, that was pretty nice."