POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, the undersigned Robert W. Frickel,
hereby constitute and appoint each of Karen A. Stempinski, Joseph P. Harper,
Sr., Maarten D. Hemsley and Roger M. Barzun signing singly, my true and lawful
attorney-in-fact to do each of the following:

     1.   To execute for me and on my behalf in my capacity as
          Director of Sterling Construction Company, Inc. a
          Delaware corporation (formerly known as Oakhurst
          Company, Inc.) (the "Company"), Forms 4 and 5 and any
          amendments thereto in accordance with Section 16(a) of
          the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act") and
          the rules thereunder.

     2.   To do and perform any and all acts for me and on my
          behalf that may be necessary or desirable to complete
          and execute any such Form 4 or 5 and to timely file
          such form with the United States Securities and
          Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar
          authority.

     3.   To take any other action of any type whatsoever in
          connection with the foregoing that in the opinion of
          such attorney-in-fact is required of me, or may be of
 	  benefit to me or in my best interests, it being
          understood that the documents executed by such
          attorney-in-fact on my behalf pursuant to this Power
          of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain
          such terms and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may
          approve in his or her discretion.

I hereby grant to each such attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do
and perform each and every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary or
proper in the exercise of any of the rights and powers granted herein as
fully to all intents and purposes as I might or could do in person, with
full power of substitution and revocation, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that such attorney-in-fact or his or her substitute or substitutes shall
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this Power of Attorney.

I acknowledge that neither of the foregoing attorneys-in-fact in serving in
such capacity at my request is assuming, and the Company is not assuming,
any of my responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Act.

This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force and effect until I am no
longer required to file Forms 4 and/or 5 with respect to my holdings of, and
any transactions in, securities issued by the Company, unless earlier
revoked by me in a signed writing delivered to each of the foregoing
attorneys-in-fact.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Power of Attorney as of this
12th day of August, 2004.


                         Signature:   /s/ Robert W. Frickel
                         Name:          Robert W. Frickel