Rutherford Weekly

A Union Mills athlete placed in the 67th annual Grandfather Mountain Highland games in Linville. Garry Ankrom, Jr. said it was his fi rst year to participate in the games and had no idea a person could simply sign up and compete in the games. Ankrom, his parents and sister were among the thousands attending the Highland Games recently when he discovered he could participate that very day just by signing up to compete. "I had just graduated in May and ran a marathon and had taken some time off of running since," he said. "But when we were there, I saw you could sign up and race, so I did," he said. Ankrom also tried triple jumping and long jumping for the fi rst time. He placed third in the triple jump, third in the 800 meter and he placed fourth in the 400 meter and the long jump. In high school, Ankrom ran track at R-S Central and continued running track at Gardner-Webb University. At home here in Rutherford County, he runs approximately three miles every day when he's not at his job as a cadet at the Forest City Police Department where he works in administration. He will enroll in the Basic Law Enforcement Training class at Isothermal Community College soon to become an offi cer. For participating athletes, the Highland Games offer a chance to display their talents at a culturally signifi cant event that has been in place at Grandfather Mountain's MacRae Meadows for several decades. The 2023 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games took place July 6-9. To learn more about the Highland Games, visit www.gmhg.org. ISSUE NO. 30 • July 27, 2023 ISSUE NO. 30 • July 27, 2023 • • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 2SHQLQJ$FW *UH\ODQ-DPHVDW30 *UH\ODQ-DPHVDW30 IROORZHGDW30E\KHDGOLQHU IROORZHGDW30E\KHDGOLQHU &+5,6/$1( &+5,6/$1( Giggle B' Circus 3:30-6:30PM Contemp:ary Christian music 3:30-6:30PM Fun fC the Whole Family!! Concert FREE FREE Activities FREE FREE 6$785'$<$8*8677+Ć30Ć8372:16+(/%< 6$785'$<$8*8677+Ć30Ć8372:16+(/%< N.C. TRACTOR & FARM SUPPLY 299 Railroad Ave., Rutherfordton • 828-288-0395 Mobile: 828-429-5008 • mf1dpshehan@gmail.com SALES • SERVICE • PARTS IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! IF YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE YOU WILL PAY TOO MUCH! PROUDLY SERVING RUTHERFORD, CLEVELAND, GASTON, LINCOLN, POLK COUNTIES AS THE AREAS HOMETOWN MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER. Great Selection Great Selection Our 31 st Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers Article contributed by Jean Gordon; Jim Proctor photos and contributed. Rutherford County runner Rutherford County runner places in Highland Games places in Highland Games SMALL TOWN FRIENDLY, BIG TIME RESULTS Article by Jean Gordon The pet owners The pet owners have been resilient have been resilient An award & store reopening An award & store reopening A devastating fire, snowfall damage and world pandemic didn't keep the owners of Rutherford Pet Supply from running their business - as usual as possible. Because of their fortitude, the owners Rutherford Pet Supply are the winners of the Pet Product Network (PPN) 2022-2023 Resiliency Retailer of the Year Award. Located at 115 Reservation Drive in Spindale, the store is about to undergo a grand opening and celebration, after the fire in 2020. According to an article in Pet Product News, co- owners David and Chris Nelson, are focused on where their enterprise has been and what lies ahead as they look forward to the store's re-grand opening on Saturday, July 29. Since the fire three years ago (no animals were injured in the fire) pet supplies have been distributed regularly through a drive-thru but beginning on Saturday, customers will be able to come back into the store for the launch of full service. To prepare for the grand opening, the store will be closed Thursday (today) and Friday. With a slogan "The Pet Supply is Back!", the store owners are giving away grand prizes including a year's supply of pet food. Also for the day, there will be huge discounts on all pets. Owners first began their Rutherford County business at the Forest City Pet Store in the early 2000s. In 2017, owners made a decision to close the Forest City store and began moving everything to the Spindale location, which was a larger facility. During the fire investigation, it was discovered there was also structural damage caused by a 2018 snowstorm. The building had to be vacated after the fire and owners moved from the 9,000 square foot building to a 2,100 square foot building. Three years after the fire, the owners have been resilient to all that has happened around them - including the global pandemic, setting them up for the 2022-2023 resiliency award. Drive-thru services will remain even after the grand opening, because it's functional, organized and customers can order, drive up to the window, pick- up orders and go. "People shopping with their kids, for instance, can place an order and drive up to the window to pick up products," Chris says. "They are in and out." In an interview with Pet Product News, David Nelson said, "Our mission statement has been to improve the quality of life for Rutherford County pets without costing humans more money." When the store opens Saturday, children and adults will again have the opportunity to go face to face and hand to hand with the animals that will be up for sale. Garry Ankrom, Jr. (#44) on the run at the Highland Games and at Gardner-Webb University where he graduated in May. Am Am Among track & fi fi l eld result lts MEN'S TRIPLE JUMP: • Nathan Pierce, Franklin, TN, 36' ¾'' • John Ross, Mount Carmel, TN, 35' 2 ¼'' • Gary Ankrom Jr., Union Mills, 34' ½'' MEN'S 880-YARD DASH: • Justin Fischetti, Wilmington, 2:30 • Colin Hackman, Wilmington, 2:32 • Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga Garr rr rr rry y An An An Ankr kr kr krom om om omJr Jr Jr Jr., ., Uni ni ni nion on on on Mil il il ills ls ls ls, , 2: 2: 2: 2:47 47 47 47 Garry Ankrom, Jr. (#44, second from right) competing at the Highland Games.

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