Rutherford Weekly

Our 19th Year • Issue No. 4 • January 27, 2011 DOUZO’S GYM Start the new year off right! DOUZO’S G Start the new year off right! Circuit Machines • Treadmills • Ellipticals Bikes • Free Weight • Boxing Equipment Specialized Equipment for Women, Men & Teens Only$25NTRACT Only NO CO25 “SMALL T WN FRIENDL “SMALL TOWN FRIENDL EZ Wireless EZ Wireless UNLIMITED MINUTES UNLIMITED TEXT MESSAGE Nationwide Cellular Works On The Nations Largest Network NO CONTRACT NO CREDIT CHECK $4495 pageplus 828-202-5597 644 S. Broadway St. Forest City Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm ;Sat. 10am-2pm Meet our lucky READER OF READER OF THE WEEK! See page 31. y THE WEEK! See page 31. HOME PHONE SERVICE No Connection Fee! Starting At $1432 Per Mo. Y”® Y” 369 Butler Road, Forest City, North Carolina 28043 • Phone: 828-248-1408 • Email: advertising@rutherfordweekly.com A Man And His Mission... Insight! - Foresight! - Believability! By M.A. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfor weekl com By M.A. Andrews • maandrews@rutherfordweekly..com There is an expression which most of us have heard: "Bloom where you are planted"! In Rutherford County this saying is especially applicable for a man named John Harlen Higgins. A bible quote which embraces this saying is from John 10:10: "I come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." utherford ote which ht have This is the story about a man who is a local product and has emerged as a shinning example of what a person, when truly focused, can accomplish. le of John was born July 29, 1966 and raised in Rutherford County. He is the only child of Harlen and Barbara Higgins and a member of Spindale United Methodist Church. He says "I was raised in that church. I grew up in my church." He definitely believes that an abundant life is a spiritual life. Yes, without a doubt, that definitely applies to John. He is driven by his spiritual life every day and in everything he does. The result is an ongoing accomplishment that should be used to motivate and give belief to any and all who want to achieve. en d John graduated from R-S Central, Isothermal Community College and Campbell College. Today, he is a pharmacist who, after graduation from Campbell University, College of Phar- macy in 1990, went to work at Smith's Drugs in Forest City. While at ICC John met Stephanie Cole in a religious class. She became a school teacher and worked with Head Start. However, today, she is a certified compound technician at Smith Drugs. On May 15, 1993 John mar- ried Stephanie at his beloved Spindale United Methodist Church. They have a son, John Cole who is 12 years old. In the year, 2000, John bought Smith's Drugs. What happens after that is almost unbeliev- able! The quiet man with a winning smile, still wanted to serve the community where he grew up. w At the time, Forest City was not the bustling town it once was. One might say it was spiral- ing downward. John witnessed empty stores on Main Street. In 2001 he saw the closing of the economic core of the town, the Cole Mill/Florence plant. The town had been built around this mill. People were out of work. In other towns, down town drug stores were closing. Among this setting, the new owner of Smith's Drug Store had faith, foresight and began moving forward. He made a local favorite - The Fountain at Smith's - even more popular. He made himself available to the people in the community that needed his help. It is not unusual for John to go to Smith's late at night after closing or on a Sunday and fill a prescription for someone in need. He supports everything good for the com- munity. The day I interviewed John, a lady came up to him and said her prescription for a refill had not yet been received at Smith's. John told her he would take care of it and did. She went home with what she needed. This is an example of the usual, not the unusual for John. al- the mill. setting, de a local ple in the er closing the com- ll had not A man with vision and faith, John Higgins. He began putting a new face at Smith Drugs. He started providing home medical equipment, patient care services, compounding custom prescriptions, in home services, if needed 24 hours a day, and more, all designed to serve the community. In 2005 he totally remodeled the interior of Smith's. I personally can remember some people who thought Forest City was a dying town. They thought for owner, John Higgins, to spend all the money on a major remodeling was not the wisest move. The skeptics soon changed their minds. Then, John hired a front end manager, Susan Stewart, who with a passion, redid the fountain menu, gift shop, home needs and everything up front in the store. The result is that Smith's now has three times the seating at the fountain and a very attractive and expanded menu. It is an ongoing project and challenge. Susan will be very quick to tell you how much she loves her job. About her boss, she will simply say: "He's a humble, Godly man that truly cares about people." Today, there is a revitalization going on. The anchor and forerunner of the new spirit in Forest City can be solely attributed to the man who loves his town and its' people. John and his Smith Drugs family has set the example for others to follow. ARTS FITNESS ARTS FITNESS Age 4 MARTIAL Years-Adult IXED MARTIAL Building Positive Mind Body • Spirit Since 1975 •Free uniform •No sign up fees IXED MARTIAL ARTIAL † M PLUS ARTS ARE YO UP TO THE HALLENGE? RTS RE YOU UP TO THE CHALLENGE PLUS : Our carefully constructed program blends the best Our carefully constructed program blends the best techniques from differenttechniques from different martial arts styles to form others: we are offering two free lessons.free lessons. John Higgins, the pharmacist, fi lling a prescription. martial arts styles to form an unsurpassed style. Here’s your chance to an unsurpassed style. Here’s your chance to learn the system that beatslearn the system that beats others: we are offering two John with his front end manager, Susan Stewart. www.mypersonaldojo.com 140 W. Main St. • Forest City 828-245-5792 Walkwell Homes TAX TIME SPECIAL 99,900 Modular Solutions 2626 South York Rd. (Hwy. 321 South) Gastonia, NC 28052 Cindy Carswell • Tim Walker • Kirk Wells 704-824-4000 www.walkwellhomes.com THE CRUSADER 1600 sq. ft. Turn Key regular $108,000 LIMITED TIME OFFER $ When many gave up, John moved forward. Presently his medical services are in both North and South Carolina. Seven counties in North Carolina and three in South Carolina and he now has a staff of 55. What is one of his biggest assets? Besides his faith, it has to be his staff. They are always eager to please and not only accommodating, but pleasant and refreshing. NO CONTRA Gift Certifi cates Available 828-382-0284 South Broadway Street, Forest City Gift Certifi cates Available 828-382-0284 South Broadway Street, Forest City Month Month Per er ©Community First Media Community First Media ©Community First Media Community First Media ©CommunityFirstMedia ©Community First Media Community First Media 16,000 COPIES EVERY 16,000 COPIES EVER THURSD THURSDAY Join Now Join Now

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