RUTHERFORD COUNTY’S ONLY WEEKLY NEWSPAPER!
Don't Miss This Week's
RUTHERFORD WEEKLY Our 33rd Year • Over 25,000 Weekly Readers ISSUE NO. 36 • September 4, 2025 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408
OnlineVersion Same As The Printed Copy!
If you're unable to get your regular copy of Rutherford Weekly, view it online at
rutherfordweekly.com
A “just for the fun of it job” brings delight to 94-year-old and so many others Article & Photos by Jean Gordon. There are a lot of things a catfish,” Mrs. Haynes began, person can buy at the Green demonstrating holding the Hill Store on Hwy. 64/74 catfish and stripping the meat outside of Rutherfordton and “clear” from the bone. heading toward Lake Lure Edwards said and Chimney Rock. Family “Sometimes I get nervous she owned since 1995, customers might get a bone in her throat, come in the store for snacks, but she never has.” groceries, beverages, coffee, In days gone by she ice cream, pizza, ice, breakfast caught her own catfish from her biscuits, lunch, gifts, gas and pond. Others fish the pond today. on and on. Some people stop Pepsi is Mrs. Haynes by the store to visit friends and beverage of choice; favorite take a comfortable seat in one vegetables are green beans, of the rocking chairs outside potatoes (baked). For breakfast and inside the store. she said she enjoys bacon, Alma Haynes, 94, is one eggs, grits, toast or biscuits with of those people. A regular strawberries. visitor to the store, she will tell Mrs. Haynes spends as you she comes “just for the much time as possible with her fun” and to see her friends. sister, Virginia, and they get Besides that, Mrs. Haynes caught up in all the latest news has a part-time job at the from the community and the Beginning with a piece of flat cardboard, store. She puts together pizza nation, taking on the telephone. Mrs. Haynes starts the building process. boxes for the store’s deli. She She describes her sets her own hours and days health as “pretty fair” and sees to work, depending on the rest medical professionals at her of her schedule. She gets the home through her health care job done. plan. Mrs. Haynes does have Her grandson and store some difficulty hearing, she owner Scotty Haynes said it is communicates very well, when a a joy to have his grandmother person speaks directly to her. there and she comes over as A member of the Piney often as possible. Customers Knob Baptist Church, Mrs. are always happy to see her. Haynes still attends church when “I just whip ‘em up,” Mrs. she is able. She loves meeting Haynes said, sharing her friends there, too, and “I like to Mrs. Alma Haynes makes pizza boxes at the Green Hill Store. strategy in making the boxes. sing all the songs,” she smiles. walked up to say hello. Sitting in a rocking chair with a small The mother of two children, James and “She knows who I am,” Arnold Brown table in front of her, Mrs. Haynes began her said, of his long time friend, greeting her Anita, and a native of Rutherford County, task immediately upon arriving at the store with a smile and cheery hello. Mrs. Haynes lives “just across the road last Tuesday morning. Another friend stopped by Mrs. Haynes’ from the store” and it is always convenient Her caregiver Polly Edwards, brings her rocking chair to show off her new purse to get to work. Scotty Haynes with his grandmother, to work, sets up the table and hands her that had just been monogrammed from Mrs. Haynes always drove her own car Alma Haynes. the stack of flat cardboard. a person at the store. Mrs. Haynes said it until some years ago. Mrs. Haynes shared the secret of was beautiful. “I had a several cars,” she said. One of making the boxes. “I find the little hole Mrs. Haynes’ tiny slim fingers move the cars is still in Green Hill, a 1963 Chevy. in the right side corner of the cardboard” quickly. She uses that same talent when She was married to the late Adam and from there she begins to fold the she is crocheting. She believes she Haynes, who served as principal of Gilkey sides together. In a mere few seconds, can teach people to crochet if they are Elementary School, during his career. Mrs. the pizza box is made and she slips it onto interested. Haynes worked for the Tanner Company the pile of boxes beside her rocking chair. “You just take the needle,” she began to many years ago in the Sample Department Immediately, she picks up another piece of demonstrate with her 94-year-old fingers. where she was a presser. “They are a cardboard and begins again. In less than She shared a few more of her favorite wonderful family.” 10 minutes, there was a sizable stack of things, including her favorite food which Not missing a beat on completing her pizza boxes ready. She never veered from is catfish. She eats catfish about once a job Tuesday and the interview, Mrs. Haynes her task while talking and rarely looked at week and usually on Friday nights when said, “This was a real treat for me...Well, I the boxes. someone brings it from a fish camp or she guess that just about covers it,” she quietly “Ah, I’m just playing around,” she said. “I has it at the Mason Jar, a restaurant inside smiled. come here to be with my friends and family the Green Hill Store. She wants the “boneWhat Mrs. Haynes takes away is and to have fun,” never missing a beat. something money can’t buy - time with in” catfish. She doesn’t do fillets. “I do this for my family. For love. I just “My mother taught me how to hold the friends - and a “just for the fun of it job.” Arnold Brown stops by to see Mrs. Haynes. have a ball,” she smiled as customers
FIND THE HIDDEN COW MASCOT ON ONE OF THE PAGES IN THIS WEEK’S RUTHERFORD WEEKLY TO WIN
FREE
GATE ADMISSION
*WINNER SELECTED WEEKLY
TAKE A PICTURE AND EMAIL IT TO:
Contest@SeeitinShelby.com