Dr. Ashley Holloway Bowers has joined the staff of the Eye Care Center of Salisbury.

Bowers received her doctor of optometry degree in 2004 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry. She practiced almost two years in Cartersville, Ga., before returning to the Salisbury area.

Daughter of Diane Wood Howard of Woodleaf and Keith Holloway of Cleveland, she graduated from West Rowan High School in 1996. She earned a bachelor of science degree in biology with distinction in 2000 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

During her time at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, she was involved in the American Optometric Student Association, Students in Optometric Service to Humanity and Beta Sigma Kappa Honor Society. She received the Dean’s Award of Excellence, the Vistakon Award for Excellence in Contact Lens and Alcon scholarship award.

She and husband Scott live in Salisbury.

She is accepting new patients in the Eye Care Center’s Salisbury, Statesville and Hickory offices.

Laser training

Debbie Barnhardt and Andrea Cornatzer at Debbie Barnhardt Jewelry in Spencer recently completed training at Crafford-LaserStar Technologies Corp. in Winter Park, Fla., for laser jewelry repair.

With the use of this laser technology, they will be able to perform repairs that previously would have been impossible.

The LaserStar’s beam is safe for all jewelry, including titanium, platinum, gold, silver and even costume pieces. Precious heirlooms and delicate pieces which may not be able to tolerate the heat of a soldering torch can now be repaired with the laser work station.

The machine may also be used for many other applications, such as broken eyeglass frames and watch stems.

The laser’s beam is 270 times stronger than a traditional solder with a torch. Acting as a small welder, the laser’s beam fuses two broken pieces of metal together. It allows pinpoint accuracy and minimizes the possibility of heat damage and discoloration.

Debbie Barnhardt Jewelry performs all jewelry repairs on site and accepts special orders. For more information, call 704-633-06l8 or visit the store at 314 S. Salisbury Ave. in Spencer. Hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays except Wednesday, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Harrison certified

Christy F. Harrison has been named a Certified Densitometry Technologist (CDT) by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.

Harrison, a registered medical assistant with Farrington Family Medical Center, recently completed the society’s bone densitometry course and passed the exam on bone density testing for osteoporosis to receive the certification.

She is one of approximately 5,000 certified clinicians and technologists worldwide.

She graduated from Stanly Community College in medical assisting and has worked at the medical center for 16 years. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fuller, she lives in Faith with husband Richie and daughter Kendall.

Bank service awards

Two Kannapolis residents were among those receiving service awards at First Bancorp’s annual Service Awards Banquet held recently in Troy.

They are Rosena Johnson, 20 years, and Vanessa Privette, five years.

Tobacco-free campus

LEXINGTON — Lexington Memorial Hospital will join 85 other hospitals across North Carolina when it implements a tobacco-free campus Nov. 15.

The hospital has banned the use of tobacco products inside its facility since 1994. John Cashion, hospital president, views the expansion of this effort to include the entire hospital campus as a natural extension of the policy and a further example of Lexington Memorial’s responsibility to serve as a role model for healthy living.

“As the anchor of healthcare in this community, Lexington Memorial joins this effort to champion the many benefits of a tobacco-free environment for our staff, patients and visitors,” he said.

The tobacco-free initiative will prohibit the use of all forms of tobacco inside or on the grounds of all hospital owned facilities. All seven LexMedical physician practices will be included in the tobacco free environment, as well as Medical Park Pharmacy and Piedmont Home Care. The hospital is asking 11 privately owned physician practices located on the main campus to join the effort.

A target date of Nov. 15, the same date as the Great American Smokeout, has been selected as the kickoff. An advisory task force of Davidson Healthcare employees, the majority of whom are tobacco users, will guide the transition.

Over the next few months, the advisory task force will make recommendations to hospital administration on how to assist employees, patients and visitors in coping with and adapting to a tobacco-free environment.

According to the N.C. Prevention Partners’ Healthy Hospital Initiative, more hospitals have become tobacco-free over the past three years.

Fifty-nine of North Carolina’s 134 hospitals have adopted policies against smoking and tobacco use anywhere on campus and have or are in the process of starting those policies. Another 26 hospitals have publicly announced their intention to pass such policies.

The movement has been helped by the Healthy Hospital Initiative, which is funded by The Duke Endowment in partnership with the N.C. Hospital Foundation.

Top sales agent award Jimmy Childers of Granite Quarry has received Rowan Realty’s Top Sales Agent award for 2006.

Childers, a Realtor/broker who has been a top performer every year since he joined Rowan Realty in 2001, sold more than $4.2 million in real estate in 2006.

Rowan Realty is located at 501 Faith Road.

Pest control school

Two from Target Exterminators and six from Bill’s Exterminating Co. attended the 57th annual Pest Control Technicians School in Raleigh Jan. 16-18.

Mat Leonard and Jackie Hancock represented Target. Leonard also earned the WDIR accreditation designation that signifies he is among the most highly trained professional wood-destroying insect inspectors in the state. Hancock received certification from the Structural Pest Control Board for work and testing in the wood destroying phase of the industry.

Bill’s Exterminating representatives were Rodger Allmon, Eric Correll, Tony Godfrey, Eric Mulkey, Kip Peeler and Bill Peeler Jr.

The school, coordinated by the N.C., Pest Control Association and N.C. State University, presented the latest information on materials used, methods of application for best results, biological information on pests and career fields open to pest control technicians.

Linda Braswell compiles the Rowan Roundup of companies, organizations and individuals. You can submit information about new businesses, honors and management promotions to her at the Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639; fax it to 704-639-0003; or e-mail lbraswell@ salisburypost.com. Please include a daytime phone number.