‘Hometown girl’ brings familiarity back to Colfax pharmacy

COLFAX — Working in her hometown was something 25-year-old Brittney Borts always dreamed of.

The Colfax native never thought she would acquire her dream job shortly after graduating from the College of Pharmacy and Health Science at Drake University in May.

“I never pictured that right out of school I would be coming back (to Colfax) to manage a pharmacy here,” Borts said. “You can’t want anything more than a job that is so close to home and I work with my friends, so it can’t get better than this.”

Borts started the job as lead pharmacist at Benzer Pharmacy, located at 101 N. Walnut St., Jan. 3.

“The technicians are two good friends of mine. They heard the last pharmacist (Katie Hassebroek) was leaving and immediately let me know about it,” she said. “I am a hometown girl. (Benzer) was really excited about it because they wanted someone to stay long term. It was a pretty short interview process.”

Borts graduated from Colfax-Mingo High School in 2009. She attended Iowa State University for three years before transferring to the pharmacy program at Drake. She was previously a pharmacy intern at the Altoona Hy-Vee for four-and-a-half years.

“I’m a big Hawkeye fan,” she said. “It kills me that I went to Iowa State.”

Borts said Colfax has always been home for her. She said she loves the culture, the traditions and the people.

“I have always been a person who likes to be here. I have a lot of my family here in this hometown,” she said. “I never once thought that I wanted to get away from here.”

The product of CMSD said she had several fond childhood memories spending time at the pharmacy — spinning on the old-fashion bar stools and sipping on a vanilla coke.

“My dad was a basketball and football coach. He would have open gym at the elementary school. One of my good friends and I would come down (to the pharmacy) for ice cream, a coke and some candy if we wanted while he did that,” she said. “I loved hanging out at the pharmacy. There is a lot of stuff here.”

The pharmacist said the pharmaceutical business has always run in her family. She said it was only natural that she would follow suit.

“My Grandma Borts used to work (at Benzer Pharmacy, previously known as Weirick’s Pharmacy) in the soda area and the pharmacy, I believe... I was actually told that her mom worked here before that,” she said. “I have an aunt and cousins who have worked in the field also. It’s kind of familiar.”

Borts said the main reason she became a pharmacist is she wants to help people.

“(My grandfather) was in the hospital at one point. People were messing up his medications,” she said. “It just made me think that I wanted to help people in that way with their medications so they are not making mistakes.”

Borts said she has received an outpouring of positive support from the community since taking the job.

“A lot of people do know Brittney, so they come in and see her face. Everyone is like ‘Oh, there that’s beautiful smile,’” Benzer Pharmacy technician Meghan Alexander said. “Everybody loves Brittney. It’s been positive, nothing negative so far. We hope to keep it that way.”

Running a pharmacy fresh out of college has its difficulties, but according to her co-workers, Borts has adjusted to the position well.

“I feel like a lot of people were kind of nervous that she had just graduated and had to manage her own store, but I would say she has taken charge and has done everything she can to get things set up correctly,” Alexander said. “She has done great.”

Benzer Pharmacy was previously owned by the Weirick family for 110 years before the Georgia-based company took over operation Sept.12.

“I love Brenda (Weirick), the previous owner. It was sad to see her go, but I’m glad we brought someone else we can love as much,” Alexander said. “I have actually grown up with (Borts) my entire life. We went to school together. We are the same age. I think she is a great addition.”

Borts said Benzer plans to uphold the store’s traditions in Colfax, including continuing to run the pharmacy’s historic soda fountain.

“As far as I’m concerned, Benzer likes the mom-and-pop shop. They like having the soda fountain and all that stuff,” she said. “This is the only (pharmacy like this) in the towns around here. People from the surrounding community come here for the reason that it is a small town pharmacy.”

Borts said there are talks of expanding the operation of the soda fountain.

“At one time, they talked about adding a smoothie side of it, but I don’t know if that’s going to come about or not,” she said.

Borts said after the first four weeks working as the lead pharmacist, she is certain of one fact — she is happy to be home.

“It’s really nice to work in your hometown,” she said. “I am super excited to be here and be able to serve the people in this community.”

Contact Anthony Victor Reyes at areyes@jaspercountytribune.com