Criminal Defense Attorney inSpartanburg, SC

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Every summer the unmistakable sounds of Panthers training camp fill the air in Spartanburg. They signify the start of football- a sign the regular season is around the corner. But as iconic as the thump of pads and helmets may be, another sound found less than 2 miles away from Wofford’s campus may be better known. The lighthouse and arrow mark the main stay of the South Carolina town, The Beacon Drive-In.

A place where as the world around it changes, they stay the same. A piece of history almost frozen in a time where orders were made fresh, cash registers still had buttons and weren’t just touch-screen tablets, and hospitality was the norm, not the exception.

Spartanburg native Steve Duncan has been an owner here since 1998, and, like most people, have childhood memories of the hometown spot.

“This was a major hangout. This was the place you cruised cars, you come through the parking lot and drive a half mile that way, turn around, come back through the parking lot, and people are sitting on their hoods. I mean, it was just a lot of fun,” Duncan said.

Snapshots of that can be seen on the timeline that Duncan put on display near the patio entrance detailing the legacy started by the beloved John White, who opened the Beacon in 1946.

“He was known for dancing on that cash register, just juking and jiving,” Duncan said.

It was White who would create their trademark ‘a-plenty’ offering stacking fries and their famous home-cut onions a mile high on any dish you want, but he also instilled a tradition of treating everyone like family.

“I mean, you come here with a group of guys, it was nothing to finish your meal, and boom, a big old banana split to hit your table,” Duncan said.

It’s that mindset that continues to make the Beacon a place focused on the community. Hand painted signs showcasing state championships from local schools are hung with pride, almost matching that of the pride the employees take in working here.

Some of them have been here more than 50 years. Tommy Lee Rice is one of those workers, who started working at the restaurant when he was just 10 years old. Rice recalling that he was too young to work inside, so he got a job picking up the trash outside.

“What keeps me coming back? The customers. I love waiting on people. I love talking to people. You come in my line I’m going to make you smile, I’m going to make you happy,” Duncan said.

That love has been felt by every single customer from politicians with big aspirations.

“Here’s President Bush before he got elected, he came in, ordered a cheeseburger a-plenty,” Duncan said. “Warren Abernathy was asked one time by someone running for office. Do you think it’s important for me to go buy the Beacon, Mr. Abernathy’s answer? Well, if you want to get elected.”

To expecting women, who swear getting a big old ‘a-plenty’ helps induce labor.

“This is the lady that actually her water broke on the parking lot, had the first baby of the New Year, and we called her up, bought her a, a year’s worth of diapers to celebrate with her,” Duncan said.

Of course, that love has also been felt by the Panthers. Luke Kuechly himself once even hopped behind the counter to help. And that’s why just like Tommy Lee Rice never wants to leave the Beacon, they hope Panthers won’t ever leave Spartanburg.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Officials in Spartanburg unveiled what will be the new design for Morgan Square.

The design was shown during a Spartanburg City Council meeting Monday afternoon.

The design for the square has been in the works for over a year. City officials said a lot of the changes come from public feedback. There are still many steps to go, but the square is one step closer to having a different look.

“West Main will remain closed and Dunbar Street will be closed. The idea will be to brick those over and bring them up to the same level as the rest of Morgan Square,” said Chris George, with the city.

Plans for Morgan Square include a visitor kiosk with public restrooms, outdoor dining areas, a water feature, and space for festivals and performances.

“It’s a great milestone in the project that we want to share with you tonight, but it is a milestone. The design will continue, we have a lot of work to continue to do to work through the details, to make this the right fit,” said Darren Meyer, Principal for MKSK, the design firm.

“We know that not everybody will like every detail but we think we have a workable design for the future,” said Halsey Cook, CEO of Milliken and Company and chairman of the Morgan Square Redevelopment Committee.

Meyer presented the proposed plan which was made with multiple rounds of public input and meetings involving the Morgan Square Redevelopment Committee.

The group unveiled three potential designs for the square in April and since then have had multiple meetings with the community to get down to one design concept.

Drivers would still be able to drive between Magnolia Street and Spring Street through the western part of the square.

West Main Street through Morgan Square has been closed to vehicle traffic since May 2020. It was originally closed to accommodate outdoor seating for restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic.

City council voted to keep it closed while plans were made for the future of the square.

Handicap parking has already been moved adjacent to the square, but a few spots in front of the Starbucks will be taken away.

“I think that’s a total of 5 spaces we will be losing around the square, but we won’t be losing another parking, and we won’t be losing any handicap spaces either,” said George.

Some council members brought up concerns at Monday’s meeting about not having enough greenspace and the water feature being a potential safety concern.

Committee leaders said changes are still on the horizon for the layout.

“We wanted to make this square more inviting, more accessible, more welcoming, easy to get through, easy to move through, easy to understand, safe, legible,” said Meyer.

The goal is for the square to continue to be a place where people can gather.

“The pedestrian area of the square is going to grow substantially from the way folks will be able to see it, anyway, because the road space is going to become pedestrian space,” said George.

Next steps for the project include discussions about costs and funding for the project before work begins.

Designers said they will also continue to work with businesses and other stakeholders to make sure they are part of the process.

As Floridians along the Gulf Coast brace for a possible major hurricane this week, forecasters say the Upstate of South Carolina is not in Idalia's path.

The Upstate can expect showers and breezy conditions Wednesday into Thursday morning as the storm moves from Florida to eastern South Carolina and then out to sea, according to Doug Outlaw, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service at the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.

"Impacts (to the Upstate) are going to be minimal," Outlaw said. "We're not expecting anything bad."

Monday morning, Idalia was still a tropical storm but expected to become a major hurricane. Hurricane watches are in effect along Florida's Gulf Coast, with landfall expected Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

A major hurricane is a Category 3, 4 or 5 storm or higher. A storm becomes a Category 3 hurricane when sustained wind speeds reach at least 111 mph.

'Rapid intensification':How Idalia could quickly become a major hurricane before landfall

Models take Idalia northeastward across northern Florida and southeast Georgia to near Charleston on the coast of South Carolina by early Thursday. It then turns eastward and out to sea later in the week.

Wednesday's forecast for the Upstate calls for a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 78.

Wednesday night, there is a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. In the meantime, showers and thunderstorms Monday and Tuesday in the Upstate are associated with a lingering front, not Idalia, Outlaw said. There is a 60% chance of showers and storms Monday, 80% Monday tonight, 60% Tuesday and 70% Tuesday night.

Outlaw said up to 2 inches of rainfall is possible in the Upstate on Wednesday before Idalia moves across southeastern South Carolina.

Sunshine returns Thursday, and Friday through Sunda. Highs will be in the 80s.

"I wouldn't recommend anyone going to the beach midweek, but this coming weekend is going to be real nice as the system moves out to sea and drier air moves in from the north," Outlaw said. "It will be a real nice Labor Day weekend."

Reach Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com.

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

The first weekend of Restaurant Week in Greenville and Spartanburg is the perfect time to eat out and try a new dining experience.

Restaurant Week is really a 12-day opportunity for guests to get great food at a special price at participating restaurants and for chefs to show off their culinary skills.

The annual foodie festivities, sponsored by the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, began Thursday, Aug. 24 and ends Monday, Sept. 3.

From casual settings to high-end dining experiences, participating restaurants will feature exciting new dishes, along with fan favorites and multi-course menus.

To view a list of participating restaurants, menus and prices, click here.

But Restaurant Week is about more than just incredible meals at an incredible value. It also supports community partners across the Upstate.

More news (story continues after links.)

Restaurant Week and Harvest Hope, South Carolina's largest food bank, are using the days-long event to eliminate hunger and food insecurity. Participating restaurants will donate a portion of all Restaurant Week proceeds to Harvest Hope.

By rescuing nutritious food donations from stores and distributing them to food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens, Harvest Hope provides more than 20 million meals on average to neighbors in 20 counties across the state.

Harvest Hope also runs an emergency food pantry in Greenville where anyone in need can get a week’s supply of groceries for free.

Bring your appetites and your charitable hearts this weekend through Sept. 3, and get ready to say bon appétit.

SPARTANBURG, S.C (WSPA) – Multiple South Carolina groups have joined forces to provide the community with what opportunities in the EV workforce are coming to the Upstate.

“Technology is rapidly changing,” said Rene Kelly, Clean Transportation Coordinator for the South Carolina Energy Office.

“Every six months I am noticing huge changes and new technology and new applications, in the world of electric vehicles,” Kelly explained.

What is also on the fast track is EV job opportunities in the Upstate.

“There have been several announcements throughout South Carolina that talk to additional jobs that are coming from regional equipment manufacturers who are designing electric vehicles in South Carolina,” Kelly said.

Additional jobs are also going to be included through one of the region’s biggest employers, BMW.

“We have BMW that’s expanding their plant to have electrical vehicles,” Toni Sutton, President of South Side Sankofa added.

To make sure that people know about these emerging opportunities, Palmetto Clean Fuels along with other partners were in Spartanburg to start the beginning of the conversation.

“For young folk and or people who are transitioning in their career, to see if there are electrical contractors out there that have been working in housing and then how to transition their skills over to electric vehicles,” Kelly said.

Many are hoping that the fast-growing community will be a part of a booming new industry.

“This community is so small, it started out as a mill town and was used to traditions we used to if it’s not broke don’t fix it, but technology is advancing, and we need to know about that and have that come into our community,” Sutton said.

“Because of the opportunities that are coming to Spartanburg as I said I really want folks within all of the communities especially those in the disadvantaged communities to understand what skills are needed and what opportunities are here,” Kelly said.

Palmetto Clean Fuels along with Proterra are providing a free virtual training that will cover an overview of battery electric buses on September 12th, 14th and 27th.