Major upgrades are coming for the Viking athletic program via upgrades to the Spartanburg High School gymnasium and lobby area.
Dr. Thomas White Assistant Superintendent of Administration - Instructional Services, told the Spartanburg District 7 Board of Trustees about upcoming plans for a $2 million refurbishing of the high school gymnasium at their January board meeting.
White explained bids for work on the gym improvements would be accepted this month and he expects a bid to be awarded in March.
Work is expected to begin during Spring Break and should be completed before the start of the 2012-2013 school year.

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

The two newest members of Spartanburg City Council were sworn into office on Monday at City Hall.
Joining them in being sworn in for his  fourth term was Councilman Robert Reeder.
Departing from council were Councilman Joe Spigner and Councilwoman Renee Cariveau.
Spartanburg Mayor Junie White acknowledged it was a “sad time for me to see them leave.”
He thanked Spigner for his “time on the council and the work you’ve done for west side, I know you’ll continue to be involved.
He then turned to Cariveau, and as is his wont, cracked a joke to attempt to lighten the mood.
“Renee,” he said, “let us know and we’ll help you pack your bags.”
The packed council chambers dissolved into laughter until White turned serious.
He told Cariveau, “We want to thank you for all you’ve done for the community.  Thank you both we’re going to miss you very much.
The attention then turned to Anderson and Scalisi as they took the oath of office.

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

The City of Spartanburg and USC Upstate held a joint Arbor Day ceremony where they planted a Chionanthus restusus “Tokyo Tower”, an upright Chinese Fringetree, between the St. John parking garage and the USC Upstate’s George Dean Johnson School of Business on Friday, December 2.
Lamar Davis of Roebuck Wholesale Nursery told the crowd the Tokyo Tower produces white blossoms in the spring, has very dark green lustrous leaves in the summer and turns a beautiful golden yellow in the fall.  It also produces blueberries.
He noted, “Many of our landscapes are shrinking so we find a need to find plant material to fit into smaller spaces.  We feel the Tokyo Tower will do that (since) it has a narrow upright growth.”

<b>For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.</b>

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

It was a very special day for the Spartanburg Day School (SDS) on Wednesday, November 9.  Hundreds of people gathered under sunny skies on the front lawn of the new Upper School building for its naming ceremony.
They applauded when the Capital Campaign Co-chair and SDS graduate Ricky Richardson divulged the new name of the building as two red and white banners unfurled behind him emblazoned with the name Presnell on them.
Richardson explained how the name Presnell came about.  It can be traced back to a family that originated from Morganton, NC that had eight children, two boys and six girls.
The two boys grew up but never had any children so the family name died out.  However the girls, Ann, Susan (Sudie), Margaret, Weeta, Mary Burgin, and Julia kept the family tree growing and it now has strong ties to Spartanburg and SDS.
He explained Sudie “was the grandmother of Susu Johnson whose support of educational excellence is all around us.”  He added Sudie is the great-grandmother of SDS graduates Geordy and Susanna Johnson.

For the rest of the story, read this week’s Spartanburg County News.

By Leon G. Russ

HOMETOWN NEWS

More than 70 American Legion members jammed into Spartanburg American Legion Post 28 on Saturday for the unveiling of a painting celebrating the service of women in the military.

The painting was based on a Norman Rockwell painting and was the brainchild of acclaimed Woodruff artist Robert Wilson.

For the rest of the story, see any of this week Hometown News papers.

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