Personal Injury Attorney in Spartanburg, SC

SPARTANBURG — After three years, the snow drought has ended.

Spartanburg saw measurable snow — its first such accumulation in nearly 1,090 days — as schools were canceled and some businesses closed Jan. 10 to account for the wintery weather that's seldom seen in the Upstate.

It's part of a major winter storm that has blanketed parts of the South in snow and ice and led to winter storm warnings across the region.

Here's the latest:

Officials warn of icy roads across Upstate

7:45 p.m. — With temperatures expected to stay below freezing until after 9 a.m. Jan. 11 and more snow, sleet and freezing rain expected to fall, officials warn to expect deteriorating conditions and icy roads.

“I wouldn't get out on the road unless you have to," Jeffrey Taylor, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Greenville-Spartanburg office, told The Post and Courier.

Interstates and other major thoroughfares will likely remain clear, Taylor said, but secondary roads could prove troublesome.

Overnight as temperatures continue to drop, roads could become icy and dangerous for travel. If you don’t have to be out on the roads, stay home. If you do have to travel slow down, plan your route in advance and stick to interstate and primary routes. pic.twitter.com/M1uun3F0zo

— SCDOT (@SCDOTPress) January 10, 2025

While troopers responded to a spate of crashes earlier, few motorists were on the road the evening of Jan. 10.

NWS also cautions that ice on power lines and tree limbs — some of which were weakened by Hurricane Helene — might lead to outages.

As of 7:45 p.m., online outage aggregator poweroutage.us reported just 32 customers in Spartanburg County were without power.

— Matthew Hensley

Families enjoy rare snow day in Spartanburg parks

4:15 p.m. — Fewer motorists were on the roads by afternoon and some snow had accumulated. County offices and the library were closed.

Spartanburg’s parks weren’t crowded, but a few parents ventured out to take in the dusting with their kids.

Mike Combs took his 4-year-old son Miller to Cleveland Park to see his first snow.

“I’ve been wanting to make a snow angel and do a snowball fight,” Miller said.

A viral Facebook post with several hundred shares had pitched the idea of a Cleveland Park snowball fight the day before. But by 2:30 p.m., there wasn’t enough snow, nor were there enough potential participants.

Combs was holding out for a bit more depth.

“I like a good snow,” the elder Combs said. “Hopefully a bit more comes up and it blankets the ground.”

At a playground near Duncan Park, Steven Varner had taken his two children — a 4-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son — to a playground near the baseball fields.

When it snowed last in 2022, his kids weren’t old enough to remember.

“It’s the first one we’ve had in a minute,” Varner said. “Better get out and enjoy it. Might not be one again for a while.”

He hoped it’d be deeper. He had some sleds at home and planned to break them out. As the snow continued to fall, he made the call: There would indeed be enough.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “It’s as fluffy as I want it. I hope it stays this consistency.”

— Christian Boschult

Snow forecast shifts down for Spartanburg

2:30 p.m. — Less snow than initially forecasted is expected to fall Jan. 10 in Spartanburg County. The Greenville-Spartanburg National Weather Service now projects 1-2 inches of snow and sleet north of Interstate 85 and ½-1 inch in the county’s southern half.

Most of the county can also expect a tenth to a quarter of an inch of ice, which is still plenty to make roads treacherous.

Spartanburg started to see snow around 11:30 a.m. and it began to stick in the early afternoon.

Sleet is expected to take over for most of the county from 2-4 p.m., said Jake Wimberley with the Greenville-Spartanburg NWS office. Freezing rain is expected to mix in around 7 p.m. and remain dominant until precipitation ends around 2 a.m. Jan. 11, earlier than initially projected.

“It's looking like it's going to end a little earlier than before,” Wimberley said.

A winter weather warning is in effect until 7 a.m. Jan. 11.

Spartanburg News

Spartanburg city officials expect most services to remain open although it closed community centers for the day. City offices are open and solid waste pickup continued as normal this morning.

Christopher George, the city’s spokesperson, said buses are still running but that might change later in the afternoon if ice starts sticking to the road.

The city and Spartanburg County Emergency Management worked together to open an emergency shelter at 701 Saxon Ave.

“Hopefully (there) won’t be much need for (the emergency shelter),” George said.

— Max White

How Spartanburg city, county prepared for snow

Spartanburg County’s Roads and Bridges crews started brining county-maintained roads on Jan. 8, spokeswoman Scottie Kay Blackwell said. Crews are prioritizing its 150 bridges — which tend to ice faster than roads — then moving focus to main thoroughfares with more traffic, then secondary roads, then neighborhoods.

The county maintains more than 1,700 miles of roadway so being proactive is important, Blackwell added. The county also has about a dozen snowplows on standby.

“The brine is a pre-treatment,” Blackwell said. “We do outfit our trucks with plows and sand spreaders once the brine has been placed.”

Here’s how it works: The brine goes down first to keep the snow from freezing onto the road as ice. The snowplows will push away whatever snow has accumulated and lay down sand behind the snowplows.

Greenville News

The county also has debris and chainsaw teams standing by, just in case. Blackwell said the county would like residents to stay home if they can, freeing the roadways for county crews. Kitty litter can be used to melt ice if driving is necessary.

The city already has sand and salt stockpiled as well as snowplows that it can attach to larger trucks. It also brined city roads with a mix of salt and water provided by state transportation officials.

Trisha Palmer with the Greenville-Spartanburg National Weather Service said residents should always be safe around generators and that they should not be run inside.

“If you absolutely have to be out on the roads make sure you’ve got kitty litter. Make sure you’ve got a blanket and stuff in your car,” she said.

— Christian Boschult and Max White

SPARTANBURG — The existence of a vast network of tunnels beneath Morgan Square has long been part of the city's folklore.

The square has been the center of Spartanburg since the city was established. It's where commerce initially flourished in a burgeoning agricultural and textile community that has grown well beyond the square.

The city's core has evolved through the years. There are even current plans for a redesign, and work on it could start before the end of 2025.

While there are at least a few tunnels under the square, their use has long since passed. They once connected buildings formerly used as banks. When several of the buildings were renovated for new uses, the tunnels were rediscovered by their new owners.

The former tunnel entrances in the buildings' basements have been covered up so there's no chance of anyone passing through across the square from one building to the next.

Spartanburg News

"There's a lot of exaggeration and misinformation about the topic," said Brad Steinecke, assistant director of local history at Spartanburg County Public Libraries Headquarters. "There were banks in the late 1800s and early 1900s that created these tunnels to securely transfer money. Given the number of redesigns of the square since then, I would be surprised if any of them were intact. It's also possible that people have misinterpreted these openings or that they were only the beginnings of an aborted plan to excavate tunnels."

Steinecke said he's tried to find out more about the tunnels but has not found any documentation. The building at 145 W. Main St. was thought to have once been a bank. Bond Street Wines now occupies the space. The entrance of a tunnel covered up in the basement still exists.

It's believed the tunnel extends under the square and connects to the building at 148 W. Main St., which was formerly the site of Citizens Southern National Bank.

Since the bank closed, it has served other purposes, including restaurants, and is now the site of Citizens and Southern Event Center.

"In the basement of the C&S Event Hall, there is a bricked-up opening for a small doorway that would have led to a tunnel underneath Magnolia Street," Steinecke said. "I have seen that one, but I also heard that there was one that led to a tunnel underneath Morgan Square."

Steinecke said the former Citizens Southern National Bank building was built in 1915. The building's basement is likely older than the existing building.

The Bond Street Wines building also has bricked-up openings in the basement, he said. These tunnels would have gone under the square and Wall Street.

Once located in the square was a well that was filled sometime in the late 1800s. At one time, several cisterns collected and stored rainwater in the square. Steinecke said the cisterns were used to fight fires before there was a pressurized water system.

As the city pushes forward with plans to redesign the square, its history lives on.

"It would make sense there were once tunnels under the square for banks," Spartanburg city spokesperson Christopher George said. "I understand the entrances have been covered. I heard when they renovated the buildings they let people see where the tunnels used to be located. I have heard all kinds of stories about the origins of the tunnels over the years. Some have thought that there must be an entire network of tunnels downtown and it is part of our town's lore at this point."

The square's current design was developed in 2005. It's offered passersby greenspace near West Main Street. With growth expected, the city hopes a redesign will bring even more foot traffic downtown.

Greenville-based urban design planning firm MKSK has worked with the Morgan Square Redevelopment Committee to develop a redesign plan. George said City Council may take another look at the proposal in late January after any changes are made.

Looking for winter hikes in Spartanburg, SC? Enjoy the South Carolina winter’s cooler temperatures and the great outdoors with a wintertime hike. There are several parks and trails perfect for cool weather hikes for the whole family near Spartanburg. Local mom Hope Evans compiled this list of family wintertime hiking spots near Spartanburg.

We’ve got more great ideas of things to do in Spartanburg in the winter!

Hiking in the winter might sound like a horrible idea due to the frigid temperatures, but it might actually be better! Fewer people, less chaos, different view, and the cold actually makes you lose weight. Just make sure you and the kiddos are wearing extra layers. You also need to make sure to bring plenty of snacks, water, a backpack, and or even a picnic lunch because you and the fam are bound to get hungry for lunch. If you’re up for a winter hike, be sure to check the following parks in Spartanburg off your bucket list!

Places to Hike in the Winter Near Spartanburg SC

450 Croft State Park Rd Spartanburg, SC 29302Only 5 miles from downtown Spartanburg, Croft State Park was once an army training base and covers more than 7,000 acres of rolling and wooded terrain. Some of the trails include the following:

Spartanburg, SC 29307The Cottonwood trail runs through Edwin M. Griffin Preserve outside Spartanburg’s center and offers a path into a wooded landscape surrounding Lawson’s Fork Creek. Whether you utilize it for a running path or simply a hiking trail, it provides a convenient connection across residential areas on the city’s outskirts.

For those who aren’t looking for a long walk, there are also a variety of shorter trails throughout the preserve, which allow you to explore more of the natural environment. You may even find yourself face-to-face with wild turkeys or foxes, considering this trail is a breeding ground for local wildlife!

Lastly, The Cottonwood Trail shapes an important part of the city’s trail network, The Daniel Morgan Trail System, aka “The Dan,” with connections planned and more trails, which are underway throughout the community.

398 State Park Rd, Clinton, SC 29325Musgrove Mill State Historic Site was The Battle of Musgrove Mill, which took place at this historic site on Aug.19, 1780. During the battle, 200 Patriot militiamen defeated a combined force of approximately 300 Loyalist militiamen and 200 provincial regulars. Not only do patrons get a chance to walk their trails, but they also get a little taste of history!

Emma Cudd Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29302Maybe it’s too cold for a picnic, but with the unpredictable weather in SC, it might be the perfect opportunity to pack up some sammies to see some waterfalls! Glendale Shoals is a 13-acre natural area on a former mill site, has trails, a dam, a 1928 bridge! Even though you won’t see the beautiful flowers, that shouldn’t stop you from taking a quick hike. This place is both quiet, scenic and provides you with plenty of photo opportunities.

423 Graham Rd, Spartanburg, SC 29303Not far from downtown Spartanburg, the Upper Chinquapin Greenway offers 1.6 miles of walking trails. Not only is it the home to a rare plant – the dwarf heartleaf – it also has a diverse stand of ferns and hardwoods! If you’re in the mood for a quiet walk in an urban setting that highlights Chinquapin Creek, you’ll love this Greenway!

Would the kids like to earn cool prizes when they hike? Learn how they can with our article on the Kids In Parks Program.

Where do you like to hike in cooler weather?

SPARTANBURG — Sheriff Chuck Wright’s days of Apple.com buys, dollar store deals and Amazon Prime on a county-funded credit card could be over.

At Spartanburg County Council’s Jan. 27 meeting, Andrew Coleman of the accounting firm Greene Finney Cauley presented the annual audit of the county finances, with one recommendation:

Wright’s card should be part of the county’s purchasing card — or P-card — program or at least be subject to the same rules and restrictions that govern them.

“The county does have a very robust and good purchasing card program,” Coleman said. “So as we looked at that card, there weren’t the same reviews and approvals and support that we were seeing in your purchasing card program.”

There are 141 county employees with a P-card, including elected Clerk of Court Amy Cox. Wright’s card was the only one outside of the program, and predated the program, which started in 2006. Wright was elected in 2004.

Spartanburg County Councilman David Britt said while Wright’s card still isn’t part of the P-card program, the county began treating it with the same rules that govern the P-cards following The Post and Courier’s reporting on Wright’s expenses.

“It just mirrors our P-card system, you have to put down the purpose for the charge and the reason for that charge,” Britt said.

From December 2017 to April 2024, Wright spent more than $53,600 in public money on Apple.com, video streaming services, hotels, food and gas stations, according to credit card statements reviewed by The Post and Courier.

Many of those purchases wouldn’t have been allowed under the county’s P-card program, which prevents employees from using the card on Amazon purchases or food.

Employees are not allowed to use the cards for non-governmental purposes and must retain receipts.

Wright used his card for food, Amazon Prime and Pure Flix video streaming services and a host of other online purchases. He did not keep receipts.

Wright has not responded to numerous requests for comments about his credit card spending and did not respond to an email seeking comment for this story.

Britt said after The Post and Courier’s initial reporting was published, he, council Chairman Manning Lynch and county Administrator Cole Alverson met with Wright to get an explanation.

“The sheriff had two credit cards,” Britt said, explaining that both cards were red. “He just mistakenly used his county card when he should have used his personal card. It was just an oversight on his part, not something he meant to do.”

Wright, whose salary surpasses $200,000, spent almost $12,000 at Apple.com, $8,000 on fast food, steakhouses and pizza and $8,000 on high-end hotels, alongside purchases at Best Buy, Tractor Supply, Wish.com and diet and fitness websites.

The Post and Courier’s initial review covered more than six years of spending, ending in April 2024. Even after the paper began sending records requests, Wright continued to use his county card on food, Amazon Prime, Dollar General and Apple.com, among other purchases.

For example, Wright in August spent more than $1,400, including $845 on Apple.com, $100 at Longhorn Steakhouse, $16.09 on Amazon Prime, $250 at C and C Ammo, $32 on OnStar, $45 on SiriusXM radio, $45 at Shine on 9 carwash and $19.99 at Truefitnessonline.

The Post and Courier’s story was published in September and Britt said the new policies governing Wright’s card were put in place in September or October.

Britt said Wright has since tossed out his old card to avoid further confusion and paid back around $1,100 in charges, mostly from the Apple.com expenses. He said the county relied on Wright to decide which charges he felt he should repay.

“He was very, very positive and supportive and said he would absolutely support the new policies and procedures and would follow them, no reservation,” Britt recalled. “Which is typical of what I thought Chuck would do. He’s a team player and he was just as bothered by it.”

Max White contributed to this report.

On the eve of a potential snowfall event, some uncertainty remains as to how much precipitation - if any - the Upstate will receive.

The latest Hazardous Weather Outlook issued by the National Weather Service at 4:37 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, called for potential winter weather hazards in the Upstate.

Here's what the NWS told the News about the impending weather.

More:Spring weather outlook: Old Farmer's Almanac SC, Southeast forecast

Hazardous Weather Outlook for the Upstate

The forecast was not firm by late Tuesday afternoon. But here's what the outlook says:

"An area of low pressure passing to the south of the region is expected to spread wintry precipitation across the area north of a line from Clayton, Georgia, to Greenville, Spartanburg, and Rock Hill in Upstate South Carolina, and Monroe, North Carolina, on Wednesday and Wednesday night," the NWS said. "Confidence remains low on snow or ice accumulations across the Georgia and South Carolina Piedmont. But any amounts are expected to be light."

How much snow will Upstate South Carolina get?

In Upstate South Carolina, NWS Meteorologist Jeffrey Taylor said that some areas are expected to see light snow.

"There are some parts in northernmost upstate, along the North Carolina border, some of those areas that may get a tenth or a couple of tenths of an inch," Taylor said.

He added that the northeastern corner of the region including York, Chester and Cherokee Counties could see small amounts. Some areas along the N.C. border may also see ice or freezing rain.

Chance of precipitation in the Upstate South Carolina

NWS forecasts for the Greenville-Spartanburg area show a chance of snow showers before 5 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers, with an overall chance of precipitation resting at 80%.

On Wednesday night, there is a chance of rain and snow showers before 7 p.m., then a slight chance of snow. The overall chance of precipitation overnight is 30%. By Thursday, the area is expected to be mostly sunny.

Winter weather advisory in Western NC

The latest advisory for WNC from the weather service goes into effect at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, and ends at noon Thursday, Feb. 20.

WNC as well as portions of northeast Georgia could see snow accumulations mainly under an inch in valleys, and up to 1-3 inches on ridgetops. Ice accumulations are also a risk, as well as winds gusting as high as 40 mph.

How much snow will Asheville get? Western NC?

Meanwhile, Taylor told the Citizen Times that Asheville will likely only see a small amount of snow and ice throughout the storm.

"We've got about a half an inch of snow over the Asheville area to the whole event tomorrow," Taylor said. "So it's not very much. It's still looking pretty low end."

Taylor added that coming precipitation could include potential for rain, snow and freezing rain. As usual, higher elevations of WNC are likely to see the most snow and ice in the region.

Chance of precipitation in Asheville, Western NC

According to NWS forecasts, overall chance of precipitation in the Asheville area on Wednesday, Feb. 19, rests at 70%. In the Hendersonville area, the chance is slightly higher at 80%. Snow showers are most likely before 5 p.m., then a chance of rain and snow showers.

On Wednesday night, there is a 30% chance of rain and snow showers before 7 p.m. in both Asheville and Hendersonville.

When will the snow start?

In the Asheville area and much of WNC, Taylor said that chances for snow jump to about 50% at around 8-9 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

By Wednesday night, chances of precipitation drop to 30% in the area, and by Thursday, partly sunny weather is expected.

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Todd Runkle, Carolinas Connect editor, contributed.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.