South-Carolina

Tacos ‘n Tequila, Drive baseball, free resource fair – In The Know 1-25

Published

2 months ago

January 25, 2026

Tacos ‘n Tequila, Drive baseball, free resource fair – In The Know 1-25

South Carolina Recruits $9.1B In Industries During ’25

The South Carolina Department of Commerce recruited of $9.12 billion in industries during 2025. That is the third-highest number on record and represents 8,100 jobs.

In addition, rural recruitment of capital investment and jobs accounted for 46% of the total – the highest percentage since 2010 – and 44% of the jobs, a total of 3,500.

The numbers prove that the state’s strategy is working, said Gov. Henry McMaster.

“Our success in rural communities shows that opportunity exists in every corner of our state. By investing in our workforce and supporting pro-business laws and policies, we continue to bring in thousands of jobs that benefit South Carolina families and strengthen our entire state,” he said.

Rural projects span agribusiness, automotive, energy, and wood and paper products – reflecting South Carolina’s increasingly diverse economy, rural workforce, infrastructure and quality of life.

Of the 82 projects, 34 are in rural communities.

“Rural success is deliberate – driven by strong collaboration among state leadership, local economic developers and committed partners,” said Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III.

“South Carolina’s milestone in rural recruitment underscores our commitment to bolstering the potential of these communities,” he said.

For a list of projects announced since 2011, search the internet for Project & Recruitment Data and S.C. Department of Commerce Launch to Legacy 2025.

Greenville Drive Announces Ticket Sales For 2026

The 2026 Greenville Drive baseball season at Fluor Field will begin in April, and single tickets are available for purchase. Tickets will be released in batches.

The first home games of the season are April 2 through April 4.

“Whether you’re here for a social night with friends or a Sunday afternoon with the kids, we’re doing everything possible to ensure you’re getting the best value and experience in Upstate,” said Jeff Brown, President of the Greenville Drive, the High-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

Tickets to opening day and games with fireworks went on sale in mid-January.

Tickets to Thursday games will be sold starting Jan. 28; giveaway games, Feb. 12; and remaining games, Feb. 26.

For timely information about ticket sales, go to GreenvilleDrive.com, call (864) 240-4500, or email boxoffice@greenvilledrive.com.

Opening day, presented by TD Bank, is April 2. Fireworks displays will be April 3, April 17; May 1, May 15, May 29; June 12, June 26; July 24; Aug. 5, Aug. 7, Aug. 21, Aug. 28.
Thursday home games are April 2, April 16, April 30; May 14, May 28; June 11, June 25; July 23; Aug. 6, Aug. 20, Aug. 27.
Giveaway games are April 2, April 3, April 4; May 2; June 14; July 18, July 23; Aug. 22.
Other tickets go on sale Feb. 26.

The Greenville Drive is entering its 21st season at Fluor Field in Downtown Greenville.

Since 2006, more than 500,000 fans have visited Fluor Field annually for Drive games and community events.

To date, 131 Drive alumni have gone on to play in the major leagues. In the 2025 season, 14 former Drive players made their MLB debut – the most ever during a single season. Ten of the last 12 World Series champions had at least one former Drive player on their rosters.

Fluor Field was built to resemble Boston’s Fenway Park, including a 30-foot-high “Green Monster” hand-operated scoreboard in left field and “Pesky’s Pole” in right field. The ballpark has a playground, a covered bar and lounge named the 500 Club, hospitality spaces for large and small groups, and extensive food and beverage offerings.

Fluor Field will host 66 Drive home games, 35 amateur baseball games, and 150 events – from weddings to festivals.

Opportunity Fair To Help Youths With Disabilities

Greenville County Schools, in partnership with The Barbara Stone Foundation, will host a free resource fair, “The Road to Possibilities – An Opportunity Fair,” from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 5. The event is created for students with disabilities (ages 3 to 21), their families, and the district’s special education staff.

The free event is also open to the public; it will be held at University Center, 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville.

Exhibitors will provide information about community resources and services for young people and their families – while students are in school and as they plan an inclusive future after high school.

Information will be provided about post-secondary education and training, employment opportunities, recreation and leisure activities, independent living, financial literacy, legal planning and other subjects.

“We had such a positive response from our first “Road to Possibilities – An Opportunity Fair” that we knew this needed to happen every year,” said Carlene Zierfuss, Transition Coordinator, Greenville County Schools.

“When students with disabilities graduate from high school and enter adulthood, the supports they have known and had during their entire educational journey end. We hope to make that journey and transition seamless, so our students have more opportunities and support after they leave Greenville County Schools,” she said.

Lara Ceisel, Executive Director of the Barbara Stone Foundation, said the organization is thrilled to partner with the school district for the opportunity fair.

“Navigating resources and options after high school can be hard for many, and we hope to make new connections and provide options that make their journey a little easier,” Ceisel said.

Food will be available. Disability-related groups will provide live entertainment.

Registration is not required, but it is encouraged. For information, search the internet for The Road to Possibilities – An Opportunity Fair 2026 and Greenville County Schools.

Zierfuss is available by email at czierfuss@greenville.k12.sc.us or email Ceisel at lara@barbarastonefoundation.org with additional questions.

Since 1991, the Barbara Stone Foundation’s focus has been to influence community systems, policies, and culture to create equitable opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the Upstate.

The organization’s signature programs are Greenville CAN (Collaborative Action Network) and the UP (Upward Professionals) Employment Initiative. For information, go to barbarastonefoundation.org.

Tacos ‘n Tequila Returns To Events At Judson Mill

Fans can celebrate tacos and tequila on April 12 at Events at Judson Mill, 701 Easley Bridge Road in Greenville.

The Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta, presented by Lunazul Tequila, is back for its ninth year. Tickets start at $70; purchase them at tacotequilafiesta.com/tickets.html.

“This is not just a party. It’s the tastiest, most vibrant event of the season,” said Tammy Johnson, CEO of High Spirits Events, which is producing the event. “Get ready for the ultimate flavor-packed celebration.”

The all-you-can-eat taco feast from the area’s chefs can be washed down with handcrafted Lunazul Tequila cocktails. Greenville’s top bartenders will create the drinks and compete for trophies, cash prizes and bragging rights.

Restaurants and bars can participate by going to tacotequilafiesta.com/participate.html.

The fiesta will also include entertainment, games and prizes.

The day is created for foodies, tequila connoisseurs and folks looking for fun. Everyone must be at least 21 years old. A valid ID is required. All food and beverages are included in the admission price.

The event runs from 2 to 5 p.m., with VIP entry at 1 p.m.

“Come hungry and ready to sip, savor and support your top picks,” Johnson said.

High Spirits Hospitality is five independent brands: Liquid Catering, Events at Judson Mill, Bravo1 Protection, The 405, and High Spirits Events. The company has more than 150 employees and 35,000 square feet of real estate. High Spirits Hospitality is woman-owned.

Upstate Forever Sets Goals For ’26, Recaps ’25

Upstate Forever, a nonprofit conservation organization, has set three key priorities for this year: accelerating work to protect and improve the health of critical lands and waters; expanding advocacy to ensure smart growth, clean water and responsible energy solutions; and strengthening support in the community.

Highlights during 2025 include:

Permanently protecting more than 4,800 acres through conservation easements and partner projects
Wrapping up a four-year grant in the Tyger River watersheds, which supported 60 septic repairs or replacements, two agricultural improvement projects, and the protection of 140 acres of forest
Educating 121 residents to engage in local planning processes
Serving as co-chair of the South Carolina Conservation Coalition, an alliance of dozens of organizations working to ensure the state’s natural resources are represented at the state House of Representatives

Aldon Knight, Executive Director of Upstate Forever, is asking that Upstate residents consider donating to the organization to ensure its continued protection of land and water, advocacy for sound policies, and growth of the local conservation movement.

Volunteer opportunities are also available at upstateforever.org.

Founded in 1998 by Greenville attorney Brad Wyche, Upstate Forever now has offices in Greenville and Spartanburg and a staff of more than two dozen.

Upstate-Founded Cocktails Now Delivered In 43 States

Six Nineteen of 1865 has launched its e-commerce platform, which means the brand’s ready-to-drink cocktails can be delivered to consumers in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

The company’s Coconut Rum and Grapefruit Agave are available online at sixnineteen1865.com.

“We’re thrilled to make Six Nineteen of 1865 available to customers, not only in South Carolina, where the brand was founded, but across the country,” said Babette B. Jones, founder and CEO of the company.

“This new online shopping option marks a significant step and allows more people to experience our cocktails wherever delivery is available,” she said.

A Greenville native, Jones has worked at Furman University and Greenville Technical College.

She and longtime friends were on a trip when they began raving about a cocktail created by someone in their group, according to a press release.

Jones decided to venture into entrepreneurship and the ready-to-drink beverage space. She named the company in honor of Juneteenth, which commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

In 2023, Jones and 26 other participants were selected to be part of GVL Starts, an eight-week program at Furman University’s Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship in partnership with the City of Greenville, Greenville Local Development Corporation and S.C. Department of Commerce.

GVL Starts teaches entrepreneurs the skills necessary to build a successful startup, connects them with other business owners and community members, and helps them turn ideas into action.

Upon completion of the program, Jones was selected to receive a $5,000 grant for the Six Nineteen startup. Friends and family provided additional funds.

The cocktails are packaged in 12-ounce cans and have an alcohol content of 8%.

In the Upstate, the beverages can be purchased at 19 Wine & Spirits, Bottles (Greenville), Bouharoun’s Fine Wines & Spirits, and Hot Shotz Liquors.

Dave’s Hot Chicken Expands To Anderson

Built Different Brands will expand its Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants in South Carolina with a new location in Anderson.

The Nashville-style hot chicken and its high-energy, fast-casual dining were named the No. 1 Most Loved Brand for 2025, released by Yelp.

The new location at 100 Fritz Drive in Anderson will officially open Feb. 6.

“Anderson made it clear they were ready for Dave’s Hot Chicken,” said Kal Gullapalli, CEO of Built Different Brands. “People here in this thriving and growing market have been asking for it, and opening this location is our way of responding to that enthusiasm while thoughtfully expanding our footprint of exciting food brands across the Southeast.”

Dave’s Hot Chicken serves hand-breaded, halal-certified chicken tenders and sliders with heat levels ranging from no spice to the “Reaper.” Side dishes are also available.

The restaurant has high-energy vibes and street-art-inspired décor.

To mark its Anderson debut, Dave’s Hot Chicken is donating $1 from every combo sold between Jan. 30 and Feb. 3 to Habitat for Humanity of Anderson County.

A live DJ and an in-restaurant scavenger hunt will be held on opening day.

Anderson will be the fourth Dave’s Hot Chicken location in South Carolina. It will be open from 10:30 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday; and 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Built Different Brands, a hospitality and franchise investment group, operates seven food, wellness and performance brands.

Deadline Soon For Laurens Electric Youth Scholarships

The deadline is Feb. 2 for students to apply for scholarships from Laurens Electric Cooperative for all-expenses-paid trips this summer to Washington, D.C., or Columbia.

Scholarships will be given to nine students.

Students must prepare an application and participate in a video interview to be eligible for the annual Washington Youth Tour and Cooperative Youth Summit contests.

Co-op officials will judge the contest. The Washington tour begins June 14; the Cooperative Summit begins July 13.

Students in the cooperative’s service area who are in their junior year of high school are eligible to apply for the Washington Youth Tour. Students in their sophomore year are eligible to apply for the Cooperative Youth Summit. Families do not have to receive power from Laurens Electric Cooperative to qualify.

Youths chosen for the Washington Youth Tour will travel with other South Carolina students to meet with state representatives and senators, visit historical sites, learn about cooperatives, and spend time with other young people from across the country.

The Cooperative Youth Summit will include a private tour of the South Carolina Statehouse, a meeting with the governor or lieutenant governor, team-building exercises, and information about electric cooperatives.

Contest winners will be eligible to compete for up to $5,000 in college scholarships.

For information or an application, go to laurenselectric.com/youth, or contact Laurie Riser at laurier@laurenselectric.com or (800) 942-3141.

Laurens Electric Cooperative serves 65,000 member-owners in Laurens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, Newberry, Union, and Abbeville counties.

Chamber Topic: Emotional Intelligence

This month’s Simpsonville Area Chamber of Commerce Lunch & Learn will focus on emotional intelligence at 11:45 a.m. Jan. 27 at the chamber office, 105A W. Curtis St.

The presentation is from Mike Ungar, an executive coach with FocalPoint Master Business Coaching. Emotional Intelligence is measured by how well people manage their emotions, understand the emotions of others, and self-motivate.

Ungar will offer tips to improve emotional intelligence and drive personal success.

The Lunch & Learn Series features presentations and conversations on a variety of topics. Those who attend can introduce themselves and their businesses and then network with fellow businesspeople.

Registration for chamber members is $15; for non-members, $25. For information, go to simpsonvillechamber.com and click on the Calendar.

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South-Carolina

NFL Draft Injury Analysis: Jalon Kilgore, S – South Carolina

Published

26 minutes ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

NFL Draft Injury Analysis: Jalon Kilgore, S – South Carolina

The Lions may be looking for a safety within the first two rounds due to injuries to Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch. That’s where Jalon Kilgore may come in. He has some minor injuries, but appears to be a relatively low-risk prospect for a team that needs to add health to that room.

Here is the excerpt of my medical report on Jalon Kilgore:

Jalon Kilgore, S (21) – South Carolina

Projected round 2-3.

Concern level 2/10

While his availability has been excellent, Kilgore has a history of hamstring strains in 2025 and 2023. If his 2024 injury is found to be also a hamstring, then happenstance becomes a disturbing trend.

With fast-twitch athletes, hamstrings are going to be very common, and generally don’t present any long-term issues. The difficult trick will be to determine if a certain player is more prone to hamstrings.

What helps Kilgore a lot is his young age.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD

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Motorcyclist critically injured in Longs area crash

Published

13 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Motorcyclist critically injured in Longs area crash

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — One person was critically injured in a motorcycle crash in the Longs area on Thursday afternoon, according to Horry County Fire Rescue (HCFR).

Just before 2:00 p.m., crews responded to the area of Old Highway 31 near Hidden River Road.

MORE: 1 critically injured in vehicle rollover near International Dr.

One person was transported to the hospital as a result of the motorcycle crash, HCFR said.

Officials ask that drivers avoid the area as lanes of traffic are currently blocked.

The incident is under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol with assistance from the Horry County Police Department.

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South Carolina’s Raven Johnson carries her grandfather’s legacy into Sweet 16

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

South Carolina’s Raven Johnson carries her grandfather’s legacy into Sweet 16

Alyssia Hamilton
| Special to USA TODAY

COLUMBIA, SC ― With the clock winding down and pressures of the Women’s NCAA Tournament rising, South Carolina senior guard Raven Johnson isn’t playing just to win. She plays in honor of a voice she can no longer hear – but that she still carries with her every time she steps onto the court.

That motivation was on full display Monday night, as the No. 1-seeded Gamecocks took down No. 9 USC to advance to the Sweet 16. Johnson earned her 1,000th career point ― what would prove to be her last point at Colonial Life Arena ― on a steal and fast-break layup that brought a roar from the crowd. The Gamecocks will face No. 4 Oklahoma Saturday in Sacramento, with another Elite Eight appearance on the line.

For Johnson, the moment symbolized something deeper – a career shaped by the memory of her late grandfather. Johnson’s family watched as she achieved the milestone, her mother, grandmother and twin brother. It was a full circle moment for a player whose journey took root in her grandparents’ home.

Her grandparents helped raise her and her twin brother, Richard Johnson. The family lived together and she often calls her grandmother “mother” and her grandfather “papa,” reflecting the impact they had on her upbringing.

“My grandparents did a really good job,” Johnson said. “We wouldn’t be playing sports if it wasn’t for them.”

The Boones introduced the twins to basketball through their church and spent countless hours training them, often pushing them past their limits. A sergeant first class in the Army Reserves, he supervised soldiers in his unit and brought that same discipline to his grandchildren on the court, being demanding, structured and determined.

“I remember being outside and he was training us and I thought it was so hard. I wanted to give up,” Johnson said. “I used to cry, and he would be like ‘You’re not going to cry in my face, and you’re not going to give up.’ It was little things like that that made me tough.”

The standard of grit, accountability and composure, is something Johnson carries today.

“She’s just a winner and she’s a great point guard,” said South Carolina senior guard Ta’Niya Latson, who also played with Johnson at Westlake High School in Atlanta. “When she’s confident, we’re confident. When she’s poised, we’re poised. It’s hard to have that type of personality and leadership on the court, but she carries it well.”

Rodrick Boone was diagnosed with stomach cancer in December 2012 and died in April 2013 while Johnson was at a tournament in New Orleans. She was 10 years old.

“I remember I shut down,” Johnson said. “My mind went blank. I was like ‘What?’ I thought he was untouchable.”

Months after her grandfather’s death, something shifted in her mindset.

“I think that’s my why,” Johnson said. “I keep going today because he is my why.”

As a child, Johnson didn’t even like basketball. She preferred T-ball and cheerleading and thought basketball wasn’t for girls, until she saw Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins and began to see herself differently.

“She was so pretty to me and I remember asking ‘Can I be girly and hoop?’” Johnson said.

She was the only girl on her recreational team, earning the nickname “Killer” for her defensive intensity alongside her brother, nicknamed “Thriller” for his offensive ability. The boys tested Johnson by playing physical and trying to push her out of the sport.

“I used to be cooking them out there a little bit, and I think they didn’t like that,” Johnson said.

She said the boys trying to make it hard on her actually made her tougher both physically and mentally.

Her grandmother, Connie Boone, said her grandfather would be proud of what Johnson has become.

“He might be crying but he would be happy about it,” her grandmother said. “You start them young, but you never know what the outcome is going to be.”

Johnson imagines the conversations she’d be having with her papa if he was still here.

“He would still be on my butt riding me, he’ll tell me maybe I need to fix something,” Johnson said. “He’ll be happy and I think he’ll be like ‘All right let’s get back to the drawing board. Let’s get ready for the next opponent.’”

She knows her papa is always watching, and she talks to him a lot at night.

“I just want to tell him that I’m going to keep pushing through even when it gets tough,” Johnson said. “He’s always telling me to push through because nobody cares. Nobody cares if you’re at your lowest, nobody cares.”

On Monday, fans chanted “Raven, Raven, Raven” as she walked off the court for the final time at Colonial Life Arena, Johnson’s moment was bigger than the scoreboard.

It was about diligence, progress and a promise kept.

With another game ahead and the possibility of a deeper tournament run, she isn’t finished. She continues to push and play for the voice that gave her a reason to begin.

Alyssia Hamilton is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.

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