Hardwood Flooring in Greenville, SC

There’s a lot for the littles coming up this week, plus more chances to get outside. Immerse your whole family in art and history and get ready for some mean girls to take the stage (because on Wednesdays, we wear pink). Looking for more? Find Upstate Parent’s full calendar, plus emergency prep tips, law basics for parents and much more at upstateparent.com.

To include your organization’s family friendly events in Upstate Parent, email chris@worthyplace.com.

Tutankhamun: His Tomb and His Treasures

opens March 21 at the Amherst at Deerpark Exhibition Center at Biltmore Estate in Asheville. The exhibit continues through Jan. 4, 2026. This exhibition offers an exploration into ancient Egypt and the time of Tutankhamun, featuring a close look at the discovery of King Tut’s tomb and the extraordinary treasures that were found inside, exactly as they were when first discovered by famed archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922. Showcasing the cultural heritage of one of history’s most significant archaeological finds, this exhibition features expert-crafted, true-to-life replicas of artifacts. For tickets and details, visit biltmore.com/things-to-do/events/tut.

Better Together: Bugs & Plants – A Study In Science is 9 a.m. – noon March 21 at TR Makers Co. Recommended for ages 5-12. $48 per session. For more information and registration, visit trmakersco.org/product/msall-s25-k5.

Zookeeping Kids: Conservation, a drop off program for ages 8 – 11, is 10 a.m. – noon March 21 and 22 at the Greenville Zoo. For details and registration, visit greenvillezoo.com.

Friday Garden Foray is 10 – 11:30 a.m. March 21 at the South Carolina Botanical Garden. For full details and registration, visit clemson.edu/scbg/visit/events/index.html.

Food Truck Friday with Vampire Penguin is 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. March 21 at TCMU-Greenville. Visit tcmupstate.org.

Yoga is at 3 p.m. March 21 at TCMU-Greenville. Join in to practice mindfulness, breathing exercises, and stretching. The class is led by a volunteer certified yoga instructor. This Healthy Hustle class is included with admission. Visit tcmupstate.org.

Mauldin Theatre Company presents “Mean Girls Jr.” March 21 – 30 at Mauldin Cultural Center. For tickets and details, visit mauldinculturalcenter.org.

Storytime on the Steps is at 10 a.m. March 22 at M. Judson Booksellers on Main Street in Greenville. Visit for a story time and sweet treat. The event will move indoors to the children’s section if weather requires. Visit mjudsonbooks.com.

An End of Hibernation Hunt is 1 – 2 p.m. March 22 at Conestee Nature Preserve. Geared for ages 7 – 11 but all are welcome. To register, visit tickettailor.com/events/conesteenaturepreserve/1491452 and to learn more, visit conesteepreserve.org.

ImmUnity Play Circle is 5 – 7 p.m. March 23 at Kids Play & Café, Easley. ImmUnity Play Circle is a safe and inclusive event designed for children with rare diseases and complex medical needs, providing them with an accessible space to connect, play, and just be kids. Register at throughevelyseyes.org.

Toddler Story Time is at 10 a.m. March 25 at the Spartanburg Main Library. Best suited for ages 3 and younger. Ask for tickets at the children’s entrance starting at 9:30 a.m. See details at spartanburglibraries.org.

Garden Sprouts is 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. March 25 at the South Carolina Botanical Garden. Preschool children and their caregivers discover the wonders of the Botanical Garden through nature walks, crafts and more. For full details and registration, visit clemson.edu/scbg/visit/events/index.html.

Tell Me About It Tuesday: Harris’s Hawk is at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. March 25 at the Greenville Zoo. Included with admission. For details, visit greenvillezoo.com.

STEM Story Time for ages 5 and younger is at 10 a.m. March 26 at the Spartanburg Science Center. For details, visit spartanburgsciencecenter.org/stem-storytime.

“Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience” and “Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience” are at the Greenville Convention Center through March 30. This is a family-friendly exhibition with music and more. For details, tickets and schedules, visit beyondexhibitions.com.

Upstate International Month continues through March 31. It is a multi-county collaboration of organizations, partners, sponsors and communities. Welcoming, supporting, celebrating and educating through a variety of internationally themed events, UIM promotes our rich cultural diversity, heritage, and global connections. For events and details, visit upstateinternational.org.

Coming soon:

Drumming Up Awareness – Thrive Upstate, the oldest and largest non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities in Greenville County, invites the community to join Drumming Up Awareness noon – 1 p.m. March 28 at Graham Plaza outside the Peace Center. Join a rhythmic celebration that highlights the hard work and creativity of participants. For details, visit thriveupstate.org.

iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival is 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. April 5 in downtown Greenville. The festival is free and includes hands-on STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning for students in pre-K – grade12 and their families. Visit imaginesteamsc.org/upstate.

Even as Main Street Greenville gussied up all around it, City Tavern remained, well, let’s call it unadorned with its aqua colored metal facade covering the two upper floors and a gray nondescript entrance.

The only thing that seemed to change in 20 years was the outside became a bit dingier as business grew every year, attracting an eclectic crowd, from downtown workers to college students looking for slushy alcoholic drinks. Cajun cheesesteaks are a staple.

Owner Steve Woods likes to call it arrogantly shabby, a nod to Pawleys Island, near Myrtle Beach where he grew up.

“I never knew that my building was ugly until I was told it was ugly, it was just my building,” Woods said in a city-produced video.

The city called it one of the boldest buildings on Main.

Greenville Mayor Knox White has encouraged Woods to improve the look of things for years.

The time has come.

City Tavern closed Monday while the facade undergoes a dramatic $700,000 upgrade and the interior gets some improvements as well, including raising the ceiling to 10 feet from 8. It will reopen in May.

One of the unusual details of the current building besides the color are the three square windows on the second floor and one on the third. The new look will have floor-to-ceiling windows on all floors and gray siding.

In the city’s video, White said the location at Main and North streets could not be more conspicuous and is a throw back to what Greenville used to look like before the massive renovations and new building swept through downtown, making Greenville a staple on ‘best of’ lists.

“There were probably 20 buildings that looked like this,” White said in a video as he stood in front of the restaurant.

Owens said in an interview he had been hesitant to make “vanity upgrades,” despite nudges from the city for change. He said White first contacted him about it when he bought the building 20 years ago.

The building was once the Ritz Theater, which burned down and then rebuilt was a stamping and engraving operation. The aqua panels were installed when the building was rebuilt in 1960.

“I didn’t hate it,” Owens said.

He said interior work needed before the facade could be taken down was completed this week with the actual removal expected to begin Monday.

Owens intends to step back a bit from the day-to-day operations now that he has partnered with Jeremy Krauze and Chris Rosensteel in City Tavern. The three own Society Sandwich Bar and Social Club, also in downtown Greenville.

As part of the renovation, the three-story building will house two other restaurant concepts on the upper floors. They are not saying specifically what yet but it will be a year for work to begin on the second floor and two years for the third.

One idea they are considering is a cocktail lounge that serves tapas for the second floor, Rosensteel said.

The project is getting some buy-in from the city’s Facade Improvement Program with a $250,000 grant to redo the exterior.

The bar was formerly Tassie’s Tavern, which Woods renamed City Tavern when it opened in 2005.

Slush drinks were there from the start. And will remain as will the Cajun cheesesteak even as some new items are added.

The restaurant will also begin serving lunch, Owens said.

This story was originally published March 20, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

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PICKENS, S.C. —

Here you will find the latest updates on the Table Rock State Park fire in Pickens County, South Carolina:

Pickens County Officials say aerial and ground operations continue on top of Table Rock. A spot fire has started between Table Rock and the Stool. Additional ground crews will be taking over operations into the evening. Aerial operations will continue until sundown, and enhanced aerial operations will begin tomorrow morning. A fire break has been established at High Low Gap.

SCFC Pilot Lee Berry

White Oak campground bas been evacuated. At this time, there are no other evacuation orders for this area. However, the public is advised to remain prepared in case an evacuation becomes necessary.

Out of an abundance of caution, local fire officials are calling for voluntary evacuations of residents who live on eight roads in close proximity to Table Rock Mountain. Those roads are:

Officials are going door-to-door to make residents aware of the call for voluntary evacuations and also working to establish a nearby evacuation center yet to be determined. Residents on these roads are not in immediate danger, but are being notified of the possibility of the eventual spread of the Table Rock Fire to their vicinity.

SCFC Pilot Lee Berry

The Table Rock Fire, which ignited Friday, is estimated at 35-plus acres and continues to grow.

While more than 30 personnel from the South Carolina Forestry Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Greenville Water, the USDA Forest Service and local fire departments are working to contain the fire, the steep, mountainous terrain is making it difficult for firefighters to access the active fire and establish more effective firebreaks.

Four aircraft have been providing aviation support all day, including one SCFC airplane surveying the fire, two SCFC single-engine air tankers dropping water and one SLED helicopter using a Bambi bucket to drop water. Officials are hoping to add more air resources tomorrow as the situation evolves.

"Greenville Water is closely monitoring the ongoing wildfire originating at Table Rock Park, which has now spread onto the Greenville Water watershed property. Our highest priority remains the safety of the public, emergency personnel, and the protection of our critical source water areas."

"We strongly urge residents and travelers to stay clear of Highways 11 and 276 to ensure emergency responders have unobstructed access to affected areas. It is imperative that these routes remain open and safe for firefighting operations and emergency support services.We are actively collaborating with local, state, and federal emergency management agencies to support firefighting efforts and protect our watershed. Greenville Water has mobilized additional resources to assist emergency teams in managing and containing the fire."

Additionally, Greenville Water emphasizes the importance of complying with the current burn ban. Due to dry conditions, strong winds, and heightened wildfire risks, the burn ban is critical to preventing further spread of fires and protecting both the environment and community safety. "

On Friday March 21, 2025 at approximately 5:45pm, the Pickens County Sheriff's Office Communications Center received a call from Law Enforcement Officers who were searching for Stephanie Womacks, who went missing earlier this month, reporting a fire at Table Rock State Park. The location of the fire trapped the deputies and a number of hikers for a period of time. Fortunately, the presence of emergency personnel with the Sheriff’s Office and Table Rock State Park allowed them to account for and rescue everyone with no injuries.

Search for missing woman in the Upstate suspended, emergency management says

Personnel from Pickens County Emergency Services Fire Division, the SC Forestry Commission, Table Rock State Park and the Pickens County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene to begin fire suppression operations. Air operations were able to make a water drop and begin containing the fire while hand crews began accessing the fire. Crews remained on scene until 2am Saturday March 22.

Red Flag Fire Alert prompts statewide burn ban in South Carolina

Currently, 40 personnel from Pickens County, the SC Forestry Commission, the U.S. Forest Service, Greenville Water System, SC State Fire and the Greenville County Emergency Response Team are on scene beginning day operations which will consist of continued water drops from Forestry Commission air tankers and a helicopter from the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) as well as ground crew operations to construct fire breaks around the fire.

The fire is currently contained to the top of Table Rock and has burned approximately 10 acres. At this time, no evacuations are expected, however; people living in the area should remain vigilant and prepared should they become necessary. Updates will be provided throughout the day as the operations progress.

As a precaution and to allow for fire operations, all trail systems at Table Rock State Park are closed, and the public is asked to avoid the area around Table Rock. Residents may see an increase in smoky conditions in the area throughout the day.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Pickens County Sherriff's Office and the SC Forestry Commission Law Enforcement Division. Four teenagers have been questioned, and charges are pending.

Citizens are reminded that a statewide outdoor burning ban is in effect for the entire state until further notice.

The Pickens County Sheriff says two negligent hikers started a fire his deputies just barely escaped.

That wildfire is burning at Table Rock State Park in Pickens County, South Carolina.

According to the Pickens County Sheriff's Office, deputies were searching for Stephanie Womacks when they were barely able to escape the flames.

Officials say two hikers are accused of starting the fire due to negligence.

Deputies say the hikers have been identified and charges will be announced at a later date.

Madeline Stewart with the South Carolina Forestry Commission said crews are working to gather information on the fire's acreage.

Stewart said she deployed two planes to fly over the area and dump water on the fire.

South Carolina State Parks said in a park advisory that all trails at Table Rock are closed until further notice.

Photo: WYFF News

Officials say the volunteer search for Womacks scheduled for Saturday has been canceled due to the fire.

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Greenville News

This article has been updated.

A compromise between state legislators and Greenville County over where a sanitation division operates and collects fees could be close.

State Rep. Mike Burns (R-District 17) said Thursday that sides are working towards an agreement, but the Greater Greenville Sanitation Division's ability to collect property taxes, or millage, remains a sticking point.

“We’re going to sit at the table and see where we land with the millage,” Burns said.

Burns and Rep. Bruce Bannister (R-District 24) co-sponsored two bills in the South Carolina House. H.B. 4002 would dissolve the sanitation division if operations veer outside its designated service area. The other bill, H.B. 4003, allows the division to operate within its boundaries and requires it to charge customers flat fees for waste pick up rather than collect through property taxes. The bills are in the Senate after the House passed both on March 6.

The dispute has caused angst and confusion among sanitation customers. People living within the sanitation division's boundaries pay for waste pickup in a combination of sanitation fees and a millage rate through their annual tax bills. Service clients also pay a millage rate.

State Sen. Karl Allen (D-Greenville) is stepping in to host a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. today at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church to explain the dispute to residents.

Allen said the bills "struck a nerve" as a majority of his District 7 constituents are served by the sanitation district. Most of the complaints he's received have come from elderly residents.

"Senior citizens have enough to worry about. They shouldn’t have to be worried about whether their trash is going to be picked up and whether they can afford it. They need to focus on essential services, not trash," Allen said.

Allen said he hopes all sides can come to an agreement for the betterment of Greenville's residents.

“Let's sit down like reasonable minds and see what needs to be tweaked and come up with a piece of legislation that serves the citizens of Greenville County,” Allen said.

The lawmakers contend the sanitation service oversteps its boundaries and compromises private sanitation businesses with its practices.

Burns' district encompasses the northern part of the county, while Bannister’s district covers the southern portion of Greenville’s city limits and stretches into Mauldin. The districts are outside of the sanitation division's designated service area.

Burns said the division overcharged sanitation for some people within the designated service area while offering cheaper services for people in his area of Traveler’s Rest, which is outside of the service area.

“They came in and offered an unbelievable cut-rate price to get business clients outside their district," Burns said. "They're undercutting to get outside business off the backs of their own people.”

The state of South Carolina created the special service district in 1968 to collect waste in certain areas of Greenville County. According to the commission, the service area includes more than 60,000 people and covers more than 60 square miles.

The legislation dominated, at times, heated discussion during a Greenville County Council meeting Tuesday night. Council members said neither Burns nor Bannister notified them about the bills.

Since the controversy emerged, questions about a possible conflict of interest for Bannister have also surfaced.

Bannister was the attorney for the National Waste and Recycling Association in 2021 when it mounted a court challenge against the Greater Greenville Sanitation's plans to build a new transfer station. The association represented the sanitation company Republic Services, a competitor of the sanitation district.

Greenville County Council chairman Benton Blunt said it’s not a good look.

“When it comes to something as serious as potentially disrupting sanitation service for areas of Greenville County, that, to me, is playing with fire a little too much.”

A Greenville County Circuit Court judge denied the association's challenge in November 2023. The transfer station is set to be located along Highway 124, which is outside of the sanitation district's designated service area.

Bannister did not respond to the Greenville News request for comments, and Burns declined to comment about the previous legal action.

South Carolina women's basketball begins March Madness with Friday's first-round matchup against 16-seed Tennessee Tech in Columbia.

The Gamecocks (30-3) are one of the favorites to win this month's NCAA Tournament with a uncomplicated draw in the region.

Tennessee Tech (26-5) swept the OVC regular season and conference tournament titles to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament.

Here's how to watch the South Carolina vs Tennessee Tech in March Madness today, including time, TV schedule and streaming information:

What channel is South Carolina women's basketball vs Tennessee Tech in March Madness on today?

South Carolina vs. Tennessee Tech will broadcast nationally on ESPN. Courtney Lyle and Carolyn Peck will call the game at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia. Streaming options for the game include FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.

South Carolina women's basketball vs Tennessee Tech in March Madness time today

The South Carolina women's basketball vs. Tennessee Tech game starts at 4 p.m. Friday from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.

South Carolina women's basketball vs Tennessee Tech in March Madness predictions, picks, odds

Greenville News reporter Lulu Kesin's prediction: South Carolina 85, Tennessee Tech 52

It's difficult to bet against the Gamecocks, especially in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Te-Hina Paopao finishes with a team-high in her second to last game at home.

South Carolina women's basketball schedule 2024-2025

Record: 30-3

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