Kiwanis Club of Spartanburg installs new officers 

The Kiwanis Club of Spartanburg held the installation of its new officers on October 9, 2025, conducted by Lieutenant Governor Brandy Singleton of Anderson. The new officers include President Bill Dobbins, President-elect Terri Hendrix, Board Member Sarah Shattuck, Secretary Scott Fleming, Board Member Eddie Lane, and Treasurer Reel Robertson. Vice-President Brad Gray and Board member Terrell Bal were absent.

 The Club was founded in 2019 and currently sponsors Terrific Kids programs in over 50 elementary schools in Spartanburg County.

Pinnacle, Synovus merger approved; regional impact expected for Spartanburg and Upstate

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Shareholders of Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. have approved the proposed merger of the two Southeast-based banking firms, clearing a major step toward creating one of the region’s largest financial institutions.

At separate shareholder meetings November 6, more than 90 percent of voters from both companies supported the combination. About 91.5 percent of Synovus shareholders and 92.2 percent of Pinnacle shareholders voted in favor of the deal, according to preliminary tallies released by the companies.

Synovus Bank has 2 branch locations in Spartanburg County while Pinnacle currently has one.

Pinnacle President and CEO Terry Turner, who is set to serve as chairman of the merged company, called the vote “a major milestone” for the firm.

“Today's shareholder vote confirms the value our management and board saw when we announced the deal,” Turner said in a statement. “We believe this combination will make us a peer leader in sustainable revenue and earnings growth - two of the key drivers of shareholder return.”

Synovus CEO Kevin Blair, who will become CEO of the combined company, said the merger positions the bank for long-term success.

“This partnership is both strategically and financially compelling,” Blair said. “Together, Synovus and Pinnacle are poised to create the fastest-growing, most profitable and dynamic regional bank in the country.”

The merger, announced earlier this year, still requires regulatory approval and other closing conditions before it becomes final. Company officials expect the transaction to close during the first quarter of 2026.

While awaiting approval, integration teams from both banks are developing plans for combining operations, including employee structures, benefits, and technology systems.

Pinnacle, Tennessee’s second-largest bank holding company, operates in several major Southeastern markets, including South Carolina. Synovus, based in Columbus, Georgia, has 244 branches across Georgia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The merger could strengthen the banks’ presence in the Upstate, where both firms already serve business and retail clients. Local banking analysts say the combined company may bring additional resources, lending capacity and regional investment to the Spartanburg area.

From left: Elissa Shealy, groundskeeper; Jason Getgasorn, grounds supervisor; President Nayef Samhat; and Stewart Winslow, director of horticulture and landscape design. Wofford College photo 

Wofford’s Arboretum honored as TreesSC 2025 Heritage Tree of the Year

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Wofford College’s Roger Milliken Arboretum has been named the 2025 Heritage Tree of the Year by TreesSC, recognizing the campus’s lush canopy and commitment to environmental stewardship.

The award was presented November 5 during the TreesSC annual conference, held this year in Spartanburg. Wofford President Nayef Samhat and Director of Horticulture and Landscape Design Stewart Winslow accepted the honor on behalf of the college. A bronze marker now commemorates the recognition near the Franklin W. Olin Building.

“This is such an honor, and we will use it as inspiration to keep up the good work,” Samhat said, crediting the college’s grounds crews for maintaining the 195-acre arboretum.

Named for longtime trustee and textile leader Roger Milliken, the arboretum reflects his vision of a campus that blends academic excellence with natural beauty. The tree canopy, Samhat noted, continues to shape first impressions for prospective students and visitors alike.

Sherman College, USC Upstate partner to support student athletes 

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Nov. 4, 2025) – Sherman College of Chiropractic and the University of South Carolina Upstate have announced a new partnership designed to enhance student learning and promote health and wellness among USC Upstate’s student-athletes.

Through the agreement, chiropractic interns from the Sherman College Chiropractic Center—supervised by Dr. Michael L. Tomasello, associate professor of clinical sciences and Sherman’s case doctor for sports outreach—will provide regular on-campus chiropractic care for USC Upstate Spartan athletes. The care is aimed at improving performance, increasing mobility, and supporting recovery from injuries.

The partnership was formalized with a signing by Sherman College President Dr. Jack Bourla and USC Upstate Chancellor Dr. Bennie L. Harris, marking a milestone in collaboration between the two Spartan-burg-based institutions.

“This partnership is a win-win,” Bourla said. “Our interns gain valuable hands-on experience in a collegiate athletic environment, while USC Upstate’s student-athletes receive the benefits of regular chiropractic care to support their performance, recovery, and overall well-being.”

Harris said the agreement aligns closely with the university’s mission to promote student success both on and off the field. “At USC Upstate, we are committed to helping our students reach their highest potential—academically, personally, and athletically,” he said. “Partnering with Sherman College adds another important layer of support for our student-athletes while enriching the educational experience for Sherman interns.”

Matthew D. Martin, USC Upstate’s director of athletics and vice chancellor for intercollegiate athletics, praised the partnership for strengthening athlete care and performance. “Our athletes put tremendous effort into representing USC Upstate at the highest level,” Martin said. “Having Sherman College’s chiropractic interns as part of our wellness team helps ensure they can train and compete safely, recover faster, and maintain peak performance.”

The Sherman–USC Upstate partnership underscores both institutions’ shared commitment to education, health, and community engagement—benefiting students and strengthening the Spartanburg region.

Denny’s headquarters in Spartanburg, SC

Spartanburg’s Denny’s to go private in $620 million sale

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Denny’s Corp., one of Spartanburg’s most recognizable corporate names, has agreed to be acquired by a group of investors in a $620 million deal that will take the longtime public company private.

The investor group includes New York-based TriArtisan Capital Advisors, Treville Capital Group and California-based Yadav Enterprises, one of Denny’s largest franchisees.

Under the agreement, Denny’s shareholders will receive $6.25 per share in cash, a price that represents a 52 percent premium over the company’s closing stock price Nov. 3. The Denny’s board of directors unanimously approved the offer.

Once the transaction closes — expected in the first quarter of 2026 pending shareholder and regulatory approval — Denny’s stock will be delisted from the Nasdaq exchange, ending more than three decades as a publicly traded company.

Denny’s Chief Executive Officer Kelli Valade said the board reviewed offers from multiple potential buyers before deciding the sale was in the best interest of shareholders.

“After a thorough and competitive process, the board determined this transaction delivers significant and certain value to our stockholders,” Valade said in a statement.

TriArtisan has experience investing in restaurant and hospitality brands, including P.F. Chang’s. Treville specializes in alternative assets, and Yadav Enterprises, led by Anil Yadav, operates roughly 550 restaurants across several chains.

“Denny’s is an iconic American brand with a strong franchise base and loyal customer following,” said Rohit Manocha, TriArtisan’s co-founder and managing director. “We look forward to working with the Denny’s team to support the company’s long-term growth plans.”

Founded in 1953, Denny’s moved its headquarters to Spartanburg in 1991 and now oversees more than 1,600 restaurants worldwide under the Denny’s and Keke’s Breakfast Café brands.

The sale marks another major corporate shift in South Carolina’s Upstate business landscape, as the region’s most well-known diner brand prepares to trade Wall Street visibility for private ownership.

For Spartanburg, the deal reinforces the city’s continued role as a corporate hub in the Upstate, where legacy brands like Denny’s remain economic anchors even amid ownership changes. Local business leaders say the company’s headquarters presence — with hundreds of employees and deep community ties — helps maintain the area’s reputation as a center for national restaurant and hospitality management.

Corey Alston. Courtesy of the South Carolina State Museum 

Gullah artist Corey Alston commissioned for sweetgrass masterpiece

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina State Museum has commissioned acclaimed Gullah artist and cultural ambassador Corey Alston to create a one-of-a-kind sweetgrass basket that will honor the state’s Gullah Geechee heritage and expand its folk and traditional art collection.

The commissioned piece, set to be completed in February 2026, will mark one of the largest and most ambitious works of Alston’s career. A fifth-generation basket weaver from the South Carolina Lowcountry, Alston has earned national recognition for preserving and advancing the centuries-old Gullah art form, a tradition rooted in West African craftsmanship brought to the Carolinas by enslaved Africans.

“I’m a South Carolinian, to the heart,” Alston said in a statement. “I want to do something special for my state. I’m extremely blessed to be chosen to do this, and I’m so thankful to the South Carolina State Museum for choosing me to create this amazing piece.”

Mentored by legendary weaver Mary Jackson, Alston has emerged as one of the most visible contemporary voices of the Gullah Geechee community. His work has been featured by institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, the Charleston Visitors Center, and the International African American Museum in Charleston.

Museum officials said the commission reflects a continued commitment to supporting living South Carolina artists and preserving the state’s diverse cultural heritage. The piece will join the museum’s permanent collection, which includes several examples of traditional sweetgrass baskets now featured in From the Vault: South Carolina Art from the Museum’s Collection.

The State Museum, located in downtown Columbia, is the largest and most comprehensive museum in South Carolina, with collections spanning art, history, natural history and science.

For Upstate communities such as Spartanburg, where local arts institutions and universities have strengthened ties to Gullah heritage through exhibits and education programs, the commission underscores how cultural preservation can fuel creative and economic growth statewide. By celebrating artists like Alston, South Carolina continues to bridge its coastal traditions with the broader story of the state’s identity — from the Lowcountry to the foothills of the Blue Ridge.

Cultural advocates say efforts like this also ripple beyond the arts sector, inspiring collaborations among museums, schools and tourism agencies across the state. From Spartanburg’s Chapman Cultural Center to Charleston’s art districts, institutions are increasingly working together to elevate homegrown talent and position South Carolina as a leader in Southern art and heritage preservation.

Since opening in 1988, the South Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and showcasing the rich culture, art, natural history, technology and innovation of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum provides educational environments that entertain, inspire and enrich the lives of millions of visitors and students from across South Carolina. For more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org.