The Pendulum is expected to be one of the biggest draws to the Planetarium. Spartanburg County Public Library photo 

New Spartanburg Planetarium fueling interest in stars, universe, planets and beyond

Spartanburg one of only two library systems in U.S. with in-house attraction 

By L. C. Leach III, Spartan Weekly News staff writer

If you’re looking for a universal gift this holiday season, Spartanburg County’s new Planetarium is a treat you might keep forever.

The $15 million, 28,000-square-foot facility opened in October at 151 S. Church Street as part of the Spartanburg County Public Libraries system – and the attraction is not only a long-anticipated sensation, but is taking area learning and patrons beyond the stars – literally.

“We saw over 2,500 people at the October grand opening, and another 2,500 have attended our shows – far exceeding our expectations,” said planetarium director Andy Flynt. “We are only second public library in U.S. so far to have a planetarium (along with St. Charles Parish, La.), and people are loving coming in and seeing what it’s all about.”

For example, upon entering the lobby, you are greeted by a large swinging ball, suspended from a ceiling cable, known as the Foucault Pendulum.

Visible from inside and outside the building, this device was Invented in 1851 by French physicist Leon Foucault to demonstrate how the Earth revolves around an axis as defined by the North and South poles. The pendulum ball, or bob, slowly swings back and forth in a slightly curved line, under the influence of gravity, rotating for 42 hours around a horizontal circle before reaching its original starting point.

“The closer to the equator the pendulum is, the longer it takes the bob to complete a circle,” Flynt said. “At the North Pole, at 90 degrees north latitude, the Foucault Pendulum moves much faster and actually completes a circle in almost exactly 24 hours.”

While you will be tempted to watch it come full circle, exploring the rest of the Planetarium will reveal lots of exhibit space, a learning classroom, and the signature 50-foot domed theatre, where your journey really takes off.

In December alone, morning and afternoon attractions include:

• Aurora. Lights of Wonder. See the still, dynamic features of the 2025 Aurora Substorm – and wonder afterward how fast the time went.

• Passport to the Universe. Fly beneath the rings of Saturn, into the heart of the Orion Nebula, and into the vastness of space to experience stunning cosmic destinations as never before possible.

• Solar Superstorms. A fury is building on the surface of the Sun – high-velocity jets, a fiery tsunami wave that reaches 100,000 kilometers high, rising loops of electrified gas. What’s driving these strange phenomena? How will they affect planet Earth? Find the answers as you venture into the sun’s seething interior.

“In 35-40 minutes, we can take you to planets, fly you around planets, show you the stars and tell you their stories, and share a documentary about science with you,” Flynt said. “And we’re just starting.”

The new Planetarium was almost three years in the making. While construction was underway, Flynt spent much of 2023 and 2024 putting together a team and program, and visiting 15 other planetariums for ideas, service, and staffing.

Along the way, signs were constantly encouraging, as over $5 million of the cost was funded by local individuals and organizations.

So don’t wait for Santa – Because while a gift visit to the Planetarium will be eye-opening or even mind-blowing, chances are you’ll be back for more all through the year.

“I’m proud of seeing the Planetarium open on time, but there is a whole lot more to do and learn,” Flynt said. “And I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now.” 

Inman native Ryan Hunter recently represented SMC at the NAIA Championships. SMC photo 

Inman’s Ryan Hunter caps breakthrough season with historic Nationals appearance for SMC

By Melissa Rhine, Spartan Weekly News staff writer

Spartanburg Methodist College junior Ryan Hunter ended a standout 2025 cross country season with a historic showing at the NAIA Cross Country Championships on Nov. 21, becoming the first male student-athlete in SMC history to compete on the national stage.

Hunter, an Inman, S.C., native, finished 72nd overall in 25 minutes, 37.2 seconds on the challenging 8K course at Apalachee Regional Park. His steady climb through the field reflected the mindset that defined his season—confidence built on consistency, hard work and belief in the community behind him.

“This season has meant a lot to me,” Hunter said. “I’ve put in hard work every single day, and qualifying for and competing at the NAIA Cross Country Championships showed that all that effort was worth it. The Nationals trip was one of the best moments of my life, and sharing it with my coaches and parents made it even more special.”

During the championship race, Hunter said he drew strength from thinking about the people who supported him from the beginning. “I was thinking about my parents, girlfriend Zahaira, coaches, friends and teammates,” he said. “I knew that even if I fell short, they would still be proud of me and the season I had. Every time I passed someone, I felt stronger and more confident.”

His appearance at nationals marked a significant milestone for the Pioneers, especially in their first year competing in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. Hunter said representing SMC during such a transitional moment felt meaningful not just for himself but for the entire program.

“It felt great to represent Spartanburg Methodist at the NAIA Championships, and it being our first year in the AAC made it even more meaningful,” he said. “It feels good to show that we belong and that we’re ready to compete at a high level across all sports. It also felt great to represent my coaches, Coach MJ and Coach Maxwell, in their first seasons of being head coach and assistant coach at nationals. They have given the team a good program that has set us up for success.”

Hunter’s journey to the championship started years earlier at Chapman High School, where he first discovered the potential that would carry him to SMC. Representing his hometown, he said, is “one of the biggest honors.”

“My coaches at Chapman played a huge role in helping me get recruited to compete at the collegiate level,” he said. “I hope my journey can inspire younger athletes from Inman to believe in themselves and their community.”

On the track, Hunter has posted personal records across events ranging from the 800 meters to the steeplechase, but the 8K has taken on new meaning. “It has given me opportunities I never would have had otherwise,” he said. “The mile also holds a special place in my heart because it was the event that got me recruited to Spartanburg Methodist.”

Looking ahead, Hunter’s goals reflect the same upward trajectory. “I plan on breaking multiple school records and going back to nationals,” he said. “My senior year, I want to leave a legacy that shows what’s possible when you give something your all.”

Throughout his time at SMC, Hunter’s biggest inspiration has come from home.

“My parents and girlfriend Zahaira have inspired and supported me every day,” he said. He credits his father George’s recovery after a stroke and his mother Candice’s resilience as daily motivators. “Neither one of them has given up… Their hard work has inspired me to work hard at everything I do.”

With determination shaped by family, coaches and community, Hunter’s historic run signals not just the close of a remarkable season, but the start of an even brighter future—both for him and for Spartanburg Methodist College.

Abner Creek, Florence Chapel educators named Distinguished Literacy Teachers

Adapted from information provided by Spartanburg School District Five

Spartanburg County - Two District Five educators were surprised in November with the announcement that they have been selected as the 2025–26 Distinguished Literacy Teachers of the Year.

Elizabeth Koon, media specialist at Abner Creek Academy, received the elementary-level honor. Josh Noble, a seventh-grade English language arts teacher at Florence Chapel Middle School, was chosen for the secondary award. District Five Superintendent Randall Gary visited both schools to personally share the news and congratulate the recipients.

Elementary Honoree: Elizabeth Koon

Koon, a District Five graduate, now supports young learners at Abner Creek Academy, where she leads literacy initiatives as the school’s media specialist. She recently helped launch the school’s first student-run newspaper, the “Gator Gazette.”

She emphasizes early literacy and works to connect reading with meaningful, real-world experiences. “Literacy is not just a skill — it’s a gateway to creativity, exploration and personal growth that extends far beyond the classroom,” Koon said.

Secondary Honoree:  Josh Noble

Noble, a veteran educator and one of Florence Chapel Middle School’s eight house leaders, credits strong relationships and a sense of classroom community as the core of his teaching approach. He aims to know each student individually, believing that personal connection strengthens reading and writing skills.

“I believe literacy should be joyful, relevant and empowering,” Noble said. “Whether we’re analyzing a powerful passage, crafting a piece of writing or sharing a story that sparks laughter, I want students to feel that literacy is alive and connects them to the world and to one another.”

About the Award

The Distinguished Literacy Teacher recognition is presented each year by the Spartanburg County chapter of the Palmetto State Literacy Association. Each district nominates one elementary and one secondary educator who demonstrate excellence in literacy instruction and a dedication to fostering lifelong readers.

Koon and Noble were selected through a districtwide application and review process after being recommended by their respective schools. They will now move on to the county-level competition, where they will represent District Five among educators from across Spartanburg County. 

South Carolina farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene, as well as tornados, floods and droughts, may now apply for a second round of federal aid. In this photo a Utah farmer harvests crops on his family’s farm in western Weber County on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (File photo by Spenser Heaps/ Utah News Dispatch) 

More federal aid available to SC farmers impacted by drought, Hurricane Helene

By Jessica Holdman for SC Daily Gazette

www.scdailygazette.com

South Carolina farmers impacted by Hurricane Helene, as well as tornados, floods and droughts that hit the state in the last two years, can apply for a second round of federal aid.

The application period opened Monday, November 24th for 2023 and 2024 natural disaster-related crop losses for which farmers did not have crop insurance.

The aid can also help insured farmers recuperate any minor losses that were not enough to trigger an insurance payout, as well as damage to crops that reduced the sale value of those crops.

The U.S. Farm Service Agency has a total of $16 billion it can award nationwide for what’s known as the Supplemental Disaster Relief Program.

From the first funding round, about 2,120 South Carolina farmers received a total of $42.6 million in aid, mostly for losses to corn, peaches, soybean and cotton crops.

About $10.3 billion still remains available in the national program, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Farmers have through April 30, 2026, to apply for these dollars.

When it comes to drought relief, eligible counties in 2023 include Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Fairfield, Greenville, Laurens, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg, Union and York. In 2024, those counties are Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Horry, Lee, Marion, Sumter and Williamsburg.

Applications also opened Monday for dairy farmers who had milk spoil or farmers whose crops were ruined while stored in grain bins on the farm.

The Milk Loss Program provides up to $1.65 million in payments to eligible dairies. The on-farm stored crop program provides for up to $5 million.

Farmers have until Jan. 23, 2026, to apply for these two disaster programs.

All of this aid applies nationwide and is separate from a South Carolina-specific grant, which the federal agriculture agency awarded to the state in September.

That $38 million grant applied to farmers and timber companies across 33 of South Carolina’s 46 counties.

That grant covers damage to trees and crops that can take multiple years to mature, such as pecan trees. It also covered farm buildings, irrigation equipment, on-farm roads and fish hatchery equipment, as well as losses for farmers who couldn’t get their crops to market because of storm damage, according to the state Department of Agriculture.

The application period for that money has not yet began, according to the department’s website.