Current Weather Information

Scots Belong At Grandfather Mountain July 9 - 12
There is an aching need in every soul to belong, to feel part of something larger. And therein lies the formula for the success enjoyed by the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans. More details

Now is the Time to Prepare for Hurricanes and Flu Season
As the American Red Cross ramps up for another hurricane season, disaster response this year could bring an unusual complication: widespread flu caused by the swine flu (H1N1) virus. " We in the Red Cross are very aware that not only are we as a country responding to H1N1, but we have to continue to respond to disasters in that environment,” says Joe Becker, Senior Vice President of Disaster Services for the American Red Cross. More details

American Cancer Society Encourages People to Get Involved, Help Save Lives
People from all over South Carolina have been lacing up their shoes since the spring to join the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life events in their local area. This event, one in which celebrates birthdays, has brought numerous groups and individuals concerned about cancer together for a unified effort to fight back against the disease. More details

Sponsor a PalmettoPrideway
Developed by PalmettoPride, in partnership with SC Department of Transportation and the SC Department of Corrections, the program encourages businesses, organizations and individuals to sponsor sections of interstates and highways throughout the state by funding inmate clean-up services. The program is a great way for civic-minded businesses and groups to help make the state's interstates more beautiful, restore state pride and improve the quality of life in South Carolina. More details

First Tour de Tigerville on July 18
Tigerville Fire Department is holding the first Tour de Tigerville this coming July 18th, 2009! The ride begins on the 18th at 8:00AM and will be a 45K ride that takes participants on a scenic route throughout the entire district. More details

Laurens County Constructing First-of-Its-Kind Building
The Laurens County Development Corporation and Upstate SC Alliance announced the groundbreaking of the county’s Hunter Virtual Spec Industrial Building, the first of its kind in South Carolina. The building, which has been engineered by Warren & Associates Design Build is a 50,000 square feet of industrial space, will have an additional 50,000 square foot pad in place, affording potential businesses the opportunity to customize it up to 100,000 total square feet. More details

BMW Group USA Reports Monthly Sales
The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported June sales of 20,849 vehicles, a decrease of 20.3 percent from the 26,155 vehicles sold in the same month of 2008. The BMW Group also reported a year-to-date sales volume of 114,448 vehicles, down 27.5 percent, compared to 157,913 vehicles sold in the first half of 2008. More details

SCDPS Kicks Off Summer DUI Campaign
Imagine getting stopped by a South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper and receiving a citation tucked into a folder showing the faces of people killed by drunk drivers. If it makes you think twice about driving after having a few drinks, then you got the message. More details

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at Flat Rock Playhouse
July 22 – August 16
Flat Rock Playhouse presents Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a love story that charms with warmth and wit, onstage July 22 – August 16. The musical is loaded with foot-tapping songs, wonderful dance numbers, and an enjoyable story that is old-fashioned in a way that couldn't be gotten away with today. More details

Summer Road Show Returns to State Museum
So you found an oil painting at an estate sale or finally got interested in the antique silver tea service left to you by great-aunt Mildred, and you want to find out more. Curious guests will have their chance to learn about all kinds of artifacts, antiques and heirlooms Saturday, July 11 as the South Carolina State Museum presents the second summer edition of one of its most popular events — the Museum Road Show. More details

Feed Summer Hummingbirds for Entertainment, Beauty
Hummingbirds, which artist John J. Audubon called "glittering fragments of the rainbow," are once again darting around flowers and feeders in South Carolina, say state natural resources officials. "Hummingbirds are as fascinating to study as they are beautiful to watch," said Laurel Barnhill, wildlife biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in Columbia. More details

Visit Cliffs Cottage This Summer and Register to Win Dream Weekend at Home in Fall
The Cliffs Cottage at Furman University will be open for one last summer, with visitors invited to register for the chance to spend a September weekend in one of America’s greenest homes before it’s converted into Furman office space. The Cliffs Cottage, built in 2008, is Southern Living magazine’s first “green” Showcase Home. Located near the Bell Tower on the Furman lake, the house is a model of environmentally responsible design, sustainable building techniques and materials, and energy-saving systems. More details

ASPCA Offers Summer Safety Tips to Help Pets Beat the Heat
As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) reminds animal lovers how to keep pets safe and happy when summer arrives. “Summertime is a wonderful time for family and friends to get together and enjoy themselves, often with a beloved pet by their side,” says Dr. Steven Hansen, senior vice president of the ASPCA’s Midwest Office, which also houses the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. More details

Nesting Chimney Swifts Are Source of Noise Now Heard in Fireplaces
South Carolina residents who are hearing strange noises coming from their chimneys can be assured that the visitors are friendly and helpful chimney swifts, the only bird in North America which nests almost exclusively in chimneys. Most homeowners were unaware that birds were nesting inside their chimneys until the young swifts started their loud food-begging calls at two weeks of age.More details

South Carolina Then and Now
The South Carolina Department of Archives & History announces the release of its newest publication, South Carolina Then and Now, edited by Jason Silverman of Winthrop University and Archives and History Publications Director Judith Andrews. The hardbound book features nearly 300 color and black and white photographs and illustrations that capture the essence of the Palmetto State. More details

The Nature Conservancy Joins “United We Serve” Initiative
The Nature Conservancy is taking part in United We Serve, a national effort launched by President Obama to engage more Americans in serving their communities this summer. “In these tough economic times, we need volunteers more than ever,” said Mark Tercek, President and CEO of The Nature Conservancy. More details

Statewide Deer Harvest Increases Slightly In 2008
Results of the 2008 Deer Hunter Survey conducted by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources indicate that the statewide harvest of deer last season totaled 248,778, an increase of 4 percent over the previous year. An estimated 131,346 bucks and 117,432 does made up this total, according to Charles Ruth, Deer/Turkey Project supervisor for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR). More details

12 Community Projects Selected to Receive Stimulus Funds Through Commerce CDBG Program
The South Carolina Department of Commerce has announced that 12 Community Development Block Grant project applications have been selected to receive funding. The grant awards, selected by the Department of Commerce, are pending approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More details

Have Fun; Safety is Key While Swimming
Did you know that many families with young children plan on enjoying water fun this summer, and half of those families plan to swim in an area with no lifeguard on duty? The American Red Cross recently surveyed more than 1,000 adults on their water safety knowledge. More details

Greenville County Schools Boasts Success Rate of 82.9%
More students in Greenville County Schools are achieving success based on the school district’s Success Rate that recognizes student achievement for completion of approved programs of study. The Greenville County Success Rate of 82.9% includes students who received a regular state diploma in five years. More details

Biltmore Hosts Annual Summer Evening Concerts July 23 - August 1
Biltmore invites guests to enjoy a talented mix of performances during its annual summer concert series. Warm breezes and stunning sunsets set the stage for concertgoers to listen and watch their favorite performers from the South Terrace lawn of America's largest home. More details

New Sea Turtle Database Management System Upgrades Nest Monitoring
Nesting numbers are rising and residents and sea turtle enthusiasts alike are anxious to know which of South Carolina’s barrier islands will be in the lead this year. A new online database will now make this friendly competition simpler to follow. More details

Environmental Excellence Program Recognizes Industry
Sauer Danfoss in Easley, S.C. has been recognized as one of the newest members of the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program (SCEEP), the state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced. More details

Get Involved in United We Serve-As a Red Cross Volunteer
For people wanting to make a difference, the summer of 2009 is going to be memorable. President Obama recently announced a campaign of service called United We Serve which is a call for Americans to come together to help improve communities around the country. More details

Oconee Friends Group Receives National Award
America has a long and proud tradition of volunteer service. Now more than ever, volunteers are renewing their commitment to helping others and making new connections that bring us closer together as families, as neighbors, as communities, and as a Nation. More details

Life’s Better Outdoors with Renewed State Hunting and Fishing Licenses
It’s time for South Carolina hunters and anglers to purchase their 2009-2010 hunting and fishing licenses. Last season’s licenses expire June 30, 2009. More details

Roper Mountain Science Center Presents "Alice in Astroland"
Come tour the Universe with Alice and Chauncey the Cheshire Cat, as they meet King Cepheus, Princess Andromeda, and the Mad Queen Cassiopeia. See large, high-resolution images featuring many of the latest astronomical discoveries captured by the Hubble, Chandra, and other orbiting space platforms in this animated production. More details

The Pride of Riverbanks Celebrates Its First Birthday
This June marks the first birthdays of the five lions that were born at Riverbanks last summer. Johari, Chuma, Jasiri-Congaree, Lina and Saied, the cubs formerly known as One, Two, Three, Four and Five, have gone through an incredible transformation over the past 12 months – starting with their names. More details

Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Among Top 20 Public Elite High Schools
For the fourth year in a row, the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics has been named one of the Top 20 "public elite" high schools in the nation by Newsweek magazine – the only one in the Palmetto State selected for that list. Public elite schools are ranked as part of the magazine’s annual recognition of America's 1,500 best public high schools. More details

Bridges to a Brighter Future Receives Honor as One of Nation's Top Summer Programs
The National Center for Summer Learning at The Johns Hopkins University has named Bridges to a Brighter Future at Furman University one of the nation’s best summer programs, selecting it from dozens of applicants across the country. Bridges serves students from all 14 public high schools in Greenville County, S.C., and a charter school. More details

Drought Officially Over in South Carolina; All Counties Removed from Drought Status
For the first time since August 2006, no area of South Carolina is under a drought declaration. Increased rainfall frequency and coverage over the last six months have alleviated the drought conditions statewide. More details

Upstate Keeps Tuition Increase To 3.6 Percent; Indications Point To Strong Fall Enrollment
The University of South Carolina’s Board of Trustees gave preliminary approval to a 2009-2010 operating budget on June 11 that results in a very modest 3.6 percent increase in tuition rates at USC Upstate. This increase translates into a $145 increase for a full-time student (12 to 16 credit hours) and brings tuition costs up to $4,176 per semester. More details

Two Greenville County Eighth-graders Win Promising Young Writers Awards
Two Greenville County middle school students are among the 163 winners of 2009 Promising Young Writers awards from the National Council of Teachers of English. The students are Muriel Lee, 13, an eighth-grader at Northwood Middle School in Taylors, and Walker Calhoun, 14, in the eighth grade at Riverside Middle School in Greer. More details

Greenville Tech's Private Pilot Certificate Program Graduates First Student
Greenville Technical College’s Private Pilot Certificate program graduated its first student in June. Randal (“Randy”) Holman completed all courses and has earned a private pilot’s license More details

Now is the Time to Plant Fields for Fall Mourning Dove Hunts
Dove hunters still have time to plant fields to attract doves during the upcoming season, according to a wildlife biologist with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources. The mourning dove is the most popular game species in the Southeast, and South Carolina is blessed with an abundance of these speedy birds. More details

Sliding Rock is Mother Nature’s Chilly Answer to Water Parks
Water parks are everywhere, and with the summer heat, young kids (and their parents) start thinking about whether they would rather go to Charlotte’s Carowinds or Atlanta’s Six Flags or even one of the parks over in Pigeon Forge. The “true” water park aficionado might also want to make plans to visit Mother Nature’s very own – and original – water park, Sliding Rock. More details

BMW Manufacturing Announces Expansion to Landfill Methane Gas Program
BMW is investing another $12 million to expand the capacity and efficiency of its landfill methane “Gas-to-Energy” program. The new system, which is nearing completion, will include two new highly-efficient gas turbine generators capable of producing 11,000 kilowatts (kW) of electricity. More details

Upstate Elementary School Participating in 2009 Lots2Give Program; Vote Now Online
Mary H. Wright Elementary School in Spartanburg needs your votes! The school has been selected to participate in the 2009 Lots2Give Program, sponsored by Big Lots stores. More details

REG’s Free Family Film Festival is Now Showing!
When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. More details

Energy Office Receives Federal Grant for Wind Energy Outreach
The South Carolina Energy Office (SCEO) was awarded $109,000 recently by the federal government to help generate market acceptance for offshore wind energy development in South Carolina and Georgia. The SCEO will collaborate with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority, utilities and other in-state partners. More details

SCWF Accepting Entries for Annual Wildlife Photo Contest
Calling all amateur photographers! The SCWF is sponsoring their 7th Annual Wildlife Photography Contest. Send sCWF your best pictures (by July 13th) capturing the beauty of South Carolina’s nature – in your own backyard or our backyard – that being South Carolina’s natural landscapes and creatures. More details

Studio 444 Announces 2009-10 Season
Studio 444, Greenville Little Theatre's alternative series has announced its 2009-10 Season. They will open with a 24 Hour Play Festival on August 8, 2009. More details

Make Plans to Give Blood This Summer
What are your plans for this summer? While you’re thinking about that trip to the beach or the mountains, or how to keep the kids amused while they’re out of school, have you thought about making an appointment to give blood? More details

What's There to Do at Furman This Summer? More Than You Probably Ever Imagined
If you find yourself near Furman University this summer, you might want to visit the campus and discover all there is to do and see. It’s possible, for instance, to visit Southern Living’s first “green” Showcase Home, experience a former Buddhist temple that sits high above a peaceful Asia Garden or see a replica of the cabin that Henry David Thoreau lived in while writing Walden. More details

BMW Plant Expansion Construction Nearly Complete
It has been over one year since BMW Manufacturing announced it would invest $750 million in its upstate South Carolina factory to add 1.5 million square feet. Since that time, design, engineering and construction crews have been busy constructing the new 1.2 million square foot assembly facility and have added 80% or 300,000 square feet to the existing paint shop. More details

Moore School Study: Natural Resources Boost Economy
South Carolina’s bountiful natural resources contribute nearly $30 billion annually to the state’s economy, and more than 230,000 jobs are tied to business activities formed around this resource base, according to a study released by the University of South Carolina’s Moore School of Business. “While it is hard to put a value on all the ways natural resources contribute to South Carolina’s economic development, it can be clearly shown that they support thousands of jobs, millions in income and a permanent base for economic development that should last forever,” according to the report, which was prepared by economists Dr. Douglas P. Woodward and Dr. Paulo Guimaraes in the school’s Division of Research. More details

Carolina Filters Announces Expansion in Sumter County, 20 New Jobs
The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Sumter Economic Development announced that Carolina Filters Inc. will expand its operations in Sumter County. The $3 million investment is expected to generate up to 20 new jobs in the next five years. More details

Hub City's Through the Pale Door is an Indie Finalist
Due for release onTHursday, Hub City’s Through the Pale Door by Brian Ray has been named a finalist in the First Novel category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. The Indie Book Awards program was established by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group to recognize and honor the best independently published books of the year in sixty categories. More details

Brushy Ditch Banks, Weedy Field Borders are Beneficial to Wildlife Around Farms
Brushy ditch banks and weedy field borders may not be attractive to some people, but many of South Carolina's favored farm wildlife and game species depend on these areas for their very survival. "Bobwhite quail and cottontail rabbits, as well as many songbirds, depend on areas dominated by grasses, weeds and small shrubs," said Billy Dukes, Small Game Project supervisor for the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR). More details

Prepare Now to Stay Safe During a Tornado
Tornadoes can occur at any time of year. In the southern states, peak tornado activity usually occurs in March through May. Northern states see more tornadoes during the summer. More details

Major American Cancer Society Study Looks to Greer for Participants
The American Cancer Society is looking to Greer residents to play a direct role in improving the lives of future generations by participating in an historic study. The Society will be signing up volunteers for its Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) at the Relay For Life of Greer, SC on May 15, 2009, from 7:00—11:00 pm at Dooley Field. More details

Downtown Sounds Brings Music to Downtown Anderson Through August
The 3rd annual event returns to the Anderson County Courthouse Plaza on Main Street with some new sponsors, a great musical lineup and a newly-constructed parking garage for patrons in Downtown Anderson. After two years as title sponsor, Barrett-Marcie Properties has discontinued its relationship with the event. More details

Main Street Jazz Brings Another Upbeat Downtown Season
Main Street Jazz, the popular weekly Friday night jazz series in downtown Greenville, is back for its 2009 season. This ongoing event rates high in the eyes of locals, and features some of the very best local, regional, and national jazz musicians. More details

“Downtown Alive” Back with Same Smooth Downtown Style
Downtown Alive is back for its annual roll through the great spring and summer weather in the Upstate. The traditional, weekly music series, established as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Arts Council (MAC), has become a popular Thursday night staple in downtown Greenville. More details

Introduce Kids to Hiking
We all know children who spend too much time indoors and not enough outside playing, let alone exploring nature. To help combat children’s inactivity and lack of knowledge and comfort with the natural world, PCF, with sponsorship from Palmetto Health, has launched a new program to teach kids through a combination of classroom lessons and outdoor recreation instruction.
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Greenville Ranked Among Relocate America's Top 100 Places to Live
Greenville has recently been named to Relocate America's Top 100 Places to Live. 2007 marks the tenth year compiling this list of the best places to live in the United States. More details

Regional and National Blood Supply Low, Donations Urgently Needed
The nation’s blood banks, represented by the American Red Cross, American Association of Blood Banks, and America’s Blood Centers, are asking for immediate blood donations to boost already critically low blood supplies. This call to action comes at a time when blood is traditionally in short supply due to the holidays, travel schedules, and illness. More details

Mice on Main – A Great Way to Spend Some Time with the Kids!
Margaret Wise Brown’s timeless children’s classic, “Goodnight Moon,” is the endearing story of a young bunny in striped pajamas who has to tell everyone and everything – in his room and in the world – goodnight before he can go to sleep for the night. Most any child or parent who has had a preschool child during any time in the last 50 years or so probably knows at least part of the brief and charming poetry that fills the pages of the book. So it comes as no surprise that a great many kids – with parents or grandparents in tow – have had a good time indeed in downtown Greenville as they search for those elusive “Mice on Main.”More details

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