Home Care In Gaffney, SC

GAFFNEY, S.C. —

More than 200 Upstate workers were informed on Monday they will soon be out of a job.

The Timken Company notified about 225 people who work at its bearings facility in Gaffney that the plant will be closing and gradually winding down operations by the end of the year, according to Scott Schroeder, the company's media relations director.

The plant, which makes roller bearings, is located on Timken Road, off Morgan Drive, near Old Georgia Highway.

"It’s just a sad day in Gaffney and Cherokee County," Cherokee County Development Board's Executive Director Jim Cook said. "Timken has been here for 50 years. “They were the first major non-textile industry to come to our county and Gaffney, I think, in the late 70s, and they’ve just really put us on the map. They diversified our economy. They’ve changed so many lives in our county. It’s like losing just a good friend.”

Cook says the numbers had been dwindling, so the announcement wasn't a shock. However, he said the county as a whole had more major business and economic development announcements in the last year than it has had in the last 10 to 15 years.

“We had our best year ever with job announcements and capital investment," Cook said. "Numbers are still yet to be released, but we had a really good year. At the same time, there were several industries though that were struggling, and we’re just keeping our eye on it. We’re doing the best we can. We’re trying to help those people who are being displaced by Timken closing.”

Cook says they've welcomed several other major companies to the county over the years, like DHL, Dollar Tree and Milliken.

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He says they're working to bring more companies into the county.

“Right now, we’re working several projects, so with the widening of 85 in Cherokee County and our growth in the Upstate, business all along the Upstate, we’re going to help the people at Timken, but we’re going to get somebody back in that building,” Cook said.

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"While difficult, we’re making this change to streamline our operations and restructure our manufacturing footprint to better compete in a global market," Schroeder said.

He said the company is helping affected employees by offering support, benefits planning and retention and severance pay. He said they are also giving them the opportunity to apply for open positions at other Timken locations.

"We wanted to be transparent and provide as much time as possible so associates can plan for their future," Schroeder said. "We’re committed to providing at least 60 days' notice prior to an associate’s last day," he said.

GAFFNEY, S.C. —

More than 250 jobs are coming to the Upstate thanks to a new bakery, officials said Wednesday.

State officials announced that Gaffney Bakery, LLC and its partners plan to establish operations in Cherokee County.

The company’s $96 million investment will create more than 260 new jobs, officials said.

“Gaffney Bakery, LLC recognizes that South Carolina is the key ingredient for success," Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Harvey S. Peeler Jr. said. "Our greatest asset – our people – is what makes that ingredient so strong."

Gaffney Bakery, LLC plans to purchase an existing state-of-the-art bakery facility located at 131 Corporate Drive in Gaffney that once housed ACE Bakery operations until it closed late last year.

Here is a look at the inside of the bakery facility when ACE opened in 2013.

The company will make significant renovations and improvements to assist in manufacturing frozen bakery products, officials said.

Operations are expected to be online by mid-2024.

More news (story will continue after links.)

Anyone interested in applying for a job at the new bakery should visit readySC in late 2023 and early 2024 for job postings, officials said.

Company officials look forward to opening this facility and partnering with South Carolina and Cherokee County.

Old Europe transports South Carolina customers with sweet tooth to traditional cafe

"This is a testament to the strength of our workforce, our business-friendly environment and our strategic location," Cherokee County Council Chairman Tim Spencer said. "We look forward to supporting their growth and success in our community."

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $2.5 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Cherokee County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

NORTH CHARLESTON — Two of the state’s top Class AAAAA teams, from different parts of the state, clashed on Friday night as No. 6 Fort Dorchester hosted No. 5 Gaffney at Bagwell Stadium.

Forty-five minutes before kickoff, the two teams introduced themselves to each other, creating a bunch of in-your-face trash talking. After coaches from both teams separated the teams, they got into a heated shouting match before moving on.

The pregame intensity spilled over into the actual game, won by Gaffney in a 48-40 slugfest.

The game was tied 27-27 at the half, and Gaffney QB Riley Staton and his offense picked up where they left off in the third quarter, driving 79 yards on 14 plays. The drive was capped by an 18-yard run by Jaiden McDowell to give the Indians a 34-27 lead midway through the period.

Davian Brown’s second long kick return of the night set Fort Dorchester up at the Gaffney 27-yard line. Aided by a pass interference call, the Patriots tied the game on a three-yard run by Watson with 3:52 left in the third for a 34-34 tie.

Gaffney’s second possession of the second half was another impressive drive. The Indians went 80 yards on 13 plays with Staton connecting with Littlejohn on a 22-yard scoring pass, giving Gaffney a 44-37 lead with 11:39 to play in the game.

The game turned seconds later when Gaffney’s King Dowdle intercepted a Watson pass. On Gaffney’s next play, McDowell went 31 yards for a touchdown and the Indians led 48-34 with 10:44 left in the game. McDowell’s run put him at 151 yards rushing for the game.

Gaffney opened the game quickly, finding the end zone twice in the first four minutes of the game. Staton threw touchdown passes to Jaiden McDowell (21 yards) and Jamarcus Smith (45 yards) for a 14-0 lead.

The Patriots netted negative yardage on their first three possessions, but found some mojo late in the first quarter. A five-yard pass to Ryan Campbell cut Gaffney’s lead to 14-7 with 3:27 left in the quarter.

There would be three more touchdowns in the opening period. Gaffney got a 67-yard touchdown pass from Staton to Smith for a 20-7 lead. But Fort Dorchester quickly answered with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Charles Watson to Jaden Barry with 2:04 remaining.

The Patriots got an interception by Jonathan Howard to set up a 33-yard screen pass for a touchdown to Davian Brown, tying the game at 20.

The Indians answered with an 11-play drive with Staton hitting Emazon Littlejohn on a 7-yard scoring toss, giving Gaffney a 27-20 lead with 8:04 left in the first half. Late in the half, Fort Dorchester blocked a punt and scored in three plays with Watson connecting with Marquis Muhammad from nine yards out, sending the teams into the break tied at 27.

Staton finished the half with 237 yards passing, completing 17 of 22 attempts. Watson was Fort Dorchester’s biggest producer, throwing for 178 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters.

HANAHAN — Kevon Rivera had himself a season in one game against Aynor Friday night.

Rivera rushed for 264 yards and scored five touchdowns to lead Hanahan past Aynor by 41-16 in the opening round of the Class AAA playoffs on Nov. 3 at Wiley Knight Stadium.

The Hawks (7-4) will face Gilbert, a 49-12 winner over Darlington, in the second round of the playoffs on Nov. 10 at Hanahan High School.

Rivera, a four-year varsity starter, surpassed the 2,000-yard mark for the season and eclipsed the 5,000-yard career plateau with his performance against the Blue Jackets.

The 5-10, 220-pound senior scored on runs of 1, 2, 3, 6, and 41 yards. He had a 51-yard TD run called back on a holding penalty.

“We’ve got a great offensive line, I can’t do anything without them,” said Rivera, a four-year varsity starter for the Hawks. “When it was time for me to go up the gaps, I hit them and when I got on the perimeter the wide receivers blocked their butts off. They made my job really easy tonight.”

Rivera did most of his damage between the tackles, but ran over, through, around and past the Blue Jackets on just 18 rushing attempts.

“Aynor eats a lot of the clock, so they limit your possessions and they limited his touches tonight,” said first-year Hanahan coach Milan Turner. “Really proud of his effort, the offensive line continues to do a great job. He’s tough to bring down, strong and a hard runner.

“He has the ability as big and strong as he is to make cuts and make people miss. He’s elusive and that’s rare for a big running back.”

It took the Hawks defense a couple of possessions to get accustomed to the Blue Jackets single-wing offense.

“It’s a tough offense to prepare for,” Turner said. “There’s a lot of double tight end stuff, unbalanced lines and they run it right at you. They will nickel-and-dime you to death and that makes it tough on your offense because they have the ball for so long.

GAFFNEY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - It’s a coffee shop with a cause. Wednesday was a busy day at Zakary’s Coffee, but latte’s weren’t on the menu. Zakary’s served more than 800 free Thanksgiving plates to hospital workers, the homeless and anyone in the community who needed it.

“We get a lot of people who are underprivileged, who need assistance and I help them out as much as I can on a day-to-day basis but I know that there is a need in this community,” said Zakary Sampson, the coffee shop owner.

Sampson opened his coffee shop in downtown Gaffney in 2019. After noticing a need in his community, last year he served a big free Thanksgiving dinner and this year, he did it again.

“It’s so hard right now, it’s so hard to pay for anything, not to mention food,” he said.

820 plates served—through delivery, take out or having a seat at the table. Single mother Chastity Crocker said she felt blessed to receive a meal for her and her son.

“I ask God everyday for strength and comfort and the prices of the Thanksgiving meal, I couldn’t afford it,” she said. “I know Zak, he’s a good man and everything he’s cool guy. If I don’t have the money he’ll ask what kind of coffee I want, I’ll tell him and if I had the money if I don’t have the money he does it anyway.”

Sampson says serving this meal falls in line with his mission of creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone.

“I have cerebral palsy so I enjoy coming out where coffee meets kindness and not feeling any different,” said Logan Hopper,

Hopper enjoyed eating the free meal while sitting at the table alongside a close friend and the community on Wednesday.

“Sometimes we don’t realize how much we take for granted. Sometimes you look at the population out here in the community and you see wow I really am blessed even in the midst of my struggles,” she said.

After days of prep and hours of cooking, Sampson says it’s worth it. Because giving is the name of the season and the purpose of this shop.

“That’s why I do what I do. I do it because I’m giving back all of the support that has been given to me,” he said.

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GAFFNEY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said a school resource officer (SRO) who was airlifted to the hospital after a traffic incident has been released.

According to the sheriff’s office, on Jan. 19, a deputy was assisting with traffic during dismissal at Cherokee Charter Academy around 3:25 p.m. when she was hit by a car.

The sheriff said dismissal procedures were unusual on Friday due to a downed powerline and the school confirmed extra deputies were on campus to assist.

The injured deputy was airlifted to Spartanburg Regional. The Sheriff’s Office stated that she broke some bones during the crash and most likely needed surgery.

On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the sheriff’s office said the SRO was released from the hospital late Sunday afternoon. She remains out of work and is recovering at home where she is waiting to see if she’ll need surgery to repair a fracture.

Sheriff Mueller released this statement on Saturday regarding the incident:

“We are very fortunate that our deputy was not more severely injured as the outcome could have been tragic. I would ask that our community continue to pray for the full recovery of the injured deputy as well as the driver who struck the deputy as he was very distraught over the incident and concerned for the deputy’s well-being. The injured deputy and her family along with the men and women of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office are very grateful for all the outpouring of love and support for our injured deputy. We have had calls and emails from all over the Upstate from other law enforcement agencies and concerned citizens checking on her and praying for her as well as all the staff of the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office. We are forever grateful for the prayers and the genuine concern shown for our injured deputy.”

Sheriff Steve Mueller

The crash is under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Cherokee Charter Academy released the following statement on Friday:

Stay with FOX Carolina for updates on this developing story.

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