Home Care In Pacolet, SC

PACOLET, S.C. (WSPA) – Spartanburg School District 3 has donated their former middle school building in Pacolet, so it could be transformed into what it is now, a new family resource center.

In an area that lacks access to things like healthcare and parenting support, it comes at a crucial time for Pacolet residents.

Jerry Rice has spent much of his life doing non-profit work. So when he came to Pacolet, where the poverty level rate is 21.2 percent, above the national average of 13.6 percent, he knew he could help.

“The infant mortality rate is very high, four times the rest of Spartanburg County,” said Rice, executive director of the Benjamin E. Mays Family Resource Center. “Readiness for school, a quarter of the children that go to school are not ready for school on all five domains of readiness.”

Rice is directing the new center which will offer a range of services, like basic healthcare, addiction recovery classes and dental needs. The former middle school’s cafeteria and computer lab will also be utilized.

“The public can come in to use that lab to do what they need to do, if they want to hunt for a job, if they want to play fantasy football, if they want to find recipes, if they want to build a resume… whatever they need to do, that lab is available for them to use,” said Rice.

Named after an Upstate native who mentored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and dedicated his life to educating others, this location is aiming to carry on Benjamin E. Mays’ legacy.

“There’s tremendous opportunity in this community, there are buildings and land that’s available that aren’t as expensive as Spartanburg and I think people in this community can really take advantage of that to provide services in Spartanburg, but someone needs to help them figure out how to do that,” said Rice.

Rice said this will not only give residents the help they need, but show them how to take advantage of resources to become independent. By doing so, the center will show people who they can really be when they have the right resources.

“It’s really important to me that I can help people achieve what they can achieve, that they can meet their potential,” said Rice.

The family resource center is providing services as needed right now but will officially open on September 7th.

If you would like to learn more or donate, click here.

PACOLET — Nitro coffee and motorcycles blend in a new cafe in Pacolet.

Callous Moto Coffee Garage has more than 20 flavors of hot and cold coffee, teas and juices, and also serves pastries. It held a grand opening on Aug. 13. Co-owner Thomas Williams said the theme is based on a vintage motorcycle known as a cafe racer.

“The history dates back to the 1950s in London,” Williams said. “The idea was that they took these bikes, chopped them down to make them as light and small as possible and then they raced between cafes.”

Last year, Williams moved to South Carolina from Newport, R.I. He has a passion for motorcycle culture and history, and redesigns and modifies antique bikes as a hobby. He had a private shop in Rhode Island and bought space for another once when he moved to Spartanburg.

Williams said he still plans to build bikes but wanted to branch out. He bought some properties along West Main Street in Pacolet, southeast of Spartanburg. One was used for his private shop and is now where Callous Moto Coffee Garage is located.

The building was once a post office. Williams said the original post office burned down and a new one was built in 1957. From that time until the late 1980s, the building was used as a post office but has been vacant for around 30 years and was sometimes used for storage, according to Williams.

The awning of the building was changed, but the walls are the original plaster and block. Floors were already stripped of tile. The original doors of the building were also kept in place and the ceiling is exposed.

Co-owner Tori Valdez said nitro coffee contains about 30 percent more caffeine than regular coffee. California-based Bona Fide Nitro Coffee and Tea Brewing Company is a supplier for the business.

“It’s a phenomenal product, and it’s something new out there,” Valdez said. “They treat their coffee making as an artistic process, and they use organic, fair trade practices.”

SPARTANBURG — When Olivia Skelton opened Purple Sunrise Spa, she didn’t know what to expect being a first-time business owner.

The Cowpens resident had worked for a spa in Greenville and in retail. By the time she turned 24, she decided to pursue her dreams and open her own business catering to women’s health and wellbeing. In July 2021, Purple Sunrise Spa opened at 210 Westgate Mall Drive.

“I just didn’t want to work any corporate jobs anymore,” she said. “I just wanted to do something more. I started with no clients and now have over 1,000. I love the people we get here. We created a place where women feel safe, confident and beautiful here.”

Skelton’s family relocated to South Carolina from Michigan when she was 12 after her dad got a job in the state. She’s grown to love the city but still misses the snowy winters in Michigan.

Her focus is centered on expanding her business, which now has three employees. She spent six months prior to opening renovating the building when it had no power. She built a following during the process by promoting her endeavor on social media.

It paid off with her business fully booked with appointments during the first few months.

“The business is still growing, and I hope to have my own building eventually,” Skelton said. “We are looking to hire two more employees.”

When she opened, Skelton said she wasn’t sure about herself. However, her confidence has grown with support from her clients.

Kara Lee of Spartanburg is a Purple Sunrise Spa client and supports the owner’s business.

“Olivia is a huge inspiration to everyone around her and the environment she has created for her clients,” Lee said. “This spa is like no others. Olivia makes every single human feel welcomed, relaxed and it’s so different than any other spas I’ve been to.”

Nicole Gantz is among the massage therapists who work at the spa. She has been a massage therapist for two years. Each of the massage rooms are decorated with different themes.

SPARTANBURG — Robots are coming to BMW’s Spartanburg manufacturing plant, but not at the cost of any human jobs.

California-based AI robotics company Figure announced Jan. 18 that it signed a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing to “deploy general purpose robots in automotive manufacturing environments.”

BMW spokesman Steve Wilson said in an email Friday that there is no timetable for when the robots will be deployed. He added that no job losses will occur because of the robots and that there will be no changes for BMW’s associates.

“Companies that invest in innovation such as this are more sustainable, become more productive, and have a competitive advantage,” Wilson said. “Innovation, digitalization, and sustainability are key success factors for our future.

BMW and Figure will pursue a “milestone-based approach.” After the initial phase where Figure will identify use cases to apply the robots in automotive production, the robots will begin staged deployment at the BMW manufacturing site in Greer.

At its 8-million-square-foot Spartanburg County campus, BMW Manufacturing employs 11,000 workers. It is the largest U.S. automotive exporter by value with a total export value of almost $9.6 billion, and more than 1,500 vehicles are assembled at the plant daily.

Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock said the potential of general purpose robotics is untapped.

“Figure’s robots will enable companies to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a safer and more consistent environment,” Adcock said.

The companies will also jointly explore other topics in advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, robot integration, robot control and manufacturing virtualization.

BMW CEO Robert Engelhorn said the use of “general purpose robot solutions” has the potential to make productivity more efficient.

Wilson said that the carmaker is investigating several tasks across the plant to help improve safety and ergonomics.

Michelle Rider has always been able to find the humor in life and says she has her dad to thank for that.

Growing up in the small town of Pacolet, Rider and her father recognized humor through everyday scenarios which later sparked her passion to become a comedian.

"My dad was a truck driver and loved to come home and tell these dirty, Johnny jokes," Rider said. "My dad would take me to go see Jerry Clower, and when he walked out on stage and be around people that were laughing was amazing for me. I wanted to do that when I grew up."

Rider decided to chase that dream and became the Southern comedian known as "Shelly Belly" on TikTok. She made several skits featuring adult themes about women and relationships. Her skits were popular and she decided to try stand-up comedy and performed for the first time at the Comedy Zone in Greenville.

"I just told my husband that I wanted to go and do an open mic," Rider said. "He looked at me like I was crazy, but all these funny things were in my head. It's about my life, being a woman, what women go through and all these things that are relatable."

From TikTok to 'The Circle,' social media boosts Rider's career

Rider's career began to kick off when her son arrived home from active leave in the Marines. Her son showed her a video that he made on TikTok, the social media app that allows users to create and share videos. Rider decided to check out the app and eventually reached a mind-blowing, 1.2 million followers.

"I did a video and said 'Look, I have 200 followers!' I thought I was something," Rider said. "He looked at me and said 'Mom, I have friends with 5,000 followers.' Challenge accepted. I was laying in bed one night and I did a video about my neighbor, and it just blew up."

Netflix's hit reality show, "The Circle," reached out to Rider, asking if she would be interested in auditioning. Next thing she knew, Rider was in the United Kingdom to compete in the show's third season with other contestants to win $100,000.

"The Circle" is a social media-based competition where contestants live in the same apartment building but are never allowed to meet and must communicate online. The show is similar to "Big Brother."

Rider was eliminated on episode three, but it didn't bother her and she continued with her growing career as a comedian.

"When I say that I went on 'The Circle' as myself, I meant it," Rider said. "The only benefit that came out of it was the [Netflix] logo and people recognizing me. I built my own brand and do everything on my own. I am thankful I had the experience, and it's not really owed to anyone but God."

The day before the show aired, Rider was laid off from her job at a distribution company. She was upset and trying to figure out her next steps, but her husband assured her that another door will open and she could continue to live her dream.

The bittersweet moment allowed Rider to focus on her dreams and further her career as a stand-up comedian.

The laughs that give back

Rider's platform has allowed her to not only accomplish her dreams but to give back to the community and fans. She said charity benefits are some of her most enjoyable shows.

"I'm doing a fundraiser in Greenville at the Think Tank Brew Lab for 'Just Say Something,'" Rider said. "I just got invited to do a benefit show in Georgia for domestic violence and child abuse. You do good for others and it will always come back to you."

Rider said the help and support of fellow comedians have helped her comedy career. Brandon Rainwater, a South Carolina comedian, is not only one of Rider's closest friends but is someone she considers a mentor.

"As a female, it's really hard," Rider said. "It's the hardest business to be in as a female. He [Rainwater] actually gave me my first show and the opportunities when a lot of people wouldn't. He's an amazing person and an amazing comedian."

Rainwater said Rider has both, the talent and the hustle.

"Her talent meets her hustle and not a lot of people can do that," Rainwater said. "Shelly is definitely putting in the work, and she definitely has her vision board planned out. It just works out together."

Rider recently announced she will be going on tour with comedian, Andrew Conn. The "Down Yonder Southern Tour" will take place on March 17-18 in Fort Worth, Texas. She also has tours scheduled with comedian Tanya Lee Davis.

Conn said he is excited about their upcoming tour together, and that their duo will make a shockwave.

"I think me and Michelle are gonna make a real good duo," Conn said. "We both started out on social media and both now into the millions of followers. It’s crazy how two strangers can meet and talk and then, boom, you're on together. I think we are going to make shockwaves in the standup comedy world!"

Rider will perform in Greenville at the Think Tank Brew Lab, located at 101 Airport Road, on May 4. To check out more tour dates, visit her website.

PACOLET, S.C. (WSPA) – The only Walgreens in one Spartanburg County town is set to close, which means the residents will no longer have a drugstore.

Healthcare Communications for Walgreens announced that the Walgreens at 6950 South Pine Street in Pacolet will close on November 6.

It said when a store closes, patients’ prescriptions will automatically be transferred to the nearest Walgreens. In this case, those patients’ prescriptions will be transferred to Walgreens at 2198 Southport Road.

“We’ve been here for about 5 years, and I have used this Walgreens the whole time,” said Tammy Stricklend, shops at Walgreens. “I have an autistic son and they are really loving and are concerned about him getting his medicine on time and not going without it.”

The biggest concern, Stricklend said, is the lack of transportation in the area. For elderly residents who can no longer drive and walk to this Walgreens to get their prescriptions, this loss will completely change their lifestyle.

“We have people here in town that walk to the pharmacy and now when they have to go to Spartanburg it’ll be hardship on them,” said Mayor Ned Camby, mayor of Pacolet.

Mayor Camby said for as long as the building has been open, it’s been a pharmacy, and the Walgreens employees have stayed the same for years.

“I’ve talked to the people in there and a lot of them don’t even know if they’ll have jobs right now, so my prayer is that they’ll be placed somewhere that’s not too far from their homes,” said Stricklend.

The goal for Mayor Camby and the town of Pacolet is to now replace the Walgreens with another pharmacy. Residents like Stricklend said they hope the town’s goal is fulfilled, instead of seeing the Walgreens go through the same cycle other closed stores have.

“I would hope that something else comes in because I hate that more than anything,” said Stricklend. “Because businesses are here, then the buildings close and stay empty and that’s a loss for the community and the area and Pacolet is a small area.”

Walgreens said the closure of the Pacolet Walgreens was justified, among other things, “by taking into account our existing footprint of stores, dynamics of the local market, and changes in our patients’ and customers’ buying habits.”

Walgreens said patients will receive notice about the transfer through mail.

PACOLET, S.C. —

Josephine McBeth and Mary Ruby's families were raised together in Pacolet, South Carolina.

We sat down for the first part of our interview inside Ruby's assisted-living facility.

"Here I am. I was in the first grade in 1947," McBeth says.

Ruby adds, "and here I am right here."

McBeth and Ruby, exchanging stories from their childhood, reflecting how education has molded them into the women they are today, in 2023.

They both attended Marysville School in Spartanburg County.

According to the town of Pacolet, in 1915 the Pacolet Manufacturing Company built the school to educate the children of Black families who worked the mills of that area. It was also created to keep Black workers and their families separate from white workers.

Hearst Owned

(1947) 1st grade students of Marysville School

"Even though we were Black and our education was second class, we still excelled and did well in school," Ruby says.

Josephine McBeth attended first grade in 1947.

Mary Ruby was there in the first grade in 1939, then again for third through seventh grade.

Ruby says up until college, all of the schools she attended were segregated.

"The kids now they have everything at hand, given to them. Our father bought our books, and a lot of times our books would come from the white schools. Many times our books where you'd be reading, and sometimes you'd be missing a page many of them would be torn out. Everything was second hand, even desks chairs," Ruby says.

"We'd walk to school, some kids would walk 3 or 4 miles.. I would walk just over 2 miles. The whites that'd ride to school, they'd throw things at us."

"It was very tough, going to school in the rain or cold weather. There were no janitors. Everything was inferior, but it didn't take from what was inside of you. It made you strive better to be better," Ruby adds.

Both women say adversities meant to keep them on the outside strengthened their friendship.

Ruby eventually moved to Detroit, Michigan, spending 63 years serving communities as the director of mental health in Wayne County.

She's now back in the upstate of South Carolina, near her children.

Ruby says, "material things can be removed. What you have here, your intelligence, no one can take that from you."

McBeth graduated from USC Upstate, then graduated from Webster University with a master's degree in counseling.

Since 2005, McBeth has been Mayor Pro Tem of the town of Pacolet, where she attends monthly council meetings.

She exclusively showed WYFF News 4 inside the school.

"We had one lady who cooked our lunch in the kitchen downstairs. Her name was Miss Littlejohn. She made food for the entire school. About 80 to 90 kids."

"It wasn't anything fancy, maybe pinto beans or slaw with a fruit cup some days. Or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with soup. And to drink, you'd have a choice of either milk or Kool-Aid, but ya'll may not know about the Kool-Aid, haha."

"Some days, we'd have chicken, not nuggets. Creamed potatoes and green beans. And something with chocolate and bread sometimes."

McBeth says, "music has been my thing all my life, you know, and I love music. I try to sing a little, but I do like music. And it's been a dream of mine ever since this building's been here. Everytime I drive up on the yard, I always say this needs a cultural center."

McBeth said when she was growing up, it cost 50 cents for music lessons.

She says her family didn't have the extra money for her to attend.

She says if Marysville School becomes a cultural center, she'd love for children to have more access than she did.

"Clean it up, and the flooring, and good lighting. You need good lighting. I would even keep the benches. I would clean them up and polish them up good."

She says, "when you bring something that you've never had, and make it grow, here I am. I'm going to make it happen."