Spartanburg Team To Attend The 2009 AAU Junior Olympic games

City of Spartanburg Sponsored Track Club to attend 2009 AAU Junior Olympic games


SPARTANBURG (July 29, 2009) Spartanburg based Express Lane Track Club will be attending the 2009 AAU Junior Olympic Games at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa Saturday, August 1st – August 8th. We have 11 qualifying athletes that range from ages 7-14. In addition to the 11 qualifying athletes, there are four athletes entering competition in the top 10 with others just inches/seconds away.

In looking to expand the City’s athletic efforts and diversify programming, while predominantly serving youth who live in the City, Express Lane fit what the City wanted. Express Lane is sponsored by the City of Spartanburg who will eventually develop an established program with the City name.

For additional information, contact James Rice, Athletic Coordinator, 864-596-4387 or jrice@cityofspartanburg.org

Playful City USA

City of Spartanburg Selected As A Playful City For The Third Consecutive Year.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (July 21, 2009) –The City of Spartanburg in partnership with Southside Unity in the Community was selected as a “Playful City” for the third year in a row by KaBOOM! a national non-profit that promotes providing areas for children to play.
Of the 93 communities chosen, Spartanburg was among the 22 cities named for the third consecutive year including Honolulu, Indianapolis and San Antonio due to the City’s commitment to usable, open parks in the City of Spartanburg.
Southside Unity in the Community, a local nonprofit focused on improving the lives of the community's youth, started the application process in aspiration of receiving grant money to improve and maintain city parks. As a result of the 2007 Mary Black Foundation Community Champion award, Southside Unity in the Community used the $25,000 award money to train community volunteers and beautify Priscilla Rumley Park, a 14-acre neighborhood park located at the intersection of Seay St. and Gary St.

For more details, contact Parks and Recreation Superintendent Brian Wofford at 596-3105 or bwofford@cityofspartanburg.org

City Hires New Economic Development Director

City of Spartanburg Hires New Economic Development Director


SPARTANBURG, SC (July 21, 2009) Patty Bock will be joining the City of Spartanburg as the Economic Development Director effective July 27. She will be for responsible for a variety of programs designed to encourage private investment and development in the City.

Ms. Bock graduated from The Ohio State University. She has over 20 years experience in leasing, management. She has been active in Leadership Spartanburg and many other civic organizations.

States Bock, “It is a pleasure to join a great team at the City and build on the City’s objectives (success) in making Spartanburg a better place to live, work and play. I am eager to work with current and future businesses, developers and property owners in the City, as well as implementing plans and programs that will bring private investment and jobs within the City limits. “

Reporting directly to the City Manager, Ed Memmott states, “The City is very excited that Patty has accepted the position of Economic Development Director. Patty was selected from over 140 applicants for the position. I look forward to working with Patty. She is a great addition to our team.”

For additional information please contact Ed Memmott, City Manager, 864-596-2394, ememmott@cityofspartanburg.org.

Fireworks Ordinance

SPARTANBURG RESIDENTS ASKED TO OBEY

FIREWORKS ORDINANCE

As the fireworks season approaches, the City of Spartanburg would like to remind all Spartanburg residents of the City's fireworks ordinances.

Sec. 13-113. Fireworks.
(a) It shall be unlawful within the limits of the city, for any person to sell or expose for sale, keep, store, maintain, have in possession, transport, give or pass any squibs, torpedoes, firecracker or any other type or form of fireworks, including salutes, Roman candles, fountains, balloons carrying any lighted substance, cannon, cane, sky rockets, bombs or other similar articles of fireworks, which will be fired, lighted, ignited, set off or thrown. Cap pistols and caps for same are expressly excluded from the operation of this section.

(b) Before any fireworks will be permitted for public exhibition in connection with fairs or other special celebrations, permission shall first be obtained from the city manager, and such fireworks shall be under the supervision of an expert, who shall be present in order to handle, maintain or fire same, and in such case of exhibition, the parties in charge of same shall be held strictly responsible for any damage to person or property resulting from the use of such fireworks. All fireworks being held in storage for special exhibition shall be in a closed wooden box until they are used.

(c) All public exhibitions of fireworks permitted under this section shall be concluded not later than 10:00 p.m.

(d) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

The fine for ignoring this ordinance is $262.00. Please help the Police and Fire departments to make this Independence Day safe by observing the fireworks ordinances.
For additional information contact Lt. Tim Suber at 864.596.2224 or tsuber@cityofspartanburg.org.

Free July 3 Concert at Zimmerli Amphitheater

246th Army Band Plays Free July 3 Concert at Zimmerli Amphitheater

Spartanburg, SC – The City of Spartanburg is proud to present to the Spartanburg community the 246 Army Band, South Carolina Army National Guard, in a free outdoor concert. The concert will be held at 7 pm on Friday, July 3 at Barnet Park’s Zimmerli Amphitheater. The Army Band will play patriotic music as part of their concert tour leading up to Independence Day.

The 246th Army Band was organized and federally recognized on October 12, 1939 and has served under numerous commands including General George S. Patton during World War II. The band has performed throughout the world and in 2003, was honored to perform at the funeral for Senator Strom Thurmond.

Commanded by Chief Warrant Officer Jessie Morlan, the band is comprised of thirty-seven members who, in addition to concert and ceremonial duties, are assigned for four musical support teams – Ceremonial Band, Pop-Music Band, Jazz Combo, and the Brass Quintet.

The members of the band meet one weekend per month and two weeks every year training for their wartime mission. That mission is to provide music to enhance unit cohesion and Soldier morale; assist in civil, military, coalition and recruiting operations; and to promote national and international community relations.

For further information about the 246th Army Band, please visit their website at http://246armyband.info/.

Picnic Baskets, lawn chairs, and blankets are welcomed at this free Barnet Park event. No pets allowed in the park. For more information, call 596-3105.

City Announces Yard Waste Transition

City Announces Yard Waste Transition


Effective July 1, 2009 the City of Spartanburg’s Solid Waste department will make changes to its current garbage/junk and yard waste pick-up procedure.

Garbage and junk - These items will no longer be picked up together. They will be picked up on separate days. Junk consists of any large household items that will NOT fit into your roll cart. If you have more bags than will fit into your roll cart, you will need to request a 2nd roll cart. If you do not wish to request a 2nd roll cart, you will need to carry excess bags of garbage to the county drop off station. Your “junk” will be picked up the day AFTER your normal garbage pick-up day.

Yard Waste – Due to changes at the landfill, all yard waste picked up curbside must be less than six feet long or less than six inches in diameter. Residents will be responsible for transporting anything larger directly to the county landfill. Yard waste must also be placed in separate piles from leaves.

For additional information, please contact Bill Thompson, Solid Waster Manager @ 864-562-2931.