By: Tracy Simmons Sanders | Co-Owner, The Woodruff Times
I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself and share the story behind The Woodruff Times—why we started it, what drives us, and how we serve this community.
I’m proud to co-own the newspaper with my business partner, Dr. Vareva Harris. Both of us were born and raised in the Enoree and Woodruff area. I spent my childhood at the Enoree pool and attended every school in the Woodruff district. My roots run deep—my parent and grandparents worked hard in the mills and built lives in these towns. It’s that same spirit that inspired us to start this paper.
Years ago, after opening a business on Main Street, I saw firsthand the dedication of local shop owners and heard from residents looking for answers about what was happening in their city. At the time, Woodruff didn’t have a local paper. That gap—where people didn’t know what their council or school board was doing—was real. I believed our community deserved something better.
We launched The Woodruff Times not just to report the news, but to be a consistent, trusted resource. We share important decisions, spotlight small businesses, and highlight the voices and concerns of everyday people. It hasn’t always been easy. For the first four years, we didn’t pay ourselves—choosing instead to put every dollar back into the paper so we could keep growing.
Like many small-town newspapers, we operate with limited resources. That’s why your support—through subscriptions and advertising—matters so much. We can’t be everywhere, but we’re working every day to expand our coverage and bring in new contributors to tell more of your stories.
You may have heard that we’re hosting a Spartanburg County Sheriff Candidates Town Hall in Woodruff on July 22. It’s something we’re proud to bring to our city. Hosting this event involves real costs—venue fees, sound and video equipment, staffing, and more. That’s why we made the decision to charge a modest $10 ticket fee, just to help offset expenses.
We understand cost is a concern for some, and we truly appreciate your understanding as we work to balance access with sustainability. We also welcome community sponsors who’d like to purchase a set of tickets for others who may not be able to afford them.
We believe Woodruff deserves a spotlight—and we’re doing our part to help bring county-level conversations here. We recently moved into a new office at 240 N. Main Street (formerly Anita’s Flower Shop), and we hope you’ll stop by, say hello, and let us know how we can keep serving you better.
You can subscribe online at www.thewoodrufftimes.com/subscribe or in person. Thank you for reading and for supporting local journalism that’s rooted right here at home.
Stay tuned as we highlight other members of our team so you can get to know them.
