Podcasts about spartanburg county

In 1993, an elderly couple along with their adult son lived peacefully in Spartanburg County. The mother, Mary, served as a care taker and was beloved in her small community. That's why it was all the more shocking when tragedy befell their household.

And welcome to the program on your Wednesday afternoon. So glad to have you. And we're just gonna jump in. Oh, by the way, Bill Ryan, the new, I guess, sheriff elect of Spartanburg County, so to speak, will be, on the program with us at 04:06 this afternoon. But right now, we're being joined by attorney general Alan Wilson. Attorney general, welcome to the program. Hope you're doing well. Hey, Charlie. It's great to be on your, show again. Thanks for having me back, sir. I appreciate it. First, we're gonna talk to the attorney general, then we're gonna talk to the candidate for governor. Okay? Okay. Sounds good. I can let me put that hat on. I got my AG hat I looked at. That's perfect. Now you sent out a, a press release the other day. You know, school has just started back all over the Upstate, and you have this, issue, on parental rights guide. Tell us a little bit about that and and what all it entails. Well, Charlie, with kids going back to school, it's important for parents to be reminded of what their rights are as it relates to the care, education, and rearing of their own children. And, a couple of things have happened in the recent weeks that have kinda prompted us to put this out, and I'll get to that momentarily. Okay. But, basically, parents need to be reminded that you have a right to be involved in the, the the raising of your children. This has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court. You have a right and the responsibility to be involved in your child's education. Any teacher, any school that does anything to undermine that is wrong in acting out of concert with the law. In fact, the general assembly even passed a parental involvement in their children's education act, which seeks to encourage the establishment and maintenance of parent friendly school settings. Parents have basic rights. You have the right to teach your child your own belief and value system. You have a right to believe. Any attempts by teachers or school districts to violate those beliefs, like requiring students or, to, you know, use preferred pronouns Right. Or forcing students to affirm pronouns or genders of other kids against the values of that family, but they don't have the right to do that. You have the right to know that your child is safe at school. Obviously, the general assembly passed a law prohibiting boys from going into girls' private spaces and vice versa. The fourth circuit court of appeals just enjoined that law to allow a transgender student into the opposite sex, personal space. You know, there are there are kids across this country who have been sexually assaulted by members of the opposite sex. Right. Your children have a right to be safe in schools. And as a parent, you have a right to know that your child is being protected. And that is why I'm going to the United States Supreme Court on defending South Carolina's law. You have the right to, to, read, or you have the right for your children to only have access to age appropriate materials in their school libraries. And you have the right to know who is teaching your children, the backgrounds of teachers, as well as what they're teaching your children. Recently in Dorchester County, there was a teacher posting violent, extremist, gory stuff on social media, and this is an elementary school teacher. That teacher was suspended. But you have the right to know who was handling the most precious thing in your life, and that is your own child. So these are basic fundamental and constitutional rights that parents have in this office and I as the attorney general and as a future governor, we'll talk about that in a minute, will defend those to my dying breath. And and that's it. I mean, when you look at some of this stuff that that teacher down in Georgia, Chester County was, was publishing and putting out on social media, I mean, you have to sit there and go, oh my gosh. How did that person even even get hired to begin with? That is the question that we' ...

And welcome to the program on your Wednesday afternoon. So glad to have you. And we're just gonna jump in. Oh, by the way, Bill Ryan, the new, I guess, sheriff elect of Spartanburg County, so to speak, will be, on the program with us at 04:06 this afternoon. But right now, we're being joined by attorney general Alan Wilson. Attorney general, welcome to the program. Hope you're doing well. Hey, Charlie. It's great to be on your, show again. Thanks for having me back, sir. I appreciate. First, we're gonna talk to the attorney general, then we're gonna talk to the candidate for governor. Okay? Okay. Sounds good. I can hold on. Let me put that hat on. I got my AG hat on. Look at that. That's perfect. Now you sent out a, a press release the other day. You know, school has just started back all over the Upstate, and you have this, issue, on parental rights guide. Tell us a little bit about that and and what all it entails. Well, Charlie, with kids going back to school, it's important for parents to be reminded of what their rights are as it relates to the care, education, and rearing of their own children. And, a couple of things have happened in the recent weeks that have kinda prompted us to put this out, and I'll get to that momentarily. Okay. But, basically, parents need to be reminded that you have a right to be involved in the, the the raising of your children. This has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court. You have a right and the responsibility to be involved in your child's education. Any teacher, any school that does anything to undermine that is wrong and acting out of concert with the law. In fact, the general assembly even passed a parental involvement in their children's education act, which seeks to encourage the establishment and maintenance of parent friendly school settings. Parents have basic rights. You have the right to teach your child your own belief and value system. You have a right to believe. Any attempts by teachers or school districts to violate those beliefs, like requiring students or, to, you know, use preferred pronouns Right. Or forcing students to affirm pronouns or genders of other kids against the values of that family, that they don't have the right to do that. You have the right to know that your child is safe at school. Obviously, the general assembly passed a law prohibiting boys from going into girls' private spaces and vice versa. The fourth circuit court of appeals just enjoined that law to allow a transgender student into the opposite sex, personal space. You know, there are there are kids across this country who have been sexually assaulted by members of the opposite sex. Right. Your children have a right to be safe in schools, and as a parent, you have a right to know that your child is being protected. And that is why I'm going to the United States Supreme Court on defending South Carolina's law. You have the right to, to, read, or you have the right for your children to only have access to age appropriate materials in their school libraries. And you have the right to know who is teaching your children, the backgrounds of teachers, as well as what they're teaching your children. Recently in Dorchester County, there was a teacher posting Yep. Violent, extremist, gory stuff on social media, and this is an elementary school teacher. That teacher was suspended. But you have the right to know who was handling the most precious thing in your life, and that is your own child. So these are basic fundamental and constitutional rights that parents have in this office and I as the attorney general and as a future governor, we'll talk about that in a minute, will defend us to my dying breath. And and that's it. I mean, when you look at some of this stuff that that teacher down in Georgia, Chester County was, was publishing and putting out on social media, I mean, you have to sit there and go, oh my gosh. How did that person even even get hired to begin with? That is the qu ...

And welcome to the program on your Wednesday afternoon. So glad to have you. And we're just gonna jump in. Oh, by the way, Bill Ryan, the new, I guess, sheriff elect of Spartanburg County, so to speak, will be, on the program with us at 04:06 this afternoon. But right now, we're being joined by attorney general Alan Wilson. Attorney general, welcome to the program. Hope you're doing well. Hey, Charlie. It's great to be on your, show again. Thanks for having me back, sir. I appreciate. First, we're gonna talk to the attorney general, then we're gonna talk to the candidate for governor. Okay? Okay. Sounds good. I can hold on. Let me put that hat on. I got my AG hat on. Look at that. That's perfect. Now you sent out a, a press release the other day. You know, school has just started back all over the Upstate, and you have this, issue, on parental rights guide. Tell us a little bit about that and and what all it entails. Well, Charlie, with kids going back to school, it's important for parents to be reminded of what their rights are as it relates to the care, education, and rearing of their own children. And, a couple of things have happened in the recent weeks that have kinda prompted us to put this out, and I'll get to that momentarily. Okay. But, basically, parents need to be reminded that you have a right to be involved in the, the the raising of your children. This has been upheld by the United States Supreme Court. You have a right and the responsibility to be involved in your child's education. Any teacher, any school that does anything to undermine that is wrong and acting out of concert with the law. In fact, the general assembly even passed a parental involvement in their children's education act, which seeks to encourage the establishment and maintenance of parent friendly school settings. Parents have basic rights. You have the right to teach your child your own belief and value system. You have a right to believe. Any attempts by teachers or school districts to violate those beliefs, like requiring students or, to, you know, use preferred pronouns Right. Or forcing students to affirm pronouns or genders of other kids against the values of that family, that they don't have the right to do that. You have the right to know that your child is safe at school. Obviously, the general assembly passed a law prohibiting boys from going into girls' private spaces and vice versa. The fourth circuit court of appeals just enjoined that law to allow a transgender student into the opposite sex, personal space. You know, there are there are kids across this country who have been sexually assaulted by members of the opposite sex. Right. Your children have a right to be safe in schools, and as a parent, you have a right to know that your child is being protected. And that is why I'm going to the United States Supreme Court on defending South Carolina's law. You have the right to, to, read, or you have the right for your children to only have access to age appropriate materials in their school libraries. And you have the right to know who is teaching your children, the backgrounds of teachers, as well as what they're teaching your children. Recently in Dorchester County, there was a teacher posting Yep. Violent, extremist, gory stuff on social media, and this is an elementary school teacher. That teacher was suspended. But you have the right to know who was handling the most precious thing in your life, and that is your own child. So these are basic fundamental and constitutional rights that parents have in this office and I as the attorney general and as a future governor, we'll talk about that in a minute, will defend us to my dying breath. And and that's it. I mean, when you look at some of this stuff that that teacher down in Georgia, Chester County was, was publishing and putting out on social media, I mean, you have to sit there and go, oh my gosh. How did that person even even get hired to begin with? That is the qu ...

H1 - Segment 1 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Charlie James Show And welcome to the program on your Thursday afternoon. Don't forget coming up at 04:00 this afternoon, just a little under an hour from now, we will be having a debate between, the these candidates for Spartanburg County sheriff. You don't wanna miss out on that. It's gonna be, very interesting, debate. Mister Clevenger, mister Ryan, gonna be squaring off here. Before you go to the polls and vote for your Spartanburg County sheriff, this is a very important race, so you don't wanna don't want to, miss out on this opportunity. Also, don't forget, coming up tomorrow, we'll be talking with lieutenant governor Pamela Evatt in the, 04:00 hour about her race for governor of South Carolina. And we got a story coming up also this afternoon in just a few minutes, where a judge has ruled that a transgender student in Berkeley County can use the bathroom according to how they feel that particular day. We'll talk to Sarita Edgerton about the bathroom bill coming up at, 05:06 this afternoon. So busy, busy day going on, but we had a special guest in the Upstate today. Do you know who it was? Anybody know who dropped by over in Anderson? Attorney general Pam Bondi. Yeah. She was, in the Upstate. She dropped by mama pen's restaurant, posted a picture with her and the staff, over on Facebook. She was in the Upstate for a high level law enforcement roundtable in Greenville focused on strengthening partnerships between state and federal agencies, uh-huh, to combat crime. That's according to South Carolina attorney general, Alan Wilson. It was an honor to host attorney general Pam Bondi this morning in Greenville where federal, state, and local law enforcement came together to discuss human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and the alarming rise in acts of antisemitism, said attorney general Alan Wilson. Never has they been a more united front between state and federal partners, and, let's see. Where where is that Federal Logan anyway, Wilson's office said the panel also included US attorney Brian Sterling, principal deputy, deputy administrator of the DEA Robert Murphy, South Carolina sheriffs and police chiefs, FBI, DEA agents, members of the US attorney's office, and federal lawmakers, including congressman Joe Wilson, congressman William Timmons, congresswoman Sherry Biggs, and congressman Russell Fry. So, man, I wish they would have told me that was gonna be dropping by. I would have baked a cake or something. That would have been, awesome. I would really like to meet Pam Bondy. That would be a cool thing. But but we're gonna be talking about law enforcement a lot today, especially with the, debate coming up in, at 04:00. You don't wanna, again, you don't wanna miss out on that because we've got a serious crime problem. We've got fights in Downtown Greenville. I don't know if you guys heard about this, but over in Malden, somebody shot up a neighborhood. 52 rounds were fired. Three homes were hit. We've got again, we got those fights in Downtown Greenville. We got this happening. I mean, it's it's it's like we have this culture of lawlessness going on right now, and we gotta make sure something gets done about it. And one of the things that I really wanna talk to the candidates about because I remember when they were bringing in the Spartanburgers, they were building the new baseball stadium over in Spartanburg, and I was asking people, hey. You know, it's just kind of a fun little segment. Hey. What do you think the, what do you think the name of the new baseball team ought to be? And we had things like the criminals, the murder burgers. I it was just I was like I was shocked that the reputation that Spartanburg has, whether it is warranted or not, they've got that reputation of being crime ridden. So what what is the new sheriff gonna be able to do about that? That's the big question. Because it's going on all over the place, and it just seem and ...

H1 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Charlie James Show And welcome to the program on your Thursday afternoon. Don't forget coming up at 04:00 this afternoon, just a little under an hour from now, we will be having a debate between, the these candidates for Spartanburg County sheriff. You don't wanna miss out on that. It's gonna be, very interesting, debate. Mister Clevenger, mister Ryan, gonna be squaring off here. Before you go to the polls and vote for your Spartanburg County sheriff, this is a very important race, so you don't wanna don't want to, miss out on this opportunity. Also, don't forget, coming up tomorrow, we'll be talking with lieutenant governor Pamela Evatt in the, 04:00 hour about her race for governor of South Carolina. And we got a story coming up also this afternoon in just a few minutes, where a judge has ruled that a transgender student in Berkeley County can use the bathroom according to how they feel that particular day. We'll talk to Sarita Edgerton about the bathroom bill coming up at, 05:06 this afternoon. So busy, busy day going on, but we had a special guest in the Upstate today. Do you know who it was? Anybody know who dropped by over in Anderson? Attorney general Pam Bondi. Yeah. She was, in the Upstate. She dropped by mama pen's restaurant, posted a picture with her and the staff, over on Facebook. She was in the Upstate for a high level law enforcement roundtable in Greenville focused on strengthening partnerships between state and federal agencies, uh-huh, to combat crime. That's according to South Carolina attorney general, Alan Wilson. It was an honor to host attorney general Pam Bondi this morning in Greenville where federal, state, and local law enforcement came together to discuss human trafficking, drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and the alarming rise in acts of antisemitism, said attorney general Alan Wilson. Never has they been a more united front between state and federal partners, and, let's see. Where where is that Federal Logan anyway, Wilson's office said the panel also included US attorney Brian Sterling, principal deputy, deputy administrator of the DEA Robert Murphy, South Carolina sheriffs and police chiefs, FBI, DEA agents, members of the US attorney's office, and federal lawmakers, including congressman Joe Wilson, congressman William Timmons, congresswoman Sherry Biggs, and congressman Russell Fry. So, man, I wish they would have told me that was gonna be dropping by. I would have baked a cake or something. That would have been, awesome. I would really like to meet Pam Bondy. That would be a cool thing. But but we're gonna be talking about law enforcement a lot today, especially with the, debate coming up in, at 04:00. You don't wanna, again, you don't wanna miss out on that because we've got a serious crime problem. We've got fights in Downtown Greenville. I don't know if you guys heard about this, but over in Malden, somebody shot up a neighborhood. 52 rounds were fired. Three homes were hit. We've got again, we got those fights in Downtown Greenville. We got this happening. I mean, it's it's it's like we have this culture of lawlessness going on right now, and we gotta make sure something gets done about it. And one of the things that I really wanna talk to the candidates about because I remember when they were bringing in the Spartanburgers, they were building the new baseball stadium over in Spartanburg, and I was asking people, hey. You know, it's just kind of a fun little segment. Hey. What do you think the, what do you think the name of the new baseball team ought to be? And we had things like the criminals, the murder burgers. I it was just I was like I was shocked that the reputation that Spartanburg has, whether it is warranted or not, they've got that reputation of being crime ridden. So what what is the new sheriff gonna be able to do about that? That's the big question. Because it's going on all over the place, and it just seem and people are get ...

Hour 2 - Segment 1 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Sheriff's Runoff Debate - Rusty Clevenger vs. Bill Rhyne hosted by Charlie James part 1 of 4 - And welcome back, ladies and gentlemen, to your Spartanburg County sheriff's debate. We've got Bill Ron and Rusty Clevenger joining us this afternoon. The candidates have been advised of the rules for the debate, and they have agreed to them. So let's just jump right into it. I've asked, texters to, send us questions as well. But first, we wanna start off with just an introduction. Fellows, give us a little ninety second introduction of yourself. We'll start with you, Bill Ryan. Thanks, Charlie. I appreciate you guys having this today. Yeah. My name's Bill Ryan. I am, 50 years old, born and raised in Spartanburg County. I, graduated from Chapman High School and, joined United States Marine Corps. After I got out of the Marine Corps, I went to work with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office where I spent a majority of my time working in community policing. I was a resident deputy in the Arcadia Fair Forest area. In February, I transitioned to the South Carolina Highway Patrol working in various roles across the, Upstate Of South Carolina, predominantly in Greenville and Spartanburg until I went over to the ACE team and rode the motorcycle. In 02/2008, I transitioned over into public relations where I remained until I retired in 2022. I retired as lieutenant over the community relations, public relations, public education recruiting, and for you for the entire state of South Carolina. I went to work with American Services as director of training there. I was I was directly responsible for approximately 1,500 officers over seven states. Unfortunately, that company sold out after the death of mister Harrison, and I had the opportunity to return to the highway patrol. I returned to the highway patrol's community outreach coordinator where I remained for the next two and a half years until I resigned on June 2 in order to announce that I was running for sheriff here in Spartanburg County. You know, often ask why I'm running for sheriff, and I tell people I just have such a vested interest. I just had a burden put on my heart to run. You know, I was born and raised in this county. I raised my children in this county. My grandchildren are likely to be raised in this county, and I just have a vested interest in where this county is going and just recognize that the sheriff's office is where quality of life starts for so many people within our county. Alright. Thank you very much. Rusty Clevenger? Good afternoon. Thanks everyone for listening in. I really appreciate you guys, putting this on for us. My name is Rusty Clevenger. I'm 61 years old. I'm almost, end of this month will be forty years as a public servant for Spartanburg County. I began my career in 1985, of course, with the sheriff's office where I was uniform patrol deputy. I stayed there for approximately two and a half years. And after graduating the academy in 1987, I applied for and was given a a chance to start investigations, and that's where I've been ever since. Start off narcotics and vice investigation. I was then promoted to, detective where I stayed for a number of years. The last five of which of the eleven year stamp with the sheriff's office was violent crime and homicide detective. After then in 1997, I was asked to go to the solicitor's office where I stayed as an investigator doing violent crime investigation. In the last sixteen and a half, of my career, as your Spartanburg County coroner doing death investigation and dealing with victim families, and that's what it's all about for me. I've been asked about why I'm running for sheriff, and a lot of it has to do with getting to the bottom, getting to the truth of a matter, and being able to assist victim families in the worst time of need, and also making sure that that crime is solved. Alright. Our first question comes from a, a texter, and it was one ...

Hour 2 - Segment 2 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Sheriff's Runoff Debate - Rusty Clevenger vs. Bill Rhyne hosted by Charlie James part 2 of 4 - And welcome back. News Talk ninety eight nine WRLD joined by Rusty Clevenger and Bill Ryan. Let's start off with the two eighty seven g program. Basically, deputizing, deputies as ICE agents. We'll start with Rusty Clevenger. Do you agree with this program? Would you be supportive of it? I do. There has been some fear, that's been put out with or or by different individuals about the program itself, but I I believe that's largely because of the opposition to it. But I am in agreement with it and would participate in it, deputizing, our deputies to work alongside these ladies and gentlemen. We've got to consider we've got people illegally in our country, that are perpetuating crime, and we need to make sure that if they're here illegally and they're committing crimes against, the people in our county that they need to be removed. First, they need to be punished for committing crime, but they need to leave Spartanburg. They need to leave US and come back. They need to repatriate and come back and do it legally just like everybody else has. So, when I speak about the fear mongering, you know, we're we're talking about agents being or, you know, going into schools and pulling kids out or, you know, wearing masks and stuff like that. That that wouldn't happen, if a deputy was alongside them. I can tell you that they would not be going into schools. They would not be threatening our children, and certainly, wouldn't be wearing masks because we don't have anything to hide. We have nothing to be embarrassed about, and it will be, good information made. You know, we wanna make sure our deputies are following through and making sure that the information we have is true and correct to make sure we affect a good arrest and do what we need to do and and keep the fear down that's being perpetuated out here. Do you agree with that, mister Ryan? Yes, sir. Absolutely. You know, the day that I announced, you had me on the air on the third, and that was one of the first questions you asked me. And I took a stance on that from day one that we would support two eighty seven g. Not only are we gonna support it, we're gonna provide any assets that we need to provide to them to ensure that they can accomplish their task. You know, as mister Clevenger said, this is a this is a rule of law. That's what I think a lot of people don't realize that these are people that have physically broken the law, that have been identified as being true threats to the people of this country, and we as law enforcement officers have a responsibility at the end of the day, number one, to protect the constitution of The United States. But as part of that, we have to protect those people in The United States. So we're gonna provide those assets if they see a need to come here into South Carolina, into Spartanburg County and provide them the assets that they need to be able to, finish up their jobs. You know, one of the problems that people are seeing is just the sensationalization of what is taking place. You've got a lot of, we'll say non conservative media outlets across this nation that are choosing to push an agenda. That's just not true, and there's been several times that I've been contacted asking what I support them going into schools and taking children away from families. I don't know that that's ever, you know, there's so much fake news out there when it comes to things like that. I've never had anybody actually show me any evidence of anything like that, but, certainly, we're not going to do that. We're not gonna take those children away from their, parents in any way, but, absolutely, we have a responsibility constitutional responsibility to stand with the federal government on that. And that leads me to my next question. We'll stay with you, mister Ryan. Yes, sir. Should ICE determine that their presence is ne ...

Hour 2 - Segment 3 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Sheriff's Runoff Debate - Rusty Clevenger vs. Bill Rhyne hosted by Charlie James part 3 of 4 -- I have a really good question from one of our texters over on the common sense retirement planning text line. We're about to elect, the first new sheriff in Spartanburg County in twenty years. We'll throw this one out to to you, Rusty. Do you believe in term limits for sheriff? I sure do. And how long should that be? Well, I particularly have, set a term limit on myself of seven years. It would be the remainder of this term and one more if I'm, elected sheriff. Alright. And you, Bill? Yes. I I do believe in term limits. And mine varies just a little bit. I I do think and you you get into a really gray area when you start talking about term limits because you run yourself and you back yourself into a corner. So let's just hypothetically say if you said it was twelve years. So, they get out and they work really, really hard their first two terms, but what holds them accountable to working hard that last term with they know that they're going to finish? Are they still gonna be doing what you expect them to do? That doesn't change the fact that I believe in term limits because, you know, if you look at a lot of the standards within the military, if you get stuck in the same rank for ten years, you're probably not gonna be in the military too much longer because you're no longer effective at that point in time. You have to surround yourself with people that are gonna want to challenge you, that are gonna want to hold you accountable, that are gonna push you to continue to get better. But, you know, as as mister Clevenger said, you know, I'm 50. The maximum that I would do would I would finish out this three year term. And then if elected again, I would do two more terms for a maximum of eleven years because I would never do more than twelve years at its at its max. Mister Ryan, you brought up a minute ago about mental health. Yes, sir. Are there situations now we know that one of the most dangerous situations that a deputy can be in is when he's called to a domestic violence situation or domestic situation. Are there certain instances where law enforcement deputies should back off and mental health professionals go in and take, I don't wanna say control of the situation, but me be more forward in the situation? That's that's too subjective of a question to be able to actually answer that honestly because if it's a situation that you have to deal with it right right away. So we'll look at what took place at Westgate Mall this past week. Right. That individual obviously was suffering from some type or at least appeared to be suffering from some type of mental illness at that point in time. Obviously, that's not confirmed, but based on what you're seeing from videotape, they were they were I mean, there there was something else going on there other than somebody just being combative and not wanting to do what they said. So, you know, in that situation, they posed an immediate threat. There's not a time limit for mental health to come in. Certainly, if you ran into a situation where there was not an immediate threat that you could bring somebody out in with that expertise if you had those relationships, then that may be something that you would consider. But at the end of the day, it boils down to more of getting your officers the proper training that they need so they can recognize those mental health issues that they're dealing with and providing them with the training that they can actually kinda cross that and bridge that gap between mental health and law enforcement. Because there's no reason to think that a law enforcement officer could not be trained in such a manner that they could have those same techniques and information those mental health specialists, are dealing with to be able to deescalate those situations and help them, bring that situation to a close. Mister Cleverj ...

Hour 2 - Segment 4 - Thurs Aug 14 2025 - The Sheriff's Runoff Debate - Rusty Clevenger vs. Bill Rhyne hosted by Charlie James part 4 of 4 - You know, we just talked about, community policing, the importance of the average citizen in law enforcement. There's a new study that was done by NPR, and I hate to quote them, but NPR said that most people don't report crime because they just don't feel like anything is going to be done about it. Bill Ryan, can you just let the people know that they're very important? Absolutely. This is about taking a proactive choice and making a proactive choice, not just from law enforcement, but also from the people. You know? We need to be a proactive agency. We need to not be a reactive agency. When you become a reactive agency, what is happening is crime's already taken place. That's where I get back to talking about crime prevention. We need to if you are proactive, you begin to reduce crime. You absolutely 100% that has to be the mindset of the people too because they want crime to go down. If they see things, they need to report it. They need to talk to us. Just as Rusty gave an example just a minute ago, it takes just one thing, just the smallest of things, and we say this all the time with, like, hit and runs. We would have, say, a felony DUI with death, and it was a hit and run. How many people saw that crash? I mean, let's let's realistically think about how much traffic is. Now, they could have been in the area they might not have seen it, but in most cases, there's gonna be a lot of traffic around those areas. Some people just choose to not get involved. I don't know if it's because of fear of, repercussions. I I really don't know what it is, but we all have to have a, vested interest in our county. And, you know, this is such a wonderful area to live. You start looking at Spartanburg County. You start looking at Greenville County and the growth rate. Let me tell you something. Greenville and Spartanburg County are what drive the state of South Carolina and will continue to drive the state of South Carolina for years to come. Mister Clevedger, how can we assure people that when they do report a crime, something's gonna be done about it? Intelligence is a an unbelievable important part of law enforcement now. And as Bill stated, you know, we've gotta look at, doing something before crime's actually committed. If we can, you know, work a vandalism that might lead up to a more serious crime burglary, other things. That's definitely worth our time and, you know, to make sure that, the citizens are are taken care of, and it could be as simple as that. And so the most minute thing may just like I was talking about just a moment ago, the most minute thing or the the the littlest of information that's passed on, is extremely important. But I believe your question was, you know, can the citizens rest assured that sheriff's office is gonna be receptive and responsive to those issues? Yes. I've, if I were elected sheriff, yes, I would make sure that was a priority because that's the way I was as a detective. I actually won a crime stoppers award one year while I was a detective, and that is citizens calling in, making sure that, you know, their concerns are heard and understood. And following through with that is what got me that award that year. And simply, I mean, simply put, if you're doing a great job, if you're, you know, a good detective, you're following through with that. And as sheriff, I would evaluate and make sure we have good detectives in that, in that department to make sure and take care of the crimes and hopefully solve them before we have something more serious come up. I wanna thank the folks from Palmetto House Republican Women. We've got Debbie Baker joining us. Debbie, do you have a question for the candidates? And I think this is going to involve some of our students in Spartanburg. Right? Yes. Thank you, Charlie. I am also a sitting board member on Spartanbur ...

And welcome to the program on your Thursday. I'm sorry. It's Wednesday. Oh my gosh. That makes things awful. No. It's Wednesday afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Don't forget, coming up tomorrow, we got the big debate at four between four and five with, Bill Ryan and Rusty Clevenger. They are running for the sheriff's position in Spartanburg County. Now if you have any questions, I got a list of questions I'm gonna be asking tomorrow. But if you've got any questions, don't text them to me because that's gonna get lost. I don't know how many texts I get in an afternoon. Some days, it's upwards to 500. But if you've got any questions, the best thing to do is email me charlie@989word.com. That's charlie@989word.com, and we'll, we'll take some of your questions there, And we'll point that out to the, to the candidate as well. So big debate coming up tomorrow. This is an important race because crime across the country is rampant. Now it is getting a little bit better since Donald Trump came into office, and it's getting even better in Washington DC. They are shocked. In Washington DC, I I saw a video, just a few minutes ago where police officers rolled into this neighborhood, and they were shocked to see police officers in this neighborhood. I said, you you gotta be kidding. They're they're they're coming up. They're they're rolling up right on in here. They they can't believe they're seeing police officers there. And not only that, what we are seeing as well is now the police in Washington DC. You know what? They're not afraid anymore. Saw another video. This woman tried to prevent police officers from arresting a guy. Well, she got shown what's what. These police aren't playing around anymore because now they've got the backing of the feds. It's kinda like that little dog that that is and he starts barking and growling when he knows his owner is right behind him, got his back. That's what's going on right now in DC. That's what's going on. So here's the thing. It has been amazing to watch what this president has been able to do over the past, what, seven months almost seven months now. Look at what he's he has forced the Democrats to support. Look at what he forced them forced them to support. Criminal illegal aliens. They own that now. Sorry. You guys support them fully. Support murderers. Support rapists. Support the guy, that, the the the the shot the UnitedHealthcare CEO in the back. They supported the kid who stabbed another kid at at attract me. They support the what was that? The the Maryland dad who come to find out was a horrible spousal abuser. They've they they're now supporting supporting insider trading with Nancy Pelosi, and they're supporting gerrymandering in blue states. They're actually coming out and admitting it. Pritzker even said, well, we just we just gerrymandered here because of, you know, politics. This guy has been able to force them to admit exactly who they are. Now this is the Baltimore, the mayor of Baltimore. His name is Brandon Scott. Brandon Scott, ball crime in Baltimore is horrible. He was on with Jake Tapper over at CNN, and Jake Tapper reads a comment from a resident of Baltimore. Let's take a listen to this. The report says, quote, a 77 year old woman from Curtis Bay who asked to remain anonymous due to threats she's received from drug dealers on her block compared the morning drug traffic to a fast food drive through. When a real estate agent assessed her property about a month and a half ago, she said the agent told her, I can't sell this house with that, referring to the 10 or 12 people involved in the drug market loitering across the street. I'm gonna get hurt one day. I know I am, she said. What do you say to those residents of Baltimore, who may think that citing falling crime statistics glosses over some of the the harsher day to day realities, and and needs that they have, to their lives in Baltimore, need for things to change even further in terms of just regular dru ...

And welcome to the program on your Thursday. I'm sorry. It's Wednesday. Oh my gosh. That makes things awful. No. It's Wednesday afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Don't forget, coming up tomorrow, we got the big debate at four between four and five with, Bill Rein and Rusty Clevenger. They are running for the sheriff's position in Spartanburg County. Now if you have any questions, I got a list of questions I'm gonna be asking tomorrow. But if you've got any questions, don't text them to me because that's gonna get lost. I don't know how many texts I get in an afternoon. Some days, it's upwards to 500. But if you've got any questions, the best thing to do is email me charlie@989word.com. That's charlie@989word.com, and we'll, we'll take some of your questions there, And we'll point that out to the, to the candidate as well. So big debate coming up tomorrow. This is an important race because crime across the country is rampant. Now it is getting a little bit better since Donald Trump came into office, and it's getting even better in Washington DC. They are shocked. In Washington DC, I I saw a video, just a few minutes ago where police officers rolled into this neighborhood, and they were shocked to see police officers in this neighborhood. I said, you you gotta be kidding. They're they're they're coming up. They're they're rolling up right on in here. They they can't believe they're seeing police officers there. And not only that, what we are seeing as well is now the police in Washington DC. You know what? They're not afraid anymore. Saw another video. This woman tried to prevent police officers from arresting a guy. Well, she got shown what's what. These police aren't playing around anymore because now they've got the backing of the feds. It's kinda like that little dog that that is some and he starts barking and growling when he knows his owner is right behind him, got his back. That's what's going on right now in DC. That's what's going on. So here's the thing. It has been amazing to watch what this president has been able to do over the past, what, seven months almost seven months now. Look at what he's he has forced the Democrats to support. Look at what he forced them forced them to support. Criminal illegal aliens. They own that now. Sorry. You guys support them fully. Support murderers. Support rapists. Support the guy, that, the the the the shot the UnitedHealthcare CEO in the back. They supported the kid who stabbed another kid at at a track meet. They support the what was that? The the Maryland dad who come to find out was a horrible spousal abuser. They've they they're now supporting supporting insider trading with Nancy Pelosi, and they're supporting gerrymandering in blue states. They're actually coming out and admitting it. Pritzker even said, well, we just we just gerrymandered here because of, you know, politics. This guy has been able to force them to admit exactly who they are. Now this is the Baltimore, the mayor of Baltimore. His name is Brandon Scott. Brandon Scott, ball crime in Baltimore is horrible. He was on with Jake Tapper over at CNN, and Jake Tapper reads a comment from a resident of Baltimore. Let's take a listen to this. The report says, quote, a 77 year old woman from Curtis Bay who asked to remain anonymous due to threats she's received from drug dealers on her block compared the morning drug traffic to a fast food drive through. When a real estate agent assessed her property about a month and a half ago, she said the agent told her, I can't sell this house with that, referring to the 10 or 12 people involved in the drug market loitering across the street. I'm gonna get hurt one day. I know I am, she said. What do you say to those residents of Baltimore, who may think that citing falling crime statistics glosses over some of the the harsher day to day realities, and and needs that they have, to their lives in Baltimore, need for things to change even further in terms of just regu ...

Today on Truth in Politics and Culture, President Trump and President Putin agree to meet to discuss the war in Ukraine, but is Putin ready for peace or is this just a stalling tactic? Hamas propaganda coming out of Gaza is tuning world opinion against Israel, and thankfully, Planned Parenthood Clinics are beginning to close as government funding dries up.

H1 - Segment 1 - Thurs Aug 7 2025 - We had the primary election for Spartanburg County Sheriff

H1 - Segment 1 - Wed Aug 6 2025 - In Spartanburg County of the 208k elgible voters on 12 point 3 voted yesterday

In this powerful episode, Chad and Sheri sit down with Nick Duncan, candidate for Spartanburg County Sheriff, and a man who's not afraid to challenge the system. With government overreach creeping into every level of society—from federal agencies to local departments—Nick lays out his plan to protect the rights of Spartanburg citizens and restore real accountability in law enforcement. They dive into the realities of corruption, the blurred lines between local and federal power, and what it means to serve the people instead of the machine. If you've ever wondered whether one man can still make a difference in a rigged system… this conversation is your answer.Check out our merch storeFollow Nick Duncan

Send us a textHannah Miller and Dr. Robert Jackson give overview of Spartanburg County's first Republican Sheriff's Forum. Hannah and her Dad discuss the four categories of questions each candidate responded to, provide analysis on each candidate's response to various questions, including who was strongest and who was weakest on the questions. They also discussed which candidate is the candidate to beat as of this moment. http://Robertcheeksforsheriff.comhttp://Aclarkforsheriff.comhttp://Clevengerforsheriff.comhttp://Pilato4Sheriff.comhttp://BillRhyneforsheriff.comhttp://Hollifieldforsheriff.comhttp://NickDuncanforsheriff.comhttp://Crispforsheriff.comhttp://Spartanburgcountysheriffelection2025.comSupport the showhttps://www.thehannahmillershow.com/podcasts/https://bobslone.com/contact/bob@bobslone.com

Send us a textWhat makes a sheriff worthy of your vote? Dr. Robert Jackson and Hannah Miller from the Hannah Miller Show Podcast takes you inside the electrifying Republican Sheriff's Forum in Spartanburg County, where eight qualified candidates squared off amidst literal thunder and lightning. This wasn't just a political event—it was a revealing look at the men who might become the constitutional firewall between citizens and government overreach.We break down how each candidate handled the forum's four critical questions: department culture, community concerns, constitutional rights, and creative solutions to difficult problems. The most heated moments came during discussions of the controversial "Rolling Thunder" initiative and civil asset forfeiture, revealing clear philosophical differences among candidates. Rick Stevens boldly declared "Rolling Thunder violates people's rights," while Bill Ryan demonstrated impressive constitutional knowledge, explaining how various amendments interconnect to protect citizens from government overreach.Beyond policy positions, we analyze what makes each candidate unique. Bill Ryan emerged as the polished statesman with commanding presence, Rick Stevens projected fearlessness drawn from international crime-fighting experience, and Joseph Palato established himself as the innovative problem-solver. Meanwhile, veterans like Rusty Clevenger and Randy Holyfield carry decades of institutional knowledge and name recognition that newer candidates must overcome. Robert Cheeks showed promise as a rising political star with genuine passion for Spartanburg.Whether you're concerned about constitutional rights, department morale, or community safety, this sheriff's race deserves your attention. Check candidate websites, attend upcoming forums, and ask tough questions before making this crucial decision. Your sheriff is the last line of defense for your constitutional freedoms—choose wisely.http://Robertcheeksforsheriff.comhttp://Aclarkforsheriff.comhttp://Clevengerforsheriff.comhttp://Pilato4Sheriff.comhttp://BillRhyneforsheriff.comhttp://Hollifieldforsheriff.comhttp://NickDuncanforsheriff.comhttp://Crispforsheriff.comhttp://Spartanburgcountysheriffelection2025.comSupport the showhttps://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

Xoted Biotechnology Labs is putting science and sustainability at the forefront by launching a new R&D facility in Spartanburg County, South Carolina.

In this wide-ranging segment, hosts break down the chaos swirling around South Carolina politics. Senator Josh Kimbrell, now running for governor, faces a $2 million civil lawsuit alleging financial misconduct—a fresh controversy joining past dropped charges that have shadowed his campaigns. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Nancy Mace accuses Attorney General Alan Wilson of stonewalling an abuse investigation she says has dragged on for over a year. The conversation also touches on Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette's possible gubernatorial run, the high-stakes Spartanburg County sheriff race, and a new law set to criminalize holding a phone while driving starting September 1. Wrapping up with humor about drifting minivans, dashboard brakes, and flying cell phones, the hosts paint a vivid picture of a state where politics and daily life are never dull—and often downright dangerous.

Send us a textWhat happens when nine candidates compete for sheriff in a special election? Frank Tiller, newly elected Chairman of the Spartanburg County Republican Party, shares the unexpected challenges and surprising community response as his leadership team navigates what even state election officials couldn't fully advise them on.This engaging conversation pulls back the curtain on local politics, revealing the often-misunderstood nature of political party operations. When Tiller's team inherited a nearly empty bank account and immediately faced organizing major candidate forums, they encountered a common misconception - that political parties are government-funded entities. The reality of grassroots funding comes into sharp focus as Tiller recounts the remarkable moment when community members stepped forward to transform ticketed events into free forums accessible to all voters.The heart of Spartanburg's political renewal beats every Saturday morning at a local restaurant where "CAMP" (Coffee and American Politics) gatherings have exploded from an intimate group of eight to overflow crowds exceeding 100 participants. What makes these meetings special? Tiller explains that unlike traditional political events, every attendee gets microphone time - prompting the most common feedback: "My voice is being heard, and that has never happened before in politics."From navigating the peculiar requirement that the county chairman must collect sheriff candidates' fingerprints to the ambitious goal of increasing primary election turnout from 13% to 20%, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into democracy at work at its most local level.Ready to engage with your local political process? Mark August 8th on your calendar for the special election, and consider joining the Saturday morning conversations where candidates and citizens connect beyond credentials to build the relationships that ultimately drive voting decisions.Support the showhttps://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

H2 - Tuesday July 1 2025 - "Does the Big Beautiful Bill eliminate SS Tax" " we got a big sheriff's race in Spartanburg county" "Becky in Spartanburg called about the comment by Frank" "the Jury has reached a partial verdict in the Diddy Trial"

Scott Spivey was shot and killed in Horry County, South Carolina—an act local authorities ruled as self-defense by Weldon Boyd. But from the moment the news broke, the story hasn't sat right with many. Joining us on this explosive episode is Nick Duncan, a 10-year veteran of Spartanburg County law enforcement who helped expose corruption tied to Sheriff Chuck Wright. Alongside his wife Brittany, they bring firsthand insight into the systemic issues plaguing South Carolina's justice system. Was justice truly served in the Scott Spivey case—or is this another small-town conspiracy hiding in plain sight? From questionable evidence to political protection, we break down every angle the mainstream refuses to touch.

A fiery breakdown of South Carolina's alleged botched firing squad execution, the mysterious disappearance of Sheriff Chuck Wright amid serious allegations, and a passionate defense of Trump's tariffs on China—highlighting economic shifts, political scandal, and media criticism.

In this explosive episode of Investigate Earth, we dive deep into the latest developments surrounding Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright — now under federal investigation. We're joined by Nick Duncan, a former investigator with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office who spent a decade inside the department and later ran against Wright for sheriff. Nick pulls back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes, sharing firsthand accounts of internal corruption, questionable leadership, and what may have led to the current FBI probe. Was this investigation inevitable? What did the public never see? And is this just the tip of the iceberg? If you care about accountability, justice, and the truth behind the badge — this is an episode you do not want to miss.

From gut-wrenching helicopter crashes that turned family vacations into tragedies to explosive revelations of political corruption and cyberattacks—this episode pulls no punches. Hear firsthand reflections on the dangers of tourist helicopters, with chilling stories from New York and Pigeon Forge. We dive into the dark underbelly of neglected aircraft maintenance, warnings from aviation insiders, and personal decisions that may have saved lives. Then we turn to the halls of power: shocking details on China's cyber infiltration of the U.S. government and their brazen admission of guilt, framed as punishment for America's support of Taiwan. Meanwhile, critical medications from overseas face constant recalls, sparking questions about our reliance on foreign pharmaceuticals. Back home, Spartanburg County's Sheriff Chuck Wright faces serious allegations—from FBI investigations to misuse of public funds and nepotism. And in the national spotlight, the release of the Russiagate binder reignites debates over government deception and media manipulation, just as we approach another election season. Fast-moving, unfiltered, and full of sharp insight—this is an episode you don't want to miss.

Something disturbing is going on with Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Right...

Send us a textThe State of South Carolina had their Republican Reorganization process this week. Hannah covered the details about that process. What is it? What is the goal? What are some weaknesses the party should address regarding ReOrg? Then Hannah brings up a  conversation had around her precinct regarding the local Freedom Caucus and Republican Caucus. There's been some local confusion about the two caucuses and about our primary process. Hannah takes the time to clear the air regarding the primary process debate that's been happening and takes a moment to challenge her listeners on how they should approach issues. https://www.thehannahmillershow.com/podcasts/https://bobslone.com/contact/bob@bobslone.com

For eight years, beginning in the mid 1990's, a serial rapist terrorized women in Spartanburg County. Leaving his DNA at the crime scenes proved futile when investigators had no one to link it to. That was until a new fad in genealogical research came about to catch the monster.

In 1987, a couple was found murdered in their rural Spartanburg County home. Investigators were able to deduce that the perpetrator was someone close to the two. Years went by with no leads, until fresh eyes were laid on the case.

A lovely aspiring singer in Spartanburg County vanished without a trace in 2004. All of the usual suspects were investigated an her disappearance remained a mystery until a physical key unlocked the answers.

This sermon was preached on June 30, 2024 at Mount Calvary Presbyterian Church, a congregation of Calvary Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America located in Roebuck, South Carolina. Pastor Zachary Groff preached this sermon entitled "The Splendor of the King" on 1 Kings 10:1-13 at a joint worship service of the PCA congregations located in Spartanburg County, SC. For more information about Antioch Presbyterian Church, please visit antiochpca.com or contact us at info@antiochpca.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antiochpca/message

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Desmond Floyd, former Defensive End for Wake Forest University. We dove deep into Desmond's upbringing in a small town of the Deep South, and how his upbringing formed him into the athlete who became one of the most highly recruited Defensive Ends to come out of Spartanburg County, SC. Desmond brings the fire to this conversation as he talks about the good, the bad, and the ugly of the current youth sports culture. We also got into an interesting conversation about the current state of college football. We loved recording this episode, we hope ya'll enjoy the show!

When faith collides with the hard truths of law enforcement, the journey is profound. Join me as I sit down with Sheriff Chuck Wright of Spartanburg County, a figure of strength and a testament to the transformation that a Christ-centered life can bring. Chuck isn't just a lawman; he's a beacon in our community, guiding us through his personal evolution from a 'weekend Christian' to a beacon of spiritual leadership. This heart-to-heart is a rare glimpse into how prayer, scripture, and a dedication to family can reshape a life, and consequently, impact the community at large, especially as we grapple with the pervasive issue of illegal drugs and the scourge of substances like fentanyl reaching our streets from unsecured borders.And then there's the opioid crisis—more than a headline, it's a reality that's tearing at the fabric of our homes right here in Spartanburg County. Through candid conversation, Sheriff Wright and I address the chilling ease with which addiction can take hold, often in the innocent aftermath of surgery or trauma. We share personal anecdotes and practical wisdom on managing prescription medications responsibly and turning to prayer and over-the-counter options as alternatives. For those entangled in the grip of addiction, there's a message of hope: our local detention center's support programs and the power of community and faith to nurture recovery. As Sheriff Wright spearheads his re-election campaign, it's clear that healing our county runs much deeper than upholding the law—it's about healing souls.https://www.jacksonfamilyministry.comhttps://bobslone.com/home/podcast-production/

Jerome Hall is less busy than he used to be, having given up his job as a college referee a year ago after 20 years. Yet he still teaches at RD Anderson Applied Technology Center from 8 AM to 3 PM each weekday, instructing high school students in carpentry and officiating. Four days a week, he leaves school at 3 and heads straight to the courthouse and works until 7 as a magistrate for the Spartanburg County court system. And somehow he still found a way to follow his son PJ in his final season at Clemson, which of course included recent trips to Memphis and Los Angeles as the Tigers made a stirring run to the Elite Eight. Jerome, who will turn 55 in two weeks, reflects on his son's life and what makes him one of the iconic figures in Clemson basketball history. The Hall family also shares a deep love and appreciation for Brad Brownell, whose only promise during PJ's recruitment was that Clemson would take care of him. "He was the only coach who didn't promise him a starting spot right away," Jerome said.  

In this episode of the Going Places Podcast, Camden sits down with Adam Crisp, candidate for the SC State House of Representatives District 36. Adam also attended West Point, played baseball at the University of South Carolina, and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2005. He also served as a deputy sheriff for Spartanburg County and now serves on the Lyman Town Council. We talk about the life he has lived, playing baseball, attending West Point, and his experience as a police officer; and how that prepared him for his campaign and his love of serving the community. We talk about why he decided to run for state house, the issues in Columbia and how he would handle them. We talk about his policies and platform. We also have a conversation about the future of the GOP, and the importance of getting real results. Adam also gives some great advice.

In today's episode, we interview Tony Karklins, the owner of Time Bicycles. We discuss Tony's journey in the bike industry, from working in a bike shop to becoming a distributor and eventually acquiring Time Bicycles. Tony shares insights into the evolution of the bike industry, particularly the impact of carbon fiber technology. He also talks about the acquisition of Time Bicycles and the company's focus on manufacturing and innovation. The conversation then shifts to the new gravel models introduced by Time Bicycles for 2024 and the unique features that set them apart. Tony explains the importance of staying true to the Time brand while catering to the evolving needs of the market. He also discusses the future plans for Time Bicycles, including expanding manufacturing in the United States. Time Bicycles Episode Sponsor: Pillar Performance (use code Craig for 15% off)  Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: About the Guest: Tony Karklins is the owner of Time Bicycles, a storied brand in the cycling industry. With over 40 years of experience in the bike industry, Tony has a deep understanding of the market and has played a significant role in the growth and development of various bike brands. He started his career in a neighborhood bike shop in the early 1980s and went on to become a bike shop owner. Tony then ventured into distribution and agent deals with European bike brands before joining Orbea as the managing director of the Americas. After his time with Orbea, Tony acquired the Guru Bicycle Factory and later acquired Time Bicycles from the Rossignol group. He is now focused on expanding Time Bicycles and bringing manufacturing back to the United States. Key Takeaways: Tony Karklins has over 40 years of experience in the bike industry and has played a significant role in the growth and development of various bike brands. Time Bicycles is a storied brand in the cycling industry, known for its high-performance carbon fiber bikes. The acquisition of Time Bicycles by Tony Karklins was driven by the desire to acquire the company's manufacturing capabilities and continue the legacy of the brand. Time Bicycles is focused on innovation and manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on resin transfer molding technology. The introduction of new gravel models for 2024 reflects Time Bicycles' commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the market while staying true to the brand's identity Transcript: [TRANSCRIPT] **** - (): time_bicycles _ jan 19, 2024 001_riverside [00:00:00] - (): Craig Dalton: Tony, welcome to the show. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Thank you very much. Thanks for inviting me. Uh, **** - (): Craig Dalton: as, as a fan of the sport and someone who's been around the sport from my bike shop days in college till now, I'm excited to talk about Time Bicycles. It's such a storied brand in the industry. And having spoken to you a little bit offline, your journey to get there, I think is going to be fascinating for the listener to learn about. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And ultimately we want to talk about the new gravel models you've got for 2024. Sounds great. Where do you want to start? Let's start off just by a little bit of your background. Where are you located and how'd you get into the sport of cycling and what led to you working in the bike industry? All **** - (): Tony Karklins: right. **** - (): Tony Karklins: I, uh, I live in Little Rock, Arkansas. You know, Arkansas is the new hotbed of cycling globally now. So, uh, I've been in the bike industry here for about 40 years. I started to work in the neighborhood bike shop in the early eighties. Became a bike shop owner in the mid 80s, and I ran 2 retail stores here until 99, 2000. [00:01:00] - (): Tony Karklins: It's almost made it 20 years in bike retail here, and I decided that I wanted to stay in the bike industry, but I was kind of done with retail. I'd taken my turn there, and so I started traveling to the European trade shows. Looking for bike brands that were established in Europe that maybe needed help in the United States. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Um, and did a few small distribution and agent deals with some, you know, really neat, small artists and Italian brands and kind of 1 deal led to the next. And then, uh, late 99 or early 2000. I was introduced to this brand that I had never heard of. And no 1 in America had at that time was called. And it was a tiny little, uh, BASC company that was moving out of kind of mass production bikes, and they wanted to get into high performance, and they wanted to get their brand on the Tour de France, and they wanted to see if they could produce, you know, a leading global brand, and started as a distributor for them for a couple of years. [00:02:00] - (): Tony Karklins: It went really well, uh, and then we built it into a joint venture, and I ran that joint venture as the managing director of the Americas until 2014. So, uh, yeah. And we built Orbea in that time to, you know, leading European brand selling in the United States and a true global player. And it was a really interesting time in the bike industry because I started in it right before the carbon fiber boom happened. **** - (): Tony Karklins: When I went to work for Orbea, premium bikes were made out of really lightweight steel. Uh, or, uh, even and we advance in a really lightweight aluminum, like Columbus Starship and some of the really cool 2 pound aluminum frames and they were light and they were fast, but they wrote like crap because they were so stiff. [00:03:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Right? Yeah, I mean, carbon fiber comes into the forks and all of a sudden it made the aluminum bikes ride a lot better. And so, uh, watch, watch carbon fiber hit the bike industry, and it really took the industry by storm in around 2003, 2004. There was this moment where all the best bikes in the Tour de France were aluminum or titanium. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And within 12 months, it all went carbon fiber. And really changed the bike industry a lot because the bike industry and the bike brands, all this history brands that you know of, they were born as metal shops, right? They can cut and weld and bend, but when carbon hit, everybody was like. What is this stuff? **** - (): Tony Karklins: Where do I get it and how do I do it fast? And so I lived in this moment where I saw all that bike production all through the United States and Europe come down in the premium categories and get shipped to Asia because they could make carbon fiber. Yeah. **** - (): Craig Dalton: I was going to ask you from an Orbea perspective, like how did they solve that problem? **** - (): Craig Dalton: They knew they had to get into carbon fiber, the same **** - (): Tony Karklins: thing at the same time. You know, Orbea was Orbea is they take fast, smart decisions quick. So we were right there at the very start of carbon fiber. I remember there was this moment in America where we had a warehouse full of carbon fiber before it was really. [00:04:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Hot, like a couple of months before it was hot and then Cannondale went into bankruptcy and then something happened at light speed, but spike the cost of titanium raw material. And then like a month of fearing. I would never be able to sell this inventory for a bicycling magazine being sold out for 2 years. **** - (): Tony Karklins: That was some of the magic that happened during that time. A lot of, uh, when carbon hit, it just, it hit hard and it changed the industry and it changed where and how bikes were made. Um, and it was a, it was a boom moment for us at Orbea, for sure. We, we, we, we went through the roof, you know, because we were there. **** - (): Tony Karklins: One of the very first real product and real availability. Yeah. So I had a great run with, with Orbea. Um, they acquired the rest of the company from us in 2014. And then I decided that, um, I wanted to get into manufacturing because I noticed at that moment in 2014, 15 and 16, that everybody was sort of cooking in the same kitchen, you know? [00:05:00] - (): Tony Karklins: It was, everything started to look alike again, and there was just different colors and graphics and marketing campaigns. So I said, okay, if I'm gonna stay in the bike industry, I wanna get into manufacturing. **** - (): Craig Dalton: That seems like a big leap, right? So you a big **** - (): Tony Karklins: leap. But you know, I, I, I, I'd been in the industry a long time, been in a lot of the factories. **** - (): Tony Karklins: I mean, I saw it, you know? Yeah. I'm not an engineer. Um, now I almost am. But um, at that point, I just, I knew that, I knew that there was very little chance of success if you just went to Asia and did the same thing again. Yeah, I've seen too many people try to start their own brand, um, based on just desire of having a brand and no real tech or no real, you know, capabilities and, and they all kind of petered out the same way. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And did you see the opportunity being, Hey, if I stand up a manufacturing facility, I've got enough connection in the industry that some brand may want to come to me for manufacturing. I'm thinking back to like. Frank the welder shop and you'd have, **** - (): Tony Karklins: you know, interested in OEM business because you know, you, you do all the work and you get none of the room. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah. [00:06:00] - (): Craig Dalton: Can't explain to anybody what you do for a living because you can't point to anything. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah. I was more interested in. Okay. I think the way that this can really work is if you take it from raw material all the way through to the sand. Right. Okay. Do you want all of that? Because, you know, when you have a bike made in Asia, you have it made in a carbon fiber factory and then they send it to a paint factory and then they send it to an assembly factory and then they put it into a box and they ship it into the United States. **** - (): Tony Karklins: So you pay duties and freight and tariff and all that stuff. And then it's sold to a distributor and then it's sold to a retailer and then it's sold to the consumer. And, you know, you have this, You know, no one has any real piece of the pie, you know, the only people making the money here are the shipping companies and the government, you know, let's break that. [00:07:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Let's see if we can take it from raw material all the way, you know, through selling it to a dealer. Okay. And so, uh, after my time with Orbea, I went to work with a group in California that was attempting to do this, uh, with golf technology, a lot of golf production in the San Diego area. And I learned, you know, during that year that. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Very difficult to do manufacturing in Southern California. It was, it was a great, great learning moment for it. Um, and so did not work there, but after I departed, I was able to acquire the Guru Bicycle Factory. In Montreal. Gotcha. Okay. We located in Arkansas, got some government grants and brought in some investors for this. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And we, uh, the project there, we created this company called HIE Villa, which was going to be, you know, mass production of prepreg carbon fiber bicycles, you know, made the same way that the best bike brands were making them in Asia, but making them here. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And when you, did you not acquire the Guru brand, you just acquired the means of manufacturing at that point? **** - (): Craig Dalton: I just acquired the manufacturing assets. Yeah. And was that just, uh, tooling, machinery, et cetera, or were you getting [00:08:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Messiness, cutting tables, it was everything you needed to do. Gotcha. I mean, everything, you know, and so it gave us a great, it was a great start. Uh, it was a beautiful project. We launched, you know, six Cycleworks brand, and that hit hard. **** - (): Tony Karklins: You know, it resonated just perfectly at that moment because it truly made an America product. Um, we, we did it right. We did it well, um, beautiful project and that company got acquired by the Walton family. In one of their groups, uh, that owns, uh, the Rafa **** - (): Craig Dalton: cycling brand and then was that acquiring the brand and the manufacturing **** - (): Tony Karklins: facility? **** - (): Tony Karklins: They took it all and they did that a little rock and they put it in Northwest Arkansas. And now it's part of the, uh, the cycling empire that they're building. Sure. And so I stayed here in Little Rock after that and looking for my next opportunity. And during the early stages of the pandemic, I learned that the Rossignol group who had recently acquired time was looking for a new owner for it. [00:09:00] - (): Tony Karklins: And I'm like, wow, I really want that because I want, I want their factory. Cause I knew that they had the oldest and the largest scale carbon fiber bike **** - (): Craig Dalton: factory in Europe. Can we, can we pause for a second, Tony, and just explain the history very briefly of the time brand? Cause it's not lost on me, like how important that had been over the last 30 years, but I'd just love to hear your words and understanding of like how time fit into the bike industry. [00:10:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah. So time, uh, was established in France in 1987 and Roland Catan was the founder of it. And Roland Catan married a woman whose father was the inventor of the modern ski bike. And he owned a company called Look. Yep. Sure. And Look had just introduced a bicycle pedal that was clipless. And Roland was around this and he was kind of part of the company. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And I guess at some point there was some family dispute that happened, because Roland believed that a clip in bicycle pedal needed to have some kind of rotation. Because if you were locked into one place, You would have ankle, knee, some kind of problems. And so, I guess the father in law didn't like that. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And Roland left look, went across the street and opened time. Amazing. With a clipless pedal that had rotation. **** - (): Craig Dalton: This is filling in so many gaps for me. As I mentioned offline, I had a friend who was like a die hard time pedal fan. And like the ski binding technology, I'm now all visualizing it in my head. [00:11:00] - (): Tony Karklins: And so I don't know how, I don't know how Roland's wife made this all work with the family. They split and they made it together. Um, and you know, Time, you know, was a very fast moving brand globally the second he did it. It was styled perfectly. Everybody believed in the rotation. They were off to the races. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Um, then somewhere in the late eighties to maybe 92, 93, Roland became friends with some of the people that had started TVT carbon fiber and TVT was, you know, uh, French company. That had done some of the very first, you know, carbon tube, aluminum lug bikes, they were briefly in the tour, but the technology wasn't really stable enough yet to really have true tour riders on it. **** - (): Tony Karklins: But you, I think you saw maybe some of the Greg Lamont years, he might be on a special carbon fiber bike with some sponsors name on it. That was a TVT thing. So the time people got involved with him. Um, and they opened up a project to make a carbon fiber fork because they saw the problem in the bike industry of all these lightweight aluminum bikes using steel forks, or sometimes even aluminum forks, which were super jarring. [00:12:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah. And they believed that they could, they could make a better riding aluminum bike by doing a carbon fork. So Mario Cipollini, Marco Pantani, anybody of who's who in that, you know, in that era, whatever bike brand they were riding, it had a Time fork on it, and from what I've been told, uh, they were making about 100, 000 carbon fiber forks here. [00:13:00] - (): Tony Karklins: I mean, they, they were, they were the player there. Then, of course, Look got into the fork business as well. Those 2 really kind of hit it, you know. So time then moved into bicycle manufacturing in the late 90s. They want to do a full carbon fiber bike. Um, and then in the early 2000s, they signed with this little team called Quickstep and we had writers like Tom Boonen and Paolo Bettini, uh, you know, and they won the Olympics and they won the world championships and they won Paris Roubaix and they were just, they were killing it in 2004, five and six, I mean, they were, they were the, you know, pinnacle of technology really being made in Europe when everybody else had just left for China, they were killing it. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Um, and then. I guess from what I've been told, the Pro Tour got really expensive when the big American brands came in. You know, when you saw Specialized come in and take over Quickstep, and Cannondale was in there first, I think, Giant got in there, uh, Trek obviously got in there, and so Time became a brand that, you know, truly couldn't afford the Tour de France anymore. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And so, uh, they Kept developing products, they believed in their resin transfer molding technology. They believe in European manufacturing, but, you know, they started to kind of hit harder times, maybe in 2012, 13, 14, and then Roland passed away on a bike ride. In 2000, late 2015, early 2016. Oh, man. [00:14:00] - (): Craig Dalton: And did they ever, did they ever diversify into mountain bike products or did they always stay focused on the road sport? **** - (): Craig Dalton: No, **** - (): Tony Karklins: there's, you know, we, we have all the historical stuff and, you know, they did a couple little things and they made their own wheels for one model, but they didn't really ever get in the wheel business. I've got a few time carbon fiber handlebars. I don't believe that a real mountain bike frame was ever truly produced by them, but he was pretty true to the cause. **** - (): Tony Karklins: I mean, he, he was a road cyclist. He was a drop bar cyclist. He, um, he, he, he protected his brand really well. Yeah. Yeah. He, he didn't, he didn't go with, you know, the, the, the trend of the week, like some of the bike companies do. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And then did the Rossignol group, uh, purchase it after his passing **** - (): Tony Karklins: then? They purchased it, you know, so he passed away. [00:15:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Company was in shambles because he was the race car driver of the company. Right. Yeah. And, and so big problems there, but Rossignol stepped in. Um, they. They did an acquisition of everything, they reinvested in the company, um, they built out both the France factory and the sub factory that's in Slovakia. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Um, and they were really building it for big growth. And I, I believe their plan was to, to put, um, they, they bought a few other bike brands as well and to inject those brands into their ski dealerships for summer business in Europe. I think it was their master plan. **** - (): Craig Dalton: The plan that many a bike shop owner, many a bike brand has theorized over the years will work perfectly. **** - (): Tony Karklins: It makes sense. But at the end of the day, you know, a consumer purchasing a 10, 000 bike doesn't want to buy from the ski shop. Yeah. I know. Yeah, nothing against the ski shops, but he wants, he wants to buy it from a passionate, you know, cycling store. So that didn't work so well. And then the pandemic hit, and when the pandemic hit, that's when we were told, Hey, good time. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Rosalind was looking for a new owner from time. And I [00:16:00] - (): Craig Dalton: interrupted you right when you were saying what really attracted you to the opportunity was the fact that there was a factory involved. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And that's how we got it from Roil because we were the people that wanted the factory. I think there were a lot of people that wanted the time brand, right? **** - (): Tony Karklins: Sure. Because there's a playbook. You take a great brand like that, a Halo European brand, you go to Asia, you build a new bike line, boom, you're done. And Ros, I don't think, wanted that to happen. You know, it's proud French brand. There are a lot of people working in factories. Um, they wanted, they wanted somebody to come in and take over the factory. **** - (): Tony Karklins: I had just come through this project at Allied and lived in a prepreg factory. So I'm like, I want that factory, you know? Yeah. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And you were mentioning offline, some of the nuances in the approach prepreg versus another way of manufacturing that attracted you to the **** - (): Tony Karklins: time process. I knew what their tech was, but I had never been in their building previously. [00:17:00] - (): Tony Karklins: And, and I knew the quality that was coming out of that. And so when, when we were able to acquire that, you know, at the same time, SRAM bought the pedal and shoe business. So we actually broke time. Into two pieces. Okay. So that was a perfect fit for SRAM to take that and then we didn't have to be in the pedal business. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Did **** - (): Craig Dalton: that just sort of happen to work out timing wise that I imagine they wanted to sell the whole thing in one fell swoop. **** - (): Tony Karklins: I think they wanted to sell the whole thing in one fell swoop, but it's hard to do that because those two businesses are totally different, totally different factory, totally different customers, totally different rules. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And so when SRAM stepped in with interest in that, it was perfect. And that's when it all kind of came together. And, uh, you know, it was a strange time because when we bought it in the pandemic, we couldn't even go to the factory for a visit. Because this is what Americans travel into Europe. We were on lockdown. [00:18:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah. So a lot of faith in there. And luckily we got a good investment group behind this that also believed in, in us, in the vision of what we wanted to do with time. Uh, and we pulled it off. So we bought it because we wanted that factory. We wanted that technology. You know, what, what Roland spent, you know, 25 years developing in that factory is resin transfer molding and lost wax cores. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And that is the way that aerospace and automotive carbon fiber products are made. You know, the bike industry is prepreg. Prepreg is a very interesting way to make products. And there's some neat things you can do with prepreg. But automotive and aerospace would never use prepreg. Because resin transfer molding gives you complete control of the structure. [00:19:00] - (): Tony Karklins: You end up with a, with a structure that has zero voids in it. It's cosmetically perfect. And that you can blend whatever you want to into the carbon fiber sleeves because they're not impregnated. And so, this one factory that they had built in Slovakia initially as a fork factory had built its way up to being the largest carbon fiber bike factory in Europe. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And with the technology that Was above and beyond what anybody else in the world was doing. When **** - (): Craig Dalton: you talk about that, and I'm sure it's difficult to express it in layman's terms, but when you think about the different design opportunities and possibilities with prepreg versus this type of carbon manufacturing, what type of opportunities for performance, as it translates to riders, does this technology lend itself to? **** - (): Tony Karklins: You know, the biggest difference in resin transfer molding, Is it's not, it's not bladder mold. There's no internal pressure there that is squeezing all those layers of carbon fiber into one structure. So, in resin transfer molding, we start with the wax core. It is, you know, an exact interior core to the structure. [00:20:00] - (): Tony Karklins: And then we wrap the carbon fiber sleeves over those doors. We set them in the tools. When, and when we close the tool, you have steel surface on the outside, hard wax surface on the inside. So two hard surfaces, and then you inject the resin and the hardener through the tool at the same time under high pressure. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And when you do that, the resin fills 100 percent of all available space between the two hard surfaces. So you can't have any leaks. That's why airplane wings are resin transfer molded, because you can't have a void in an airplane wing. Because a **** - (): Craig Dalton: void is a, is a weaker part of the part, if a **** - (): Tony Karklins: void exists. A void is a bubble, it's a fold, it's a wrinkle, it's a drip. [00:21:00] - (): Tony Karklins: It's, you know, because when you're dealing with prepreg, you have this hard tool on the outside. You have, A bladder on the inside, and then you have all these sticky layers, somebody's hand put together, kind of like, almost like paper mache in some ways, right? And each one of those is a sticky, challenging layer. **** - (): Tony Karklins: These will go on just right, right? And then you put that into the tool, and you blast this pressure on the inside, and it just squeezes the heck out of everything. And that's the structure you're left with. But resin transfer molding, hard tool on the inside, hard on the outside, and a flow through of the resin that makes it a perfect structure. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And so when you have that, you have a product that is a stronger and more durable product for sure. Less chance of anything happening to the structure for sure. Also cosmetically perfect. So now you can actually show fibers, which you don't see on carbon fiber bikes anymore, because prepreg structures are ugly. [00:22:00] - (): Tony Karklins: So you have to paint them, make them look nice. But on this, it comes out perfect. And even the inside of the structure, the inside of our bikes is as cosmetically perfect as the outside because it can only be that. Yeah. And then in these braids, you know, a lot of these things have 244 different, you know, threads through we can. **** - (): Tony Karklins: blend in any modulus that we want. We can mix in fibers like Dyneema. We can mix in Vectran fibers. We, we have unlimited recipe of what we could do for the actual sleeves **** - (): Craig Dalton: themselves. And what, what are those additional elements? What are the benefits of those additional **** - (): Tony Karklins: elements? Everybody's familiar with the different moduluses, right? **** - (): Tony Karklins: You can take out weight, you can add stiffness. You know, the one that we've had the most fun with the last two years is bringing Dyneema into it. Dyneema has got kind of a wonder material that really came out of the sailing industry. It's a polypropylene fiber that's lighter than carbon fiber, which you can't destroy. [00:23:00] - (): Tony Karklins: So we can weave this into critical areas where there could be catastrophic failure. And this will keep that structure from ever breaking. And so we brought that in a lot on our 1st gravel bike. We introduced that indoor **** - (): Craig Dalton: structure. Yeah, I was going to say that seems like a natural **** - (): Tony Karklins: thing. We're using more and more and more with it. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And you can't use too much with it because if you use. Two, if your ratio of Dyneema to the carbon fiber is too high, the bike doesn't ride right. Dyneema doesn't have the riding characteristics of a high modulus carbon fiber. But when you put it in small doses in strategic places, you've made a stronger and safer problem. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Got it. Now, I appreciate this detour into the tech because we were going to come back around to it in the gravel bike, but I think it sets the stage really nicely. So if we're going back chronologically. 2020, 2021, it seems like you've acquired the, the, the brand, the facility were models continuing to be pushed out at that point. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And then how, when did you sort of reintroduce what I imagine to be your new vision for time bicycles out there in the world? [00:24:00] - (): Tony Karklins: You know, it, it played out differently than we thought because when we bought the company, our plan was we were going to take it to ground and we were going to redo everything and we were going to relaunch it perfectly and we bought it in that moment in the pandemic where we were all going to die, you know, there was this moment. **** - (): Tony Karklins: It was doom and gloom. And then a couple of months later, everybody decided to go buy a bike. Yeah. **** - (): Craig Dalton: We're not, we're not dead. So we might as well go ride a bike. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah, we're not dead. So let's go buy a new bike. And so our plan was kind of spoiled because we were one of the only operational factories in Europe. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Everybody needed everything from us. And I'm like, no, we're going to be redoing all this stuff. They're like, no, we need bikes now. So we turned it on hard. You know, we turned that factory on harder than it had ever **** - (): been **** - (): Craig Dalton: turned on. And were you kicking out road bikes at that point, **** - (): Tony Karklins: presumably? We were kicking out road bikes like crazy. [00:25:00] - (): Tony Karklins: We were trying to get to gravel, but we had just tons and tons and tons of orders for road bikes because, you know, you couldn't get them. They were stuck in Asia. People were sold out. Yeah. You know, and you know, we're a factory that we make them every single day, you know? So the first 18 months of us owning this company, it was like we were trying to repair the plane mid flight. **** - (): Tony Karklins: You know, we were just going crazy. You know, we're trying to get to new. Because Rossignol didn't really push new because they were in the selling phase. Right. So you're not going to invest in products like that. And so we had slightly dated product and we needed as much of it as possible right now for sales while we're redeveloping. **** - (): Tony Karklins: So just now, you know, in 2024, we're back to our plan of, of key new model introductions, **** - (): Craig Dalton: you know. Yeah. You know, during that timeframe with everything running so fast, it sounds like you wouldn't have even had time to rethink market positioning the brand. It was more people love time. It's a storied brand as we've just talked about, and people are going to buy the product. **** - (): Craig Dalton: The [00:26:00] - (): Tony Karklins: second we bought it, man, the love just kind of flowed in through emails, you know, everybody's like, Oh God, thank God, you know, cycling people have the time brand, you know, and, and yeah, the love for the time brand is amazing. I can't tell you how many people have sent an email with a picture of their Time VRX, VXRS, Paolo Bettini edition to say, I own a hundred bikes and this is my all time favorite. **** - (): Tony Karklins: You know, people love it. I mean, Roland did a great job building a really beautiful, he really, he, he always. Did the right thing. Yeah. Always took the high road. You know, not a lot of people in the bike industry can really say that. **** - (): Craig Dalton: For sure. You mentioned Roland's love of the sport of road cycling, and it doesn't sound like prior to you much, if any, emphasis was put on the gravel market. **** - (): Craig Dalton: When you decided to move in, or correct me if I'm wrong, certainly. [00:27:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Well, there were some weird things in there. Like one of the things, when we did the acquisition and we got the trademark, Roland owns the global trademark for all. Okay, we were looking at that. Oh, my God. What was he going to do with that? **** - (): Tony Karklins: You know, he saw something, you know, maybe he was maybe had a pedal plan for it. But, you know, he, you know, he was pretty deep in the Belgian site. Okay. And so he, he was, he was working on something for sure. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Gotcha. You weren't handed any gravel models, so it took you, took you to what, 2022 to introduce the first, uh, ADHX? **** - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah, we did. We introduced that, um, midway through 2022. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Now I'm curious, like obviously you had your imprints on that model with you alongside your designers. How did you envision the gravel market at that point? Times the, the time, the people who are appreciating the time brands vision for what a time gravel bike would look like. [00:28:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Well, that was our first rule with the ADHX is we wanted to make a bike that would appeal to time. Right. We weren't going to go out and make some bike that had frays on forks everywhere and for camping on it. That's not time, right? You need to go buy a Surly if you're going to do that. We wanted to do an all road bike. **** - (): Tony Karklins: For a time and we wanted to also make sure that it worked with all road drive trains. Because we want to be a multi surface road bike. Gotcha. We call it fast gravel. Um, and and we introduced that before a lot of these wide drive train 1 by systems really became legitimized and, you know, our requirement is let's get biggest tire possible in here. **** - (): Tony Karklins: It will still take 52 chain ring. You know? Yeah. And we'll not have an obscenely long chainstay. So we'll ride like a road bike, but we'll allow you to do multi surface. Yeah. [00:29:00] - (): Craig Dalton: I've had this conversation before where it's very interesting when you talk about constraints and what you're able to do. And as you're articulating the desire to have a 50 tooth chainring in there and ride a two by drivetrain and a road specific drivetrain, it's understandable where you end up spec wise. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Yeah. I **** - (): Tony Karklins: mean, so that, that's, those are the limitations we put on it. And so then we launched it into the market. You know, and at that moment, anything, anybody launched into the market was going to do well because the market was just consuming all by itself. But quickly, we learned that nobody wanted our ADHX with a one by drive train. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Everybody who was buying, because we made, we, we took an assumption that 50, 50, one by two by, you know, and it was 99 percent and 1 percent was the reality of after six months of this. So everybody, they were buying pure road groups and they were running. You know, 35, maybe 38 C tires. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Yeah. It's interesting when you think about that 2022 timeframe, because I do think the, the consumer base had started to really. [00:30:00] - (): Craig Dalton: Sort of pick a camp if you will. And they were picking either I want a fast gravel bike or I want something more on the adventure side. And there were distinct camps starting to emerge even back then. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah, there were. And, uh, you know, so we got a lot of feedback maybe nine months after launch, but we can't get this 42 tire and everybody racing on unbound this year is running a 42. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And then, you know, we were also at that moment where the interior rim widths were changing like crazy. Yeah, so even if you were putting a 38 seat tire on there, but this new wheel coming out from head has a 26 internal measurement. It was measuring a 42, you know, so we ran into that fun, but everybody else ran into that fun at the same time. [00:31:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah. So we decided that we would open the next project to do a wider. You know, tire version of the ADHX, um, because we thought that was truly where the market was moving to. And what we learned in all of that is it all just comes down to the drivetrain. And the second we launched the ADHX45 and we explained it was built for wide drivetrains and it was built for, you know, it won't take Ultegra, Dura Ace, Campagnolo drivetrains on there. **** - (): Tony Karklins: That we had this boom of sales in our existing ADHX because all of a sudden people really understood. Yeah, this is this is as much of a multi surface bike as I can have and it'd be a road bike. This is really a pure gravel, right? And so for now, it's crystal clear. We didn't really expect that to happen. **** - (): Tony Karklins: We assume the 45 was what everybody was going to want, but now it's crystallized for us where there are three for us. There's pure road. There is multi surface pass. Yeah. And there is. You know, I don't want to call it pure gravel, but wider tire [00:32:00] - (): Craig Dalton: gravel. Yeah, it's a, it's a really interesting force and forcing function. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Cause I think a lot of consumers develop a love and appreciation for a particular brand. And then, so they're in the time family, they're in the time world, and then they're looking at your two models and they're asking themselves, what type of gravel rider am I? Where, where do I live? What type of terrain am I on? **** - (): Craig Dalton: And which one of these two models fits their riding style and ambitions. **** - (): Tony Karklins: What I think we've learned is. It's more important around the drivetrain than it really is around three or four millimeter width change on the top. That's what the customer seems to really care about. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Interesting. So on the, on the, the ADHX45, will that still run a 2x? [00:33:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah, it'll run a 2x, but you have to use a wide version of it. Okay. Yeah. So you're using these, these gear ratios that true road cyclists Don't really, they still want their 52 ring on there, right? Yeah. And when you move into the a H 45, you gotta deal with all, all the new systems from Shram and the new ones from the G Rx system. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And it, it does, it does really seem to be that the 45 falls more to the MTB crowd and the A DHX falls more to the road cyclist. It just wants to do a little bit of ground. Yeah. As you and then, and then in Europe they use the A DHX. As the fat road tire. Okay. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And what do you, does it ride sort of as if it say you have road tires on their 32s or 35s? **** - (): Craig Dalton: Is it ride like an endurance road bike? Would you, would you suggest? That's **** - (): Tony Karklins: where a lot of people have kind of put it. Yeah. You know, cause you can, you can build out, you know, with those Victoria 34 C tires and nice carbon wheels, you can have a, you know, 14 and a half pound 34 seat tire road bike. It's just super fun to ride. [00:34:00] - (): Craig Dalton: Super fun to ride. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was just out with a buddy I hadn't seen in a while. And so he was like hardcore roadie and saw him rolled up on some 38 Cs, nice carbon wheels. And he was like, man, this bike is, he's like, it's a revelation. He's like, I've never been happier road riding than I have been on these 38 Cs. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Yeah, I love it. Super interesting. As you, you know, you had the the 80 HX out there in the market. Obviously, you were getting some feedback from riders that led to the tire and drive train decisions on the 45. Were there any other elements of the frame design that taking the opportunity to think? Hey, we're now getting 45s in there. **** - (): Craig Dalton: People are going to take this on gnarlier terrain. Do we need to do anything different? Or was it really about upsizing and, you know, configuring the drive **** - (): Tony Karklins: train? You know, when there were some people that were pushing us for adventure bikes and stuff, but it's just, we're, we're doing our best to stay true to time. [00:35:00] - (): Tony Karklins: We're not an adventure bike company, we're a high performance carbon fiber bike company. We want to, we want to keep it that way. So I think, I think the 45, at least. What we see of today's gravel market is as far as we need to go, you know, because there are other things at the time brand needs to do. We know we have to get back into the aero road bike development and we have to get back into endurance road development. **** - (): Tony Karklins: We've got other projects there. So I think that, you know, while we'll continue to evolve the ADA checks family, I think we sort of have our two models **** - (): Craig Dalton: in there. Yeah. When you think about it, you mentioned sort of unbound. When you think about a competitive race bike, is there anything that The ADH X45 has that doesn't put it as a gravel race bike, other than the choice of drivetrain that you're, you have to **** - (): Tony Karklins: make because it was, it was really built for that type of application. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Yeah, it a go fast. You know, wide tire ground. Yeah. You know, it's, it's a race bike. I mean, we, we, we did some really tight tolerances on there. The things we had to do to get the chain stays, you know, in the seat too. And just, just to the point where they'd be right on the edge of giving the proper amount of clearance. [00:36:00] - (): Tony Karklins: And, and, and truly be a high performance ride. We, we couldn't have done it any tighter than we did. Yeah. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Yeah. And when you think about the ideal rider for these types of bikes, um, are you, you know, are the head tubes taller or are they, or are they still sort of real Euro race style **** - (): Tony Karklins: geometry? We are upper middle there on this particular family when we, well, when we bought time, there was no integrated front ends at all. **** - (): Tony Karklins: So we had to, the first project we did was to do, to bring integration in when we did that to all of our existing product line, we increased that head to height just a bit more for the, for the mature American market. **** - (): Craig Dalton: And when, with integration, you're talking about **** - (): Tony Karklins: specialized Roubaix, we didn't, we didn't go there, but we brought it to a point because I, I hate premium bikes with three or four spacers in there. [00:37:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Or, or an upstem. Yeah. So we built it, you know, we engineered it to sell and be looked at. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Okay. And with that integration, you're referring to putting the cables inside the bar and through the headset and all that stuff. We got a moment to **** - (): Tony Karklins: tweak all the hit tube heights when we did that. Yeah. And so we, we, we took, we took benefit. **** - (): Tony Karklins: We cleaned that. Got it. Because, you know, traditionally time Short head to bike. I mean, it was the, a lot of the design was led by the racers who all want these head tubes that are this tall. Yeah. You know, nobody who's actually buying a bike and ever ride, you know, **** - (): Craig Dalton: exactly. Um, what, what's sort of next for time and gravel this year? **** - (): Craig Dalton: I imagine, you know, there's still a lot of people who haven't gotten in front of a time. Gravel bike. How do people find **** - (): Tony Karklins: them for time right now is, um, our expansion into manufacturing in the United States. Okay. That's our next thing. So we announced, uh, middle of last year that we acquired a facility in South Carolina and it's in Spartanburg County. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Was it outside the bike industry? Something doing carbon fiber in another field? [00:38:00] - (): Tony Karklins: No. Um, but it is inside the bubble that BMW built in North America and BM W's carbon fiber technology is exactly the same as times. Got it. So it's resin transfer molding. So in this one little region of South Carolina, they have the entire global supply chain specific to exactly what time does. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Amazing. So we acquired a factory there in this little town called Landrum. It's 140, 000 square foot facility on 30 acres, right at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Really cool area. Uh, about, about 30, 45 minutes from Nashville, North Carolina. And we are. Um, throughout 2024, moving process by process over, so we'll have a second factory here to support the United States. [00:39:00] - (): Tony Karklins: And at the same time, as we're installing our processes into that factory, we're getting a lot of assistance from, um, the state of South Carolina and the University of Clemson, and a lot of the, um, automotive, Development tools that were put into place inside of BMW. They do things with resin transfer molding that were light years beyond what Roland ever thought about when he was building his factories in France and Slovakia. **** - (): Tony Karklins: And so we've been for the last six months doing proof of concept manufacturing there about, um, high pressure resin transfer molding. We're similar technology to what we do in our factories now. But under three to five times pressure, and that has the potential to really, uh, has the potential to revolutionize bicycle manufacturing, but certainly advance our product to a point where beyond what we ever thought possible. [00:40:00] - (): Tony Karklins: When you, when you are able to do resin transfer molding at 35, 45, 50 bar, that is incredibly high pressure. It's going to make a A structure that is thinner, lighter, and stronger, and also more beautiful than anybody's ever been able to pull out of a carbon fiber tool. So we are fully focused on that development and deploying that technology in our new South Carolina factory. **** - (): Tony Karklins: By the end of **** - (): Craig Dalton: this year, that's so exciting to bring back more manufacturing in the United States. And as we heard, **** - (): Tony Karklins: that's the real thing, you know, because the automobile industry invested a lot in resin transfer from BMW, McLaren, Aston Martin, Lexus. Audi, I mean, resin transfer molding used in all those brands significantly. [00:41:00] - (): Tony Karklins: Polestar, Volvo. And to take benefit of what they've done there and apply it to bike under the Time brand name and being true to, you know, what Roland Katana actually wanted to build out of Time. That's, that's our special project that we're really excited about. I think that I'm a few months away from inviting people such as yourself into the kitchen over there so you can see firsthand what what's actually about that. **** - (): Craig Dalton: I love it. Book me a date. Maybe in July. My sister just moved to Asheville. So I'm planning a trip over there at some point **** - (): Tony Karklins: 3045. I **** - (): Craig Dalton: love it. I love it. I love this journey. You've taken us on in this conversation. Love the time brand. The story very much lands with me. Just the sort of. Race perspective of the bicycles and the expansion of the ADHX to the ADX45 just to give riders kind of what they're looking for in terms of the versatility. **** - (): Craig Dalton: In the time models. So, um, yeah, super appreciate it. And for customers looking to get in touch with the brand or get, get a foot over one of these, what's the best way for riders to get in front of a time bicycle? You know, [00:42:00] - (): Tony Karklins: we, our website and the team that we have supporting all lines of communication through that social media. **** - (): Tony Karklins: We're very easy. Okay. I mean, ping us ping us on Facebook, Instagram, through our website, we have a team here ready to help. And **** - (): Craig Dalton: are you selling direct to consumer at this **** - (): Tony Karklins: point? We sell every way possible. We sell direct to consumer and we've got around 150 retailers in the United States. Uh, we've got distributors in 18 countries around the world. **** - (): Tony Karklins: Um, so yeah, we're, we're pretty much available in all key markets. **** - (): Craig Dalton: Amazing. Thanks again for the time, Tony. **** - (): Tony Karklins: My pleasure.  

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Innoventure in Greenville, S.C. John tells us about BMW employing humanoid robots in their Spartanburg County plant.

Spartanburg County Sheriff, Chuck Wright Calls In To Show Support For Constitutional Carry https://www.audacy.com/989word The Charlie James Show   Listen on Spotify : https://spoti.fi/3MXOvGP Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-charlie-james-show-podcast/id1547262821   Follow us on Social Media Join our Live Stream Weekdays - 3pm to 7pm   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/989word Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-2031096 X: https://twitter.com/989word Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/989word/   "Red Meat, Greenville." 02/01/24

First opening its doors in April of 1961, Spartanburg City Hall will soon be no more, making way for the construction of a new joint municipal government facility to be shared by the City of Spartanburg and Spartanburg County. As the City says its final farewells to the current City Hall—likely the last building to ever carry the name—Dr. Phillip Stone, Archivist at Wofford College and Brad Steinecke, Assistant Director of Local History at Spartanburg County Public Libraries join us to discuss the history of that building and the various facilities the City of Spartanburg has used to do the local public's business over the years. 

In 1987, a Spartanburg County man came home to a horrific scene. Trying to stop the intruder ended up costing him his life. When the case went cold, authorities would have to wait decades for technology to catch up to the perpetrator.

What challenges and opportunities arise when starting a farm and retail venture from scratch? On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Jacob Towe of Jubilee Farms in Pauline, South Carolina. After helping with his family's Christmas tree farm from an early age, Jacob launched his own regenerative farm as well as a local grocery store focused on real food and farm-to-table connections.   Tune in to hear how Jacob boot-strapped his way into a successful farm life!   In this episode, you'll hear… How Jacob got started in regenerative farming 0:55 What his biggest takeaways were from his time at Polyface Farm 3:11 What kind of farmland Jubilee Farm has 9:16 More about the farm's grocery store 10:45 What Jacob would do differently given the opportunity to start over 24:21 About their store's customers and what they purchase most 31:08 What Jacob's advice is for newer farmers 32:45   About the Guest: Jacob Towe is the owner of Jubilee Farms and co-owner of Farmfare Grocery in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. He has been involved in agriculture from an early age helping with his grandfather's Christmas tree farm and later getting his own chickens. After a summer at Polyface in 2017 he launched Jubilee Farms as a first generation livestock farmer. Recently he opened his first retail location named Farmfare in partnership with his mother Paula.  Resources: Website - Jubileefarmssc.comFarm's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/jubileefarmssc/ Store's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FarmfareLocalGrocery/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jubilee_farms_sc/   The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsor! MyDigitalFarmer.com was created by CSA farmer and marketing specialist Corinna Bench to help farmers learn the marketing fundamentals — so you can stop feeling uncertain, frustrated, guilty, or inadequate when it comes to selling your products. In the My Digital Farmer podcast, you'll be exposed to the fundamentals of marketing theory and practice so you can apply them to your own farm and business. She'll cover marketing funnels, copywriting, website messaging, CSA marketing, lead generation, brand building, social media, customer retention, Facebook ads, sales pages, Facebook groups, YouTube, Instagram, email marketing, and stellar customer service. She also interviews other farmers to find out what's working (and not working) in farm marketing so you can feel more confident in your ability to convert leads, increase sales, and build a strong brand for your farm. Subscribe to her show at https://www.mydigitalfarmer.com/podcast  

 Steven Crowder released what appears to be a part of the manifesto of the Nashville Shooter. Hannah discusses Crowder's reasoning for releasing it and the manifesto itself. After this discussion, Hannah reviews the results of the Spartanburg County elections held this week -- Primarily the 1% tax. In addition, a headline and a phone call prompted Hannah to discuss homeschooling and give three pieces of advice or reminders for both new homeschoolers and veteran homeschoolers. Lastly, Hannah's family experienced the mercy of Jesus and an outpouring of love from the Church this week and she closes the show by sharing with listeners about that event.https://www.thehannahmillershow.com/podcasts/https://bobslone.com/contact/bob@bobslone.com

Spartanburg County, where Hannah lives, has an upcoming vote on a tax increase. On today's podcast she interviews Lou Nespeca about what is being advertised as a "Penny Tax" when in fact, it's a 1% tax. Answering questions such as– what roads will the funds go to? Why haven't the other taxes previously passed for road repair been enough? Why is it so hard to find information regarding money designated for the roads? What percent of the roads in Spartanburg County are failing and how many will this tax be able to repair? https://www.thehannahmillershow.com/podcasts/https://bobslone.com/contact/bob@bobslone.com

“Spartanburg Public Schools with State Rep. Josiah Magnuson” “RINO Republicans Roll Over” “The Biden Impeachment” “Political Games” 

It's never hard to find folks willing too share their opinions about litter, and thankfully for those of us in Spartanburg, it's also not hard to find folks willing to put their time and energy into combatting it. Thanks to the work of , those efforts are more organized than ever throughout Spartanburg County. Founded in 2018, our local Keep America Beautiful affiliate works not only to combat litter in our area. The organization also works to engage residents in recycling, beautification efforts, and environmental education. Today on the podcast, we're talking with Keep OneSpartanburg Beautiful Coordinator, Claire Roussos about the organization and how they're helping to improve our local environment and quality-of-life for our residents.

A French bicycle company whose bikes have won Olympic gold, multiple world championships, and numerous stages of the Tour de France will soon be operating in the Upstate the nation's largest carbon fiber bicycle factory. Mike Switzer interviews John Lummus, president and CEO of the Upstate SC Alliance about TIME Bicycles about their move to Spartanburg County.

It's been a number of years since the City Podcast has had a cohost to share the work of keeping our listeners informed on what's going with City government and the broader Spartanburg Community. As we ramp up our podcast production this year though, we're welcoming a new member to the City's Communications and Marketing team who will join us in bringing you conversations with leaders and community members about the work they're doing in Spartanburg.    Jes comes to us from Spartanburg County, where she served as as Recyclying Coordinator for 10 years after serving four years as District Manager for the Spartanburg Soil and Water Conservation District. Today on the podcast, we're getting to know Jes and learning about how her experences both as a Spartanburg native and in her previous roles will help guide her approach to sharing information and explaining often complicated policies and programs with our audience. 

As we overview the various parts of the Upstate, the first that comes to mind outside of Greenville proper is Greer - a city located half in Greenville County and half in Spartanburg County. Previously an extremely rural part of the Upstate with a ho-hum downtown, Greer has been transformed the last 20 years into one of the Upstate's most desirable downtown and suburban areas, while still having plenty of rural areas left. Downtown Greer might not be too large, but Greer as a whole covers a large geographic area, with multiple sub-regions that have plenty to offer to their residents. As a result, more and more people moving to the Upstate are specifically looking to move to Greer.  As always, if you have any questions or comments (or, of course, need a realtor), feel free to reach out to Stan McCune directly by phone/text at (864) 735-7580 or by email at smccune@cdanjoyner.com.

A Shaw University bus full of students was pulled over. Some students believe it was racially motivated and want the traffic stop investigated. Goupstate.com has more on the story:   The Spartanburg and Cherokee Sheriff's Offices released the body camera footage of an Oct. 5 traffic stop of a bus containing Shaw University students and staff on Monday morning.  Shaw University is a historically Black university located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright and Cherokee County Sheriff Steve Mueller dismissed allegations of racial profiling and targeting the Shaw University personnel in the traffic stop.  The stop occurred in Spartanburg County, but the search was conducted by Cherokee County deputies as part of Operation Rolling Thunder, an escalated week-long operation by the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, along with other agencies, to seize illegal contraband, including narcotics, illegal weapons, and cash, along Interstates 85 and 26. This year's operation seized almost $1 million in currency.  A new Gallup poll says the state of the economy and inflation will be top of mind for voters in the upcoming elections.   Plus, Transformation Tuesday. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.