The Story Behind The Woodruff Times, From Its Co-Owner
Co-owner Tracy Simmons Sanders explains why she and Dr. Vareva Harris started The Woodruff Times, how the paper is funded, and where its Main Street office is.
On June 30, 2025, The Woodruff Times published a letter from co-owner Tracy Simmons Sanders introducing herself and explaining why the paper exists. Here is our summary.
Who runs it: Sanders co-owns the paper with her business partner, Dr. Vareva Harris. Both grew up in the Enoree and Woodruff area. Sanders attended Woodruff-district schools, and her family worked in the local mills.
Why it started: After opening a business on Main Street, Sanders heard from residents who did not know what their council or school board was doing. At the time Woodruff had no local paper. The two founded the Times to report decisions, spotlight small businesses and carry residents' concerns.
How it is funded: Sanders writes that for the first four years the owners paid themselves nothing and put every dollar back into the paper. Like many small-town papers, it runs on limited resources and depends on subscriptions and advertising.
At the time, the paper was also preparing a Spartanburg County Sheriff candidates town hall in Woodruff on July 22, 2025, with a $10 ticket to cover venue, sound, video and staffing costs. That event has since passed.
Where to find them: The Times had moved into a new office at 240 N. Main Street, the former Anita's Flower Shop, and invited residents to stop by. Subscriptions are available online or in person.
Why we are sharing this: The Woodruff Times is the source for much of the local news summarized on GoWoodruff. We link to every story we draw from, and we encourage readers to subscribe to support local reporting.
This is our own summary of a letter by Tracy Simmons Sanders in The Woodruff Times. Read it in full at the source link.