🌱 Sonoco names its next CEO as Howard Coker prepares to retire
Hartsville, South Carolina Patch AM: a 4 min readHello again Hartsville! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Sonoco names its next CEO as Howard Coker prepares to retire
- Coker's homecoming donors unlock an extra $50,000
- GSSM's student drug research earns another statewide innovation award
Also on today's calendar: 21st Pastoral Anniversary Banquet and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: What are the two sides of a circle? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 75 and low of 54 degrees.
- Thursday: Pleasant with periods of sun, temps: high: 72, low: 42.
- Friday: Sunny and cooler, with a high of 59 and low of 35 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Sonoco Names Ernest Haynes CEO as Howard Coker Plans Retirement After 41 Years (citybiz.co) — Hartsville-based Sonoco has named Ernest Haynes its next CEO, succeeding Howard Coker, who will retire December 31 after 41 years with the packaging company. Haynes takes over January 1, 2027, following a restructuring that focused Sonoco on consumer and industrial packaging. He joined the company in 1997. 
• Coker donors unlock $50,000 in challenge gifts (scnow.com) — Coker University donors raised $187,000 and unlocked another $50,000 in challenge gifts during the Hartsville school's homecoming giving campaign. The university exceeded both participation goals, with alumni giving increasing from 109 donors to 130. Gifts supported scholarships, academic programs, athletics and Kalmia Gardens, among other areas.
• 2026 InnoVision awards celebrates 28 years of South Carolina innovation (whosonthemove.com) — Hartsville's Governor's School for Science and Mathematics earned InnoVision's Young Innovator Award for the second consecutive year at the November 5 ceremony in Greer. The honor recognizes its Computational Chemistry program, where high school students use professional drug-design software and conduct original research on proteins, drugs and neurodegenerative diseases.
📸 Around Hartsville
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Hartsville
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
-
Opera Workshop →
Hartsville
Friday November 13
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
-
21st Pastoral Anniversary Banquet →
404 Coker Avenue, Hartsville
6:00 pm -
Architectural Review Board →
Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 E. Carolina Ave, Hartsville
8:15 pm -
Museum Commission →
Hartsville Museum, 222 N Fifth St, Hartsville
9:00 pm -
Downtown Open House & Tree Lighting – Heart of the Holidays 2026 →
Downtown Hartsville, 100 East Carolina Avenue, Hartsville
6:00 pm -
Family Jingle Jam – Heart of the Holidays 2026 →
E. College Ave, Hartsville
6:00 pm -
Kids Carnival & Craft Show – Heart of the Holidays 2026 →
Cargill Way, Hartsville
10:00 am -
Mo Willems Party →
Hartsville Memorial Library, 147 W College Ave, Hartsville
1:00 pm
Saturday November 14
Wednesday November 18
Thursday November 19
Friday November 20
Saturday November 21
📣 Hartsville Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
-
Chainsaw Safety and Handling Workshop →
295 South Evander Drive, Florence
9:00 am -
FMU Percussion Ensemble →
Blackbox Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Florence
7:30 pm -
Aspiring Farmer Workshop - Darlington County →
American Legion, 1752 Harry Byrd Highway, Darlington
10:00 am -
Voice of Small Business Social →
250 West Apartments, 250 Dunbarton Dr, Florence
5:30 pm
Wednesday November 11
Thursday November 12
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Hartsville PatchAM possible:
- John W. Molony Law Firm, LLC — (843) 762-5732
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- When we lived in Roseville, ATStire was my tire store.
Three cars. fair prices, quality service. It goes by the name of Discount Tires here in SC. Same deal: good tirees, fair prices and quality service… (Nextdoor Downtown Hartsville)
- SAS Retail Services posted a job opening for Traveling Retail Merchandiser Team Lead - Overnight in Hartsville. Apply here.
- Aramark posted a job opening for Food Service Worker - South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Math in Hartsville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Hartsville here.
🗞 Nearby News
Darlington
- DCHCM prepares Revolutionary War Exhibit, revamps Gallery (newsandpress.net)
- Man arrested on 2 counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor in Darlington County (wbtw.com)
- SC State to honor veterans with Nov. 11 program (scnow.com)
Florence
- PDRTA expands Florence transit service hours (scnow.com)
Ok Hartsville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: "What are the two sides of a circle?" — The inside and the outside ! (Thank you James M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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