Beach Parking + Amphitheater + Hospital +Missing Girl +Cat Rescue

This is the debut of the Myrtle Beach, SC Patch Daily Newsletter — your go-to for daily news and events all along The Grand Strand.

My name is Kathy Mandell. I moved to the Myrtle Beach area from New England in 2018. There is so much to do and see here, and so many great people. I have worked as a writer, and a wearer-of-many hats, in both the tourism industry and the pet industry, for over 30 years. Make sure to check out this newsletter every day, and if you like what you see, tell a friend or two!

Today, I'll give you an update about beach parking in Garden City and elsewhere, we'll talk about the proposed amphitheater, two happy endings, and an update on the rezoning request for a new branch of Tidelands Hospital.

But first, a look at today's weather:

Another dry and sunny beach day, and still no rain in sight: a high of 79 and a low of 60.

Today's top 5 news stories for the Myrtle Beach area:

1. Parking near the pier at Garden City Beach will now be FREE in the daytime hours, according to WRNN radio's Dave Priest. Officials in North Myrtle Beach are still sussing out the details of a proposed parking ordinance aimed at transient rental guests, but the booming rental industry is squawking, so that decision is yet to be made. (Johnson City Press)
2. Horry County officials this week gave a thumbs' down to he proposed Myrtle Beach Grand Amphitheater that would have been located on 75 acres near the intersection of SC905 and SC22. The venue would have seated 21,000 and attracted big-name performing artists. (Post and Courier)
3. The controversy surrounding the proposed Tidelands Health Carolina Bays Hospital, to be built in Socastee, may be waning. Officials have passed a preliminary re-zoning request, but definite approval is still a long way off. Tidelands has requested that an 82-acre parcel be re-zoned. Residents have a chance to weigh-in at the next meeting. (WMBF News)
4. A missing 11-year-old child named by officials as Daeryen, who was thought to be with a non-custodial person and allegedly bound for West Virginia, was found safe, according to Myrtle Beach Police. (WPDE)
5. Lest you think firefighters really don't rescue cats stuck in trees, think again! Yes, folks, it happened right here in Atlantic Beach. The cat was reported to be in "outstanding" condition, according to Horry County Fire Rescue officials! (WMBF News)

Today in Myrtle Beach:

• SCWorks is hosting a Hospitality and Tourism Virtual Job Fair online. (10:00-2:00)

• Beach Creative Workshop at Pawleys Island General Store - Creative workshop led by a live instructor, using driftwood and oyster shells to make decorations such as a magnolia made from oyster shells, a pineapple made of driftwood, and more. Tools and materials included. (10:30 am)

• Elvis Live Tribute Show. See the legendary, Myrtle Beach native, Alex J. Mitchell perform as the King of Rock & Roll. at GTS Theatre, 1220 Port Dr, Myrtle Beach (7-9 pm)

• TreeHouse! at Local On The Water, 1525 13th Ave N., North Myrtle Beach. It's TreeHouse's spring finale show, and all original band members will be playing. (7-11 pm)

Myrtle Beach Patch Notebook:

• Little River Blue Crab Festival a winner! After last year's cancellation due to COVID-19, the decades-long tradition was back this past weekend (I was there!), and it was a true winner. (Details here)
• Myrtle Beach Spring Bike Rally was also a success. Despite that pesky gas shortage, the 2021 spring bike rally went off without a hitch! (Details here)

• Myrtle Beach's long-awaited 25-mile bicycle loop opens this coming Saturday, May 22nd with a ribbon cutting ceremony. (Details here)
• The 2021 GolfBuddy Veterans Classic starts Sunday and goes until May 26. (Details here)
• New rules for hole digging on the beach! The Myrtle Beach City Council has a new set of rules for recreational digging. (Details here)
• Experts claim panic buying led to recent local gas shortages. They also claim, if the Colonial Pipeline had been shut down any longer than it was, it could have been devastating for our area. (Details here)
• Carolina Country Music Fest returns! June 10-13, 2021 at the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk At The Beach! (Details here)

That's todays Myrtle Beach news in a nutshell! Check your inbox tomorrow for more. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day!

- Kathy

About me: The best decision I ever made was relocating to the Myrtle Beach area from New England a few years ago, with my three dogs and three cats. I enjoy dogs, cats, road trips, photography, writing, vegetarian food, live music, bicycling and above all my daily walks on the beaches in and around the Grand Strand.