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Community Corner

🌱 Beach Weather Week + Grand Strand Shelters Educate Adopters

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Myrtle Beach.

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Kathy Mandell, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Hey, neighbors! Kathy Mandell here with today's edition of the Myrtle Beach Daily. It's Thursday, December 30, 2021, and here's what you need to know to start the day.

I also wanted to give a special shoutout to some of our Patch Supporters, Mary Ryan and Marc Winter. Thanks for helping make local news happen in Myrtle Beach! If you want to support local news in Myrtle Beach, Click here to learn more about becoming a Patch Supporter.

Thursday's weather:

Cloudy, warm; a p.m. t-storm. High: 74 Low: 63.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Myrtle Beach:

  1. What a week this is turning out to be weather wise! Locals and holiday visitors alike got a real treat with some unseasonably warm temperatures and sunshine all week. The beaches have been very busy, and there's heavy traffic on Highway 17 besides. Parking is still good, but many more spaces have been filled than during previous winter holiday weeks. The influx of people has been great for local businesses. There may be some rain today, and next week a cold snap is coming! (WBTW)
  2. Lots of former New Yorkers now live here on the Grand Strand, and organizers of Market Common's yearly "Southern Times Square" ball drop on New Year's Eve are keenly aware of that fact. People come here from other states just to participate in the annual event. Last year, there were many restrictions in place because of the pandemic, and it rained besides. This year, the good weather will create a welcoming atmosphere, and most pandemic restrictions have been lifted. A few changes are in place including how to get tickets, limited parking, and a few other sensible requirements. (WMBF)
  3. Two law enforcement officers are being remembered this week, 19 and 20 years after they were each killed in the line of duty. The Horry County Sheriff's Office remembers lieutenant Randy Gerald, who was killed while saving woman's life on December 29, 2001. Slain Myrtle Beach police officer Pfc. Joe McGarry was remembered in a ceremony on Wednesday. McGarry was killed while approaching a murder suspect at Dunkin' Donuts on North Kings Highway, December 29, 2002. Suspects in both cases were convicted. One is serving a life sentence, the other is on death row. (WIS10) (WBTW)
  4. There is great news from Grand Strand animal shelters — the Grand Strand Humane Society had more adoption applications in December of 2021 than in any other month this year. The only problem is some of the pets adopted out were intended to be given as gifts to loved ones. Intentions are good, but such a gift is not always well thought out. Both GSHS and Kind Keeper Animal Rescue want to remind potential adopters that pet adoption is a commitment for the life of the pet, and should be a decision based on lifestyle, finances, time, activity, and energy commitments of the pet parent. The organizations do their best to educate potential adopters to find the best match. (WBTW)
  5. Horry County Schools has approved the design plans for the new Whittemore Park Middle School. Construction of the new school will begin in about a year, with completion slated for the 2024-2025 academic year. The school district purchased 39 acres of land in Conway for the campus, that measures 145,000 square feet and will accommodate 1,050 students. (WMBF)

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Today in Myrtle Beach:

  • Red Cross blood drive @ YMCA of Coastal Carolina (9:00 AM)
  • Night Of A Thousand Candles @ Brookgreen Gardens (4:00 PM)
  • Winter Wonderland at the Beach @ Burroughs & Chapin Pavilion (opening time delayed due to unseasonably warm temperatures) (5:00 PM)
  • The final night of the Great Christmas Light Show @ NMB Park & Sports Complex (5:30 PM)
  • Christmas Show @ Alabama Theatre (7:00 PM)

Special Note: On December 31st, the Christmas Show at the Alabama Theatre will have two performances for New Year's Eve: 3:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. January 1, 2022 is the final night of "The South's Grandest Christmas Show" and the final performance at the Alabama Theatre by cast member Greg Rowles. The show time on January 1st is 7:00 p.m. (WMBF)

From my notebook:

  • Albanian native Edmond Cami came to the U.S. with his family in 2002, and started his career in comedy after they moved to Horry County in the mid-2000s. Cami became a U.S. citizen in 2011, and has won several comedy competitions in Myrtle Beach. Check him out at Comedy Cabana one of these days! (Myhorrynews)
  • CO Restaurants is opening two new eateries in Horry County soon. Whitaker's Bar in Conway, and 1229 Shine in Market Common will be opening in January. The company owns Co Sushi in Myrtle Beach. (WMBF)
  • Viewing houses for sale online isn't all it's cracked up to be! Go see these homes in real life. [Unfortunately, I didn't receive the notice in time for the Myrtle Beach open house, but the other open house in Surfside is happening today at 1:00 p.m.] Ah, technology! (Patch)
  • The Coastal Carolina Association of Realtors predicts that home prices on the Grand Strand will increase even more than they have since 2020. Prices are up more than 18% since that time, and affordability has dropped over 10%. Northerners want to retire here, and many young people are also moving to the area. That created a low inventory and a high demand, which doesn't seem to be ending for the foreseeable future. (WBTW)
  • Visit Myrtle Beach: Rounding out 2021 with a gorgeous beach day here in Myrtle Beach, S.C. ☀️🌊 73° and sunshine in December is the way to go! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 (Facebook)
  • John Rhodes died about a year ago from coronavirus. On Tuesday night, he was remembered during the Beach Ball Classic at Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Rhodes served as executive director of the tournament from 1982 until his death. The seat he used at courtside was decorated and roped off for the ceremony. (Myhorrynews)

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Alrighty, you're all good for Thursday, Grand Strand folks! See you all Friday for your New Year's Eve Myrtle Beach update!

— Kathy Mandell

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.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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