Busy Hotels+HGTC Criminal Justice Endowment+Exotic Animals Book

Morning, people of the Grand Strand! It's me again, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily. Here's what I'll be reporting on today: hotels met and exceeded expectations in their busy summer prediction, Surfside Beach is creating a new building codes department, HGTC received funds towards an endowment scholarship for criminal justice students, area hospitals prepare to give vaccine boosters when they become available for fully-vaccinated people, and the former owner of an animal sanctuary publishes a sequel to her first book about the exotic animals in her care.

How about some Thursday weather first: A mix of clouds and sun. High: 86 Low: 76.

---

Here are the top stories today in Myrtle Beach:

1. As summer in Myrtle Beach comes to an end, area hotels say their expectations for a busy summer were met. Occupancy rates continue to be around 90% at this time. The prediction that this would be one of the Grand Strand's busiest summers on record certainly came true. The trend is expected to continue through and beyond Labor Day into the fall. (WMBF)
2. Surfside Beach is creating a new position to meet the town's growing need for building inspectors. As part of overhauling its planning and building departments, the town will have a new name for the department: Building and Codes Department. Surfside is interviewing for positions within that department as well. The town has previously been "borrowing" services of building inspectors from nearby towns. (Myhorrynews)
3. Horry Georgetown Technical College Foundation has received a check for $15,000 from the Sheriff's Foundation of Horry County. The funds will go towards an endowment of $100,000 for students enrolled in the school's Criminal Justice Program. The Sheriff's Foundation previously contributed to the scholarship, which helps students seeking a career in the field of law enforcement. (Press Release Desk)
4. Grand Strand hospitals are preparing to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots to eligible fully-vaccinated adults. The boosters should be authorized by the FDA by September 20, and fully-vaccinated people can receive a booster eight months after their second original dose of the shot. Currently, boosters are only available for immunocompromised people. (WBTW)
5. Former animal sanctuary owner, Cindy Hedrick, is releasing her second book about the exotic animals that lived at the facility, SC CARES, in Georgetown. When the sanctuary was closed in 2019 due to personal health issues of the owners, Hedrick and Skip Yeager, 150 animals were re-homed to various locations throughout the nation. The new book, Love At First Sight, is a sequel to Hedrick's first book, Tails from SC CARES. (WPDE)

---

Send flowers today to someone you care about. Our partners at FTD are making that easier by offering Myrtle Beach Daily readers a 15 percent discount on orders through this link: Click here to make someone feel awesome.

---

Today in Myrtle Beach

• Little River Farmers Market 2021 - Waccamaw Market Cooperative (9:00 AM)
• Red Cross blood drive @ YMCA of Coastal Carolina (9:00 AM)
• Horry County Planning Commission Workshop (3:00 PM)
• Plaza City Market - Waccamaw Market Cooperative (5:00 PM)
• Board of Zoning Appeals - Town of Surfside Beach (6:30 PM)
• NEW: Gnomie - Buzzin' with Friends @ Painting With A Twist (7:00 PM)

---

Myrtle Beach Patch Notebook

• House hunting? Check out these 5 open houses in the Myrtle Beach area (Patch)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: Today's featured Pet Of The Day is Wren! Her adoption fee is being sponsored today by Anthony Green Real Estate/Realty ONE Group Dockside. (Facebook)
• Gas tax hike? Road fee increase? County and state leaders search for ways to fund S.C. 90 improvements. (Myhorrynews)
• Myrtle Beach Police arrested and charged a man in deadly shooting that occurred in a parking lot on Sunday night. (WMBF)
• The Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System is giving $1.16 million in grants to battle homelessness in Myrtle Beach. (WBTW)

---

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Add your business here

Events:

• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (August 27)
• Add your event

---

You're all caught up for Thursday! See you all Friday morning for your next update and a glimpse at the weekend's happenings.

If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Myrtle Beach Daily? I'm all ears. You can contact me at myrtlebeach@patch.com.