🌱 COVID Cases Down + Tense Planning Meeting + SSPD Training

Hey, Grand Strand! It's Saturday, December 4, 2021. Let's get this weekend started off right. Here are the most important things happening in Myrtle Beach.

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A quick check on our continuing fabulous weather pattern:

• Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 71 Low: 51.
• Sunday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 68 Low: 55.

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Shoutout to our premier local sponsor:

Thanks to Lapiere and Josie Senior Insurance Consultants for helping so many people in our area with their Medicare questions and health plans. They are local independent agents representing all companies and plans in this area. Visit lapiereandjosie.com for more info or needed assistance.

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Here are the top stories today in Myrtle Beach:

1. The latest update on coronavirus stats in Horry County shows that new cases have decreased as of December 3rd, county-wide. Horry County is still listed as having a "substantial" level of transmission. The numbers reported were from data automatically generated between November 25th and December 1st. It will still be some time before experts know more about the new omicron variant, but there is some talk of omicron being the first sign of a shift from pandemic to endemic. (Patch) (WPDE)
2. Governor Henry McMaster visited Myrtle Beach on Thursday for the grand opening of plasma donation center, ADMA Biocenter. Donating plasma can save lives, McMaster said in a ribbon-cutting ceremony speech. This is the second location for ADMA Biocenter in South Carolina. The company's other location is in Goose Creek. (WMBF)
3. A proposal to build about 4,000 new homes off Highway 707 in the Burgess Community near St. James High School and Salem Road wasn't exactly met with open arms at this week's Planning Commission meeting. Concerns expressed were about flooding, traffic, storm water, and the impact on schools or first responders. The development would include apartments, single-family homes, and cottages. Some of that land is wetlands. Some residents have had empty woods and wetlands behind their homes for decades, and aren't thrilled at the idea of having homes to look at instead. (wpde.com) (WMBF)
4. Surfside Beach police have completed a training program through Champion Autism Network, that certifies officers to serve people with autism. The autism spectrum can express itself with misunderstanding due to sensory overload, or not being fully able to read facial cues. It's sometimes hard recognize a person with autism because many are high-functioning individuals. Surfside officers will be better able to recognize autism and be more accommodating to those with whom they are interacting. (wpde.com)
5. The latest country music sensation to join the 2022 Carolina Country Music Fest is Jimmie Allen! The Blue Jean Baby artist joins more than 30 others for the festival slated for next June. (WBTW)

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This weekend in Myrtle Beach:

Saturday, December 4

• Breakfast with a Mermaid and Santa @ Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach (8:00 AM)
• 12th Annual MB Harley-Davidson Toy Run Ride @ Beaver Bar, Murrells Inlet (9:30 AM)
• Hot Chocolate and Horses @ 4533 New River Rd, Murrells Inlet (10:00 AM)
• Christmas Tree Lighting Festival @ Town of Surfside Beach (4:00 PM)
• Southern Country Outlaws @ Wild Horse Food & Spirits (8:00 PM)

Sunday, December 5

• Myrtle Beach, get a Sam's Club Membership & Donate 25% to end Hunger! (9:00 AM)
• Sunday Family Fun Day @ Tidal Creek Brewhouse (1:00 PM)
• Death Washes Ashore Pre-Launch Party! @ Benjamin's Bakery, Surfside Beach (3:30 PM)
• Christmas Tree Lighting @ Hammock Shops Village, Pawleys Island (6:00 PM)
• Trey Calloway and Randy Atwood @ Local On The Water (6:00 PM)

*In case you missed it! Other events were posted in Friday's Myrtle Beach Daily, here:(Patch)

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Myrtle Beach Patch Notebook

• This good news update was submitted to the Myrtle Beach Daily by a reader via email, and I wanted to share it with y'all: When Associated Charities, a local organization that helps homeless families, needed some help fixing up their building, the owners of The Patch Boys of Coastal Carolina stepped up. Patch Boys volunteered for three days to hang drywall, and they also donated materials and covered some expenses. Kudos to both organizations for helping others, and thanks to Brian Communications for bringing the story to my attention. Look for coverage of this story on WMBF News in their Community Champions segment, soon.
• Festive Brass of Myrtle Beach brass band is heading to Hawaii to participate in the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The 30-member ensemble includes four Vietnam veterans. (Myhorrynews)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: Stop by the shelter and pick up some of these beautiful Christmas Tree ornaments for your loved ones for the holidays! Ornaments are available for $5 donations. (Facebook)
• Due to rapid growth in Horry County, the Council is strongly considering increasing impact fee rates on new construction. Apparently, nearly three-quarters of voters in the county support the collection of impact fees that began being collected in October. (MyHorryNews)
• LIST: Salvation Army Angel Tree drop-off locations along the Grand Strand. Help kids in need have a happy holiday. Gift drop-offs accepted through December 13th. (WMBF)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed on this Saturday! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with all the Myrtle Beach news you need to make your Sunday great.

If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. 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 reach me at myrtlebeach@patch.com.