Furniture Shortage+Sea Mammal Washed Ashore+Mayoral Race Heats Up

Hey, Myrtle Beach! It's Tuesday, July 13, 2021. Let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in the Grand Strand today. For the top stories of the day, you'll hear about a furniture shortage, a sea creature that washed ashore in Surfside, it's getting pricier at the pumps, the campaign for Myrtle Beach mayor heats up, and improvements to a busy Grand Strand intersection could finally be completed — in 2022.

First, today's weather: Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 87 Low: 76.

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Here are the top stories today in Myrtle Beach:

1. In case you missed it, there's a furniture shortage, and the Grand Strand is feeling it, big time. Anyone who has bought new furniture knows there is usually a 4-6 week wait for delivery. Recently, delays caused by the pandemic are now causing wait times of 4-6 months, according to local furniture store owners. Major delays and cancellations could last into 2023. (WMBF)
2. A Maryland family vacationing in Surfside Beach saw a large sea mammal that had washed up on shore on their first day here on Saturday. The mammal was probably a whale, but witnesses are not certain. The animal was removed by SCDNR and there are no additional details. (WBTW)
3. As is usually the case in the summer, Myrtle Beach drivers are paying more at the pump. Peak gasoline consumption has gone by with the 4th of July holiday, and that means a seasonal drop in prices could be coming soon. Locally, we are still paying 92.3 cents more per gallon than at this time in 2020. (WMBF)
4. In the campaign for Myrtle Beach mayor, incumbent Brenda Bethune is neck-and-neck in fundraising efforts with challenger Gene Ho, a former campaign photographer for President Trump. A third candidate, Tammie Durant, a former police officer, hasn't weighed in with fundraising information yet. Both Bethune and Ho have filed documents with the SC Ethics Commission. The election will be on November 2, 2021. (Charleston Post Courier)
5. SCDOT says that the dangerous intersection at highways 111 and 57 in Little River will be improved by September 2022. The improvements will include a traffic light and turning lanes. Neighbors are skeptical as the project has been delayed more than once in the past. The busy intersection near the NC/SC border has been the site of many accidents over the years. (WPDE)

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Today in Myrtle Beach

• Community Appearance Board Staff Plan Review (10:00 AM)
• Farmer's Market - Town of Surfside Beach (10:00 AM)
• Business Committee Meeting - Town of Surfside Beach (10:00 AM)
• Town Council Meeting - Town of Surfside Beach (2:30 PM)
• Yappy Hour with Grand Strand Humane Society at Grand Strand Brewing Co (4:00 PM)
• Divorce Boot Camp – South Carolina Hub ~ No-Cost Webinar (5:30 PM)
• Horry County Council meeting (6:00 PM)
• Art Ink and Drink at Tidal Creek Brewhouse, Market Common (6:30 PM)
• Read Between the Wine at Painting With A Twist, Myrtle Beach (7:00 PM)
• Over the Moon LED Dancers at Broadway at the Beach (9:00 PM)

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Myrtle Beach Patch Notebook

• CrimeStoppers of the Lowcountry, a non-profit group, gave out more than $7,000 in rewards for crime tips last year. (WBTW)
• The Myrtle Beach, and the Pee Dee areas of SC have had more than 200 shootings, total, so far in 2021. (WBTW)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: Anderson Bros Bank funded a "happy gotcha day" adoption feature for the HSNMB. This is your daily reminder to help foster or adopt, donate or spread the word! Our shelters are overwhelmed. (Facebook)
• Need a buzz? Here are News13's top 10 places to pick up a coffee in Myrtle Beach. (WBTW)
• A number of Horry County football coaches could be in line for achieving 250 career victories. Stay tuned to see if your favorite coach scores big! (MyHorryNews.com)
• A new doughnut shop in Pawleys Island opened on July 2nd, and has already sold over 10,000 doughnuts in its first 10 days! (WPDE)
• South Carolina has seen a record number of mortgage applications and the highest credit scores in its entire history, after 2020 changed the way people work and go to school. (WPDE)
• Here's a list of available jobs in the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand area. (Patch)
• Enrollment began Monday for the CDBG-MIT Buyout Program in Socastee. The last day to apply will be August 24. (HorryCounty.Org)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Tuesday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update on all things Myrtle Beach.

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— 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? You can email me at myrtlebeach@patch.com.