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Community Corner

🌱 Grand Strand COVID Hospital Stats + NYE Fireworks In MB

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)

Good morning, neighbors! It's me again, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily. Today is Wednesday, December 29, 2021, and here is what you need to know happening in and around town today.

First, more beach weather in the forecast!

Mostly sunny and mild. High: 72 Low: 62.

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Here are the top stories in Myrtle Beach today:

  1. Hospitals in Myrtle Beach are seeing an increase in COVID-19 admissions surrounding the Christmas holiday. Conway Medical Center was prepared for a surge but did not think it would happen so soon. It is at 68% capacity, which is a smaller number than usual, but higher than in recent weeks. Tidelands is showing 93% occupancy, and Grand Strand Medical Center is at 100% capacity. Some COVID-19 patients are in intensive care. (WBTW)
  2. Local artist and surfing enthusiast, Drew Brophy, has been in the ICU since early November with COVID-19. The Myrtle Beach community is stepping up to help Brophy, who recently came off a ventilator, with his medical expenses. Brophy is known for painting surfboards and has a very unique style to his artwork. The custom sign company, Native Sons, where Brophy used to work, created a t-shirt to raise money for Brophy's medical bills. (WMBF)
  3. As if Horry County firefighters weren't heroic enough, now they've rescued an owl that was stuck in a tree with injuries after being hit by a car. The rescue happened on Loblolly Lane just before sundown on Monday. The bird was taken to Carolina Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. At least ten other birds of prey have been brought to the center recently after being hit by cars. (WPDE)
  4. A Grindr date didn't quite go as planned when a New York man who attempted to meet a teenage boy for a "sexual encounter" got arrested instead. A person acting as a "decoy" posed as a 15-year-old boy online, and agreed to meet the man near Myrtle Beach. The man was arrested on a number of charges, and booked into Long Detention Center over the holiday weekend. He is being held on $12,000 bond. (WBTW)
  5. Lighting personal fireworks is a no-no in Myrtle Beach, with jail time and fines for offenders. Surfside Beach and North Myrtle Beach have fireworks laws in place, too. Not to worry! There are plenty of places to enjoy legal fireworks displays in and around the Grand Strand for New Year's Eve. (WPDE)

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Today in Myrtle Beach:

  • JT & The Strats @ Duplin Winery (3:00 PM)
  • Night of A Thousand Candles @ Brookgreen Gardens (4:00 PM)
  • Christmas Show @ Alabama Theatre (7:00 PM)
  • Rumours Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band @ House of Blues (7:30 PM)
  • Vince Morris @ Comedy Cabana (8:00 PM)
  • Brian Roessler & Friends @ Bourbon Street Bar & Grille (9:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • Since 1981, the Beach Ball Classic basketball tournament has hosted high school athletes from across the country here in Myrtle Beach. On Tuesday night, its founder, former Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, was honored at the game with a memorial tribute. Rhodes died earlier this year from COVID-19. The games run through December 30th at MB Convention Center.(WMBF)
  • All dressed up for the holidays, and nowhere to call home. Here are Myrtle Beach area pets available for adoption from Grand Strand shelters and rescue agencies. (Myrtle Beach Patch)
  • Market Common will be having its annual "Southern Times Square" ball drop event on New Year's Eve. To get tickets, you have to spend $25 or more at any Market Common store, and then go to Market Common's offices with your receipt. (wpde.com)
  • Garden City pier is closing at 6:00 p.m. December 31st, and then will be closed for the months of January and February. The bars and café are already closed. The pier will open for business again in the spring of 2022. (WBTW)
  • Two of my favorite places, Huntington Beach State Park, and Myrtle Beach State Park have made Trip Savvy's latest top 10 list! Huntington was number 5 on the list, and MBSP was number 7 of state parks to visit in the Palmetto State. Table Rock State Park in Pickens, SC got top billing. (WMBF)

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You're officially in the loop for Wednesday. I'll see you back in your inbox Thursday morning with a new Myrtle Beach update! Meanwhile, enjoy the beach weather because a cold snap is on the way!

— 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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