🌱 HCACC Takes In 130 Neglected Pets + Carolina Forest Fugitive Found

Morning, everybody! It's me, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily. Here's all the local news you need to know today, Thursday, August 11, 2022.

Still no change in the local weather:

Humid with a thunderstorm. High: 88 Low: 74. Ocean temperature: 83.8 degrees.

This great local business sponsors the Myrtle Beach Daily. We love what they do, and we think you will, too:

According to the National Association of Realtors, 97% of home buyers start their search online. That's why photography and staging are so critical to successfully marketing your home. Valerie Lyons at Realty One Group is a photography and staging expert who will make sure your most valuable shines bright. Val knows you never get a second chance to make a first impression — which is why she has over a hundred 5-star ratings on Zillow. Work with the best: Visit Val here or call her at 774-259-8937.

Want to see your business featured in this spot? Click here to get started.

Here are the top five stories in Myrtle Beach today:

1. Horry County Animal Care Center will be closed for a while as its staff deals with providing medical care to 130 animals brought to the facility from law enforcement investigations. The shelter is over capacity with a total of 270 animals at the moment, including those that were already at the shelter. The 130 domestic pets and livestock were part of two cases of neglectful living conditions in Horry County. One group of animals included 44 dogs, 13 chickens, 12 ducks, a miniature horse and a goat. An additional 59 dogs, reportedly mostly poodles, were brought to HCACC with serious health issues from neglect. When the animals are ready to be adopted, HCACC will accept some lower-than-usual adoption fees. (wpde.com) (WBTW)
2. In good dog news, the city of Myrtle Beach announced that it has plans to open a new dog park near Collins Street and Third Avenue South. Work will begin at that location once new fencing has arrived. The dog park will have separate spaces for small and large pooches. In addition to the doggie park, the city has plans to add a splash pad to Futrell Park and a disc golf course at Withers Swash Park. (wpde.com) (wpde.com)
3. The South Carolina Supreme Court says Carolina Ale House can't claim that COVID-19 caused physical damage to its business. The restaurant chain with at least one location in Myrtle Beach claims that government shutdowns, Governor McMaster's March 2020 executive order banning indoor dining in particular, caused "direct physical loss or damage" resulting in loss of profits. The restaurant's owner, Sullivan Management LLC, filed a claim with its insurer citing losses due to COVID, but that claim was denied. The court says physical loss or damage needs to be "discernible" and that the government order was not directly physical, even though it affected the financial well-being of the company. (WBTW)
4. A Myrtle Beach man is in custody after being accused of shooting a firearm into a motel room at Summer Sands Motel on South Ocean Boulevard. Stephen Drayton-Thomling was involved in an argument and police say he hit the victim in the head with a gun. Then, he reportedly tried to get away, went into another hotel room and fired shots. According to arrest warrants there was a juvenile in the room as well. It is not clear whether anyone sustained any injuries. Drayton faces several charges including attempted murder. He is being held on $400,000 bond at Long Detention Center. (WMBF)
5. Reginald Neville, the man wanted for attempted murder in Carolina Forest, was caught on Tuesday in Auburn, Massachusetts. According to the Auburn PD, Neville's car, which was listed in the "BOLO" (Be On The Look Out) announcements circulating around the whole east coast, was parked in the lot of an Auburn car dealership. Neville surrendered peacefully and was arraigned on Wednesday on fugitive from justice charges and will be brought to South Carolina. The shooting occurred July 19 on Chanticleer Village Drive. (WMBF)

Myrtle Beach pic of the day:

Reader Marie Mora calls this photo "Waiting on a sunrise at Surfside Beach." It sure is beautiful! Thanks for the amazing perspective, Marie!

Would you like to see your photo in the Myrtle Beach Daily? Send one in. Be sure to give Patch permission to republish the photo, and tell us that you own the rights to the photograph. Send your pic to myrtlebeach@patch.com

Today in Myrtle Beach:

• The Urban Sea Turtle @ Myrtle Beach State Park Activity Center (10 a.m.)
• Music In The Courtyard w/Curtis Lee @ Duplin Winery (3:30 p.m.)
• City of NMB Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting @ Council Chambers (5 p.m.)
• Wheel Throwing 3-week mini workshop (pottery) @ Rooted Beauty Pottery (6 p.m.)
• Zoso - Led Zeppelin tribute band @ House Of Blues (7 p.m.)
• Music on Main featuring Chocolate Chip & Co. @ Horseshoe, Main St., NMB (7 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• RESCHEDULED!! The Myrtle Beach Police Department Career Day will NOT be this today. This event has moved to Saturday, October 8 for Myrtle Beach juniors and seniors. Please contact Detective Tyndall at (843) 918-1949. (Myrtle Beach Police Department via Facebook)
• The staff at Conway Medical Center are getting a workplace morale boost thanks to a volunteer named Mr. McDuffie. As you may have guessed, Mr. McDuffie is a canine volunteer! The three-year-old goldendoodle provides stress relief for hospital employees who say he's very good at his job. Mr. McDuffie is not the only canine coworker at CMC. He shares rotating shifts with three other pooches: Oliver, Miss Ellie Mae and Miss Tilly. (wpde.com)
• Conway Medical Center announced plans to turn the Office Depot in Conway into a primary care medical office space. The 15,000 square foot facility near Walmart was acquired by CMC recently and is expected to open in the spring of 2023. The Office Depot is in the process of hosting clearance sales with a scheduled close date of September 3. (Myhorrynews)
• Brookgreen Gardens has a couple of announcements this week. The botanical garden will be hosting a Queen tribute concert in September for five nights. (Holy City Sinner) Brookgreen also added two more nights to its Summer Light: Art By Night illumination exhibit but you better hurry if you want to catch the show! The illumination display is happening through August 13. (wpde.com)
• North Myrtle Beach Little River Kiwanis Club has opened a second free pantry for people in need of food. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held earlier this week. The Little River Chamber of Commerce donated $5,000 to the club as thanks for its community involvement. Anyone who can donate food to keep the pantry stocked is encouraged to do so. (WMBF)
• Did you know? There are two locations named Hamburger Joe's on the Grand Strand, but they're owned by different families. News13 did a nice write-up on Hamburger Joe's in North Myrtle Beach. The NMB restaurant has been in business since 1989 and was started by "Hamburger Joe" Brooks who still goes to the restaurant every day even though he's technically retired. Originally, it was called White Point Seafood and it was located where House of Blues now stands. The restaurant was unable to operate there during the winter, and made the decision to move up the road. Hamburger Joe's in NMB only accepts cash payments and has a repeat clientele that speaks for itself. (WBTW)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. See you all Friday morning for your next Grand Strand 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Myrtle Beach Daily? Contact me at myrtlebeach@patch.com