🌱 MBPD Warns About Orbeez Challenge + 30 Gang Members Sentenced

Get on up, Myrtle Beach! Here's everything you need to know to get this Wednesday, March 16, 2022 started off right.

A look at Wednesday's wet weather:

Some rain and a thunderstorm. High: 66 Low: 57.

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Here are the top five stories in Myrtle Beach today:

1. Myrtle Beach Police have issued a warning to parents about an ongoing situation in the city. Juveniles are loading replica guns with gel beads called Orbeez as part of a social media "challenge". While the replica guns are not considered a deadly weapon, they can easily be mistaken for a real firearm, and could turn a prank into a deadly situation. Firing Orbeez at anyone is a crime. (WPDE) (WMBF)
2. A 15-year-old girl who was hit by a car while waiting for her school bus in Carolina Forest is recovering. The student was waiting for her bus last week on River Oaks Drive when she was struck by a pickup truck. The driver of the pickup said they lost control of the vehicle. They were later arrested and charged with hit and run and giving false information to law enforcement. That person is now released to home detention. The teenager who was hit spent about a week in the hospital, and had to undergo several surgeries. She is now recovering at home. Her parents are requesting changes to the bus stop location for safety reasons. (WMBF)
3. Garden City is the latest community to update its appearance thanks to Horry County officials approving $46 million toward improving roads and streetscapes. Anyone who has spent time in Garden City knows about the road flooding problems, particularly during King Tides. The project will make improvements on Waccamaw Drive starting at Melody Lane and going to the county line. Also, improvements will be made on Atlantic Avenue between the marsh and Waccamaw Drive. Road and drainage upgrades, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations are part of the plan. (MyHorryNews.com)
4. United Airlines is dropping seasonal service from Cleveland Hopkins airport to Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head Island this summer. The cutback is being blamed on the nationwide pilot shortage. The discontinued routes ran three times a week last summer, aimed at vacationers. United is keeping some leisure routes from Cleveland to other airports such as Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Cancun, and Nassau. The airline is working to address the pilot shortage in part by having its own flight school that opened recently near Phoenix. It plans to train 5,000 new pilots over the next ten years. (Cleveland.com)
5. Thirty gang members with ties to Horry County and a Mexican drug cartel have been sentenced on a total of 72 charges stemming from an ongoing drug trafficking investigation. All 30 pleaded guilty in federal court. They were arrested more than a year-and-a-half ago, and sentencing came down Monday afternoon. The sentences range in length from less than a year to 180 months. The group also has ties to North Carolina. (WBTW)

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Today in Myrtle Beach:

• Rodney Millsaps @ Ocean Annie's Beach Bar (2:00 PM)
• Horry County Stormwater Advisory Board Meeting @ Gov't & Justice Center (3:00 PM)
• PAWS to Read @ Socastee Library (3:00 PM)
• Kids Night @ Pop Pop's Pit BBQ (5:30 PM)
• Ronnie Smith @ 88 Keys Piano Bar (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Looking for a furry friend to add to your family? Local shelters need you! Here are the most recent Myrtle Beach area adoptable dogs, cats, and more! (Myrtle Beach Patch)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Plantation Lakes: Home blood pressure checks more accurate than clinic readings - A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that regular home blood pressure monitoring is more accurate for diagnosing hypertension than readings taken at clinics, pharmacy kiosks, and other locations, HealthDay News reported. (Nextdoor)
• From Thursday to Saturday, March 17, 18, and 19, the 33rd Annual Run to the Sun Car and Truck Show is happening in Myrtle Beach on North Kings Highway. The three-day event features more than 3,000 cars and trucks manufactured before 1989. The event is under new leadership, and it is no longer free as it was traditionally. Advance purchase tickets are $10 per day for Thursday or Friday; $15 for Saturday. Military discount is available. At the door, tickets are $20 per day. The event supports several charities. (WPDE)
• Saturday is going to be busy all along the Grand Strand. One event you may not have heard about is the Local Crafter and Vendor Event at The Marina Bar from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Local artists, crafters, a clothing boutique, baked goods, and more are all on site once a month! Purpose Duo is performing live music from 1-5 p.m. This is an outdoor event. (StayHappening.com)
• The Grand Strand Miracle League season starts this week. Soccer began on Tuesday night; baseball begins Saturday. The organization makes it possible for people with disabilities to play the two sports and golf year-round. The field is rubberized, wheelchair-friendly, and walker-friendly. It's free, and all ages and abilities are welcome to participate. The organization is looking for volunteers! (WPDE)

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You're all caught up for Wednesday, Grand Strand! See you Thursday for the next edition of the Myrtle Beach Daily.

— 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.