🌱 New Policy At Downtown Eateries + RIP Elvira The Brookgreen Mule

Hello all. It's me, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily. Let's get this weekend started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening in town. I'm listing events for Saturday and Sunday because there will not be a Sunday newsletter this week.

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Let's take a quick peek at Saturday's weather:

Humid; a stray p.m. t-storm. High: 89 Low: 76. Ocean temperature: 81.9 degrees.

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Here are the top five stories in Myrtle Beach today:

1. Several downtown Myrtle Beach restaurants want to hold your ID and credit card while you dine. That's the new policy of RipTydz and Beach House Bar and Grill, among others. Managers of the eateries say one reason is an increase in "dine and dash" incidents. Customers say there must be a better way and they're uncomfortable with the policy. Some customers suggested a pay-in-advance solution. Others pointed out that some diners pay with cash. Beach House Bar and Grill says its policy has been in place for six months and it's not due to dine-and-dash incidents. RipTydz says its policy will be effective for the summer season only. (WBTW)
2. Sweet Elvira, Brookgreen Gardens' 31-year-old mule, was humanely euthanized due to declining health the venue announced this week. Brookgreen posted the sad news on social media, explaining that the mule's body condition began deteriorating over the past two years, with weight loss and loss of appetite. Elvira was born in 1991 and came to Brookgreen in 2010. She helped train some of the gardens' horses. (wpde.com)
3. North Myrtle Beach police have taken a woman into custody for a shooting that occurred Thursday night at the Nacho Hippo restaurant. The victim was injured and is apparently an employee of the restaurant. The shooter was located at the Cracker Barrel restaurant and told police where she hid the firearm used in the shooting. She is being charged with attempted murder. Nearby restaurants say they're stepping up security measures for their late-night workers in light of this incident. (WMBF)
4. In Georgetown County, two recreational venues will reduce hours after a shooting there. The Howard Center and the Beck Recreation Center have suspended open play basketball until further notice. The staff working at the centers do not feel safe in the evening hours after a shooting incident in the Howard Center parking lot when staff were still on duty inside the building just prior to closing time. The county says the safety of its employees and the people who use the facilities must come first. (WMBF)
5. A 74-year-old man drowned in the waters off Pawleys Island on Thursday. The drowning happened near First Street and Atlantic Avenue in the seaside town on the South Strand. Good Samaritans rushed to save the victim. He was taken to the hospital and later died. The man's identity has not been released. (WBTW)

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Myrtle Beach pic of the day:

Reader Tracey Vegliante sent in two sunset photos from Aberdeen Golf Course, and asked me to choose which one to post. I like them both, but this one shows more of the golf course! Thanks for the gorgeous photos, Tracey!

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

Saturday in Myrtle Beach:

• Christmas In July Toy Run Ride @ The Harley Shop at the Beach, NMB (9 a.m.)
• Beekeeping 101 @ Tractor Supply, Conway (10 a.m.)
• Asher Super Spades Tournament @ The Asher Theatre (11 a.m.)
• Miracle Max & the Pet Monsters @ The Deck at Litchfield Beach & Golf (6 p.m.)
• 1964 The Beatles tribute band @ Alabama Theatre (7 p.m.)
• Soul Train Throwback Dance Party @ The Asher Theatre (9 p.m.)

Sunday in Myrtle Beach:

• Salty Dog @ Patio's Tiki Bar & Grill (noon)
• Customer appreciation event @ NikkiCole's Hair Design & Spa (1 p.m.)
• Music In The Park featuring If Birds Could Fly @ Memorial Park, Surfside (4 p.m.)
• Skyler Whitfield @ Grumpy Monk, North Myrtle Beach (6 p.m.)
• Highway Miles @ Harold's On The Ocean (6:30 p.m.)
• Rumours - Fleetwood Mac tribute band @ House Of Blues (8 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• Hound dog Gus recently visited the Savannah Bee Company at Barefoot Landing to see if their honey is as sweet as he is. He had a hound of time while there! Gus LOVED making new friends, both furry and human. Gus is looking for a furever home, but he will have to have heartworm treatment before he can be adopted. Donations for heartworm treatments for Gus can be made using the Facebook link. Strand College of Hair Design sponsored a portion of his treatment. (The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach via Facebook)
• Bonding over some guitar pickin' — that's how 85-year-old Bobby Lee and 56-year-old Axel Jones struck up their friendship. Lee played alongside of some very famous people, including Dolly Parton, at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. He even met Elvis Presley! Jones owns a kiosk at Coastal Grand Mall. One day, Lee handed Jones a guitar pick after he saw Jones playing without one. A friendship ensued and now the two sing and play together at local malls. They do it to have fun and make people happy. The pair are also members of a local band called Diamond in the Rough. (WMBF)
• This week's recipient of ABC15's Jefferson Award is Julie Bostian who has spent the last two decades volunteering with the Caring In Our Lifetime group out of Myrtle Beach. Bostian was diagnosed with not one but two cancers in the past year or so. She learned first-hand what her own clients have gone through. Not one to be deterred, Bostian completed the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon recently and credits her higher power with keeping her strong. (wpde.com)
• WMBF News' Best of the Grand Strand contest winner for best indoor attraction is Ripley's Aquarium. The marine life attraction has been a staple at Broadway at the Beach for a quarter century. (WMBF)
• North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue wants to remind folks that oil-based paints, stains and varnishes are often used for home improvement projects and it is common for wet rags to ignite on their own. They can start a fire if not handled carefully. The department shared some tips about fire safety when it comes to flammable and combustible liquids. (North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue via Facebook)

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You're all caught up for Saturday! I'll be back in your inbox first thing Monday morning to start off your Myrtle Beach week in Grand Strand style. Have a happy Sunday, and I'll see you around!

— 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