🌱NMB Rescue Squad Reveals New Boat + Black Thai Chef Competes In NOLA

Hello all. It's me, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily — back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in our community. Today is Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Let's get started!

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Wednesday's weather is more of the same:

A t-storm around in the p.m.. High: 90 Low: 78. Ocean temperature: 81.9 degrees.

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Here are the top five stories today in Myrtle Beach:

1. The North Myrtle Beach Rescue Squad introduced its new Amphibious Search and Rescue Boat by simply driving it up onto the beach from the ocean on Tuesday. Beachgoers were reportedly astonished to see the boat-with-wheels. The department says it's the first boat of its kind being used for ocean rescue in the United States. The wheels can be raised and lowered, similar to how an airplane's landing gear operates. The boat will be christened Monday, August 8, at the Intracoastal Waterway's 2nd Avenue South boat ramp. (wpde.com)
2. Hamilton Vereen's last name is familiar around the Grand Strand and may become familiar nationwide. The Myrtle Beach native is one of fourteen chefs participating in the 2022 Great American Seafood Cook-Off on Saturday in New Orleans. Vereen is chef at Black Thai restaurant and learned his cooking style in Vietnam. A chef from the Carolinas has never won the competition. If Vereen wins, he would be given the title of "King of American Seafood." (WTMA)
3. Updates on two recent stories were published on Tuesday. The management of Riptydz and Beach House Bar & Grill has revised its policies of holding ID cards and credit cards for all customers during the duration of meals. The companies will now hold customers' credit cards, but not IDs. Customers may also pay with a card after each order, or pay cash as they go. (WMBF) The city of Myrtle Beach was not a party in the drowning lawsuit that resulted in a payout to the drowning victim's family of over $20 million. The city was dismissed from the lawsuit before last week's trial began. (WMBF)
4. New restaurants are springing up at Market Common. ZARDIN Healthy Eatery opened in July and features farm-to-table, organic foods with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Seawitch Café is opening October 1. The small café will have a grab-and-go feel with a variety of options, but also full dine-in offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (wpde.com) Jersey Mike's is opening in Market Common today at 10 a.m. Proceeds from the eatery's grand opening celebration will benefit SOS Care. (SOS Care via Facebook)
5. Troopers from South Carolina Highway Patrol released some road safety rules for students and drivers as kids head back to school. Troopers say drivers need to practice patience because traffic will be heavier. Law enforcement will be increased in school zones. Kids and parents should be mindful of the "danger zone" of a school bus — which extends ten feet on all sides of the vehicle. Students need to follow all rules for getting on and off the bus, listen to the bus driver, follow directions and act properly on the bus for the safety of everyone on board. (WMBF)

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Myrtle Beach pic of the day:

Wednesday's pic of the day was taken at Huntington Beach State Park at sunrise by reader Debbie Lane. We certainly live in a beautiful place! Thanks for the great photo, Debbie!

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:

• Crafter's Cove 2-D Sandcastle Creations @ 3rd Ave. South beach access, Surfside (9:30 a.m.)
• Red Cross Blood Drive @ Coastal Grand Mall (11 a.m.) appointments encouraged
• Wednesday Movie Matinee featuring Godzilla (2014) @ Carolina Forest Library (1:30 p.m.)
• Kids Science @ Socastee Library (3 p.m.)
• Saltwater Pier Fishing Clinic @ Myrtle Beach State Park (5 p.m.)
• Backfire @ The Hangout (6 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• Horry County Animal Care Center saved over 30% more animals in 2021 than the year before, according to a dataset released from Best Friends Society. Even though technically a shelter must have a save rate of 90% to be considered "no-kill," the HCACC's director said the shelter is aiming for that goal and it has not and never will euthanize an animal because of a lack of time or space. "We do not euthanize healthy animals," said Capt. Justin Wyatt. The shelter's current save rate is 83.6% and should reach the 90% mark soon with the right resources, including grants and donations. (WBTW) As part of HCACC's Clear The Shelters initiative, all adoptions are free for the month of August. No appointment is needed, just stop by and check out the adoptable animals during normal business hours. (HCACC via Facebook)
• You can help ease the overcrowding at Grand Strand area shelters by adopting a pet. To get you started in your search for your next best friend, here is the latest round-up of pets available for adoption in the Myrtle Beach area. List compiled by Patch and Petfinder. (Myrtle Beach Patch)
• Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Bring a school supply donation to the ballpark when you attend a game between August 2-5 and receive a free Fun Zone wristband (for kids 12 and under)! School supply donations may include pens, pencils, notebooks, binders, colored markers, highlighters, blue sticks, etc. (Myrtle Beach Pelicans via Facebook)
• If you're not attending a Pelicans game, there are other places to donate school supplies. According to the nonprofit Backpack Buddies, inflation has knocked down donations of school supplies this summer. Normally volunteers see backpacks filled with food, notebooks, binders, clothing, pencils and pens and other essentials being dropped off all summer, but those numbers are down significantly. The group needs to fill 2,500 back-to-school backpacks. Learn how to donate on Backpack Buddies' website. (WMBF)
• Tickets for the 2022 Myrtle Beach Invitational go on sale to the public August 15. The in-season basketball tournament will happen November 17 through 20 at the HTC Center at CCU in Conway. Games will be broadcast on ESPNU, ESPN2, ESPNEWS and ESPN+ networks. The 2022 field for the invitational was released last week. (ESPNEvents.com)
• Former Conway Councilwoman, Jean Timbes, was presented with South Carolina's highest civilian honor — the Order of the Palmetto — by Conway Mayor Barbara Blain-Bellamy and SC Senator Luke Rankin. Timbes is a retired mathematics teacher with Horry County School District, as well as a former Councilwoman. (Myhorrynews)

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You're officially in the loop for Wednesday, everybody! See you Thursday for another 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