🌱 Shared Funeral For Conway Plane Crash Victims + Running Safety Tips

Hello and happy Tuesday. Today is September 20, 2022 and I'm back in your inbox this morning to walk you through everything you need to know about what's happening in Myrtle Beach. Here we go. In today's edition, you'll find these stories and more:

• A Socastee boat landing was recently renamed for a beloved community member
• Former Horry County Schools bus driver comes out of retirement to help amid shortage
• Running safety tips for anyone prepping for the MB Mini Marathon

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Here's a check on today's weather:

Humid with plenty of sun. High: 86 Low: 71. Ocean temperature: 80.8 degrees.

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Here are the top five stories today in Myrtle Beach:

1. A volunteer for Brunswick County Sheriff's Office was one of the people killed in a single-engine plane crash in Horry County last week. Terry Druffell of Ocean Isle Beach, NC was a volunteer with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office for about two years in its Marine Patrol Unit. FAA reports and air traffic control communications indicate that the Piper PA-28R crashed in a wooded area near Conway on September 14 and caught fire. Druffell was 66 years old. The other victim in the crash was 72-year-old Barrie McMurtrie, also of Ocean Isle Beach. (WMBF) A shared funeral service for both men is scheduled for Friday. (WBTW)
2. Rosewood Boat Landing in Socastee was renamed for one of the community's residents on Saturday. Former Horry County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief James Cyganiewicz was a long-time Socastee resident who loved to use the boat landing for fishing and playing with his dogs. Cyganiewicz was also South Carolina's first arson investigator to have a K9 arson dog. New signage bearing the name Chief James A. Cyganiewicz Memorial Boat Landing was revealed in a a ceremony at the landing with family and community members in attendance. (WBTW)
3. Players at Crabtree Memorial Gym are honoring Military Appreciation Week with a donation drive. They're also donning red, white and blue uniforms all week. Donated items will be accepted at the gym through September 23. You can donate non-perishable food items, toiletries, snacks and games for troops stationed overseas. The program is also looking for names of soldiers overseas to add to its mailing list. (wpde.com)
4. A retired Horry County Schools bus driver is coming back to work to help out amid the ongoing school bus driver shortage. Bertha Simmons spent 51 years behind the wheel of her bus, driving kids to and from school. She retired in 2016. Simmons is back on her bus taking children to and from school once again because she wanted to help out in any way possible. Simmons says HCS is having a job fair Thursday, September 22, and that the district "really needs drivers." The job fair will be at the HCS District Office, 335 Four Mile Road in Conway from 4 to 6 p.m. Applicants must be 21 and need a CDL to drive. The district is also looking for driver aides and school custodians. (wpde.com)
5. The folks over at News13 put together a great article about running safety ahead of the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon. Many runners training for the race need to run during the early-morning hours, often alone. Experts interviewed for the report said running in a group is the best idea, get to know your neighbors, say hello to them and "never run alone." Always make sure you feel safe when running and let a few people know your route. (WBTW)

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Myrtle Beach pic of the day:

Today's photo comes from reader Debbie Lane who snapped this photo a couple weeks ago. Debbie says "God was putting on a show for us!" when she captured this gorgeous sunset over Hampton Park subdivision. Thanks for the pretty pic, 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:

• Burger Week @ Various Conway Restaurants (All day) thru Sept. 25 (WMBF)
• Society of Stranders (SOS) Fall Migration @ North Myrtle Beach (noon) thru Sept. 24
• Happy Hour Is Back @ Crooked Hammock Brewery (4 p.m.)
• Estate Planning for Children with Disabilities @ Chapin Memorial Library (5 p.m.)
• Planning Commission regular meeting @ Council Chambers, NMB (5 p.m.)
• The Living Street @ Dead Dog Saloon (7 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• WonderWorks Myrtle Beach is kicking off field trip season with its Homeschool Days events. Homeschoolers who visit before 3 p.m. on any weekday between now and the end of October will pay a special admission rate of $15. Homeschool groups or families of 10 or more can get a group rate of $12 per person. Visit the upside-down house with your homeschool family or group and enjoy all the wonders at work! (Holy City Sinner -)
• Looking for a new job? Thinking about a career change? See the latest job postings in and around Myrtle Beach, courtesy of Patch and ZipRecruiter. (Myrtle Beach Patch)
• North Myrtle Beach Police: BANK SCAM! Beware of calls coming from what looks to be your bank's phone number. Scammers attempt to obtain bank card numbers by saying a card is being used in another state. They will then ask to verify the card number. No bank will ever ask for card numbers over the phone. Hang up immediately and report the situation to your bank. (North Myrtle Beach Police via Facebook)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: "CALLING ALL RESTAURANTS‼️ Want to help your local animal shelter while serving some woofin' good food? Sign up to participate in this year's Woofdown Wednesday!" (The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach via Facebook)
• Horry County Schools: During its meeting on August 22, the Horry County Board of Education issued the proclamation that September 17-23 would be recognized as Constitution Week. Constitution Week is the commemoration of America's most important document. (Horry County Schools via Facebook)
• Conway Medical Center's Dr. Richardson says COVID hospitalizations are down 27% in Horry County and that "COVID-19 now equates to the flu." He explained how surges in transmissible diseases work and urged people to get the flu shot and the COVID shot. (wpde.com)

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You're officially in the loop for Tuesday! I'll see you tomorrow with your mid-week 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.

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