🌱 TikTok Hoax Prompts MBPD Response + Hearing Set In Drexel Case

Good morning, friends! It's me, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily. Let's get this Thursday October 6, 2022 started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening in town. Today you'll learn about...

• Active shooter calls at schools were a TikTok hoax.
• An Ohio man fell from the balcony of a Myrtle Beach hotel.
• Brittannee Drexel's accused killer's hearing has been scheduled.

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But first, today's weather:

Plenty of sunshine. High: 76 Low: 59.

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Here are the top four stories today in Myrtle Beach:

1. A series of prank calls to emergency services caused local police to respond to several schools in Horry County and throughout the state of South Carolina. The campuses are safe after reported active shooter scenarios at multiple schools including Myrtle Beach High School and Middle School. Police say the calls were a hoax, known as "swatting" part of a TikTok prank. (WMBF) (ABC NEWS 4) (wpde.com) (WBTW)
2. The coroner's office has determined that the death of an Ohio man at the Patricia Grand Hotel on Friday was an accident. Authorities say the man was attempting to do a handstand on a 15th floor balcony at the hotel when he fell to his death. The man was identified as Markell Hope of Akron, Ohio. (WBTW) (wpde.com) (WMBF)
3. Here are today's hurricane-related updates: Crews fighting a Garden City fire during Hurricane Ian were hindered by sand, wind, rain and other obstacles according to authorities. The cause of the fire and the financial amount of the damages has not yet been determined. One home that was destroyed was a 7 bedroom 6 bathroom rental home that sold about a year ago for a little under $2 million. (WBTW) Huntington Beach State Park is set to reopen today after significant hurricane cleanup efforts. The park sustained quite a bit of damage, including destruction of the Nature Center walkway. (WBTW) Crews in Surfside Beach are trying beach-scraping to restore dunes damaged by the storm. The procedure scrapes sand from near the shore to rebuild sand dune barriers that were lost during the hurricane. (WMBF)
4. The accused killer of Brittanee Drexel is scheduled to appear in court October 19. Raymond Moody was arrested in May and charged with murder, rape and kidnapping related to Drexel's death. Drexel disappeared near Myrtle Beach in 2009. The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on October 19 at Georgetown County Courthouse. (wpde.com) (WBTW) (WMBF)

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Myrtle Beach pic of the day:

Today's photo was sent in by readers Debbie Barnes and Katelyn Kaufman. This is a photo of sunrise at the beach near 67th Street beach access. Great photo, Debbie and Katelyn! Thank you!

Hold onto those Myrtle Beach photos, folks! We are working on a backlog of photos submitted recently. Thank you so much for your patience.

Today in Myrtle Beach:

• Cruisin' the Beach Car Show & Swapmeet @ Broadway At The Beach (All day) thru Oct. 8.
• The Blood Connection blood drive @ Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce (9 a.m.) appointment required.
• Horry County Planning Commission Meeting @ Gov't & Justice Center (5:30 p.m.)
• Vereen Gardens Committee Meeting @ Berry Recreation Center (6 p.m.)
• Fall Bike Night @ Dagwood's, North Myrtle Beach (6 p.m.)
• Acoustic showcase w/Brian Roessler @ Island Bar & Grill Surfside (6 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• The second annual Bike the Beach is happening Saturday, October 8 starting at 8 a.m. from Burroughs and Chapin Pavilion Place. A 62-mile, a 30-mile and a 10-mile family ride are all happening. The 62-mile ride tours the Grand Strand. The 30-mile ride goes along city bike paths and the East Coast Greenway. The event is held in memory of Whit Oliver. (wpde.com)
• In the market for a home in the Myrtle Beach area? Check out these five upcoming open houses, courtesy of Patch Real Estate News. You just may find your dream home! (Myrtle Beach Patch)
• There are more than 30 cats and kittens available for adoption from Myrtle Beach Kitten Fosters. The nonprofit, women-led organization works to rehabilitate and foster stray kittens all along the Grand Strand. Founders Amy De Proft and Sarah Crew rescue kittens and cats from cat colonies and have a reputation of helping the felines become healthy and socialized with humans, kids, dogs and other cats. (wpde.com)
• Surfside Beach resident Judy Mattwell turned 104 years old on Wednesday. Mattwell says she has been asked, but she's never been married, because she values and enjoys her independence. She loves sports, too! Happy birthday, Judy! (wpde.com)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: Not a single person has called the shelter to meet this adorable bonded pair😢 Jake (tan) and Simba (white) despite the public sharing the HSNMB's social media posts far and wide. The right person or family is out there. Let's all send out special vibes to get this beautiful duo a forever home! (The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach via Facebook)
• Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon: "The countdown to the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon is ON!! October 15-16. runmyrtlebeach.com #myrtlebeach #minimarathon #coastal5k #doggiedash #myrtlebeachminimarathon" (Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon via Instagram)

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That's it for today. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next 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