The congregation of St. Stephens Episcopal Church of North Myrtle Beach celebrated their 50th anniversary with a banquet held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church on Dec. 20, 2019. State Senator Greg Hembree, Hank Thomas, North Myrtle Beach City Council Member, Jim Mezick, Retired Pastor of Lakeside Baptist Church, and several other dignitaries offered congratulatory remarks. On Aug. 31, 1969, the Episcopal Church started a summer chapel in what is now North Myrtle Beach. By 1985, that chapel had grown to the point of becoming a full-fl edged parish in The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, which …

The North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club presented a check to the McLeod Health Foundation for $500 from monies raised by multiple community fundraisers and events. The donation will directly benefit patients being treated at McLeod Health Loris in Loris and McLeod Health Seacoast in Little River through specialized programs and services. Left to right are Patty Leibrick of the North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club and Christina Jackson of the McLeod Health Foundation.

The North Myrtle Beach Republican Club will start the year off with Clark Parker, a candidate for Horry County Auditor, as their speaker. Parker is a CPA and has served on many committees. He is a graduate of Aynor High School and got his BS from Coastal Carolina College. He has served on too many committees to mention. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meeting which is Thursday, Jan. 9, at 7 p.m. at Boulineau’s. It will be an interesting meeting. For more information call Cleo at 843-907-3090.

The Horry County Farm Bureau and local Farm Bureau Insurance agents in Loris are bringing a little more joy to this holiday season by helping those in the community facing hardship. The Loris office presented a $1,000 check to assist a woman who was unable to stay in her home and whose fiancée is now dealing with serious medical issues. The donation is part of a company sponsored holiday community outreach program called Farm Bureau Cares. Through Farm Bureau Cares, county Farm Bureau offices across South Carolina provide a monetary donation during December to help a family or charity of …

Master Sgt. James Darrell Vaught (Ret.), 73, of Loris passed away on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at his home following an illness. Mr. Vaught was born on March 16, 1946, in Loris to the late Lundy Monroe Vaught and the late Flora Anderson Vaught. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and longtime member of Olyphic Baptist Church in Tabor City, N.C. Upon graduating from Loris High School, Mr. Vaught joined the United States Army in 1964 and served his country with courage, honor and distinction in the Vietnam War. He was later stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia, …

Irene Thompkins Cohen of Myrtle Beach passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. Mrs. Cohen was born on Sept. 18, 1927, in Conway to the late Eddie Samuel Thompkins and the late Beulah Lilly Graham Thompkins. She was a longtime member of Ocean View Baptist Church in Myrtle Beach. Mrs. Cohen was predeceased by her husband, Henry Cohen. Services were private. Sign Mrs. Cohen’s online guest book at hardwickfuneralhome.com. Hardwick Funeral Home served the family.

Scott Childers and Todd Fineran, owners of The Shack restaurant in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach, collected 55 bicycles this season, their third year of assisting in the Yachts for Tots toy drive in the North Myrtle Beach area. The bikes for Christmas idea came about three years ago when a customer challenged other customers of the restaurant to donate bikes as part of the effort to help area kids have a happy Christmas. Last year the restaurant collected 65 bikes, but Childers was still very happy with this year’s drive. “It was a great success. The …

By Meg Williams : Michelle Rusback teaches 4th grade at Waterway Elementary School. She has been teaching 19 years with the last 13 being in Horry County. Previously, she taught six years in Florida. Michelle is married to Tom Rusback and they have one daughter, Maddie. Michelle graduated in 1992 from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, earning a bachelors degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She was inspired to teach by her dad. He taught high school for 43 years before retiring just a few years ago. “Watching your students’ faces light up when they get it for …

Jammie Livingston is still farming at 87 years old. He is better known in the community as Sonny Livingston, one of the biggest farmers in the Wampee section of Horry County. He farmed acreage of crops for over 6 decades but now he is farming his yard such as peppers, okras, a variety of teas, collards and a lemon tree. His biggest accomplishment for this year has been his first ever lemon tree which the lemons grew as large as navel oranges plus collard leaves as long as 41 inches. Mr. Livingston states “Once a farmer, you will always be …