Tag Archives: North Myrtle Beach news

By RUBEN LOWMAN North Myrtle Beach City Council unanimously approved the first reading of a $89 million amended budget on Tuesday that raises property taxes within city limits. The proposed budget would cut a little over $30 million in major projects and carry a tax increase of 7.9 mils, bringing the city’s rate to 45 mils. At a workshop last week Councilman-at-large Hank Thomas was the only member to voice opposition to the proposed increase, saying he was concerned about the impact it would have on businesses and second homeowners. After deliberating with the rest of the council this week, …

The city of North Myrtle Beach has been unable to hold their two summer concert series, Music on Main and the Sounds of Summer, so far this summer. Currently, concerts are not permitted by Governor McMaster and if/when he does eventually allow them the city will then make the decision whether to proceed with the performances. City spokesperson Pat Dowling said the city is stressing the importance of wearing masks and maintaining social distancing while in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which is rising in our area. “These small precautions are known to reduce and sometimes halt its …

By Ruben Lowman North Myrtle Beach City Council held a workshop on Tuesday to evaluate the ways in which they can remedy the issues with the city budget resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The council initially proposed $119 million in expenditures in February at the annual budget retreat in Pinopolis, which is $27 million more than the previous year. City officials are now looking at a projected $30 million shortfall and will take the next two weeks to deliberate before voting on an $89 million budget. The key issue during the workshop hinged on whether or not to temporarily increase …

By Ruben Lowman After being under various states of quarantine and lockdown throughout the spring, the summer season truly kicked into swing with the return of the farmers market to North Myrtle Beach and Little River. For city resident Tara Gurry it was a chance to get back out and purchase fruits and vegetables that have been grown locally from smiling faces, both familiar and new. She said that the farmers market is a unique place, a gathering spot of individuals who all share a passion for clean, healthy eating. Locals like Tara Gurry were ecstatic to see the return …

By Brianna Iannone As the demands of postal services increase around the country due to COVID-19, North Myrtle Beach postmaster, Trena Wilson, ensures that as safety measures are taken, the postal service continues to provide the best service that they can, with integrity. Trena Wilson is the postmaster, or postmistress, at the North Myrtle Beach Post Office. She has worked in the postal service for 23 years, and as a postmaster for 16 years. Her love for serving people and exceptional work ethic assist her in her job, where she is mostly a “problem solving person all day.” Trena is …

By Ruben Lowman Gov. Henry McMaster continued his loosening of COVID-19 restrictions by announcing last week that attractions will be allowed to reopen. The governor has spent the past month gradually permitting certain sectors of the economy to be reopened with more relaxed social distancing guidelines in place. The guidelines were created by McMaster’s AccelerateSC task force, which has been charged with devising the safest ways to rejuvenate South Carolina’s economy. The businesses deemed “attraction facilities” that are permitted to reopen include museums, aquariums, putt-putt golf courses, zoos, planetariums, water parks, amusement parks, historic sites and bingo halls. They will …

By Ruben Lowman Sea turtle nesting season began in South Carolina this month and will continue until the end of October. That means we will hopefully be seeing these endangered and ancient creatures soon here in North Myrtle Beach. I recently spoke with Linda Mataya of the North Myrtle Beach Sea Turtle Patrol in order to find out more information about these beautiful animals. Her organization of all-volunteers has been helping to protect, monitor and study sea turtles who make North Myrtle Beach beaches their temporary home during the summer months since 2010. She recounted to me that they walk …