North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years

By John Smithson The North Myrtle Beach High School varsity girls cross country team won the 6AAAA regional championship last Saturday in Darlington.  The girls team had three runners in the top ten finishers to win with 59 points. West Florence was second with 75 points and Myrtle Beach third with 80 points. Kailyn Brown was the fourth-place finisher overall with Kayah Marques seventh, Isabel Smith 11th, Nia Ortiz 13th and Chandler Mury Riley 26th to lead the Chiefs point-getters. Ronan Donahue finished 31st and Hailey Doscher was 33rd. In the boys 5000 meter final, the Chiefs Jacob Koontz finished …

David Zakett, 64, of North Myrtle Beach passed away at Grand Strand Hospital on Friday, Oct. 16, 2020, of complications from Ventricular Tachycardia. David was born on April 15, 1956, in Tarrytown, New York. He graduated from Yorktown High School in 1974. David was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Mary T. Zakett, and his sister, Susan Travis.  He is survived by brothers Donald Zakett (Michigan), Bruce Zakett (New York) and Glenn Zakett (Colorado); seven nephews; one niece; and three great-nephews. David retired to Myrtle Beach after more than a 30 year career working at International Union of …

John Francis Phalen, 87, of Little River unexpectedly passed away on Oct. 19, 2020.  John was born June 19, 1933, to Paul and Lorna (Leonard) Phalen of Rossie, N.Y.  He was the oldest of six children. John graduated from Mohawk Central School  Mohawk, N.Y. in 1952. Soon after he joined the Navy where he was honorably discharged and returned home to Mohawk, N.Y., to help his mother raise his five siblings after his father passed away. He met and married Jean Corcoran, in 1957. Together they raised four children. He was employed by General Electric in 1953 and retired in …

Harry W. Coppersmith Jr., 78, of Little River/Carolina Shores, N.C., died on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. Born on April 20, 1942, in Shiloh, N.C., he was the son of Harry Coppersmith and Nellie Mae Owens Coppersmith. Harry spent over two years with the US Air Force. While living in Maryland, he retired from Verizon Communication. He then moved to the Carolina Shores/Little River area to enjoy the weather and play golf. He is survived by his wife, Patsy Mullins Coppersmith; his children, Darren and Sandra; and seven grandchildren. Harry was also step-father to Debra Baker, Penny Markulis and four grandchildren. A …

Elizabeth “Betty” or “Boo-Boo” Steuart Harris, 98, a resident of Haywood Estates for the past 15 years, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, in Greenville, SC. A traditional Scottish graveside service will be held at 2:00 Wednesday, October 28th in Lamar Memorial Cemetery, directed by Belk Funeral Home. Face coverings are recommended at the service and social distancing guidelines will be observed. Mrs. Harris was born in Tampa, Fla., on Oct. 22, 1922, daughter of the late Alexander and Margaret W. Steuart. She lived in Tampa for 23 years, Lamar, S.C., for 40 years, North Myrtle Beach for 20 …

By John Smithson The fifth ranked North Myrtle Beach Chiefs started slowly last Friday night but then dismantled the Darlington Falcons by a 63-14 score.  The Chiefs and Falcons traded possessions for most of the first quarter until a Darlington touchdown seemed to spark the Chiefs and got their offense going for the rest of the Friday homecoming game at Darlington High School. The Chiefs fell on the opening kickoff at their 22 yard line, but four downs later punted to the Darlington 40. Darlington lost 18 yards in two plays and on fourth down punted for twelve yards to …

By John Smithson North Myrtle Beach’s Jacob Koontz was the top finisher in the boys varsity race in the Horry County Cross Country Championships held last Wednesday at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex. Koontz’s time of 16:01.56 beat second place finisher Kaden Buchler(16:13.69), whose team finished in five of the top seven positions to win the boys varsity event. Carolina Forest was first with an average time of 17:13.52, followed by St James (17:32.52), Myrtle Beach (18:32.88), Socastee, Aynor and Green Sea Floyds. Besides Koontz, three other Chiefs boys ran in the race. David Webber was 35th in (21:15.41), …

By Annie Rigby The Loris Chamber of Commerce yearly festival celebrated its 41st year on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s festival was smaller in vendors with a limitation of 7,000 attendees to visit; tickets were sold this year to be able to keep a count of visitors and to follow the South Carolina Department of Commerce, CDC and DHEC guidelines. A total count of 4,000 visited the festival; gate-keepers kept a count of visitors paying cash or showing their ticket providing a pink wristband to wear as they walk around the festival. Yellow face …

By Annie Rigby Loris Police Department Chief Gary Buley accepted the award from the South Carolina of Public Safety for excelling in Driving Under the Influence (DUI), DUI victim services and anti-underage drinking programs in South Carolina. Buley said, “This is an honor to receive the award for an agency our size.” He stated the LPD will continue to make the department better each day. He said, “This hard work could not have been done without the officer’s giving it their all every day that they come in.” Buley stated he appreciates the support from all of the citizens of …

Darin A. Uptagrafft, 58, of Little River passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020. Born in Sumter to Doyle C. and Thelma Clayton Uptagrafft, Darin enjoyed spending his time fishing and watching NASCAR.  He worked as the assistant produce manager at Kroger Grocery for 25 years. Darin is survived by his life partner of 18 years, Theresa Elliott; wife, Annette Coker Uptagrafft; son, Eric M. Uptagrafft; daughters, Ashley M. Uptagrafft, Katie Elliott and Julie Wyatt; his brothers, Greg Uptagrafft, Keven Uptagrafft and John Marcotte; sisters Dena Marcotte and Donna Uptagrafft; and his four grandchildren, Gracie M. Uptagrafft, Darin E. Rutter, …