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

David Edgar Bell Jr., 58, of Loris passed away on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2020 at MUSC in Charleston. He was born on June 6, 1962, in Mullins to the late David Edgar Bell, Sr and the late Helen Jean Cox. Mr. Bell worked at PVI Enterprises as a carpenter. He was a Baptist.  Survivors include his wife, Kathy Bell of the home; and three sisters, Vicky Lou Faulk and husband Weldon of Pireway, N.C., Teressa Burrows of Loris, and Jamie Lynn Bell Lara and husband Rigo of Conway. Mr. Bell was predeceased by his brother, Donald Earl Bell. Graveside services …

Bobby Giambrone (nè William Robert Giambrone), 72, of Little River went to his heavenly home on Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Bobby was born on April 8, 1948, in Greenville.  He was the son of Frank and Francis (Gray) Giambrone and brother of Richard Frank “Butch” Giambrone.  He graduated from Parker High School in Greenville.  Bobby achieved several associate degrees, including one in criminal justice.  He went on to become a Greenville County Sheriff’s deputy.  While in this position, he was one of two to begin a rescue diver program.  He loved diving and was known to go on many diving …

Elizabeth Bruce Porter “Liz” Petit, 89, of North Myrtle Beach died on Monday, Sept. 28, 2020, at the home of her daughter of North Myrtle Beach. Born on Aug. 1, 1931, in Scotland, she was a daughter of the late John and Clementine Bruce North Porter. Liz was a member of Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church in North Myrtle Beach where she was active in both the Explorers Sunday School Class and the Prayer Shawl Group. Survivors include her daughter, Elizabeth M. Petit; sister, Alison Rex; sister- in-law, Jennie Petit Russell; brother-in-law, James T. “Jim” Petit; three nieces; and two nephews. …

By Ruben Lowman North Myrtle Beach’s Ocean Drive Elementary was named a National Blue Ribbon School last Thursday by the Department of Education, the highest achievement a school can receive. The school, located on 11th Avenue North between Highway 17 and Ocean Boulevard, is just the fourteenth in Horry County to earn the distinction. Ocean Drive Elementary Principal Renea Fowler said that her school was extremely honored to get such a coveted award, especially for her teachers and faculty to be recognized for their hard work and dedication in educating and enriching their students. Fowler explained that the school got …

By Ruben Lowman A large crowd of local law enforcement supporters came out to the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex last Saturday to voice their approval for officers in the midst of a tumultuous moment between police departments and the public all over the world. The “Defend Your Police” rally took place at the amphitheatre at the sports complex after organizer Tracey Lutz-Danka was forced to change the location from the North Myrtle Beach City Hall to better accommodate the large response they received from the public. The passionate crowd was decked out in American flag apparel and …

By Ruben Lowman Horry County Schools will now begin announcing their learning plan later in the week after state health officials altered the date their data is released in order to provide school districts with the most up-to-date information and better protect their students, faculty and parents. This Monday, HCS posted on social media that the instructional model over the next two weeks would continue with the hybrid learning plan that the district has been following since the 2020-21 school year began. Later in the day, after South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control changed the day it updates …

By Ruben Lowman Horry County Council voted to extend the face mask mandate they have in place for another two months on Tuesday, Sept. 15, after a few weeks of contentious debate among the council members and citizens. The resolution, voted down by the county council, would haveput an end to the emergency facial covering ordinance that was passed at the beginning of July in anticipation of a heavy influx of tourists coming to visit the area over the Fourth of July weekend. The original emergency ordinance was set for 60 days and was extended further earlier this month when …

Frances Jane Myette, 97, of North Myrtle Beach died on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. Born on April 4, 1923, in Norfolk, Va., she was the daughter of the late Royal A. and Frances Burroughs Ledbetter Sr. Mrs. Myette is survived by her children, James M. Myette and Janice Marie Myette; brother, Joseph D. Ledbetter; nieces and nephews, Fred, Debbie Jo, Cathy, Penny, Joseph Daniel and Gene; and special friend, Stephen Craig Hughes. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard F. Myette, who passed in 2018; and brothers, Royal A. Jr., Millard Ashton, Garland, Roger …

Dianne D. Gardner of Longs passed into eternal rest on Friday, May 15, 2020, after a prolonged illness. She was the daughter of the late, James Townley and Florence R. Nicholson Deason of Pineville, N.C. She was retired from GE Capital and was a member of North Strand Community Church located in Little River.   We are forever grateful in a life shared through her blessings and will remain grateful to her legacy woven through our lives with daily praise, grace and love. We do not mourn but rejoice in her eternal happiness and everlasting peace.  Surviving are her son, …

Johnny Elbert Dunn,  77, of Loris passed away on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, at his home. He was born on Jan. 5, 1943, in Carthage, N.C., to the late Rily Dunn and the late Myrtle Kaiser Dunn. He worked as cement truck driver until his retirement and attended Trinity Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Dunn of the home and many loving nieces and nephews. Mr. Dunn was predeceased by his son, John Christopher Dunn; two daughters, Debra Lynn Dunn and Cynthia Renee Dunn; three brothers, Charlie Dunn, Bobby Dunn and Billy Dunn; and one sister, Mary Stewart. Graveside …