Fire department receives needed funds
for new headquarters
 Photo by Michael Lowman
Loris Mayor David Stoudenmire accepted a ceremonial check for $1million from Keely McMann, representing the S.C. Department of Commerce. The money will be used for the construction of the new Loris Fire Department.
By Greta Burroughs
Last week Loris Mayor David Stoudenmire accepted a ceremonial check for $1million from Keely McMann, representing the S.C. Department of Commerce. The money will be used for the construction of the new Loris Fire Department.
The ceremony was held on the grounds where the present fire and police stations are located and where the new public safety facility is going to be built. Stoudenmire said, “It is important that we are going to stay right here. This is the heart of our town. Our original jail sits on this site and the original fire station was at the City Hall just down the street.”
Most of the City Council members were present along with Paul Prince, District 9 Horry County Councilman, representatives of the Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, Police Chief Joseph Vaught, Fire Chief Jerry Hardee and several firemen.
Several weeks earlier, city officials were notified that the $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) they had requested for the construction of a new fire station in the proposed public safety facility had been approved. Also, another $500,000 was being allocated by the State of South Carolina for a total of $1million to go towards the construction of a new fire department.
Stoudenmire commented, “Having been on the council now for 22 years, there hasn’t been a year that we haven’t said how much we needed a new fire and police station. The $500,000 grant came about with help from the Waccamaw Regional Council of Government. Without their help, it would have never come about. They worked so hard on it for us and it was such a quick turn around time.”
He went on to say when the director of the Community Development Block Grant called him from Columbia he was very surprised. “I was hoping to get just a part of the grant but she said that since it was such a strong proposal, we were going to get the full $500,000 and they were adding another $500,000. That was such exciting news.”
The mayor added, “That little glimmer of light got a lot brighter. Now our vision is to find whatever resources we can get to fund the additional $1 million needed so that when we break ground, we can not only build the fire portion of the public safety building but both the fire and police departments.”
One of the stipulations of the grant is the city has to break ground within six months so Stoudenmire said they are moving forward on the project. “We are at the stage now where we are advertising for proposals and requests for qualification on potential firms to plan and construct the public safety building. Our big push will be working on funding to complete the project. I am talking with folks about getting money from Washington or anywhere else we can get it.”
The city of Loris could take out a loan for the $1 million but the mayor does not want to burden the taxpayers so he is seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development for an additional grant or loan to supplement the block grant in order to construct the public safety facility to house both the fire department and the police department.
“There is a tremendous need for a new public safety facility. We have been looking for some time for a way to replace the present fire and police facilities that are both very outdated. Everyone knows the condition of both. They have been here for many years. We are trying to find something, whatever grants or loans are available to complete the project and asking anyone who can help us to do so.”
Chamber banquet honors several local businesses
 Photo by Timeless Memories
Darlene Munn, Nancy Littles and Marjorie Prince, from left to right, organized the annual awards banquet for the Loris Chamber.
By Greta Burroughs
A new year has begun and the Loris Chamber of Commerce is planning on sponsoring events in 2010 as it has in years past. All the plans for the coming year have not been finalized yet, but the first event of the year was the annual awards banquet.
This year the banquet was held on Jan. 28 at the Center for Health and Fitness. Samantha Norris, Executive Assistant to the Board of Directors explained, “Each year the Loris Chamber of Commerce hosts the banquet and presents six awards to deserving individuals and businesses in our community.”
The Chamber has been presenting these awards since 1975. The process for determining the recipients of the awards has remained the same over this period of time. The Chamber sends out nominating forms to its members who select candidates for each category. A committee comprised of three Loris citizens and a representative from the Chamber’s board of directors go over the nominations and vote for the winner in each category from all the names submitted.
“Only the four people on the committee know who the winners are. It is a tightly guarded secret until the awards are handed out at the banquet,” says Norris.
The 2010 awards ceremony began with a dinner and the awards presentation followed the meal. The first award was for community service. It was presented to the Loris Lions Club by Hoyt Hardee for their contributions to the community in the form of leadership, volunteer work or financial support.
The second award was for Merchant of the Year. Melba Johnson awarded it to The Coffee Shop for being a business that has contributed to the growth of the community.
The Public Safety Award was presented by Chief Joseph Vaught and given to Officer Richard Kostanek for his service in the public safety profession and for his efforts in obtaining necessary equipment for the department including the new police car.
Mayor David Stoudenmire presented the Citizen of the Year award to Estelle Wright for her outstanding service to and for the community. Wright has served on City Council for the last 16 years and has been active in various civic and community organizations. She played a role on two committees for the city of Loris, including the Centennial Committee and the City Hall renovation committee. She also donated the clock that stands in downtown Loris.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to Rev. Carl Harris and was presented by Lewis Hardee. Rev. Harris was the pastor of the Methodist Church for years serving the community. After retiring from the ministry, he served as an interim pastor for other churches in Loris.
The Robert Brooks Entrepreneur Award recognized a business established for more than a year but less than five years and displaying stability and steady growth. It went to the Backstreet Café and was presented to Joey Vaught by Edward Boyd.
The winners received a beautiful plaque along with the honor and prestige associated with the awards.
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