By Mary Templeton What do you do with your trash? The kindergartners in Kim Holloway’s class at Ocean Drive Elementary School learned what happened to the thoughtless, messy citizens of Wartville at their Friday, January 23, 2026, Ecotot meeting.  The Yaupon Garden Club ladies wanted the students to learn the importance of keeping our country beautiful by placing litter in trash containers, not on the ground. YGC member Mary Templeton invited the students to pretend that they lived in the town of Wartville. As member Lynne Payne read the book, “The Wartville Wizard” by Dan Madden, the students learned that …

By John Smithson North Myrtle Beach High School announced Monday that Perry Woolbright has been hired as the new head coach of the Chiefs football program. Woolbright’s hiring was approved Monday by the Horry County School Board and announced on Wayne White’s Tomahawk Talk on the Chiefs Sports Network that evening. White said that “Woolbright originally joined the North Myrtle Beach High School football program in 2010 and left in 2014 after four seasons. While coach he lost 22 games but was 9-4 in his last year. He also laid the groundwork to build a program for other coaches after …

By John Smithson The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs (7-12) at Myrtle Beach Seahawks (6-8) in a rival game. Both teams gladly threw out their records. Both teams needed a win and hated losing to their 6AAAAA region neighbor. It was a game that met and exceeded all expectations. There were competing cheer teams trying to out-cheer their opposites across court. A few alumni who used to wear their team jersey back for this one. Fans from both teams packing the bleachers with current student bodies screaming “you can’t do that” whenever they could. On the court there was effort, competition, …

By John Smithson The North Myrtle Beach High School Lady Chiefs solidified their number one rank in 5A basketball with two more wins last week. The Chiefs first win was a 63-23 win over Mullins in a MLK tournament held last Monday at Marion. The Chiefs led the Lady Auctioneers 16-10 after the first quarter of play and increased their lead to 29-16 at halftime. The Chiefs then held Mullins to 7 points in the second half while scoring 34 points for the win. Jurnee Blye led the Chiefs scoring with 17 points. Sophie Powell scored 16 points, Aubree Anglin …

By Kaye Collins Mark your calendars for the Crossway Church 14th Annual Critter Cooking on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2000 Highway 701 South in Loris. Guest speaker will be Pastor Jon Johnson from Cane Branch Baptist Church. Anyone and everyone are welcome to the Critter Cooking event, where there is no cost for the meal and scheduled activities. It is remarkable how many individuals participate in this yearly gathering. The fellowship hall is filled with tables arranged for people to sit and enjoy their meals together. Many residents of Loris and nearby regions eagerly …

By Kaye Collins The Horry County Council declared a localized state of emergency to implement emergency ordinances addressing public emergencies that impact the life, health, safety, or property of residents in Horry County. This declaration will be in effect for a period of sixty (60) days unless it is terminated by a resolution from the County Council. The emergency ordinance serves as a precautionary step, enabling the county to respond and coordinate actions if wintery weather conditions necessitate such measures. Horry County was downgraded to OPCON 2 on Thursday, Jan. 22, as the initial forecast indicated the possibility of icy …

On Thursday January 8, 2026, Lieutenant Keegan Thacker wrapped up his final shift working for the North Myrtle Beach Fire Department as he and his fiancée will be making their move to the west coast later this month where he will be continuing his fire service career there. Keegan joined the Department in March 2020 as a fresh recruit with no previous fire service experience. He quickly established himself as a top candidate immediately on the fire day of new hire testing among a group of roughly 80 applicants who were part of the testing process. He graduated as Valedictorian …

As the year draws to a close, the Rotary Club of Little River is reflecting on 2025 with pride, highlighting a wide range of initiatives that exemplify Rotary International’s motto, Service Above Self. Through fundraising efforts, hands-on service projects and partnerships with local organizations, club members made meaningful impacts on students, seniors, first responders and families throughout Horry County. One of the club’s most impactful efforts was its continued support of Teen Angels, a program assisting homeless and at-risk students at North Myrtle Beach High School. Through fundraising events, including a community Poker Run, the club helped meet students’ basic …

The Little River Library will be getting a highly-anticipated remodel. The Little River Library closed beginning on Monday, January 19, 2026, and will remain closed until these renovations are complete. All items on hold will be transferred to the North Myrtle Beach Library. Please call 843-915-5281 with any questions.

The City of North Myrtle Beach is actively monitoring the potential for winter weather conditions this weekend. Models show colder air and temperatures moving in Friday night through Saturday morning. Here’s how you can prepare. Protect Your Home — Insulate exposed pipes or leave faucets dripping to prevent freezing. Ensure your heating system is in good working order. Seal drafts around windows and doors to retain heat. Plan for Travel — Monitor forecasts and road conditions. Allow extra time for commutes and consider delaying non-essential trips if snow is present. Keep a winter emergency kit in your vehicle, including blankets, …