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

Kenya Wright tendered her resignation with the city of Loris on Monday, Jan. 6. She will leave her position with the city to explore other options. Wright has been employed by the city almost seven years. She will close the door to this chapter in her life on Friday, Jan. 17.

Photo by Annie Rigby On Monday, Jan. 6, Loris Councilman Lewis Hardee was nominated and council voted him to hold the position of mayor pro tem until 2022. Hardee will work closely with the mayor, Todd Harrelson, to keep current on what is happening at city hall. Hardee will step into the position at meetings and will be acting mayor in other areas when or if Harrelson is not available. Council and the mayor welcomed Hardee to the position. Carroll D. Padgett Jr. nominated Hardee. Terrence Hardee nominated Joan Gause and the vote was a tie. Harrelson broke the tie …

An EF1 tornado with 90 mph winds touched down at Loris High School between 12:47 and 1:50 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13. The security camera footage retained by the Horry County District Security shows the tornado came from the football field traveling through the tennis courts to the student parking lot. A twister that lasted less than 20 seconds in the student parking lot and traveling to the teacher and visitor parking area damaged a total of 75 vehicles per Loris police officer Keith Massey. He said, “The EF-1 tornado was responsible for the damage at the high school and …

The property donated by Loris First Presbyterian Church at the corner of Milligan Street and Forest Drive has had activity clearing the land. Brandon Harrelson, director of public works, said the city workers cleaned the overgrowth from a ditch on the property. He said, “The ditch we cleaned out has been on the property, but it was so overgrown we could not maintain it.” Harrelson stated a drainage grate was installed on the corner where the city upgraded the old pipes and water box with a larger size pipes last summer. He said, “The preexisting pipe was 18 inches and …

Brandon Harrelson passed out handouts to council and interim city administrator at a Special City Council Meeting held on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the American Legion Hall.  The meeting was held to discuss the new software purchase for the city.  Interim city administrator Dennis Drozdak researched the software and recommended the purchase.

Thomas Roy Byington, 81, of Longs passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Born on Aug. 19, 1938, in Waukesha, WI, he was the son of the late Russell T. and Elmira Kathryn Saska Byington. Mr. Byington is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet C. Westberg Byington; two daughters, Terry Byington Urban and Debbie Byington Transou; four granddaughters; one great-granddaughter; and one great-grandson. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020, in Lee Funeral Home Chapel.  The family will receive friends following the service. …

Ronald W. Oliver, 86, of Little River, beloved husband for 56 years of Jean Warner Oliver, died on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, at Brunswick Health and Rehab Center. Born in Hartford, Conn. on May 24, 1933, he was a son of the late William and Ethel Oliver. He had been a resident of Little River for over 20 years. He had been employed by Southern New England Telephone Co. for 36 years retiring in 1987. He was a Scoutmaster of Troop 29 in West Hartford. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of Wyllys-St. …

Ronald Lee Lennox, 75, of Loris passed away Friday, Jan. 10, 2020 at his residence. Born on Jan. 14,  1944, in Fort Dix, N.J., he was the son of the late Harry Thomas Lennox Sr. and Ruth Lafferty Lennox. Mr. Lennox served in the U.S. Army for six years, where he was a Combat Veteran of the Vietnam War. Along with his parents, Mr. Lennox was predeceased by a brother, Harry Thomas Lennox Jr. Surviving are his two brothers, Wayne Allen Lennox and Carl Lynn Lennox; two daughters, Melissa and Elizabeth Lennox; a step-daughter, Tiffany Baranauskas and husband, Robert; his …

Laura Abeita Griego, 56, of Loris passed away on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, at McLeod Regional Medical Center in Florence. She was born on Dec. 12, 1963, in Gallup, New Mexico, to the late Abby Abeita and Laura Victoria Glascock Abeita. Mrs. Griego and her husband owned Rockefellers Restaurant in Loris. She was a Catholic. Survivors include her husband of thirty-one years, Evie Griego of the home; a son, Matthew Griego of Loris; and three loving sisters, Mary Knoblock, Leona Kukowski and Marie McKinnon. Visitation was held from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 8 at Hardwick Funeral …

Larry John Wade, 76,  of Loris passed away on Monday, Jan. 6, 2020, at Compass Post Acute Rehabilitation in Conway. Mr. Wade was born on Sept. 20, 1943, in Loris, to the late John Herschel Wade and the late Mary Jane Causey Wade. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his sister, Annie Wade Fellner and husband Jim of Little River. Mr. Wade was predeceased by his two brothers, Bobby Wade and Billy Wade, and two sisters, Sue Todd and Clara Wade. Services were private. Sign Mr. Wade’s online guest book at hardwickfuneralhome.com. Hardwick Funeral Home served the family.