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

By Meg Williams : Michelle Rusback teaches 4th grade at Waterway Elementary School. She has been teaching 19 years with the last 13 being in Horry County. Previously, she taught six years in Florida. Michelle is married to Tom Rusback and they have one daughter, Maddie. Michelle graduated in 1992 from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, earning a bachelors degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education. She was inspired to teach by her dad. He taught high school for 43 years before retiring just a few years ago. “Watching your students’ faces light up when they get it for …

During the Dec. 16 City Council meeting, Employee Longevity Awards were presented to Public Safety Officer Chris Shick (15 years of service), Public Safety Sergeant Ray Pollock (15), Public Safety Officer Bobby Hall (10 years), and Public Safety Officer Jake Hoard (5 years). Employee Longevity Awards are presented in five-year increments to employees who continually offer excellent customer service. The city thanks these city employees for their continued commitment to customer service excellence.

Jammie Livingston is still farming at 87 years old. He is better known in the community as Sonny Livingston, one of the biggest farmers in the Wampee section of Horry County. He farmed acreage of crops for over 6 decades but now he is farming his yard such as peppers, okras, a variety of teas, collards and a lemon tree. His biggest accomplishment for this year has been his first ever lemon tree which the lemons grew as large as navel oranges plus collard leaves as long as 41 inches. Mr. Livingston states “Once a farmer, you will always be …

During the December 16 City Council meeting, Employee of the Month Awards were presented to Public Grounds Maintenance Worker Stewart Stevenson (September), Senior Planner/Urban Designer Suzanne Pritchard (October) and Seasonal Beach Cleaner Contrez Dewitt and Motor Equipment Operator Kareem Hemingway (November). Stewart Stevenson received his award for volunteering to be the point of contact for the Right of Way Crew when its leader had to be out of work for an extended period of time. He ensured that the crew understood and stuck to established priorities, attended crew meetings and carried information back to the maintenance staff. Meanwhile, he continued …

The North Myrtle Beach City Council held a Monday, December 16, meeting in City Council chambers at City Hall. City Council adopted a resolution approving a settlement agreement in principle between the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County regarding hospitality fees and authorized the city manager to sign the document(s) on behalf of the city. City Council entered into an executive session to discuss the annual performance evaluation of the city attorney. Council took no action. City Council issued a proclamation commending Beam & Associates personnel H. Wayne Beam, PhD., Braxton Kyzer, P.E., and Mike Kirby, P.E., for their …

EVERYONE being wished a very Merry Christmas!!!City Clerk Merideth SMITH retiring after sixteen years of service to the city and this community and receiving a standing ovation during the Monday night North Myrtle Beach City Council meeting…Donita KAYTON thanking the North Myrtle Beach Times for everything you do for the community and what treasures lie within the walls that house OUR newspaper!!!Tuesday, December 3, was a day of Faith, Fellowship, Fruitfulness and Fun for sixteen women from KING OF GLORY LUTHERAN CHURCH in North Myrtle Beach who paid a visit to the 17th annual Creche Festival at Mepkin Abbey in …

The Loris Fire Department Volunteer Fire Team celebrated 91 years of service with their Annual Christmas – Holiday Party this week. Fire Chief Jerry Hardee was honored with 45 years of service with the department. FF Jamie Stevens was honored with 15 years of service with the LFD. The majority of the current Fire Team along with Life Members, Auxiliary and Family members celebrated fellowship at Adams Seafood.  The Tabor City Fire Department provided coverage for the Loris Fire Department while the team was out of town.

The Loris Christmas Celebration took place in downtown Loris on Friday, Dec. 6. The events were held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a variety of holiday entertainment at the Courtyard on Main. The Christmas Parade traveled down Main Street beginning at 7 p.m. to many cheering spectators. It was a fun day for all bringing a lot of holiday cheer.

The Loris High School (LHS) cheerleaders attend camp each summer at local colleges to learn new routines to perform during the football and basketball games. This summer Kaitlyn Delvin tried out for a position on the cheerleader squad during the summer camp and was recently notified that she has been selected to be one of the cheerleaders to march in the New Year’s Parade in London, England. She said, “I had to audition for the position and out of many other varsity cheerleaders I was picked as an All American,” she continued, “I am now able to have the opportunity …