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

Last week, the City of North Myrtle Beach mailed a letter to all businesses located in the city limits instructing owners on how to handle taxes they collect from customers within the city. The city sends out a notification annually but this year’s letter is different in that it directly addresses the fact that all of the taxes once split between the city and Horry County are to be remitted in full to the city. The letter states that the City of North Myrtle Beach has revised its Local Accommodations Tax Ordinance as well as its Hospitality Tax Ordinance to …

For some teenage tourists, their check list of souvenirs includes not only seashells and tie-dyed T-shirts, but road signs. Apparently, these young folks were even more zealous this year as almost 150 street signs were taken during the traditional high school and college weeks, mostly in the Cherry Grove section. “We lose about 60 or 70 signs to theft citywide each year,’’ said city spokesman Pat Dowling. “This year in the first two weeks of June, about 148 signs were stolen, about two-thirds of them in Cherry Grove.’’ Dowling added, “Sign theft usually occurs in June when college and high …

The Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Teen competitions were held in Columbia this past weekend.  Ragan Dennis, Sarah Carroll, Samantha Norris and Jenn Causey traveled to Columbia with the hope of returning with another crown. Miss Loris Bog-Off Teen, Sarah Carroll, climbed to the top 15 contestants in the pageant.  This is Carroll’s second year attending the Miss South Carolina Teen competition.  In 2018 she was presented as Miss Myrtle Beach, also making the semi-finals.  In the 2019 competition she was listed in the top 15.  Carroll has a beautiful voice and presents herself well in competitions. Miss …

The Loris City Council met on Monday, July 1, at the American Legion Hall at 6 p.m.  Mayor Todd Harrelson tapped the gavel to begin the meeting stating, “Good evening everybody and welcome to the city of Loris regular council meeting.” Present at the meeting were council members Joan Gause, Lewis Hardee, Terrence Hardee, Mike Suggs and Jan Vescovi.  Department directors were Brandon Harrelson, Tom Cocke, Lt. Larry Williams, Samantha Norris, Kenneth Moss and Kenya Wright. Harrelson asked Terrence Hardee to present the invocation and lead the pledge of allegiance. Harrelson asked for a motion to accept the minutes of …

The Back to School Supply Drive is a new project created by city of Loris employees Tonsheka Neal, Amanda Hawley-Causey, Deborah Cannon, Jenna Winborne and Kenya Wright.  Wright said, “We would like to do this annually, however, it depends upon the response we get.  We will see what feedback we get and what donations are made and make adjustments to it next year.”  She said, “Our goal is to collect 150 book bags this year, and if we are able to provide just one child with a book bag filled with items we have met the need of that one …

Peter James “Hoppy” Hopkins, 83, of Little River, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones on Thursday, June 13, 2019, at McLeod Seacoast Medical Center in Little River. Born on Oct. 13, 1935, in New York, N.Y., he was the son of the late William and Rebecca (Malone) Hopkins. He served in the United States Air Force, stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, during the Vietnam War. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1977 from Fordham University in New York. He was a supervising counselor and mentor for over a decade at Catholic Guardian Society caring for …

Delene Faye Rakoski, 53, of Little River died  on Saturday, June 22, 2019, at home surrounded by her loving family. Born on Sept. 26, 1965, in Dayton, Ohio, she was the daughter of the late Delbert and Irene Erit. Delene is survived by her children, Thomas Rakoski, Benjamin Rakoski and Tasha Erit; two sisters, Susan Cedio and Deborah Pinette; and 12 grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Tom Rakoski. Services will be private with the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Delene Faye Rakoski Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1116, Little River, S.C. 29566. A …

Bob L. Pruitt, 87,  of North Myrtle Beach died on Saturday,  June 15, 2019, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in North Myrtle Beach. Born on April 6, 1932, in Draper, N.C., he was the son of the late William and Bertha Pruitt. Bob is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Bari and Douglas Hunt of Fort Mill;  three grandsons and their spouses, Gregory and Cathy, Andy and Molly and Steven and Rebecca; great grandchildren, Sam, Max, Jack, Olivia, Layla, Harper and Holden Hunt; and many special friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Becky Morgan Pruitt; brother, Norman Pruitt; …

Hats off to the gardeners and wannabes and those who appreciate garden design and art at the 2nd Annual Driftwood Garden Tour held on Saturday, June 1. The 2019 self-guided tour featured 10 gardens in the North Myrtle Beach and Little River area. For the second year, La Belle Amie Vineyard and the North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum participated in the tour. Roughly 100 tour-goers, including members of several garden clubs throughout the Coastal District, were treated to delightful and unique pollinator and succulent gardens, native plants, vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, colorful potted plants, shade plants, garden art and …