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

The Loris Heritage Festival began at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, with vendors setting up and the young entrepreneurs set up their pop-up shops in front of Timeless Memories, Harrelson’s Clothing Store and Railroad & Main hair salon.  The Loris Chamber of Commerce discovered that the previous events and dates coincided with other festivals in the surrounding areas and chose to change the event to the first Saturday in June and to rename the festival The Loris Heritage Festival.  In 2013 the chamber had sponsors for the Loris in Bloom Festival bringing in vendors selling many springtime items and …

Juddie BACOT visiting longtime friend after early morning meeting…Jan LEWIS and Norfleet JONES working hard getting ready for the big day???Vicki KEIBLER keeping in touch with beach friends to let them know Rex is in the hospital again…Get well quick wishes going to Kathleen DAYVAULT as she recovers from recent surgery…Little River Lions Club Secretary Arleen LOPANO capturing Lions in action during the recent Blue Crab Festival held along the historic waterfront in Little River…North Myrtle Beach High School Principal Trevor STRAWDERMAN really going to be missed as he leaves that job this year to go to Charleston and our …

The North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the Beachwood Golf Club has been named as the June 2019 Legacy Business of the month. Located in North Myrtle Beach at 1520 Highway 17 South, Beachwood was founded in 1967 and has been operating continuously since. The late Senator Dick Elliott and 18 other dedicated co-founders made the golf course what it is today. Construction was finished and the course opened for play in 1968. Beachwood is a beautiful 18-hole golf course designed by Gene Hamm. The course enjoys being recognized year after year as one of the …

Members of the Loris 8U Machine pitch baseball team had the opportunity to play in the Benji Blanton Baseball Tournament this past Saturday at the Green Sea Recreation Department. Members of the team took a minute before their game to have their pictures made with their coaches.  Pictured in the front row from left to right are Layton Harrelson and Memphis Marksberry; second row are Kaiden Long, Tucker Bass, Maddox Marksberry, Aiden Watts and Elijah Gause; third row are Jay Strickland, Kam Gore, Lester Bell, Layne Todd and Chase Graham; back row coaches are Shawn Todd, KEvin Gause, Michael Marksberry …

Serving the citizens of Loris is nothing new for veteran city councilman Michael Suggs who is seeking to become the city’s next mayor. First elected in 1993, Suggs is in his 26th year as a member of council and for 10 of those years served as mayor pro-tem, presiding over city council meetings and handling mayoral duties in the absence of the mayor. During his tenure, Suggs has had the opportunity to serve on each of the city council’s standing committees gaining insight into the operation of all city departments. He has also received training through the Municipal Association of …

Vanessa S. Tompkins, 71, of North Myrtle Beach passed away on Monday, May 27, 2019, after an extended illness. A celebration of life was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, in Lee Funeral Home Chapel. She was a lifelong resident of Myrtle Beach.  Vanessa is survived by her husband, Steve Tompkins; stepson, Tim Tompkins; and sister, Cindy Simmons. She was a member of the Shaggers Hall of Fame.  She loved to dance and was a good dancer.  She loved all the people she met there.  Vanessa was a generous person who enriched the lives of those around her.  …

Thomas John “Tom” Soltes, 67, of North Myrtle Beach died on Sunday, June 2, 2019, at SECU Hospice House of Brunswick surrounded by his family. Born on Dec. 20, 1951, in Beaver Falls, Pa., he was the son of the late Andrew and Mary Fecik Soltes. Tom enjoyed playing his guitar, boating, collecting shark’s teeth and spending time with his family. Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Doris Bohenek Soltes; son, Kyle Soltes; daughter, Amanda Langdon (Travis); brother, Andy Soltes; sister, Joann Soltes; three grandchildren, Kaylah, Natalyah and Maverick; brother-in-law, Tom Bohenek; many nieces and nephews; and his faithful …

Robert G. “Bob” Vaillancourt, 74, of Calabash, N.C. died on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at home surrounded by his loving family. Born on March 25, 1945, in Hartford, Conn., he was the son of the late George J. and Yvonne Labrie Vaillancourt. Bob served his country proudly in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of Fire Station 5 in West Hartford, Conn.  He was a member of American Legion Post 503 of Calabash, N.C., and VFW Post 7288 of Calabash, N.C. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Judy Austin Vaillancourt; son, Jack Vaillancourt (Kathy Kondracki); daughters, Rita …

Karen Weisser Layton, 72, of North Myrtle Beach died on Wednesday, May 29, 2019. She was born on March 18, 1947, in Grand Forks, N.D., the daughter of the late William Charles Weisser and Norma Evelyn McDonald. Karen graduated from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. Shortly afterward she and Joe moved to Atlanta, Ga., and raised two sons. She lived there until retirement in 2006, when they relocated to North Myrtle Beach. She worked as a merchandiser with American Greetings and loved working with her flowers and traveling around the world. She is survived by her husband …

George Liston Nealy, 83, of Loris passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at his home. Mr. Nealy was born on Sept. 6, 1935, in Loris, to the late Jessie Thurman Nealy and the late Odell Odessa Caines Nealy. He served his country with courage and dignity for four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. After the Navy, Mr. Nealy worked as a carpenter until his retirement. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Audrey Watson Nealy, of Loris; his two sons, Dale Nealy and his wife, Samantha, of Winter Haven, Fla., and Trey Brown and …