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

Johnny T. Harper, 73, of North Myrtle Beach died on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, at home with his daughter at his side. Born on Dec. 29, 1944, in Blacksburg, he was the son of the late Johnny O. and Mamie Martin Harper. Mr. Harper is survived by his daughter, Lynn “Missy” Harper. He was predeceased by his wife, Linda K. Harper, and sister, Patricia McAbee. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at 416 3rd Ave. S. in North Myrtle Beach. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s, P.O. Box 1000, …

Patricia “Pati” Ciccone, 63, of Little River died on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018, surrounded by the love of her family. Pati was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of Philip and Marie (Hentschel) Gorden. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Michael, and her brother, Philip. Pati is survived by her daughter, Erin Ciccone Graham, son-in-law Buddy and her granddaughter, Lennon, whom she loved dearly. She also leaves behind her sisters, Denise Karadin of Palm City, Fla., and Maureen Hart of Long Beach, N.Y., nieces, nephew and countless friends. After moving to South Carolina …

The Lord decided to take His under sheppard, the Rev. Ronald Woodrow Ward of Conway, home to glory on Friday, Dec. 14, 2018. Born on Jan. 25, 1944, in Loris, he was the son of the late Eugene Vance Ward and the late Thelma Sawyer Ward. At a very young age, the Reverend Ward, as he would come to be known, began delivering papers for Atlantic Publishing Company. He went on to work for many years as a salesman of paper products before starting his own company, Loris Paper & Chemicals. He was a devout pastor at Mt. Tabor Baptist …

Pictured is the 2018-19 Lady Chiefs Varsity Girls basketball squad. The team is off to a great start with their 8-1 record including their recent win at Conway Tuesday evening. The final score 56-21. According to Coach Brooke Smith the players to watch are as follows: #23, Jordan Berger – averages 18 points and 10 rebounds per game (junior); #24, Daveona Hatchell – averages 14 points and 11 rebounds per game (sophomore); and #22, Janaii Boone – averages 6 points per game and 4 rebounds per game (great senior leader). The North Myrtle Beach varsity girls team is off to …

Head coach Darcie Vincent strategizes with the Chiefs during a timeout. North Myrtle Beach lost 65-49 against Conway Tuesday. Tyree Smith sinks a jumpshot during the team’s brief run on the Conway Tigers in the third period of the home game Tuesday. The North Myrtle Beach varsity boys basketball team lost to Conway by a score of 65-49 Tuesday in a home game. Due to the Tigers ability to shoot inside as well as 3s, the Chiefs were not able to bring the game to more than 10 despite a couple of good runs at it in the third period, …

Left to right are Sonya Hodge, Wyatt Vitali, Reva Bundavalli, Olivia McGill, Josey Hodge, Serena Moore and Jenna Dean from Grace Christian School who visit with Santa at the Loris Library. Santa Claus came all dressed in red with a boisterous ‘ho-ho-ho’ to visit children at the Loris Library on Wednesday, Dec.12. Parking his reindeer on the roof Santa climbed down to a see a line of children wanting to sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas. As Santa sat in a chair by the tree and the box of toys for Toys for Tots, …

Lyric Boggs, age 8, with Smiley and her brother, Trevonne Butler, age 5, visited with Santa on Sunday, Dec. 16, asking for art supplies and a Hot Wheels race track and clothes for Smiley. Before leaving the children selected a fidget spinner. The last visit with Santa at the corner of Broad Street and Main is this weekend. He will be at his Santa House set up with lollipops and candy canes on Saturday, Dec. 22, from 12 noon to 5 p.m. and again on Sunday, Dec. 23, from 2:30 to 5 p.m. If you haven’t already visited with Santa, …

Loris First Baptist Church, ‘A Live Walk-Through Nativity’, cast members in the city of Bethlehem. Visitors traveled through time to more than 2,000 years ago at Loris First Baptist Church from Friday, Dec. 14, through Sunday, Dec. 16. Beginning at 6 p.m. a guide asks prayers then takes a group of 30 through the live outdoor walk-through stepping on a hay path where the group is led to the field where the shepherds watch their flock of sheep. The guide explains in scripture and script that an angel appeared to the shepherds to give the good news of Christ’s birth. …

Leonard Barham, Susie Watson, Todd Finer and, Scott Childers help get the bicycles ready for delivery. Representatives from 24 schools got to play Santa to some of their students by selecting from organized shelves of toys provided through the Yachts for Tots program sponsored by the Christmas Regatta committee. Guidance counselors and administrators at each school looked at lists of student interests, by age group, and toys were grouped in much the same way. Laurie Thomas of Waterway Elementary searched for, then successfully found, some Nick Jr. slime for one of her school’s students. She explained that she sent out …

Photo by Melissa Huff Salvatore Last Saturday 126 wreaths were laid on the graves at North Myrtle Beach Memorial Gardens. This was a first year event. About 50 people waded through standing water last Saturday to lay 126 wreaths on the North Strand’s deceased military members, a first-year event at North Myrtle Beach Memorial Gardens in Little River. Bob and Edie Sakowski uttered the names of Army Sgt. C. Devin Lewis, Feb. 2, 1945-Feb. 4, 1986, and Corporal Richard Brambles III, Jan. 28, 1966-May 6, 2007, after placing the wreaths on the strangers’ graves, as instructed by organizers. Kathy Rice …