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

Edward Michael Burke, 59, of Longs passed away on Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach following an illness. He was born on March 9, 1959, in Mineola, N.Y., to the late John Harold Burke and the late Janet Hubbard Bossler Burke. Survivors include his son, Chad Burke of Lexington, N.C.; his sister, Joann LaVeglia and husband Michael of Longs; and many nieces and great-nieces. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 1506 Gumm Plaza, Hwy. 501, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29577. Sign Mr. Burke’s online guest book at hardwickfuneralhome.com. Hardwick Funeral Home …

Betty Hilburn Lockey, 83, of Little River died on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at McLeod Seacoast Medical Center in Little River. Born on June 10, 1935, in Bladenboro, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Jim C. and Lillie Bozeman Hilburn. Mrs. Lockey is survived by her husband of 55 years, Howard S. Lockey; one son, Howie Lockey (Erin); eight daughters, Paulette Arnette (Charles), Gail Thompson (Glenn), Faye Cox (Alan), Jeannie Folks (Steven), Carol Kelly (Don), Mindy Livingston (Mitchell) and Sheila Nolan (Cliff); 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by one daughter, Cathy Barbour; and …

About 330 people walked through six homes decorated to the hilt for Christmas, from the classic to the contemporary, according to North Myrtle Beach Woman’s Club committee chairperson Connie Holston. “Overall, I think it was a great success,” Holston said. “We didn’t have any major issues with traffic, which I know some subdivisions were worried about, but it was spread pretty evenly (among the six houses). And I think we had about a 15-18 mile range of houses to see.” The home that was the furthest south was a contemporary on 46th Avenue South in the Windy Hill section, decorated …

The city Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony was held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, in McLean Park in the Ocean Drive section of North Myrtle Beach. This drone shot of the park was taken by North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officer Stephen Murphy.

Move over Lollipop Guild. Local children are about to become members of the Candy Cane Hunt Club with an event this evening at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex off Robert Edge Boulevard. Area children with their parents are invited to a new event this year for the North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Department: a candy cane hunt on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 5:30-7 p.m. followed by the showing of the original “How the Grinch Stole Christmas’’ on an outdoor, large screen. There’s a twist to this hunt for traditional, petite sized red and white candy canes. Children can …

Weather and other factors permitting, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach renourishment project begins in North Myrtle Beach the week of Dec. 3. The project replaces 200,000 cubic yards of sand lost to Hurricane Irma. Based on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach profile measurements, sand is to be placed from about 17th Avenue South to Seventh Avenue North and should take several weeks to accomplish. Great Lakes Dock & Dredge has begun stockpiling pipe at the Seventh Avenue South street end and has established its first onshore pipeline at 15th Avenue South. The Corps’ entire Hurricane Irma related …

The D.E.C.A. (Distributive Education Clubs of America) traveled to West Ashley High School to participate in the Regional Role Play Competition. LeAundra Gore placed first in Accounting, Chukeya Williams placed third in Entrepreneurship and Mia Delgado-Naredo and Ja’Maya Jackson placed in the top 10 in Hotels & Lodging Management. The D.E.C.A. students will travel to Charleston in March to compete in the state level in their respective categories.

The beginning of a community outreach program, God’s Gifts, began in 2012 by one strong Christian lady, Stella McDowell. The purpose of the program is to provide Christmas to teenagers between the ages of 13 to 18, both girls and boys. McDowell said that she was given the idea in 2011 when her sister was jailed and released to move to South Carolina to be closer to family. She had to find her sister a place to stay; she realized they needed furniture and household items as well as clothing along with cleaning and hygienic supplies. McDowell was able to …

Rain threatened to ruin the North Myrtle Beach Christmas parade, but flying candy and an indomitable optimistic spirit, from the viewers and the participants, saved the day, judging from the reactions. The parade, held at 5:30 p.m. on Main Street in the Ocean Drive section last Saturday, started in a steady rain and it stayed that way two-thirds of the time, until the drops abruptly ceased. Less people than usual lined the parade route, observers said, but it was still populated with groups of people who refused to let the weather be a deterrent, wearing rain jackets and toting umbrellas. …

Olivia Borgman is being honored by the North Myrtle Beach Optimist Club as the November Student of the Month. Olivia is the daughter of Amber and Jeff Borgman and is in the sixth grade at North Myrtle Beach Middle School. She is a member of the Welcome Committee and FCA. Away from school, Olivia is active in her youth group at Christ United Methodist Church, Myrtle Beach. She volunteers by working in the nursery at her church, helping with the homeless ministry, raising money for charitable organizations, and mentoring special needs students. She also sorted supplies for flood victims and …