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

Most city projects that occur during the first half of calendar year 2019 are continuations from 2018 because the city is still tracking fiscal year 2018, which runs July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019. City Council and staff will discuss proposed projects for the latter half of 2019 (fiscal year 2020) during Council’s February 25-26 Fiscal Year 2020 budget retreat at Wampee Plantation at 1190 Chicora Drive in Pinopolis. The budget retreat is open to the public. The city will post budget retreat materials online at www.nmb.us as they become available. Council will adopt a FY 2020 budget in May 2019. …

Greg Hembree, State Senator for District 28 (Horry and Dillon), of Little River has been named Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. This was announced on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, by President of the Senate, Harvey Peeler. The Senate Education Committee is responsible for all state legislation impacting preschool, kindergarten through grade 12 and institutions of higher education in South Carolina. Asked about his new assignment Senator Hembree said, “Providing the opportunity for a world class education to every South Carolinian is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government. We have a very strong group of senators serving on …

Lt. Robert Rudelitch, Fire Marshal and Training Coordinator, stated the LFD responded to over 1,200 calls in 2018. He said, “As for 2018, it was the busiest year for the Loris Fire Department with over 1,200 calls requiring emergency services.” The LFD responds to all calls requiring emergency services which include fire, vehicle accidents and medical calls. The report for last year’s responses has not officially been released, though Rudelitch said that report will be available soon. He stated that the Loris Fire Department has responded to a number of fires since Jan. 1, 2019. The LFD volunteer firefighters have …

Loris First Presbyterian Church (LFPC) held its first fish fry fundraiser on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. prepared to feed more than 200 people who prepaid for their tickets and held hope for more to come enjoy a meal for $8 a plate. Early risers gathered to prepare the white fish, fries and green beans. Andy Zink, a member of the church, organized the fundraiser asking volunteers to help batter the fish and fry them up for a great meal. Zink ordered 120 pounds of whiting, 110 pounds of French fries and 160 pounds of green …

Loris High School held their annual Senior Beta Club induction on Friday, Jan. 11, at 8 a.m. Tyneshia Fayall welcomed guests and students to the program. The LHS R.O.T.C. posted the colors and led the Pledge of Allegiance. Five seniors spoke of the Keys to Success, achievement, character, leadership and service. Marie Hemphill, LHS 2019 Teacher of the Year, introduced Korbin Causey, LHS alumnus class of 2012 and vice president of Mortgage Lending at Guaranteed Rate, addressed the students congratulating them for the hard work that it takes to achieve a 3.5 – 4.0 GPA. Dr. Danny McPherson, adviser for …

After the girls lost 57-47 and the boys were beaten 62-48 last Friday at Wilson, the Lady Chiefs and Chiefs teams came roaring back to take two games from Darlington High School at the Chiefs gym on Tuesday evening. In the girls 44-17 win the Lady Chiefs got off to a slow start as Darlington scored the first six points in the game with neither team hitting their shots. North Myrtle Beach finally scored when Jermaisha Griffin hit a jumper at the halfway point of the period. The Lady Chiefs then scored all the points for the remainder of the …

Sharon Lee Agudo, 72, of Loris passed away on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Mrs. Agudo was born in Perth Amboy, N.J., a daughter of the late Charles and Roseann Hull. She was a retired real estate agent and loved arts, crafts, shopping and gambling at casinos. Her family considered her a “Jackie of all trades.” She enjoyed going to the beach and looking for shells as well as fishing and crabbing. Mrs. Agudo loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, doing makeup and many other things. Survivors include her husband of 37 years, Jacinto Reinaldo Agudo; her daughter, Tammy …

James Charles “Jim” High, publisher of The News Reporter in Whiteville for 61 years, died on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, after a brief illness. High became publisher at the age of 25 after the death of publisher and his father-in-law Leslie S. Thompson. High led The News Reporter to become one of the most respected community newspapers in the state. He was a past president of the North Carolina Press Association. He was also a civic leader, heading a number of initiatives to improve schools and recreation facilities, plus created the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences at Whiteville, N.C. He …

Benjamin “Tilly” Tillman Hughes, 87, of Loris passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at home following an illness. Mr. Hughes was born on April 5, 1931, in Loris to the late Jessie Ferd Hughes and the late Augusta Ada Dillard Hughes. He served his country with honor and dignity in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years and was a longtime member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and taught a men’s Sunday school class. Upon retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Hughes was an optician in Loris and Conway. Survivors include his wife …

David James Porter, 60, of Loris passed away on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at McLeod Loris Hospital following an illness. Mr. Porter was born on Sept. 20, 1958, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to the late Murrey Lee Porter and the late Peggy Lou Turner Porter Garn. Mr. Porter was a retired brick mason and an active member of Mt Zion Baptist Church. He started Porter Pool Co. in Myrtle Beach and was a firefighter for several years. He was very active in the church including the church maintenance committee. He helped with the “Tracs” ministry and was the church custodian. He …