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

On Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, at 1 p.m., North Myrtle Beach police and fire personnel visited the home of six-year-old Bryson Jones, who lives with his family at 4690 Little River Neck Road. Bryson had a heart transplant in June 2018 and he is a few months shy of being cleared by his doctor to go to Disney World to fulfill one of his wishes. The Make-A-Wish® Foundation is fulfilling this wish for Bryson. Additionally, the Make-A-Wish® Foundation has also learned that Bryson loves the North Myrtle Beach police officers and firefighters. He wants to have North Myrtle Beach police …

The North Myrtle Beach Chamber Foundation presented a check for $1,500 to the Horry Georgetown Technical College Foundation for their Student Emergency Fund. The money will be used for students who may be on a scholarship but cannot afford the books for their classes.

Patricia Snyder and her sister Betsy Prince are close as they have worked together for 14 years and play together. It all began with an annoying cough, preliminary diagnosis was bronchitis. When she began coughing so hard and saw fresh blood, Prince accompanied her sister to the doctor and insisted that he order an X-ray of Snyder’s chest. Prince also stated that she was rubbing her sister’s back when she felt a large lump and was concerned. The doctor immediately referred Snyder to an oncologist. After a thorough examination by Dr. Stewart Sharp, an oncologist in Little River, Snyder was …

A social media post with threats of a ‘killing spree’ naming five Horry County high schools was brought to the attention of the district office who took immediate action following protocol. The district posted to their Facebook page and each individual school Facebook page that they were aware of the threat on Wednesday evening, Dec. 19. The four named schools were Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Green Sea Floyds and Loris. The Snapchat post by a person called “Kevin Gates” stated that the Ku Klux Klan would be going on a killing spree warning students, “so tell you’re people don’t go!!!!!!” …

Crescent Moon Land Surveying, Inc. (CMLSI) invited the community to a pig pickin’ on Friday, Dec. 21, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at their new location at 645 Hwy. 701 S. in Loris. Barry Suggs, president and owner, invited businesses and individuals to have lunch under the tent in the parking lot to show his appreciation to the community for their support. Crescent Moon is not only a business with employees who earn a paycheck each week; they share a family atmosphere of dedication and respect. Suggs said, “We are a diverse company and we work mostly in land …

The fire at Barefoot Landing occurred on Friday, Dec. 21, and firefighters were dispatched at 11:30 p.m. When fire crews arrived on the scene, the two-story building was already fully involved, winds were intense, and firefighters worked hard and successfully to ensure that the fire did not spread to other structures in Barefoot Landing. This was a three alarm fire and involved firefighters from North Myrtle Beach, Horry County, Myrtle Beach and Calabash. Overall there were 10 apparatus on the scene and two medic units working. Although structurally the Barefoot General Store at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach is …

The Driftwood Garden Club continued its time-honored tradition of planting trees on Arbor Day in cooperation with the North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Department. Driftwood added a special twist to this Arbor Day by also dedicating its newest Blue Star Memorial Marker adorned by the new trees and garden bed. The Memorial Marker and two white Natchez Crape Myrtle trees were planted along with various shrubs and flowering plants at the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex adjacent to the Veterans Memorial. This was Driftwood’s eighth Blue Star Memorial Marker; the markers honor the men and women of …

Susan Pearson Branton, 56, of Conway passed away on Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, following an illness. Mrs. Branton was born on Aug. 19, 1962, in Arlington, Va., to the late James Ellis Ferguson and the late Christa Helena Collins Ferguson. Mrs. Branton was a truck driver with the CB handle, “Blondie”, for over 40 years. Survivors include her husband, James H. Branton of Loris; step-son, Joshua James Branton of Conway and many aunts, uncles and family in Virginia. Visitation was held on Wednesday, Dec. 19, from 6 until 8 p.m. at Hardwick Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at 2 …

Betty L. Batten, 70, of Little River passed away on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. She was born on July 26, 1948, in Wilmington, N.C., the daughter of the late Paul C. and Lula White Batten. Betty graduated from Myrtle Beach High School and Columbia Business College. She retired from the Horry County School System as a teacher’s assistant to special needs children. Surviving are her children, James D. “Dusty” Batten and wife Melissa, Jenny Lynn Suggs and husband Philip, her brother, Paul C. “Cameron” Batten Jr. and wife Marsha, and six grandchildren, Austin, Brady, Abigail, Taylor, James and Preston. Also …