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

By Annie Rigby Horry County Schools (HCS) will open to students on Tuesday, Sept. 8, with the main goal to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all students and staff with instruction delivered in the most effective way. Students were provided two choices to attend school. Option one is for face-to-face in school learning and option two is to attend online classes. The online instruction has limited subject choices and has been suggested that the student follow up with their guidance counselor for assistance. HCS created the HCS Re-Opening Task Force and formulated a comprehensive plan utilizing the …

By Annie Rigby Elementary and Middle schools across Horry County opened for the LEAP Days program from Thursday, Aug. 20, to Wednesday, Aug. 26, for the five day assessment Learn, Evaluate, Analyze and Prepare program (LEAP). This includes Loris Elementary, Daisy Elementary and Loris Middle School. Daisy Elementary began the school year with Leap Days welcoming students to the classrooms on Thursday, Aug. 20. Josh Todd, principal, and Sandy Carland, assistant principal, created an instructional information video to help parents and students understand what to expect as school begins each day at 7:30 a.m. The video can be viewed on …

By Pat Dowling The North Myrtle Beach City Council met on Aug. 17 at City Hall for a 6:30 p.m. executive session and a 7 p.m. meeting. During the executive session, City Council discussed the appointment of three new members to the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee and received a legal briefing regarding the lawsuit between the City of Myrtle Beach and Horry County concerning local accommodations and hospitality taxes. City Council took no action. During the meeting, Coast RTA General Manager/CEO Brian Piascik offered City Council an overview of the company’s status. He said that Coast RTA ridership increased by …

McLeod Health Seacoast and McLeod Health Loris have received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Award as well as the Get With The Guidelines®- Stroke Bronze. The Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Silver Plus Award recognizes each hospitals commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines based on the latest scientific evidence. McLeod Health Seacoast and McLeod Health Loris earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include …

By Annie Rigby The Loris Police Department (LPD) held their participation in the National Night Out event on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Fox Bay community beginning at 329 Ross Road and walked through the neighborhood. Lt. Larry Williams said, “This is a community building campaign that forms police and community partnerships to show support both ways.” Williams stated every agency chooses how they celebrate the program to say, “We are here for you and how can we make your lives a little easier, safer and vice versa”. He said, “Before the coronavirus we were able to …

Ruth Gladys Davis Bell, 78, of Loris passed away on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. Mrs. Bell was born in December 1941 in Loris to the late Reverend Arthur Hubert Davis and the late Gladys Tyler Davis. She worked as a branch manager for People’s Federal and Horry County State Bank until her retirement of forty-five years. She was also a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.Survivors include her son, Dennis Bell of Florida; two daughters, Anita B. Powell and Chantal B. Thomas, both of Loris; two granddaughters, Cori Bell and Alexa Thomas, both of Loris; one brother, Harry Davis and …

Gus Junior Page Jr, 82, of Loris passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, at his home. Mr. Page was born on Sept 6, 1937, in Mullins. To the late Gus Junior Page Sr. and the late Nellie Elliott Page Smith. He served his country with honor, courage and distinction in the United States Army. Mr. Page worked as a farmer for the majority of his life and retired as a security guard for the Academy of Technology and Academics. He was a longtime member and deacon of Lake Swamp Baptist Church and will be missed dearly. Mr. Page was …

Jeffery “Jeff” Grainger, 63, of North Myrtle Beach passed away on Monday, July 27, 2020.Jeff was born on September 24, 1956 in Florence, a son of Louise Buffkin Grainger and the late Harold Jackson Grainger. He was employed by Mavis Tire and loved horses. Jeff never met a stranger and had a very outgoing personality.Surviving in addition to his mother of Conway are; his companion, Sandra Watts of North Myrtle Beach; one daughter, Jeffriann Cauthen (Robert) of Raleigh, N.C.; one step-son, Derick Watts (Lacey) of Loris; one step-daughter, Danna Watts of Tabor City, N.C.; two step-grandchildren, Ellah Watts and Aubrey …

Gratton “Vic” Gillispie Jr. of North Myrtle Beach died on Wednesday, July 29, 2020 at North Strand Emergency Center.Born on March 6, 1943, in Danville, Va, he was the son of Jessie Robertson Gillispie and the late Gratton V. Gillispie Sr.Other than his mother, Vic is survived by his sisters, Donna Shelton and Carolyn Coker, both of North Myrtle Beach.He is predeceased by his wife, Barbara.The family received friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, in Lee Funeral Home Chapel.Due to COVID-19 restrictions, wearing a face mask and social distancing was required.A guest book is available at …

John Ellwyn Gaar, 76, of Myrtle Beach died on Monday, July 27, 2020, at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach.Born on Jan. 12, 1944, in Morrison, Ill., he was the son of the late Paul and Demarris Legel Gaar.John served his country proudly in the U.S. Navy. He was the founder and former owner of J & K Home Furnishings.John is survived by his children, Tamela Simpson, Robin Mahacek and Nichole Meier; and long-time companion, Sherry L. Grimes.Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Friday, July 31, at Living Water Baptist Church. The family received friends for …