North Myrtle Beach

By Ruben Lowman The Horry County Council is signaling a major shift in how the area funds its infrastructure as councilmembers recently moved to approve a new sliding scale for impact fees on new residential construction. During annual budget discussions held on Wednesday, April 1, the council debated how to ensure that the rapid expansion across the county pays for the services it requires without overburdening existing taxpayers. Since the original fees were established in late 2021, the county has successfully funneled over $40 million into capital improvements, including fire stations and public park facilities. However as development continues to …

By Ruben Lowman Horry County leaders are moving forward with a new ordinance designed to regulate the use of electric scooters and other personal power-driven mobility devices in unincorporated areas throughout the county. The proposal, which was discussed during a County Council transportation committee meeting last Tuesday, March 24, aims to address a growing number of safety complaints from residents in high-traffic neighborhoods. The draft ordinance is closely modeled after rules adopted by the city of Myrtle Beach last year, which were implemented following a spike in collisions and safety incidents involving scooters and similar motorized vehicles. Under the proposed …

By Erin Graham Destination North Myrtle Beach proudly celebrated the community’s outstanding businesses, leaders and first responders at the Seaside Soirée Business Awards held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 21 Main Event. The evening brought together nominees and business professionals from a wide variety of industries to recognize excellence, leadership, service and community impact across North Myrtle Beach. The event was emceed by Adam Dellinger of iHeart Radio, host of the Gator 107.9 Morning Show. A special moment of the evening was the presentation of the Valor Awards, given by Mayor J Baldwin, honoring North Myrtle Beach Police and …

The City of North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation will hold the 44th Annual North Myrtle Beach Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, 2026, at McLean Park. Families are invited to bring their baskets and enjoy a morning of fun as thousands of eggs are scattered throughout the park for children of all ages to collect. The Easter Egg Hunt will be held at McLean Park located at 93 Oak Drive in the Ocean Drive section. Start time is 10 a.m. and the event is free for all attendees. Parking is limited. Be sure to arrive early to grab …

By Ruben Lowman Local public transportation throughout Horry County is set for a significant transformation as Coast RTA prepares to implement a series of major route changes and infrastructure upgrades. Coast RTA CEO Brian Piascik recently presented “Phase One” of the transit agency’s modernization plan to the Horry County Council transportation committee, highlighting a strategic shift toward increasing ridership and reducing wait times, according to officials. Central to these changes is the addition of three new buses to the fleet, which will allow the agency to reduce frequency times from the current 75 minutes down to a more manageable 60 …

By Sarah Thomas Over the past fifteen years, North Strand Community Home has greatly benefited from the thoughtful support, kindness and professionalism of the North Myrtle Beach Police Department. The officers regularly assist our vulnerable neighbors, bringing homeless individuals to us during Code Blue situations (extreme winter weather), as well as throughout the year whenever they find someone in need. Most recently, two North Myrtle Beach police officers brought a disabled person who had been living in his truck for almost a year. We were able to offer him temporary shelter, and with the help of one dedicated volunteer, he …

By Ruben Lowman The Horry County Council took a decisive step toward enhancing public safety in the northern end of the county by approving the initial funding for a new state-of-the-art EMS station in the Windy Hill section of North Myrtle Beach. During their meeting last month, county councilmembers gave second reading approval to an ordinance that authorizes the issuance of up to $5 million in general obligation bonds to fund the new station for first responders. These funds are earmarked for the entire lifecycle of the project, covering everything from land acquisition and architectural design to the actual construction …

By Carol Kurtz This Easter season, civic organizations across the North Myrtle Beach and Little River area came together in a powerful display of unity, compassion and service proving once again that when a need arises, this community answers the call. When it was shared that Easter baskets were needed for children at the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina in Lake Waccamaw (about 50 minutes away), local civic clubs quickly mobilized. The Kiwanis Club of North Myrtle Beach and Little River, Lions Club of North Myrtle Beach, North Strand Optimist Club, and the Rotary Club of Little River …

By D.G. Schumacher Little River resident Diane Billard is Rotary International District 7770 Rotarian of the Year. District 7770 includes several clubs in Horry County and Billard is assistant governor for four of the clubs. Billard’s award was announced at the annual district conference March 20-22 in Charleston, where more than $7,000 was raised in Billard’s name for Rotarians Against Trafficking Humans. District Governor Sandy Morckel said the award is “so well deserved for going above and beyond throughout this past year in countless ways for your Club, Area 11, the Grand Strand, our District and your District Governor [Morckel]. …

By Ruben Lowman The North Myrtle Beach City Council held a specially-called workshop last Thursday, March 25, to address the logistical challenges surrounding the proposed relocation of the Chick-fil-A within Gator Hole Plaza in the Ocean Drive section. The popular fast-food chain is seeking to move from its current constrained location in the plaza to the larger site of a former T.G.I. Fridays, which has sat vacant since October 2024. While the move would allow for increased square footage and more parking spaces, city leaders have said they remain cautious about the potential for the new site to exacerbate existing …