News

Myrtle Beach Pelicans Will Not Play Their 22nd Season

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans recently released a statement explaining that their 2020 season will be foregone due to COVID-19. Many minor league teams have also officially shelved this year’s season. No sector of the sporting industry remains untouched by Coronavirus, but the Pelicans are hopeful of their 2021 plans.

“These are unprecedented times for our country and our organization as this is the first time in our history that we’ve had a summer without Minor League Baseball played,” Minor League Baseball President and CEO Pat O’Conner explained. Out of concern for safety, the option to cancel this year’s season was a necessity.

“We work throughout the year in anticipation of opening our gates to fans from near and far for unforgettable nights with friends old and new. We miss the smiling faces, shared experiences, and the all-inclusive sense of community the Pelicans and Minor League Baseball stands for,” the head of the Pelicans said in a press release.

Fans with season tickets can expect contact from the Pelicans Staff regarding their next step. For now, the Pelicans are gearing toward an unforgettable 2021 season.

News

Coastal Carolina University’s Mandatory Furlough Plan Approved

Recently approved by the Division of State Human Resources, Coastal Carolina University is set to enforce a mandatory furlough plan. This comes as a response to COVID-19 affecting all businesses, including the education sphere.

What this means for the CCU is that staff and faculty members making over $35,751 or more a year are required to take 20 unpaid workdays off during the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Those making below are exempt from the furlough plan. The DSHR mandates that in this case, furlough days can be spread out over the year or taken consecutively for the month of July only.

As of May 2020, Gov. Henry McMaster signed a resolution that qualified state-institutions to seek furloughs but capped the number of maximum working days to 20. There won’t be any unexpected changes regarding this furlough plan in the near future.

CCU plans to continue finding ways to efficiently fulfill budget cuts while evaluating saving measures. This “includes the possibility of not hiring new positions and not retiring vacant positions.”

News

A Surge in COVID-19 Cases Results in United Airlines Suspending Flights

Last week United Airlines announced they will be suspending service to Myrtle Beach due to the recent spike in coronavirus cases. This is set to be enforced starting July 6th. Over the course of May and June, Myrtle Beach saw a surge of visitors, likely due to the change in weather. Passenger counts were up over 400% since the previous month. While this would normally be a good thing for the coastal town, it now means having to close their doors for the second wave of coronavirus.

Myrtle Beach is reporting single-day numbers of 133 new cases. The city isn’t alone, as South Carolina has seen spikes in all major cities.

United Airlines’ decision comes in accordance with the CARES Act grant, which facilitates employees to be paid through Sept. 30. The airline claims they will be returning service for the spring and summer of 2021 so long as there’s demand.

The Horry County Department is keeping a close eye as they monitor these changes. As for now, United Airlines won’t be an option for folks looking for a Myrtle Beach getaway. Your best bet for hitting the beach this summer might be by road trip.

Featured

South Carolina State Senator Luke Rankin To Face Off Against Gallman In Runoff

South Carolina Senator Luke Rankin is heading to a runoff for the Republican nomination against John Gallman for District 33.

Rankin, who failed to walk away with more than 50% of the vote on the June 9 primary election, has been serving in the senate since 1993; however, his support for the gas tax and Santee Cooper has been a complaint of his opponent and some voters in his district.

Gallman, who is a conservative favorite, ended up with 35% of the votes, just 4% behind Rankin’s 39%.

Now the two will face off on June 23.

The winner of this election will win the Republican nomination and become the Republican candidate for the District 33 seat.

To find your polling location or find more information voting, visit SCVotes.

District 33 – Serves part of Horry County

Candidates:

Featured

Ways to Support the Black Lives Matter Movement in Myrtle Beach

Across the globe, peaceful protests have taken place in support of the Black Lives Matter Movement. Myrtle Beach is no exception. Hundreds of locals gathered in Grand Park at The Market Common to speak out against injustice for the death of George Floyd. Officials, including Mayor Brenda Bethune and Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock, joined organizers at the Sunday afternoon event.

If you were unable to safely join protesters, there are still many options for how to get involved. You can directly donate to the cause using the Black Lives Matter online forum. In order to directly support the Myrtle Beach Black community, Travel Noire has adopted a list of Black-owned restaurants you can directly support.

Alongside the Food and Bev industry, there are many ways to support the movement. By sharing content from Black creators and educating yourself using online resources, you can help fight racial injustice. The easiest being signing petitions that call against systematic racism.

There are many ways to get involved globally and locally. We urge you to join as we fight to dismantle the injustice instilled against the Black community.

Featured

What You Need To Know Before Voting On June 9

The South Carolina primary election is on June 9, 2020, and it’s more important than ever that you use your voice and vote.

The June 9 primary election will determine the democrat or republican candidates that will then move on to the general election on November 3, 2020.

If you’re confused about what you’re voting for, who to vote for, or where to even start, we’re here to help.

First, make sure you’re registered to vote. Once you’re registered, there are three different ways to vote:

Request absentee ballot and mail it in. For the ballot to count, the voter registration office must receive it no later than 7:00 pm on June 9.
Request absentee ballot and drop it off in person. You can do this up until 5 pm on June 8.
Vote on June 9 in person. You can check your polling place at SC Votes.

What positions will you be voting for on June 9?

Depending on your county, you will be voting for:

State House of Representatives
U.S. House of Representatives
State Senate
U.S. Senate
County Council
Coroner
Sheriff

Your elected officials will be the people who represent your interests on issues such as education, law enforcement, medical marijuana, Santee Cooper, offshore drilling, and many others at the local, state, and federal levels of government.

To find out who you can vote for in your district, you can visit Ballotpedia for a sample ballot or find what district you’re in using the maps below and search the list below to see State House Representative candidates and State Senate candidates in your district.

South Carolina House of Representatives By District

District 57 – Serves part of Horry County

Candidates:

District 68 – Serves part of Horry County

Candidates:

District 105 – Serves part of Horry County

Candidates:

District 107 – Serves part of Horry County

Candidates:

South Carolina Senate By Districts

District 30 – Serves part of Horry County

Candidates:

District 32 – Serves parts of Georgetown and Horry County

Candidates:

District 33 – Serves part of Horry County

Candidates:

News

Free Coronavirus Testing Coming to Horry County

The wait is over for those seeking a free coronavirus test. Several clinics are popping up around Horry County to offer large-scale community testing. Without any pre-screening required, participants need only drive up in their car and remain there throughout the process. This ensures the safety of health care workers and those seeking testing. Tests are administered by the use of a 6-inch nasal cotton swab.

With a plethora of locales, free coronavirus testing is closer than it seems. The folks at Tidelands Health compiled a list of each drive-thru testing stations and their confirmed dates and locations.

Saturday, May 30, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Myrtle Beach Pelicans Stadium, 1251 21st Avenue North, Myrtle Beach
Thursday, June 4, 1-4 p.m., Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Holmestown Road, 4320 Holmestown Road, Myrtle Beach
Friday, June 5, 2-6 p.m., Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital, 606 Black River Road, Georgetown
Thursday, June 11, 1-4 p.m., Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Holmestown Road, 4320 Holmestown Road, Myrtle Beach
Wednesday, June 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Belin United Methodist Church, 4182 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet
Wednesday, June 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tidelands Health Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliate of Encompass Health, 100 Water Grande Blvd., Little River
Thursday, June 25, 1-4 p.m., Tidelands Health Family Medicine at Holmestown Road, Myrtle Beach
Friday, June 26, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Coastal Carolina University, 100 Chanticleer Drive, Conway

News

Horry County Lifts State of Emergency

Horry County Council voted Wednesday morning to end its state of emergency during the coronavirus pandemic, despite extended emergency orders from other local governments. A variety of businesses will be allowed to reopen as a result, despite their previous status as “nonessential.”

Included in this are home furnishing stores, gyms, pools, hair salons, and private zoos, joining businesses that were allowed to open last Monday with social distancing measures. Out of over 500 businesses that applied to reopen under South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster’s updated coronavirus emergency orders, nearly 90 percent of them were given essential status.

MyrtleBeachOnline reports that most applications were submitted in early April before emergency orders started to be rescinded, and before the gradual reopening of businesses in the past week.

“The goal was/is to keep as many businesses open that are able to safely do so. In general, if a retail operation remained open, that business was likely providing products deemed essential,” Commerce Spokesperson Alex Clark wrote in an email.

Positive cases of the coronavirus in Horry County have reached 269, with 18 virus-related deaths since mid-March, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Last week alone the county had 36 newly announced cases.