Coronavirus

Schools in Horry County Will Install Special Workstations

In an effort to protect students and teachers from COVID-19, Horry County Schools are installing plexiglass workstations.

These new workstations will provide a barrier between students and teachers and potentially diminish the spread of the coronavirus. The South Carolina Department of Education provided Horry County Schools with around $4 million worth of plexiglass for these workstations to be installed.

The installation of the plexiglass workstations will begin on Friday, November 13th at elementary schools in Horry County. Due to their age and the overall importance of in-person learning, officials are eager to get all elementary school students back in the classroom as soon as possible.

Horry County Schools is hoping the installation of these special workstations will help get students back to full five days a week in-person learning. Most of the workstations should be installed in elementary schools by Sunday, November 22nd.

The same plexiglass workstations are also expected to be installed in middle and high schools in the coming weeks.

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Parents Now Able to Request Switch to In-Person Learning In Horry County

At a recent school board meeting, Dr. Rick Maxey, Superintendent of Horry County Schools, announced that parents will soon have the option to transfer students from virtual learning to in-person schooling.

The decision comes after many parents expressed their frustration following the first week of virtual learning, with some parents displeased by the lack of structure and others finding it difficult to support their child while also working full-time themselves.

Many Horry County students are currently operating in a hybrid model. These hybrid models consist of students attending in-person school two days of the week and the rest is conducted virtually.

In an effort to maintain safety and social distancing guidelines within schools, the school district will not be able to grant every request for children to return to traditional in-person learning.

However, Horry County School officials will continue to monitor the case numbers to determine whether or not students are able to return to in-person schooling full-time or if virtual learning needs to be implemented across the board.

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Grand Strand Golf Directors Association Disbands After 30 Years

As a hub for all things golf, the Grand Strand Golf Directors Association has been a part of Myrtle Beach since 1990. Now, 30 years later, it’s time the organization closed its doors. As a pinnacle part of the Myrtle Golf scene, the Grand Strand will be thoroughly missed.

At its peak, the organization had over 200 members, each partaking in monthly golf outings. Over the course of the last few years, the headcount has dwindled to about 50.

“The industry has changed,” said GSGDA member A.J. Gohil, who was also a former president and vice president of the group. “There’s so much happening online. It’s not like it was in the old days where you had 100 hotels and 100 golf directors, one at each hotel. Now you might have one golf director taking care of 10 hotels from their home or a satellite office. There aren’t as many hotel directors, and people are working from all different locations and it’s harder to get them out”

Throughout the years, the organization has established scholarship funds for local students. The amount reaches $2,500 per year with a maximum of four years per student. That isn’t the only charity work the group has participated in. The GSGDA has given 100 + college scholarships and raised over $350,000 throughout its time as an active organization.

While coronavirus has played a role in the ultimate closing of GSGDA, it was the prior years combined that made the decision final. Instead of coming together as a group, many of the Grand Strand golf courses have changed gears and allowed walking in order to practice social distancing. Walkers need only carry their bags or use a pull cart in order to enjoy the 18 holes.

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CCU’s Plan to Return On-Campus

Instead of heading to campus like a typical year at Coastal Carolina University, students will begin their Fall 2020 semesters with online education until at least Sept. 8. After Thanksgiving break, classes will resume online. This decision came as a response to growing coronavirus case numbers in the South Carolina area.

Students have the option to forgo in-person learning for an entirely online semester. This academic plan was announced via a video on Tuesday, July 21. To follow, a 30-day video campaign launch fosters communication between staff and students. In the campaign, the campus safety measures are broken down for viewers.

According to CCU president, David DeCenzo, “the decision to delay in-person instruction for a few weeks provides us with the best scenario to safely resume on-campus operations. Upon our return to campus, it will be essential for all members of Teal Nation to wear face coverings inside buildings, practice physical distancing, and follow the protocols established in our Coastal Comeback Plan to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Those opting for the in-person plan will all be on campus by Sept. 4th at the latest. This optional second move-in allows residents to take their time in deciding what their next move is. Those that opt for a September move-in receive a two-week housing and dining credit incentive.

As of now, a plan for Spring 2021 is being crafted by DeCenzo and other CCU staff members. They will be gradually updating their reopening plans via the Coastal Comeback Plan website.

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Carolina Country Music Fest Postponed Until 2021

Organizers of the 2020 Carolina Country Music Fest made the decision to postpone as of Tuesday, August 11th. The festival is now to be held June 10th, 2021 to June 13th, 2021. While things are now a little less than a year out, CCMF-goers can still get excited about a similar line-up.

Headliners Jake Owen, Luke Combs, Darius Rucker, and Eric Church were originally expected to play in this year’s performances. Each artist is set to join the CCMF fest come 2021. As a response to COVID-19 and the ongoing pandemic restrictions, a festival, in the way we once knew, is unlikely to take place any time in 2020.

The Carolina Country Music Fest has been considering postponement since restrictions on concert venues were enforced early into the pandemic. The massive gatherings make social distancing nearly impossible.

For those holding a CCMF ticket, a refund can be applied regarding their tickets. If they wish to roll over into the next year, incentives are offered. 2020 ticket holders have access to lower pricing for the 2021 concert and early entry into the festival.

For more information regarding CCMF ticket changes and refunds, visit their website.

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Horry County Hospital Occupancy Reaches 72.1%

As Coronavirus case numbers climb across South Carolina, Horry County hospitals reach an occupancy of 72.1%. S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control announced 1,666 new confirmed cases throughout the state, 78 of them being in Horry County.

With 561 hospital beds in Horry County, over 400 of those remain to be occupied by patients infected by COVID-19. As case numbers climb, it’s projected they’ll continue to fill with those who have contracted the virus.

For now, elective surgeries have since been placed on hold as a means of saving bed space. “Our administrative team will continue to assess the situation to determine when we will resume elective surgeries,” said Conway Medical Center’s (CMC) Media Relations Strategist Allyson Floyd.

Visitors are still unallowed for patients in the CMC hospital with an exception for those in end-of-life circumstances. As of now, the hospital has yet to announce its future course of action regarding elective surgeries.

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Myrtle Beach Private Schools Plan To Reopen Next Month

While the Horry County public schools have opted for a September start, there are a few private schools that will be opening their doors come next month. Specifically, the Ascent Christian Academy in North Myrtle Beach will have in-person classes beginning August 17th. It seems traditional learning, with a few tweaks, will commence.

Precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 are being put in place. Students and teachers will practice social distancing in common areas, as well as several hand sanitizer stations placed around the school. Water fountains will not be available for use.

“We’ve done so well with our preschool in keeping it safe and sanitized that I feel very confident opening back up August 17,” said Ann Black, the Ascent Christian Academy founder in reference to summer care programs.

The main reason Ascent Christian Academy feels comfortable opening is due to its small amount of attendees. With only 35 students and 10 staff members, parents feel more comfortable sending their kids to the classroom.

Because masks are not required, parents have the option to select online learning for their kids if they’re concerned. Students that are exposed will enter a mandatory quarantine for two weeks.

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Myrtle Beach Speedway Announces Summer Schedule

In May of 2020, the Myrtle Beach Speedway announced they planned to close until further notice. Due to COVID-19, the speedway had concerns for the safety of employees and guests. They’ve since re-opened their doors and rolled out a new summer schedule.

The outdoor facility has several safety precautions in place adhering to the sanitation standards recommended by the CDC. All guests are asked to practice social distancing. Surfaces are disinfected continuously and they assure that those employees working are healthy.

Each week, the speedway fills with vintage cars, chargers, and more. Each week starts a new theme for guests to participate in. Advanced car registration and tickets are for sale online.

Also, a part of the summer schedule is the MB NATIONALS Summer Heat from July 23rd – 25th. This heat is the self-proclaimed “biggest and baddest truck and car show in Myrtle Beach, SC.” Vehicle registration begins at $50 and spectator tickets start at $20. It appears this summer won’t be a bummer for speedway fans. For more information regarding coronavirus guidelines, visit the official website of the Myrtle Beach Speedway.