Coastal Observer

Safety: Midway firefighters make smoke detectors part of their routine

Bill Collins was at a brush fire on Waverly Road recently. But his work didn’t end when the fire was out. He was headed back this week to install smoke detectors for the homeowner....
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THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Pawleys Island: Town will reach across the water for ideas about preserving creek

The town of Pawleys Island is ready to take another look at Pawleys Creek. “We’ve got to decide if the issue is the creek filling in or is it the health of the creek,”...
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Tourism: Council restores funds to fire district safety projects

Projects to increase safety on the water and during motorcycle rallies in Murrells Inlet will get full funding after Georgetown County Council rejected cuts proposed by an advisory committee. The money from the state’s...
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Murrells Inlet: Plan to upgrade boat landing brings call for more dock space

Georgetown County’s plans for a $1.5 million renovation of the Murrells Inlet Public Landing to go along with the realignment of the access road were stopped dead in the water by state lawmakers who...
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Pawleys Island: Town approves design for new beach house next to historic home

A new home that drew inspiration from the 1940s beach house that it will replace won approval from the Pawleys Island Architectural Review Board, but still drew criticism for bringing a modern look to...
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Litchfield Beach: Rezoning of former water plant site prompts second suit from neighbors

Two property owners at Litchfield Beach who went to court to challenge a zoning change in their neighborhood filed a second suit this week against their community association claiming it failed in its duties...
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Pawleys Island: Damaged in 2022, replacement pier not expected until late 2026

Work to replace the Pawleys Pier that was damaged in 2022 by Hurricane Ian isn’t expected to start until after the 2025 tourist season. And it isn’t expected to be completed until the end...
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Education: District cellphone ban has positive impact, principals tell board

Since the Georgetown County School District started restricting the use of personal electronic devices at the start of the school year, only 200 students have faced disciplinary action. “That’s pretty good, I would say,...
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Pawleys Island: Town continues to look for ways to preserve older homes

As the town of Pawleys Island looks for ways to preserve its traditional beach houses, there is a growing concern that the town’s own rules are driving new buyers to tear down old houses. ...
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Environment: Iconic bird no longer endangered, but not out of the woods

A small bird that has a big impact on land use decisions on the Waccamaw Neck came of the federal list of endangered species this week. The red-cockaded woodpecker is no longer facing extinction,...
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Traditions: Food pantry hands out 260 turkeys in 55 minutes

The volunteers were due at 7:30 to get ready for the 9 a.m. distribution of Thanksgiving turkeys. There were already people waiting. One resident of the rural Sampit community said he left the house...
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Georgetown: Harbor dredging expected in 2026 after environmental study

Work is moving forward on a plan to dredge the Georgetown harbor, although the actual work to deepen the channel is still more than a year away. “To get to the dredging, we’ve got...
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THE WEEK’S FEATURED STORIES

Roads: Region’s top transportation planner reaches the end of the road

There are new roads and bridges. There are wider roads. There are overpasses and intersections that were reworked to take the kinks out of local traffic. Mark Hoeweler had a hand in all of...
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BUSINESS NEWS

Observer staff wins 15 state press awards

The Coastal Observer staff received 15 awards for reporting, writing, photography and design, in the S.C. Press Association’s annual news contest. The paper won first place for General Excellence among the state’s medium-sized weeklies....
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LOCAL EVENTS

Meetings

Georgetown County Board of Education: First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Beck Education Center. For details, go to gcsd.k12.sc.us . Georgetown County Council: Second and fourth Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers, 129 Screven St., Georgetown. For details, go to georgetowncountysc.org. Pawleys Island Town Council: Second Mondays, 5 p.m. Town Hall, 323 Myrtle Ave. For details, go to townofpawleysisland.com. , .

COASTAL OBSERVER