Coastal Observer

Land use: Golf course rezonings advance with pledge for future tweaks

A zoning change for two area golf courses moved forward last week with amendments that will further restrict future development if the courses close. Georgetown County Council Member Bob Anderson said there could be...
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THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Georgetown: Cleanup costs drive redevelopment plans for paper mill site

The cost of cleaning up contamination from 90 years of paper making is driving the deal to redevelop the International Paper Co. mill in Georgetown as an industrial site, according to a lawyer working...
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Environment: Search for answers follows rare swim advisories for beaches

Officials are trying to determine what triggered spikes in bacteria levels in ocean water that prompted the state to issue swim advisories for portions of Pawleys Island and DeBordieu over the weekend. The Department...
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Georgetown: Talk of biomass plant leaves neighbors with questions

Residents who lived for years wrapped in fumes from the International Paper Co. mill in Georgetown say they are wary of plans for generating power from biomass on the site where the production of...
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Nonprofits: Bunnelle Foundation’s founding director steps down after 21 years

It took Geales Sands nearly 21 years to figure out what the hardest thing is about the job of being the executive director of the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation. Leaving it. “I love this...
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Land use: Appeals court judge questions flurry of lawsuits

The first of three lawsuits over land use issues that were dismissed by Circuit Court judges came before the state Court of Appeals this week. It wasn’t lost on the judges that more are...
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Land use: Golf course rezonings move ahead with rebuke to citizens group

By Charles Swenson coastal observer Georgetown County Council voted this week to prevent development of two area golf courses under their current zoning while a zoning change that will limit what can be built...
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Legislature: Lawmakers create an exemption that state agency had denied

State legislators last week gave Georgetown County a break from a flood regulation that a state agency was unwilling to grant. Without a change to the state law, the county would have to enforce...
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Georgetown: Competing interests in mills fuel debate on city waterfront’s future

The city of Georgetown issued a demolition permit this week for the steel mill that has anchored its waterfront since 1969. What will go up in its place depends on what happens on the...
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Elections: District 6 school board vacancy sparks three-way race

A retired educator and a former television newsman have joined an attorney in the race for the vacant District 6 seat on the Georgetown County School Board. Jon Tester retired four years ago as...
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Recreation: Project helps maintain access as bike path grows

There are no signs that designate the 13 parking spaces at the south end of Business 17 for bike path users, but Dennis and Alcione Brecka thought they would give it a try. “It’s...
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Education: Charter school looks for funds to close budget gap

The Coastal Montessori Charter School board is scouring its finances to figure out how to offset an expected $102,699 deficit in the upcoming budget. Chairman Rick Richardson wants the board’s finance committee to take...
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THE WEEK’S FEATURED STORIES

Georgetown: Environmental groups offer support to residents in fight over biomass plant

Of the two dozen people who showed up for a meeting to talk about a proposed biomass energy plant in Georgetown, five were from conservation groups. Another five were reporters. The rest were fewer...
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BUSINESS NEWS

Observer staff earns top honors in news contest

Coastal Observer staff won 20 awards for writing, photography and design – including the President’s Cup for excellence among mid-sized weeklies – in the S.C. Press Associatioin’s annual news contest. It was the 10th...
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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