Coastal Observer

Murrells Inlet: Garden on small lot blooms with 20 years of work and love

To hear Cathy Smith talk, you would think her interest in gardening grew out of nowhere – just like a bad weed. “I really have no idea where my interest in gardening came from,” Smith...
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THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Environment: State imports NC oyster shells to build up Murrells Inlet reefs

Approximately 7,500 bushels of oyster shells were added to nine reefs off Murrells Inlet during the last week. The project, led by Michael Hodges, was part of state Department of Natural Resources oyster recycling...
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Environment: State cites ‘significant’ risks to fish in rebuffing seismic tests

The seismic tests used to locate potential sources of offshore oil and gas “pose an undetermined but significant risk” to the state’s fisheries, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, which...
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Pawleys Island: Corps cost-benefit study clouds beach project

The Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the cost-benefit ratio of a Pawleys Island beach renourishment project, raising concern among town officials that the project will be delayed another year. “Everything is pretty much...
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Environment: Simulation leads to call for task force on flooding

The citizens of Riverway County have spoken. They are concerned about increased flooding from a changing climate and are looking to local government to help prepare. “We see a unified vision,” Maeve Snyder said....
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Traditions: A century on the creekfront

A lot of things have changed in Murrells Inlet in the last 100 years. But at least four things have not: descendants of the families that owned property along the creek near Belin Memorial...
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Traditions: Ben Marlow knows how to put on a show for the Fourth of July

People usually want to know what it costs. Ben Marlow won’t say. “It’s best left a secret,” he said. It’s enough to know that the fireworks that will dance across the night sky above...
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Safety: Council says other needs top emergency vehicle signal system

Proponents of a system that would give fire trucks and ambulances priority at traffic signals waited three months to hear from Georgetown County Council about a the plan they first pitched in March. “We...
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Environment: Sea turtle nesting rebounds to record levels

After a historically low nesting season in 2018, sea turtles have returned to the South Carolina coast in droves. There have been more than 200 nests this year from North Inlet to North Myrtle...
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Education: Ex-Waccamaw administrators now assistant superintendents

Nine Georgetown County School District staff members and principals woke up Wednesday morning with new job titles, and some with new responsibilities. According to Superintendent Randy Dozier, the district is not through shifting people...
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Education: Preservation brings new uses to old building

George Weathers used to arrive at school at 8:30 a.m. and say the Lord’s prayer at the first bell. There were two classroom with four or five rows of chairs: first grade through fourth...
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THE WEEK’S FEATURED STORIES

Murrells Inlet: Lawmakers and board still at odds over fire tax increase

Voters in Murrells Inlet and Garden City will go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether they and their neighbors should pay more for fire and EMS services. The Murrells Inlet-Garden City Fire District...
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BUSINESS NEWS

LOCAL EVENTS

Meetings

Georgetown County Zoning Board of Appeals: July 11, 5:30 p.m., County Council chambers.

Georgetown County Democrats: July 11, 6 p.m., 149 King St., Georgetown.

Georgetown County Water and Sewer District: July 11, 6 p.m., Pawleys Island office.

Pawleys Island Town Council: July 15, 5 p.m., Town Hall.

Georgetown County Tourism Commission: July 18, 3:30 p.m., Lachicotte Co. office

Georgetown County Planning Commission: July 18, 5:30 p.m., County Council chambers.

Georgetown County Library Board: July 18, 5:30 p.m., Georgetown Library.

Georgetown County Council: July 23, 5:30 p.m., council chambers.

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COASTAL OBSERVER