Coastal Observer

Planning: Long-delayed natural resources plan emerges from ‘mire of impropriety’

Everyone agrees there was something improper about the natural resources element of Georgetown County’s comprehensive plan. “The extent of strikes and inserts in the revised draft creates something that is no longer the Planning...
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THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Pawleys Island: Sandbags placed at Prince George as inlet migration erodes dune

Sandbags now line the beach at Prince George where Pawleys Inlet has continued its southern migration as property owners and the town of Pawleys Island continue negotiations to relocate the inlet. “Emergency conditions have...
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Land use: Foes of rezoning see ‘chilling effect’ in counterclaims

Neighbors who oppose the rezoning of property on Pawleys Creek for a residential development have asked the Circuit Court to dismiss claims by the developer that they conspired with a citizens group to block...
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Environment: Commission wants to review changes to natural resources plan

An update to Georgetown County’s plan for natural resources drafted nearly two years ago won’t be adopted until early next year at the earliest after a mistake on the County Council agenda delayed action...
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Education: A product of Georgetown County schools is set to lead them

Bethany Giles took over as interim superintendent of Georgetown County Schools on July 1, but she stayed in her assistant superintendent office while the school board went through the process of looking for a...
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Pawleys Island: ARB turns down design for house in preservation agreement

The design for a beach house that would replace a house from the 1940s in the Pawleys Island historic district was denied by the town’s Architectural Review Board after members said it wasn’t compatible...
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Environment: Living shoreline comes to life on Winyah Bay

Three years after the planning for a living shoreline at the head of Winyah Bay started, installation has begun. “It’s a great area and it is massively eroding,” said Liz Fly, director of resilience...
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Land use: Dark clouds of opposition gather over proposed solar farm

An investment firm has delayed its request for approval for Georgetown County’s second large-scale solar farm in the face of opposition from residents and property owners in the Plantersville community. Sunrise Renewables is seeking...
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Education: Superintendent finalists share goals with public

Nearly 100 people stopped by the Georgetown County School District office on Tuesday to hear from the four educators who want to be the next superintendent. Bethany Giles, Gregory Hall, Glenda Sheffield and William...
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Sales tax: In all-or-nothing vote, road project draws critics

Proponents of raising the sales tax in Georgetown County to fund capital improvements realize that the 22 projects on the priority list won’t appeal to everyone. But if there’s a project they really don’t...
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Education: District casting a wide net to address bullying in schools

When it comes to combatting bullying in schools, it takes everybody: students, administrators, teachers, parents, counselors, school staff and bus drivers. “It’s not just one person. Regardless of your credentials you cannot do it...
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Land use: County moves to cut top residential density to 5 units an acre

A plan to cut the top residential density allowed by Georgetown County’s zoning ordinance from 16 to 12 units an acre was postponed this week. The county is now on track to cut the...
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THE WEEK’S FEATURED STORIES

Tourism: Firm will use phone data to track county visitor numbers

A firm that works with top U.S. retailers will start providing data to the Chamber of Commerce to help figure out just how many people visit Georgetown County. Every year the chamber gets the...
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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