Coastal Observer

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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THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

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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Education: School board elects Keith Moore as chairman

The Georgetown County School Board got a new chairman and three new members this week. Keith Moore from District 7 was unanimously elected chairman. Moore thanked the board for their “confidence” in him. “It’s...
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Roads: Waccamaw Neck could see benefits from new Horry County road tax

A local sales tax approved by Horry County voters this month to raise $6.35 billion for transportation projects is expected to free up funds for road projects in Georgetown County. “There are some opportunities...
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Land use: Marlin Quay rezoning suit reaches Supreme Court

Eight years after a store and restaurant were torn down at Marlin Quay Marina attorneys argued before the state Supreme Court whether Georgetown County’s approval of a new, larger building violated state and local...
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Tourism: Panel trims requests for accommodations tax grants

The Georgetown County Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee last week recommended that nonprofits that maintain the Highway 17 median and local beaches should get full funding for their annual grant requests. The committee recommended that...
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Milestones: Children’s librarian has some stories to tell after 50 years

For decades, Sheila Sullivan was a fixture at the Georgetown Library. Sullivan, the head of children’s services for the county library system retired last week after 50 years on the job. “I’ve loved it...
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Sales tax: Local option tax still short after recount

Georgetown County spent $11,000 to rescan each of the 38,115 ballots cast in the general election only to find the local option sales tax still didn’t pass. State law requires a recount in...
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Georgetown County: Council cuts fire impact fee in half for solar farm

Georgetown County has cut the fire impact fee for a solar farm under construction in the western part of the county by more than $1 million. But the $1 million that the developer, Silicon...
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Georgetown County: County focuses on keeping jobs as IP shuts down mill

There are jobs available at local industries for many of the 674 employees at the International Paper Co. mill in Georgetown who learned last week that the facility will close by the end of...
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THE WEEK’S FEATURED STORIES

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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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