Coastal Observer

Land use: Rezoning tests limits of rural growth

A zoning change that could lead to the creation of 90 units of affordable housing outside Georgetown narrowly passed County Council this week, with the chairman saying concerns raised by opponents can be dealt...
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THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Education: Parents press school board to lift pandemic restrictions

Unless an order comes from someone at the state level, the Georgetown County School District will continue to require masks to be worn inside facilities. Superintendent Keith Price said throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the...
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Environment: Community comes to the aid of injured bobcat

Sunday morning traffic was light, but Ben and Jennifer Rozak took a risk to keep it away from the bobcat that lay sprawled on the edge of Highway 17 near North Litchfield. “We tried...
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Nonprofits: Virtual donations top $2 million in 36 hours

Fifty nonprofits that work with residents of Georgetown County got a $2 million boost this week. The fifth annual Palmetto Giving Day, hosted by the Frances P. Bunnelle Foundation, raised $2.1 million during a...
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Pawleys Island: Judge dismisses suits over beach easements

A ruling in Circuit Court could end the first effort by the town of Pawleys Island to condemn easements on three beachfront lots for future renourishment projects. That effort resulted in two sets of...
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Arts: Students explore serious themes in library poetry contest

The top poems in this year’s Friends of the Waccamaw Library contest have a more serious tone than in year’s past. Cathy Filiatreau, the nonprofit’s poetry chairman, said that is a reflection of students...
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Health: Walkers plan 12-hour journey to raise awareness of mental health

Teresa Robinette became an advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention after her son Jesse took his own life in 2019. “I’ll never understand. We’ll never know, we’ll never understand,” Robinette said. “He...
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Beaches: County backs legislation to keep free parking

A bill in the legislature that would prohibit beachfront towns from charging for parking without permission from the state gained support from Georgetown County Council this week. The bill, which was introduced in response...
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Coronavirus: County Council lets mask mandate expire quietly

An emergency ordinance that required people in Georgetown County to wear face coverings in shops and restaurants expired without a bang or a whimper this week, 300 days after it was adopted by County...
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Murrells Inlet: A day for the inlet, a year in the making

After skipping the annual community cleanup during the pandemic year, there was plenty of trash for volunteers to collect at this year’s Spring Tide. Yet they also found time to focus on what was...
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Politics: Victory in city special elections buoys county GOP for fall campaign

Jonathan Angner said his heart sank when he saw the line out the door at the polling place. It was a Democratic stronghold. It was only when he went inside the Howard Center that...
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Roads: Hewitt seeks more public input on highway corridor study

A state legislator is calling for more public comment on a $53.3 million list of improvements contained in a study of Highway 17 on the Waccamaw Neck. Although the study was the subject of...
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THE WEEK’S FEATURED STORIES

Safety: Sheriff makes case for eight more patrol deputies

Sheriff Carter Weaver wants to add eight patrol deputies this year and wants Georgetown County Council to reinstate merit pay raises to help keep them. It would be the first increase in patrol deputies...
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BUSINESS NEWS

No monopawley on good ideas as classic game gets a local spin

Here’s a deal. You buy Myrtle Avenue for $170, put up four beach houses for $100 each, then sit back and collect $750 from everybody who stops by. And if you want to get...
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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., Howard Auditorium, Hawkins Street, Georgetown. For details, go to georgetowncountysc.org.

Pawleys Island Town Council: Second Mondays, 5 p.m. Virtual meetings.For details, go to townofpawleysisland.com.

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COASTAL OBSERVER