Talks over inlet’s future raise ‘some optimism’
Talks over inlet’s future raise ‘some optimism’
Negotiations are continuing between the town of Pawleys Island, state agencies and property owners at Prince George who say that a 2020 beach renourishment project on the island caused erosion along their shoreline. “There’s some optimism that both sides are getting closer to a solution,” Mayor Brian Henry told Pawleys Island Civic Association members at […]
Anderson will push for zoning changes based on people, not houses
While his constituents were raising concerns about the number of new homes that could be built on the Waccamaw Neck under a new land use plan, County Council Member Bob Anderson said he started thinking about density in a different way. “We’re looking at this as if it’s all about dwellings. It’s not about dwellings, […]
Underground stormwater system raises concern about impact on Pawleys Creek
Capturing stormwater from a proposed residential development on Pawleys Creek in an underground system has the potential to increase pollution, neighbors told county officials at a hearing last week. The creek has been closed to shellfishing for generations because of high bacteria levels. “Their water quality appears to be in compliance,” said Robert Turner, manager […]
Developer claims citizens group behind lawsuit filed by others
The developer of 27 lots on Pawleys Creek is seeking damages from a citizens group that it claims is behind a lawsuit challenging Georgetown County’s approval of the project. Keep It Green is using the lawsuit filed in June against Magic Oaks LLC, the county and two others to try to “hinder and delay this […]
Council will take another look at resource plan it tabled in 2023
Natural resources will return to Georgetown County Council’s agenda this month after 14 months in the wilderness. The council tabled the natural resources element to the county’s state-mandated comprehensive plan in July 2023 after deferring discussion for six months. The element approved by the Planning Commission in November 2022 was revised by county staff before […]
Crowded ballot raises concern for lengthy referendum question
It took six months to put together a list of $74.3 million for funding through a capital projects sales tax. Officials are now worried that voters won’t take the time to read through them when they appear on the November ballot. “Have you all sat down with a stop watch?” County Council Member Bob Anderson […]
New county rules play catch-up with aging infrastructure
A solution to one stormwater problem in the Parkersville area is already identified in Georgetown County’s master plan for the Waccamaw. A 36-inch pipe under Martin Luther King Road needs to be replaced with a 48-inch pipe. That was estimated to cost $305,000 when the plan was adopted in May 2023. It’s project 110 out […]
Town’s ‘50 percent rule’ seen as incentive for teardowns
Any homeowner will tell you the cost of renovations adds up fast. But in the town of Pawleys Island, those numbers also count down until they reach 50 percent of a home’s fair market value. At that point, the owner must bring the property into compliance with all the town’s regulations. “Right now it’s a […]
First-time school board candidate unopposed in District 6
As a mother of four, Kristie Baxley is very familiar with public and private schools on the Waccamaw Neck. The Litchfield Country Club resident has set her sights on representing District 6 (Pawleys Island/Litchfield) on the Georgetown County Board of Education. She is the only candidate to file in the district. “It’s extremely important that […]
Invasive plant makes rapid return to beaches
An invasive plant that was the focus of eradication efforts nearly 20 years ago is stretching its stems over area beaches again. “We said we eradicated it, but with invasives, you never eradicate it,” said Jennifer Plunket, stewardship coordinator for the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Beach vitex, a shrub native to the […]
School board narrows superintendent search to four
Of the four finalists to be the next Georgetown County superintendent of schools, two are county natives, two are women, three are Black, one is a Marine Corps veteran, and one was a finalist the last time the county was looking for a superintendent. Bethany Giles, the district’s current interim superintendent, grew up in Andrews. […]
County kicks off public meetings to explain plan for extra 2 cents
Walt Ackerman knows how he plans to vote on two sales tax referendum questions that will be on November’s ballot. He’s doing his best not to let the public know. The first of nine meetings planned to explain the sale tax proposals between now and Election Day drew four voters to the auditorium at the […]
Solar bins have an appetite for trash
Rommie Presley put his foot on the pedal and placed a handful of soda cans and water bottles in the mouth of the trash can. He waited. A green light flashed. He hoped there would be the sound of the trash compacting, but it was still early and the cans and bottles were the first […]
Lights lead sea turtle hatchlings to their death
Fueled by the yolk from its egg and millions of years of instinct, a loggerhead sea turtle hatchling scrambled across the wet pavement on Springs Avenue. It should have been heading toward the ocean. Instead, it climbed a gravel parking space on the edge of Pawleys Creek. Blocked by landscape timbers, it turned back to […]
Pawleys woman sues developer over drainage
A Pawleys Island woman has filed suit against the country’s largest home builder saying its development next to her home in Parkersville caused flooding on her property that threatens that home. Deborah Greggs said in a suit filed in Circuit Court that her problems began when D.R. Horton Inc. started its Hammock Cove development in […]
Safe streets plan seeks to draw more federal funds
There were 27 people killed in collisions along Highway 17 on the Waccamaw Neck in the last decade, according to data from the S.C. Department of Public Safety. Two of those within the last month. Planners are looking for ways to reduce those numbers here and around the region in the future. A federal Safe […]
Nonprofit hopes courtesy prevails as golf carts return to Willbrook path
When Georgetown County owned the multi-use path along Willbrook Boulevard, there was one rule: no motorized vehicles. The nonprofit group that took ownership last month is promoting four rules to make the path safe for pedestrians, cyclists and golf carts, but they can be summed up in one. “It’s essential the people be courteous,” said […]
Elliott says work will continue to cut density
Once the goals of Georgetown County’s newly-adopted future land use plan are implemented through an updated zoning code, the future residential density in the Murrells Inlet area will be cut in half, County Council Member Clint Elliott told constituents at a drop-in event. “The problem with Murrells Inlet, the whole Waccamaw Neck, is it was […]
First steps toward rebuilding pier damaged by Ian begin after Debby passes
Two years after one of Pawleys Island’s most iconic landmarks was cut in half by Hurricane Ian, the first signs that rebuilding is on the horizon will appear next week. Soil testing will take place on the beachfront at the remaing section of Pawleys Island Pier. Half of the 820-foot pier broke off when Ian […]
Unfinished project looms over new referendum
There were five items on the ballot when Georgetown County voters were given the chance to adopt a capital projects sales tax in 2014. One never started. One is still not complete five years after the penny sales tax expired. “One thing we heard from every single group as the commission went out was, ‘What […]
Beach patrol keeps an eye on surf and sand at 6 mph
Head nods. Two-finger salutes. Beanie Babies. It’s not a parade, it’s just a low maintenance day for the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office Beach Patrol. Capt. Chuck Weaver, the commander of Beach and Marine Patrol, gets the same amount of attention in his utility vehicle as he would if it were a parade float. Beach-goers of […]
Community group endorses roundabout at Waverly intersection
A community group has endorsed a plan to install a roundabout at the intersection of Waverly Road and Petigru Drive in spite of concern that it will lead to the removal of an oak tree on one corner. “If they can work around that tree, there would be no issues with the roundabout,” said Vincent […]
Hearings will review stormwater plans for two developments
Georgetown County never held a public hearing on a stormwater permit before January. Now it has two scheduled this month, and a third is likely. The hearings are a measure of the increased attention being paid to drainage and flooding issues, but also part of a growing frustration with development that is filling in undeveloped […]
Federal grant funds plan to reduce traffic fatalities
There were over 55,000 crashes on roads in Georgetown and Horry counties between 2019 and 2023; 269 were fatal. Among the dead were 86 cyclists or pedestrians. State and local transportation agencies have data on each of the crashes, but at a meeting next week they are looking for public input about ways to make […]
After early start to nesting season, sea turtle numbers lagging
The number of sea turtles nests along the South Carolina coast is lagging behind last year. “It’s a little bit slower than years past but we still have the month of August to go through,” said Rick Scott, who oversees the South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts, a group of volunteers who patrol beaches at dawn […]
Committee campaigns for passage of two sales tax proposals
A shakeup in the U.S. presidential election will be felt in Georgetown County, where a group assembled by the Chamber of Commerce is preparing to pitch a pair of 1-cent sales tax referendums to voters in November. “It’s challenging in a presidential election year anyway,” said Beth Stedman, the chamber president. “The committee has discussed […]
Move to cut density follows approval of land plan
Georgetown County will move quickly to reduce the number of dwellings allowed in its highest density zoning district after this week’s approval of an updated land use plan. The top limit of 16 units an acre will be reduced to 12, “basically to match that to the future land use map,” County Council Member Stella […]
Impact fees will help county meet growing demand for access
Over the next 10 years, Georgetown County plans to spend $1 million on beach access improvements to keep pace with its growing population. Beth Goodale, the director of Parks and Recreation, knows that won’t be enough. “We need more beach access and parking, but above all we need more ADA accessibility,” she said, referring to […]
Survey results back next superintendent to make changes
An online survey found that eight in 10 people want to see the next superintendent take the Georgetown County School District in a different direction. A third of the respondents want to see significant changes. One of the comments came from a former district student whose children currently attend Waccamaw schools. “There is little change […]
Land use disputes drive effort to form a new town
Twenty-five years after a legal challenge derailed an effort to form a new town on the Waccamaw Neck, a group says it has spent more than a year studying the issue and is ready to move forward as a response to Georgetown County’s update of its future land use plan. “This is the viable alternative […]
‘Shine Tyrese’s light,’ students told after senior’s drowning
Tyrese Haynes had what Chris Overbeek called an “infectious smile.” “Good kid, good student. He was loved by his peers,” said Overbeek, the coach of the Waccamaw High School boys basketball team. “Those are the qualities that matter.” Haynes, 17, who would have started his senior year at the school in a few weeks, drowned […]
Neighbors file appeal of staff ruling on townhomes
A proposed townhouse development on Petigru Drive will cause drainage and traffic problems and conflict with the county’s future land use plan, opponents say. But that’s only part of the reason they have asked the Georgetown County Planning Commission to overturn the staff decision to grant conceptual approval to the project. The commission is scheduled […]
Growing family of worshipers drives $6.7 million expansion
Pawleys Island Community Church is bursting at the seams and recently unveiled a $6.75 million expansion plan. “Our church is very grateful it’s growing and we’ve added a lot of new people in the last year-and-a-half,” the Rev. Don Williams, the church pastor, said. “We just really have run out of space.” Planning for the […]
An 80-foot right of way, but no room for parking
A group of Pawleys Island area residents this week appealed to the town to do something about property owners encroaching in the state road right of way on the island’s north end. “There’s been so many people moving here that there’s just not enough parking for the common people,” said Ron Rader, who told Town […]
Town rules take their licks during July Fourth parade
The Pawleys Island Fourth of July Parade was headed north along Myrtle Avenue. The crowd was headed south, drawn not by the lights, sirens and stirrings of patriotic tunes, but by the music-box tinkling of the ice cream truck. “That’s just something I remember as a kid, hearing the ice cream truck and trying to […]
Grand Strand hospital plans ER for inlet
A freestanding emergency room is a step closer to being built at the corner of Bypass 17 and Wesley Road. Grand Strand Regional Medical Center wants to build a one-story, 11,000-square-foot facility on the 2.99-acre property, which is a “planned development” zoning district. “Medical facility” is not one of the uses allowed in that district. […]
Planners hone strategies to cut traffic congestion
Two of the most congested roads in the region meet in Murrells Inlet. A formula adopted by the regional agency that allocates money to road projects is intended to ensure funding is available for improvements. Highway 707, which starts at Business 17, has the second highest level of congestion of 60 road segments reviewed by […]
Updated state plan reduces evacuation times
The worst-case scenario for a hurricane evacuation in Georgetown and Horry counties shows it will take more than a day to get residents and visitors out of harm’s way. That’s based on the peak number of visitors and 100 percent compliance with an evacuation order, said Brandon Ellis, director of Georgetown County Emergency Services. And […]
Celebration provides an XXL fundraising opportunity
If you wear a youth-sized T-shirt, you’re in luck. If not, you’re out of luck. Record sales of Pawleys Island Fourth of July Parade shirts have left the shelves empty at the Old Town Hall the day before the parade. The town has sold over $54,000 in T-shirts this year, said Corey Higdon, the town […]
Town raises steaks, er, stakes, for July 4th parade decorations
To feed the creativity of participants in this year’s Pawleys Island Fourth of July Parade, the town has laid out a banquet of prizes for the best decorated floats, docks and beach houses. Six area restaurants have donated meals and gift certificates for the winners. Mayor Brian Henry has donated a shrimp boil from his […]
Departing superintendent sees security as his legacy
When Keith Price took over as superintendent of the Georgetown County School District in 2020, the world was in the grip of a pandemic. “The first year-and-a-half was just consumed with COVID. No one was really thinking about anything but how to navigate through COVID,” Price said. “While those were some challenging days, it seems […]
Honor for historic congressman brings calls to look past partisanship
Hip replacement surgery couldn’t stop Lorna Rainey from paying tribute to her great-grandfather, Joseph Hayne Rainey, in his hometown that he loved dearly. She was delighted with the turnout at a plaque unveiling ceremony in Georgetown on June 21, the 192nd anniversary of his birth. Lorna said “potential, determination and legacy” are words that can […]
Analysis shows zoning code allows 25,000 more homes
If the Waccamaw Neck develops under the zoning ordinance in place today, another 25,201 homes could be built before the area runs out of suitable land, according to data from consultants who are updating Georgetown County’s land use plan. But if the area develops as envisioned by the current land use plan, only another 11,456 […]
County running the numbers on residential density under proposed maps
Consultants are expected to provide data on what the Waccamaw Neck will look like when it’s built out before a draft of the future land use plan comes up for discussion before Georgetown County Council this week. The county is seven years behind schedule in adopting a 10-year update to the land use element of […]
An option for district cellphone policy: Lock ’em up
The Georgetown County School District is at risk of losing its state funding if it doesn’t come up with a policy that keeps students from using cellphones in schools. A proviso in the state budget, which has not been passed and signed by the governor, bans students from having the devices during the school day. […]
Between the pages, an unusual find emerges for library book sale
A letter signed by Archer Huntington in 1948 is one of the silent auction items available at this year’s Friends of the Waccamaw Library summer book sale. “Archer was writing to the sister of one of the stone sculptors,” said Bea Mantoni, the Friends board member who is overseeing the event. The letter, which was […]
Staff poised to approve townhouse plan
A townhouse development on Petigru Drive is poised to received conceptual approval from Georgetown County planning staff. But that could change if additional public comment is received today. The 46-unit Sweet Grass West plan is the first to be approved since the county changed its process to eliminate site plan review by the Planning Commission […]
Commission ends its work with tweaks to ballot text
Wachesaw Recreation Park project. That didn’t sound too exciting, even if it came with a $988,000 price tag. Harris Chewning suggested adding a few words of description. Gary Cooper agreed. “That’s going to be amazing; a dog park, a lot of stuff for citizens,” he said. And it’s in an area that’s home to 18 […]
District’s top administrators lead one-of-a-kind school
For the second time in three years, the top administrators in the Georgetown County School District both work at the same Waccamaw Neck school. Waccamaw Intermediate School’s Travis Klatka was named the principal of the year and Denetria Middleton was named the assistant principal of the year. “Even to be nominated was one thing and […]
Roundabout comes full circle on regional projects funding list
Funding for a roundabout for the Waverly Road and Petigru Drive intersection that previously caused an uproar in the community has been restored at the request of Georgetown County. The Grand Strand Area Transportation Study Policy Committee last week approved $1.15 million for the project, listed as the region’s top intersection improvement. GSATS allocates federal […]
Town looks for options that will let good dogs off leash
Town officials are looking for a way to relax their grip over people who take their dogs to the beach on Pawleys Island in the summer, provided those dogs don’t pose a threat to public safety. Council Member Guerry Green, who has received warnings and a ticket in the past for leash law violations, raised […]
Search for superintendent gathers public input
An online survey for people to give feedback on the next Georgetown County School District superintendent garnered 167 responses in the first two days after it went live. The district is also hosting one-hour feedback sessions next week at the county’s four high schools. The meetings will be at Andrews and Carvers Bay on Tuesday […]
District considers restrictions on cellphones
Proposed state legislation to ban or limit cellphones in schools has prompted the Georgetown County School Board to review its own policy on electronic devices. The district currently leaves cellphone policy to the discretion of each school principal. “With elementary and middle schools, they don’t need to have it in the classroom. Period,” Board Member […]
Commission reviews way to expand 52-year-old historic district
The Pawleys Island Historic District was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, a year after the listing of the historic district in Georgetown. “Pawleys Island area is currently undergoing massive economic development and needs the protection,” the state’s historic preservation coordinator wrote to the head of the National Register. While the […]
New townhouse project up for review by county – and public
County planning staff is reviewing a plan for 46 townhouses on Petigru Drive in Pawleys Island. So are the neighbors and a citizens group that has challenged four other multi-family projects in and around the Parkersville area. The project, known as Sweetgrass West, is the first to come up for approval since Georgetown County Council […]
As county grows, enrollments decline
Waccamaw Elementary is the only area public school that is expected to see an increase in enrollment in the next school year. In fact, the Georgetown County School Board has included funding for a teacher and a paraprofessional for a new pre-K class at the school as part of the budget for fiscal 2025, which […]
B-29 crewman remembers those who didn’t return
Irving “Jack” Craig Jr. of Murrells Inlet and the rest of the crew of a B-29 airplane named Smilin’ Jack survived 33 bombing missions during the last year of World War II. The only member of the crew who didn’t make it home was the original pilot, who was killed during a training mission in […]
Big ticket item could make way for smaller projects
A multipurpose path in Parkersville could join the list of priority projects for funding through a proposed sales tax if Georgetown County finds another way to fund one of the most expensive projects on that list. The six-member Capital Project Sales Tax Commission presented its list of $72 million in infrastructure projects to Georgetown County […]
Seniors take a last walk – before their last walk
Kristi Patterson waited to see her daughter walk down the hallway of Waccamaw Elementary School through misty eyes. Waccamaw High School senior Claire Patterson, 18, was just about to start the second grade when the family moved to Pawleys Island in 2013. As Patterson teaches her current second-graders, it reminds her of how far her […]
Cheers turn to jeers when plan update passes
The cheers were short lived. The audience that turned out last week to argue against the latest draft of Georgetown County’s future land use plan thought for a moment that the Planning Commission had agreed with them. But the hands that went up were voting against a motion to defer approval once again. “If this […]
Golf carts headed back to Willbrook path
Golf carts will return to the multi-use path along Willbrook Boulevard under an agreement that will return ownership of the route to area property owners. “The majority of folks really wanted carts back on the path and not on the road,” said Mark Curtiss, president of the Willbrook Plantation Road Maintenance District. Last August, Georgetown […]
Study outlines plan for ‘engineered beach’ at Litchfield
A study prepared for Georgetown County as part of its update of its beachfront management plan recommends creating a fund to pay for up to $20.3 million of renourishment along the Litchfield Beaches to create an “engineered beach” that would qualify for federal disaster aid. At Garden City, which is part of a 50-year renourishment […]
Top capital projects cover wide area as panel closes in on ballot question
A bike path on Martin Luther King Road, outdoor pickleball and basketball courts at the regional rec center, a rebuilt park in Murrells Inlet and a new fire station at DeBordieu are among the top projects being considered for a share of a proposed capital projects sales tax. But nine of the top 20 projects […]
District names interim as superintendent search begins
The Georgetown County School Board named deputy superintendent Bethany Giles as the district’s interim superintendent this week. “The board is confident in Dr. Giles’ ability to serve as interim superintendent,” School Board Chairman Bill Gaskins said in a statement. “She is very familiar with GCSD, and we look forward to working with her as we […]
WHS soccer teams compete for state championships
Eleven times in the last 23 years the Waccamaw High School boys soccer team advanced to the Lower State final and lost. The 12th time was the charm as the Warriors beat Hanahan 3-1 on Monday and will play for the Class 3A state title on Friday, That will be right after Waccamaw’s girls play […]
Changing maps raise questions about the future
Heavy equipment started work this spring clearing 8.8 acres at the corner of Martin Luther King Road and Petigru Drive for a 22-lot subdivision. Seen from the street, it’s an example of the growth that many residents feel is overwhelming the community. Seen from the proposed maps that show how the area will grow in […]
Historic home preservation made condition of variance to tear down old house
A house from the 1940s that the owners say is beyond repair will be replaced in exchange for an agreement to preserve one of the oldest houses on Pawleys Island. The town Board of Zoning Appeals last week gave Brian and Staci Inskeep a variance to the unified development code that limits each lot to […]
County will fund studies to improve traffic hot spots
Georgetown County will commission studies of the business districts in Pawleys Island and Murrells Inlet to create shovel-ready projects for state highway funding that will improve pedestrian access and safety along with aesthetics. The draft budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1 includes $200,000 for Pawleys Island and $100,000 for Business 17 in […]
Outdoor classroom lets students dig into hands-on learning
Maria Montessori once said: “What the hand does, the mind remembers.” Coastal Montessori Charter School teachers and parents took that to heart three years ago when they started transforming a two-and-a-half wooded lot next to the school’s property into an outdoor learning area. “It is remarkably important. These kids love getting their hands dirty and […]
School board will hire firm to lead superintendent search
The Georgetown County School Board hopes to have an interim superintendent in place by the middle of next month and a permanent replacement named sometime after the start of the new school year. “That is our goal,” Chairman Bill Gaskins said at the board meeting this week. Superintendent Keith Price accepted the job as superintendent-elect […]
Town shifts historic home protection to fast track
Owners of nine structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places are being polled by Pawleys Island officials to gauge support for restrictions that would prevent the demolition of those buildings. The town Planning Commission wants to present Town Council with a draft ordinance next month. “We’ve just got to preserve our history,” said […]
Revisions proposed to maps to cut future density
Matt Collison has only lived in Heritage Plantation for a year. He wasn’t here for the charettes, the corridor studies, the online survey or the delays that made up Georgetown County’s efforts since 2019 to revise the land use element of its comprehensive plan. “I’m a newbie,” Collison said as he reached the podium, one […]
Fellowship lets teens live their faith out loud
Every Thursday about three dozen Waccamaw High School students gather in Chris Overbeek’s classroom to eat lunch and share their faith. “I just love it because it’s so cool to see these kids at this age, with all the insecurities kids have, living their faith and being bold enough to do that,” said Overbeek, boys […]
County trims $20M from request for dredging
The biggest project proposed for a share of a capital projects sales tax got a little smaller last week. Georgetown County doesn’t need $21 million to dredge channels in Murrells Inlet. “That number now is $1 million,” Ray Funnye, the county director of Public Services, said. He told the Capital Project Sales Tax Commission that […]
Town lays groundwork for acquiring last 3 beach easements
Pawleys Island Town Council this week took the first step toward acquiring three easements it needs to be eligible for federal funds to renourish 1.3 miles of beach on the island’s south end. Mayor Brian Henry said he hopes the town, the Army Corps of Engineers and three property owners who challenged the easements in […]
School superintendent will leave for Midlands district
Georgetown County School Superintendent Keith Price was named this week as the superintendent-elect of the Lexington County 1 School District. “It’s a great opportunity but also bittersweet to be saying goodbye to so many great people, colleagues and friends that I’ve made in my time here. It’s a bundle of emotions,” Price said. “My experience […]
Former home for boys makes fresh start in early childhood education
For decades, Tara Hall Home for Boys helped thousands of abused and neglected boys through some of the worst times in their lives. When the Department of Social Services started to move away from group homes and it was clear that the facility was going to close, the Tara Hall board came up with the […]
Creekfront project draws new scrutiny with approval
A tax break that reduced the value of property on Pawleys Creek by $3.6 million has cast doubt on a request to change the zoning for a proposed residential development. But the property owner’s attorney said the tax credit has no impact on the development of a portion of the 16 acres. “He took advantage […]
Traveling eclipse viewers prefer the beach to totality
Connor and Selena Gould came from Burlington, Vt. David and Cathy Whitehouse came from Rochester, N.Y. So did Dave and Patti Crean. They watched through protective glasses as the moon edged across the face of the sun and the light over the south end of Pawleys Island became tinged with amber. In their mind’s eye, […]
Even at 70 percent, eclipse is worth a (protected) look
You won’t be able to get the full effect of next week’s total eclipse from Pawleys Island, but you will be more likely to get a parking space. That will be a change from the 2017 eclipse that brought thousands of visitors to Georgetown County. And it will have to do until the next total […]
Parties will hold primaries in two County Council districts
Six candidates are vying for two of the seats on Georgetown County Council that are on the ballot in November. Democrats will hold a primary in District 3 in the southern end of the county. Republicans will hold a rare primary in District 4, which includes the city of Georgetown. Voters in District 4 will […]
Panel gets $254M in project proposals
There are $254.3 million in requests for a share of Georgetown County’s proposed capital projects sales tax. Staff were still sorting through the 63 project proposals, two-thirds of which came in the final days before the deadline at midnight Monday. “I do like the list we’ve got. I think it’s super,” said Mark Hawn, who […]
Superintendent among finalists for Midlands job
Georgetown County School Superintendent Keith Price is one of three finalists to be the next superintendent of the Lexington 1 School District. Price declined to comment since the application process is ongoing. He notified the Georgetown County School Board members on March 20, the day before the names of the Lexington 1 finalists were made […]
Revised plan adds restriction for redeveloping golf courses
The latest draft of Georgetown County’s land use plan calls for tougher stormwater regulations and sets a goal of preserving half of the undeveloped land remaining on Waccamaw Neck. It also calls for property now used for golf courses to remain low density if those courses are redeveloped. The Planning Commission held a workshop on […]
Quest for data doesn’t take a vacation
A vacation getaway isn’t what it used to be. Along with footprints in the sand, visitors are leaving cellphone and credit card data for companies to scoop up, analyze and sell. “There’s a lot of information out there,” said Adam Zappia, a sales director for Zartico, a Utah-based firm that provides data for tourism marketing. […]
Trickle of projects turns to flood as deadline nears
Local government offices echoed this week with the sound of crunching numbers as staff worked to complete submissions for a share of Georgetown County’s proposed capital projects sales tax ahead of the April 1 deadline. “I hate to miss this opportunity to at least put it down for consideration,” said Ray Funnye, the county’s director […]
Congregation plans move away from United Methodists
St. Paul’s Waccamaw will host its final United Methodist worship service on June 30. On July 1, St. Paul’s will officially become a member of the Global Methodist Church. “As far as the service and as far as the theology, there will be no difference,” the Rev. J.R. Virgin said. “Most of the differences between […]
School board asked to fund more upgrades to security
The Georgetown County School District is considering a proposal to add “safety monitors” at middle and high schools in the next school year. Alan Walters, the district’s chief operations officer, made a pitch for the new positions to the school board this week. “We think it is a critically important position,” Walters said. The safety […]
Utility will propose $56.1M in projects to commission
The Georgetown County Water and Sewer District has $56.1 million worth of projects to propose for a share of a capital projects sales tax that is expected to come up for voter approval in November. In addition to those 10 projects, the city of Georgetown has 13 more to propose at an estimated cost of […]
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. Judges cited the “local stories by local reporters,” the design, photos and letters to the editor. “Loved reading this newspaper,” they […]
Town gets options for repairs to north end jetty
Worn timbers cling to the southern edge of the inlet between Pawleys Island and Litchfield Beach like gnarled fingers. More than seven decades of daily tides, seasonal storms and landmark hurricanes have tried to pry them loose. They are held in place by habit as well as rock, concrete and pieces of construction debris added […]
Former Army pilot ready to take controls at WHS
When Hunter Eddy began his teaching career a decade ago he got some advice from Celeste Pringle, who was the Georgetonw County School District’s deputy superintendent at the time. Pringle told him “as long as you do right by the students, you’ll be a success. Always put them first.” Eddy, who has been an assistant […]
Wetlands issues delay council vote on creekfront development
A zoning change to allow a 27-lot subdivision between Pawleys Creek and Highway 17 was put on hold by Georgetown County Council this week, raising concern that developers will create a development with more lots under the current zoning. Council Member Bob Anderson, who moved to defer approval of the change, said he doesn’t think […]
Corps gets $6.5 million for harbor dredging
The Army Corps of Engineers expects to dredge the channel along the Georgetown waterfront to a depth of 12 feet with funding included in the federal budget last week. The $6.5 million was included in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill last spring by Sen. Lindsay Graham, who serves on the Appropriations Committee. The […]
After last capital project, it’s a whole new ballgame
Twenty years ago Georgetown County residents and officials had a vision of what the county could be. The “Visions for the Future” program is now in the past after a ribbon was cut to officially open Waverly Park this week. It is the last of the Visions projects. “It’s been a fun ride. A huge, […]
County faces suit over Murrells Inlet water quality
Murrells Inlet residents gave notice to Georgetown County last week that they are ready to go to court to enforce compliance with federal regulations that require the county to improve water quality in the estuary. If that happens, it will be the first action in the state to challenge compliance with federal permits for “municipal […]
County seeks federal grant to start planning port redevelopment
Work began last week to demolish dilapidated buildings at the former port of Georgetown. It’s part of a cleanup effort that began when Georgetown County took ownership of the property on the Sampit River from the State Ports Authority last year. The county is now seeking a federal grant to hire staff and students from […]
Scientists highlight impact of pet waste on shellfishing
Nearly a third of the shellfish beds in the state’s seafood capital are closed to harvesting because of high levels of bacteria in Murrells Inlet. Many residents say that is the result of development that has increased stormwater runoff. A researcher says it’s poop. “Most of the bacteria coming into the estuary is coming from […]
Groups say draft update to comprehensive plan ignores their input
Citizens groups say they don’t see much citizen input in a draft of the updated Georgetown County land use plan. A series of speakers at a forum last week told county planners that they fear the update is less restrictive than the current land use plan, which is one of the elements of the comprehensive […]
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. , .
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