March 10, 2010

Dean Torrence of Jan & Dean ("Drag City") is 70.

Ralph Emery 1933 - Talk show host
 
Chuck Norris 1940 - Actor

"Hey! Baby" by Bruce Channel was song #1 today in 1962.

"I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor was #1 today in 1979.

1979 - James Brown played at the Grand Ole Opry.

The North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety will hold its 19^th annual Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Graduation at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 26, at the Alabama Theatre at Barefoot Landing. More than 350 5^th graders will be celebrated by the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department and receive their DARE graduation certificates.

DARE has been an integral program of the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department for nearly two decades. The annual 13-week program is taught once a week by North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officer Julie Smith , who teaches kids to just say no to peer pressure, drugs, gangs and violence.

The ceremony, which is free to the public, also will include entertainment, singing performances and skits by students. For more information on the celebration or the DARE program, please contact the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department at (843) 280-5511.

The City of North Myrtle Beach is inviting community members to its Community Census Celebration, a free event from noon-3 p.m. on Saturday, March 27, at the J. Bryan Floyd Community Center ( 1020 Possum Trot Rd. ). The celebration will feature a variety of free activities including games and prizes, face painting, a kids’ area with an inflatable bounce house and inflatable slide, and entertainment by local dance and martial arts groups. Food and beverages also will be provided free of charge.

The City of North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission is completing work on a Five year review and update of 2005 Comprehensive Plan, according to SC planning enabling legislation. As well, a draft Priority Investment Element (New requirement of the SC Priority Investment Act) has been added.  The Commission is interested in any public comments as they prepare to recommend the Plan Update to City Council.

The 2005 Comprehensive Plan, the draft 2010 Priority Investment Element, as well as draft updates of the 2005 Population, Housing, Economic, Cultural Resources, Land Use, Community Facilities, and Transportation Elements will be available for review and comment in the City Planning and Development Department in City Hall from 8AM to 5PM weekdays. If these times are not convenient, or you prefer to schedule and appointment with staff, please contact Dan Hatley, Principal Planner, at dhhatley@nmb.us  or (843) 280-5669.

Tuesday, 9 March 2010

            It’s annual banquet time for the Little River Chamber of Commerce. The event takes place this Thursday, March 11^th, at 6 p.m. at the Avista Resort in North Myrtle Beach. It will be first such meeting under new leadership which includes Executive Director Jennifer Walters. Several recognitions will be made at the dinner including business of the year and volunteer awards. Those wanting to find out more can call the Chamber at 843-249-6604.

            The North Myrtle Beach Chamber has sent out a press release praising U. S. President Barack Obama. The Chamber commends Obama for signing into law a national travel promotion inviting visitors to come to America.

            The aftermath of the April 2009 wildfire continues in North Myrtle Beach. In a report released yesterday, The South Carolina Forestry Commission says it needs to do a better job in the future when it comes to such fires. The Commission says it has begun a series of training exercises to help it better prepare for such a future event.

            In North Myrtle Beach, our city has been making plans to build a fire station on Water Tower Road, a portion of which was recently paved by the City. A federal grant application has been made for funding for the proposed fire station. The City already has one fire station inside the Barefoot Resort. Officials say they can serve the area better if they have the second fire station at Water Tower road.

            In addition, The City says it is working with the Forestry Commission to better improve communications in the future.

            With the City of North Myrtle Beach having completed a two day budget retreat near Moncks Corner, and with an almost sixty million dollar budget for the new fiscal year which begins on July 1, a City department head who attended both days of the retreat says it served a good purpose. Melinda Chappell is the Director of the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic and Fitness Center. She says “We’re maintaining service in a tough economic time and I really appreciate how the city goes through a thorough examination of where it is. I think our future is bright even though we’ve had some challenges with the recession.”

WNMB NEWS * Monday, 8 March 2010

            North Myrtle Beach City officials wrapped up their annual budget retreat this past Friday at the Wampee Conference Center in the little town of Pinopolis. The budget for the new fiscal year which begins July 1 is 59.8 million dollars and it’s a 2 million dollar increase compared to the present budget. In spite of more spending, the City says it will hold the line on property taxes and will keep the tax rate at 32.2 mills, which is one of the lowest property tax rates in the State.

            Two organizations which are not city departments, but get some funding from the City made their budget requests on Friday.

            The North Myrtle Beach Chamber, which gets accommodations tax monies from the City, essentially is requested all the available A tax money. The Chamber wants 350,000 dollars for what it calls interactive marketing. It wants 20,000 dollars for trade shows. It is requesting 50,000 for festivals, and 30,000 for quarterly events. It also wants 258,000 dollars from the City to operate its Visitors Center. Based on previous year budgeting, it is not likely the City Council will grant all the Chamber money requested. The City uses a portion of the A tax money for the City’s own Parks and Recreation Department and the Aquatic and Fitness Center.

            The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach is requesting an additional 50,000 dollars compared to its current year budget. The Society, which operates the City Animal Shelter, says it needs a new building. The present facility was built in 1985 and it has long been over capacity. Humane Society officers say with additional funding they can put more money aside into a building fund and get a new building done earlier than current projections are calling for.

            The Myrtle Beach Sun News continues to publish angles of the story concerning former Public Safety Director William Bailey. In Sunday’s edition, the newspaper reports the City of North Myrtle Beach is still paying for cell phone usage by William Bailey, who has now been demoted to a Lieutenant’s position with a reduced salary. Mr. Bailey was demoted following revelations that he was not truthful about the circumstances of a gun that was stolen from his personal vehicle. Since the demotion by City Manager John Smithson, Lt. Bailey has remained on suspension pending as to whether the State Law Enforcement Division will do an investigation into the matter.

When the Sun Cruz Casino firm declared bankruptcy a couple of months ago, the Sun Cruz Casino boat stationed in Little River set sail south and returned to Florida, leaving Little River with one operating Casino Boat owned by a separate firm. Now, it appears a Sun Cruz boat is coming back to Little River, but under different ownership. We have a report from Channel 13’s Rusty Ray. (Ray) “A casino boat will once again sail out of Little River. Horry County Councilman Harold Worley says the original Sun Cruz owners should have the boat sailing within 10 days. They must first pay a license fee and about one hundred thousand dollars in back taxes. Councilman Worley says the boat’s return will mean about 200 jobs. The Boat owners say they will have a job fair next week in Little River.” The Sun Cruz stopped sailing late last year.

The North Myrtle Beach City Council wraps up its annual budget retreat today at the Santee Cooper retreat facility located near Moncks Corner. Council is fine tuning a budget projected to be close to sixty million dollars for the new fiscal year which begins on July 1.

The City of North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission is updating our city’s comprehensive Plan. The Commission is holding a public hearing on Tuesday, March 9^th at the City Hall at 5 p.m. In addition, information regarding the plan update is available on the City’s website at www.nmb.us

North Myrtle Beach’s Main Street may have an enhanced role for this May’s Harley-Davidson Motorcycle rally after all. Businessmen Mark Lazarus and Harold Worley plan to work with Harley to open a store for the motorcycle company near the Ocean Drive Pavilion area and Main Street in North Myrtle Beach. If they meet City business license requirements, the Pavilion area would become a focal point for the annual May rally. It appears headed for much more North Myrtle Beach involvement since the City of Myrtle Beach has taken measures to discourage Motorcycle events within its City limits.