April 30, 2012 North Myrtle Beach, SC – On April 27, the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety held a Community Medicine Drop-Off Day in conjunction with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day.

The event was the fourth for the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department and the sixth for the DEA. It provides an opportunity for people to remove unused and expired medicines from their homes in a safe, responsible manner.

About 120 people brought various controlled and legend drugs, and over the counter medications to the drop-off location in front of Walmart at 550 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach.

A total of 59,428 dosage units were collected. That breaks down to 5,355 dosage units of controlled drugs; 50,896 dosage units/514 cc liquid dosage units of legend drugs; and 2,663 grams of powder-type drugs. For DEA reporting purposes, the weight of all medicines collected was 695 pounds.

North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officers Mathew Pasqurell and Ian Vaughn managed the drop-off location. As a courtesy during the drop-off event, the officers also offered to check child car seat installations and, when necessary, taught parents and grandparents to install them correctly.

Agent Pam Hucks with the South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control (DHEC) assisted in verifying the pharmaceuticals that were dropped off, and she also estimated the count for DEA accountability purposes. The medications were verified, logged, and then deposited into the department’s National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators container. Immediately after the drop-off event, all collected medications were turned over to DEA for destruction.

The department offers a special thanks to Captain Poo’s Grill for providing lunch for the event and to Walmart for the use of its parking lot.

April 29, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – Thinking about what to do in May?  North Myrtle Beach has lots going on; things should figure into your selecting that ideal time for you and your family.

Festa Italiana, May 3 through May 5

Held at Barefoot Landing in North Myrtle Beach and sponsored by The Sons of Italy, Lodge #2662, the festivle features Italian food, pastries and desserts, along with beer and wine, and Continuous entertainment, Italian-themed Souvenirs, Arts and Craft vendors, Ferrari's and Maserati's for the car enthusiasts. For the kids, the festival will have free face painting, inflatables and games.

Hours are Friday, May 3, 5pm to 9pm, Saturday, May 4, Noon to 8 pm and Sunday, May 5, noon to 6 pm.

8th Annual Mayfest on Main Festival May 11, 2013

Along Main Street, approximately 100 crafters will display a vast variety of crafts. Visitors can browse local Main Street businesses like Beach Memories and Hope Taylor for unique gifts and possessions.  Food vendors will be out in force offering a variety of treats.  And, of course, the Main Street restaurants will be open offering their delicious fare. Children can be entertained in a kid’s area with pony rides, inflatable slides, and age appropriate games.  Two community stages will offer live music and performances from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.  For more information read ‘NMB Mayfest Just Around the Corner.’
 
Mother’s Day, Sunday May 12, 2013
 Many North Myrtle Beach restaurants will have Mother’s Day specials. Check out the 252 listed in our yellow pages that are solely within North Myrtle Beach. The variety of dining experiences in this area reflects the fact that not all people have the same interests and lifestyles.

North Myrtle Beach and the North Strand retains your grandfather’s home town ‘mom and pop’ restaurants while also hosting major national chains - both providing a wide range of dinning opportunities.

Cruisin’ the Coast Bike festival, May 13th through 19th

A quarter of a million visitors or more will come to the spring bike rallies sponsored by the local Harley Davidson Dealers.  Events will occur throughout the area.  The Myrtle Beach Speedway, from 12 noon to 10 pm daily, will host vendors along with a variation of bike games, DJ music, eating contests, wet t-shirt contests, live bands, pole dancing contests and a fire show.  In addition they will serve breakfast every morning beginning at 9 am.  On May 16 from 5pm to 7 pm, the band cornbread will perform. The Little River United Methodist Church will hold a Blessing of the Bikes on May 18.  From May 16 to 18th, the Carolina RV will host Nub, the painter from the Orange County Chopper TV show, hanging out with East Coast Artie and Jimmy Jackson in the PPG Tent. They will be there to stripe and airbrush motorcycles. For more information see http://www.bikefestivalsmb.com/rally/ .

Thirty Second Little River World Famous Blue Crab Festival, May 18 and 19

For the past 31 years the Annual Little River Crab festival has brought 20 to 25 thousand visitors a day to a two day event in mid May.  Held along the waterfront in Little River, SC, festival goers can enjoy the 250 or so vendors and food in the local restaurants as well as street vendors. Entertainment this year will feature the Craig Woolard Band, Carolina Soul Band, Jim Quick and Coastline and The Fantastic Shakers. For more information see http://www.bluecrabfestival.org/index.html.
 
Music On Main Street Concerts, Thursday, May 24

The summer-long concert kicks off with the ‘Big Time Party Band’ playing beach music at the Horseshoe from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Bring your beach chair.
 
Atlantic Beach Bike Week from May 24 through May 27

The City of Atlantic Beach will host Atlantic Beach Bike Week from May 24 through May 27.  Two hundred to three hundred thousand bikers will visit Atlantic Beach over the long Memorial Day weekend.  A wide array of vendors will set up within the city limits and bike stunt riders will perform throughout the week. A variety of musical entertainment will be provided at the Horseshoe Stage.  The event will end with a salute to veterans. 

April 29, 2013 Atlantic Beach, SC -According to Linda Cheatham, Atlantic Beach acting Town Manager, the city will host a clean up day on saturday, May 4 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. Cheetham said, "Any one interested in helping out is welcome to join us."

April 27, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – What brings together women, ages 12 to 69, from all over the nation and Canada to North Myrtle Beach at the end of April?  When we say all over the nation we mean women representing every state and the District of Columbia – well, except for Nebraska, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming – we checked last year’s race records. But those 6 missing state representatives are more than made up by women attending from Alberta, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan, Canada. This is just the profile from last year when 3059 women participated in the ‘Run Like A Diva ½ Marathon’ and 604 in the 5K.
 
On Sunday, April 28, 2013, the Diva ½ Marathon kicked off at 7 am. The weather was ideal - low 60's, low humidity and overcast. Just what a runner would want.

Zola Pieterse (nee Budd), a former Olympic track and field competitor was way out in front of the 5,500 other women, setting a pace reminiscent of the past when in less than three years, she twice broke the world record in the women's 5000 meters and twice was the women's winner at the World Cross Country Championships. Budd's career was unusual in that she mainly trained and raced barefoot.

Zola PieterseBudd and her family have been living in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA, since August 2008. She has a visa that allows her to compete on the US masters' circuit and volunteers as a coach at Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers track team.

This year brings over 5,500 women to the Diva ½ Marathon and 5k run in North Myrtle Beach.  North Myrtle Beach went to the check in center at the NMB Community Center on Possum Trot road to get a sense of what was happening this year.  There we talked to Dana Wilkerson-Lynch from Roswell, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta.  She and her daughter were up for the weekend especially to run in the NMB Diva ½ Marathon. She is not a marathon novice, just having finished the Atlanta ½ Marathon in March.  She got into running last year as part of her recovery from thyroid surgery, starting with walking, then picking up the pace.  “I ran my first 5K last year then the ½ Marathon this year,” said Lynch.
Erik Korkowski with Emma and Alex
Watching this morning's race was Erik Korkowski with his children Alex 4 and Emma 2.  They traveled from Charlotte to cheer on Alex’s and Emma’s mother Laura who was running in the Diva ½ Marathon.  She and Erick are both runners and take turns participating in events.  They have competed in eight ½ marathons and fifteen ½ marathons.  They had just finished competing in Charlotte’s RaceFest 2013 in Early April. Last year, Laura and Erik completed together in the Charlotte Thunder Road ½ Marathon.  Laura competed last year in the Marine Corps Marathon held in Arlington, Va.

The results are in.  Zola Budd-Pieterse had the best time, finishing in 1:19:58.  Second was Deb Ryan, Southern Pines, NC finishing in 1:27:36 and third was Cindy Barbour, Greensboro, NC with a 1:31:33 time.  Fourth best finish was Christine Walters, Swansboro, NC with a 1:31:24 time.  Maureen Thomas, Myrtle Beach came in fifth with a time of 1:32:23. Congratulatons to all.

April 26, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – Just a few days before the bikers arrive for ‘Cruising to the Coast’ for their ten day event beginning on May 13, the City of North Myrtle Beach will hold the 8th Annual Mayfest on Main Festival. On Main Street, Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm, around 15,000 people will gather to celebrate May and the beginning of summer.

Along Main Street, approximately 100 crafters will display a vast variety of crafts ranging from African art, crafts like dinosaurs and handmade toys that appeal to kids, handmade unique door wreaths, the always popular patriotic crafts and creations from local artisans as well as those from others throughout the U.S.  Browse local Main Street businesses like Beach Memories and Hope Taylor for unique gifts and possessions.  Remember that Mother’s day is the very next day, Sunday, May 12.

Food vendors will be out in force offering a variety of treats. Some food will come from local restaurants hoping to gain a larger customer base, or a cooking enthusiast who enjoys the outdoors and serving their favorite recipes; other foods will come from professional vendors that go from festival to festival throughout the U.S.  And, of course, the Main Street restaurants will be open offering their delicious fare. Regardless of the source, the variety of food that will appeal to families, ethnic groups, and children and all will be prepared on site quickly and easily in limited space. Count on delicious food prepared for festival goers to eat on the go like exotic sausages, traditional BBQ ribs, turkey legs and chicken and the always crowd pleasing funnel cake.

Children can be entertained in a kid’s area with pony rides, inflatable slides, and age appropriate games.  Maybe even a bungee jump, a rock climb or camel rides.

Two community stages will offer live music and performances from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. At 12:00 pm the Main Stage will open with greetings from organizers and 30 minutes later some of the best musical talents will play until 6:00 pm.  Bring a totable chair to this family event to sit and enjoy the music.  The Main Stage is located at “the Horseshoe.”
      
Currently scheduled at 12:30 pm is Ross Coppley, a country music singer that has been performing for the past four years — delivering acclaimed live shows to sold-out crowds.  Averaging more than 100 performances a year, Coppley has established a solid and dedicated fan base throughout the Eastern U.S.
 
Following Coppley at 2:30 pm will be John Waite, a British-born rock singer who is well known for his song ‘Missing you.’
 
At 4:30 pm the Little River Band will perform.  While the name may seem local, the Little River Band was formed and gained fame in Australia producing many number one hits there.  In the U.S. the Little River Band sold gold with its album ‘Help is on the Way’ and followed that achievement with the single ‘Reminiscing’ becoming a number three hit.

April 25, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – The North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety will participate in the federal Drug Enforcement Administration’s April 27 National Take Back Initiative by holding a Medicine Drop-Off event in the Walmart parking lot at 550 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach. Public safety officers will be on hand April 27 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. in the parking lot to accept used and expired prescription, over-the-counter and other medicines.

The April 27 Medicine Drop-Off event offers an opportunity for people to remove unused and expired prescription and other medicines from their homes and drop them off with public safety personnel, who will properly dispose of the medicines. No questions will be asked of participants and no identification is required.

By removing unused or expired prescription medicines from their homes, participants can help to prevent accidental drug use by curious children or intentional experimental drug use by teens and adults.

Several previous Medicine Drop-Off events sponsored by the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department have resulted in the collection of over 111,000 doses of controlled, legend, and over-the-counter medications.

April 25, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – The North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety will hold a Junior Lifeguard Summer Camp in June for children ages 10-15.

The registration fee for the camp is $25. Registration will be held at the Beach Services Warehouse, 6th Avenue South. Call (843) 280-5684 for directions. The fee includes a North Myrtle Beach Junior Lifeguard hooded sweatshirt upon completion of the camp.

In order to qualify for the free camp, participants must be able to tread water for three minutes, swim 100 yards continuously using front crawl with rhythmic breathing, must attend all class to be eligible for graduation, and must be able to accomplish a 20 yard brick tow.

Participants will be trained in the following:

    Proper stroke mechanics
    Reaching, walking, throwing assists
    Caring for head, neck and back injuries
    How to escape a rip current
    Water safety
    Rescue board techniques
    CPR/AED
    First Aid
    Basic rescue skills

The camp schedule is as follows:

    June 15 – Qualification Test, 3:00 p.m., North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center
    June 17-19, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 7th Avenue South Beachfront
    June 20, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., J. Bryan Floyd Community Center
    June 24-27, 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., 7th Avenue South Beachfront
    June 29, Beach Clean Up (sponsored breakfast to follow)

At the end of the camp, participants will be American Red Cross certified in adult and child CPR.

Participants should bring goggles, bathing suit (a one-piece suit is recommended for female participants during aquatic activities), towel, extra change of clothes, swim cap, sunscreen, bottled water.

For more information, please contact North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Officer Monty Reed at (843) 503-6297.

April 25, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – May is a busy (and noisy) month in North Myrtle Beach.  In the early part of May (from the 13th through the 19th) the local Harley Davidson Dealers host a bike festival named ‘Cruising the Coast.’  Organizers say ‘Cruising’ will attract approximately 250,000 bikers spread throughout the Grand Strand.

Giving time only to draw breath, the City of Atlantic Beach will host Atlantic Beach Bike Week from May 24 through May 27.  In the not so distant past, 200 to 300 thousand bikers would visit Atlantic Beach over the long Memorial Day weekend.  Sherry Shuttles, Atlantic Beach Historical Society says in her book ‘Atlantic Beach; Images of America,’ that attendance reached 400,000 in the last decade. While attendance has slowed down since then, the biker traffic still puts a strain on the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department.
 
The .2 square mile area of Atlantic Beach is entirely located within the municipal boundaries of North Myrtle Beach placing most of the impact of Bikefest on the much larger city.
 
To get ready for this year’s events, North Myrtle Beach Public Safety requested and received agreements of support for crowd and traffic control from Horry County and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) as they have in the past.  In addition, this year Public Safety reached out to 124 law enforcement agencies within SC.  Nine responded they could provide assistance.  The Town of Bowman Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson Police Department, Conway Police Department, Dillon Police Department, Mauldin Police Department and the North Charleston Police Department will all provide police assistance.

April 24, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – North Myrtle Beach residents and visitors are asked to familiarize themselves with the course that the April 28 Divas Half Marathon will follow. Some residents and visitors who wish to access the course’s main routes in the early morning hours may have to select alternate routes until the race ends.

The half marathon begins at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 28 and has a three and one-half hour time limit. The 5K race begins at 7:20 am.

As they progress, the races will impact various parts of Ocean Boulevard, Hillside Drive, Main Street, 2nd Avenue North, 11th Avenue North, Highway 17 and 20th Avenue North. A map showing the half marathon course from start to finish in North Myrtle Beach is available for downloading from the Divas website at http://www.runlikeadiva.com.

Those who attend the following places of worship may also have to access them via alternate routes:
Trinity Methodist Church, Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church, Barefoot Church, Lakeside Baptist
Church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, and St. Stephens Episcopal Church.

On the morning of April 28, Divas Half Marathon participants will be running along the main routes where these churches are located at about the following times:
Ocean Drive Presbyterian Church
7:00 a.m.-7:35 a.m. – Participants should be running south on Ocean Boulevard.
7:15 a.m.-8:30 a.m. – Participants should be running north on Hillside Drive.
Trinity United Methodist Church
7:15 a.m.-8:00 a.m. – Half marathon participants should be running north on Hillside Drive and will be crossing 14th Avenue South.
Barefoot Church
7:30 a.m.-8:45 a.m. – Participants should be running up the westbound lane of Main Street and turning right on to Ye Olde Kings Highway.
Lakeside Baptist Church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, St. Stephens Episcopal Church
7:45 a.m.-9:45 a.m. – The westbound lane of 11th Avenue North will be closed to vehicle traffic. All runners should have cleared 11th Avenue North by 10:00 a.m.

The 2012 Divas Half Marathon was held on May 20 in North Myrtle Beach drew a sold out crowd of 4,400 women from 47 states. As of the end of March, registration for the April return of the Diva Half Marathon had already gone way beyond last year’s number, exceeding 5,350.

April 4, 2013 North Myrtle Beach, SC – Just a few short months after new sports complex opens in 2014, around 300 young girls will converge on the facility to compete to become either the Dixie Softball Angels or the Dixie Softball Ponytails World Series Champions.
Courtesy of SC Dixie Softball 
They will be members of 24 teams that competed throughout the season, climbing the ladder from local, to regional to state winners. They will arrive on a Friday in August, compete for five days and two teams will be crowned World Series champions.
 
Dixie Softball, Inc. (DSI), sanctions the event and the competition leading up to the World Series. DSI is a youth softball program for girls eighteen (18) years of age and younger, playing on a scaled-down diamond to meet the physical development of the growing child. The main purpose of the program is to provide a recreation outlet for as many as possible with emphasis on local league play rather than tournament play.

“Obie” Evans founded Dixie Softball in 1968.  Evans said, “Dixie Softball teams are in the Sunbelt from Virginia to Texas and has thousands of girls enrolled.”  Using South Carolina as an example, Evans explained, “SC has over 100 leagues, each league will have an average of twenty teams and each team will have 12 members.”  Just in SC alone, 24,000 girls will be members of Dixie Softball.
 
DSI also offers $1,500 college scholarships.  Local scholarship winners were Kelsey Elizabeth Morgan of Conway, and Emily Caroline Almond of Pawleys Island.  Morgan played in the Conway Recreation League and is a senior at Conway Christian School. Almond participated in the Waccamaw Youth Softball Association and is a senior at Waccamaw High School.