Chiefs celebrate their 6-2 victory over Myrtle Beach
Throughout the season, the North Myrtle Beach varsity baseball team has accumulated a record of 2-21. Their record within the region is nothing to brag about.  They certainly are not going to the playoffs this year. However, after Thursday’s game against their Myrtle Beach rivals, the Chiefs feel like state champions.

Over the past few years, their fair share of tough breaks has beset the Chiefs. In fact, five would-be starters have moved out of the area, the “B-team” coaching position has continually seen new faces, and dominant pitchers have been rare. What have the Chiefs lost over recent years? To be exact, the answer to that question includes a right fielder, two pitchers, a center fielder, a catcher, a third basemen, a first basemen, and most importantly, an invaluable coach and friend in Jeff Butler. Let us not forget Chief's pitcher Jason Ritter the five starting seniors who graduated this past season. A better, and more important, question to ask is what have the Chiefs gained over the years? The answer to that question is simple: heart, experience, and a love for the game.
 
This past Thursday, April 22, the Chiefs provided every fan near the field with a little sample of what has to come. After twenty-one straight losses, most teams would just be ready for the season to end, but that was not the case for the Chiefs.
 
The Chiefs struck in the first inning by scoring five runs against the Myrtle Beach Seahawks. If things were to have stayed consistent with the season, the Chiefs would have gone out to the field and allowed the Seahawks to light up the scoreboard. Again, that was not the case for the Chiefs. The team was finally able to do something that they were not able to do all season long - play offense and defense well on the same night.
 
As fans noticed, this was no normal night for the Chiefs. The team celebrated its Senior Night, on the same night as Cancer Awareness Night.  The team chose that combination in recognition of the death of Coach Jeff Butler from cancer.

Despite the overcast weather, people still came out to enjoy the festivities.  The festival served as a kick off for the city’s seasonal farmer’s market.  The farmer’s market will take place on every Thursday starting on the 29th from 2:00pm-6:00pm and go throughout the summer and into the fall.  The chamber’s hope is that the festival will get people eager about the farmer’s market, and in return, the market will have great success in the following months.Outdoor fireplace by Blanton Building Supplies

The southern rock band, Seth Thomas, from Conway, SC provided the entertainment. They kept the crowed entertained from 2:00pm-4:00pm.  A favorite was the band’s rendition of “Purple Rain”.

The Home & Garden Expo featured live demonstrations throughout the festival.  One featured Mark Collins and others, from Blanton Building Supplies showing  how to build your own fire pit and bench.  They built the pit based on one designed by a customer. 

Loris in Bloom will have 50 vendors offering flowers, food, arts and craft and farm produce for sale.  The festival will also have entertainment, a Home & Garden Expo, and a children’s pavilion.  The children’s pavilion is sure to be a highlight of the festival.  The pavilion will have inflatable amusements for the kids, a petting zoo, face painting, pony rides and camel rides.

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH (WMBF) - The Barefoot Bridge is scheduled to undergo construction for some restoration work including paint and other repairs.

However, since the two lane bridge serves as the main entrance and exit for residents in the Barefoot Resort community, some people living there say they have some concerns.

"We received an email notice from our condo association about the planned painting of the bridge, and now there's actually been a couple follow up notices," explained Alan Patterson, a Barefoot resident. "It just seems so strange that they'd be choosing to do this at the peak of tourist season. That's just incredible to me."

Read the rest of the story at http://www.wmbfnews.com/Global/story.asp?S=12337984 

Copyright 2010 WMBF News. All rights reserved. Reposted with Permission. 

APRIL 19, 2010 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC – Monday morning is normally a fairly serene and quiet time at North Myrtle Beach City Hall. Instead, visitors found the area filled with local news services lined up and waiting for the grievance hearing for former Public Safety Director William Bailey.

City Manager John Smithson had placed Bailey on administrative leave and then demoted four ranks to Lieutenant after someone stole his city issued gun from his vehicle.  Smithson’s basis for demoting Bailey was that he had lied to city officials when he claimed he had locked his gun in his vehicle’s glove compartment. Later information revealed the glove compartment did not have a lock.

 
William Bailey-NMBO stock photoBailey had requested a public hearing "to set the story straight."

The grievance hearing is a normal procedural hearing to allow a city employee to protest a personnel matter.  A panel of four city employees, aided by an outside attorney, Stephen Savitz, heard both sides of the issue revolving the stolen gun.

“Normally, the public is not allowed to view grievance hearings to protect the employee,” Savitz told NorthMyrtleBeachOnline.com.  “In this case, the employee wanted the public to attend and wanted the news media present.”

Media frency
In an announcement last week, the city advised the news media to leave cameras, tape recorders, and video cameras outside to limit disruption of the proceedings.  Savitz said an additional reason for the restrictions was the grievance committee’s desires. The committee wished to be protected from unwanted attention in their role at the hearings.

Despite this advisory, the media showed up with cameras, tape recorders, video cameras and immediately began protesting the restrictions.