Junk Removal in Myrtle Beach, SC

CONWAY — Coastal Carolina’s longest Sun Belt road stretch will come to a close this weekend.

CCU (3-3, 1-2 Sun Belt) will travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to take on Arkansas State (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in its third of a program-record three straight conference road games.

The Chanticleers are coming off a huge conference win, beating Appalachian State on the road for the first time on Oct. 10, a victory that likely kept their Sun Belt East Division title hopes alive.

CCU redshirt senior quarterback Grayson McCall had one of the best games of his career in the win over the Mountaineers, throwing for a career-high 373 yards and tossing two touchdown passes.

“It’s definitely a confidence boost, but then again, at the back of our heads, we knew our level of play and we knew we weren’t playing to our level of play the entire start of the season,” CCU redshirt sophomore wide receiver Jameson Tucker said of the win over App State. “So I think we are back to our level of play with a lot of confidence.”

The Chants will now set their sights on the Red Wolves, who have both the worst total defense and scoring defense in the Sun Belt, allowing 459.8 yards and 36.5 points per game.

However, CCU head coach Tim Beck is more concerned with how his team performs rather than how poorly Arkansas State has played defensively.

“It’s really still about us,” Beck said. “It’s really not about who they are [and] what they’ve done or haven’t done. Obviously, [offensive coordinator] Coach [Travis] Trickett and the offensive staff put together a good plan. We had a great plan [against App State]. I think we’re clicking. We’ve just got to protect the football. You’ve got to be able to run it and you’ve got to be able to throw it down the field and make plays and we did.”

After the Red Wolves’ offense only produced three points in blowout losses to Oklahoma and Memphis to start the season with redshirt senior quarterback J.T. Shrout under center, head coach Butch Jones started redshirt freshman quarterback Jaxon Dailey against Stony Brook in Week 3, but benched him in the third quarter of that game in favor of freshman quarterback Jaylen Raynor.

From unsanitized cups to month-old sauce, South Carolina health inspectors found numerous violations at Myrtle Beach-area restaurants this week.

The state releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Horry and Georgetown counties.

Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings in the last two weeks.

The inspector found rodent chew marks and droppings at this restaurant, located inside the Litchfield Beach and Golf Resort. Some shelves had black mold on them and the handwashing sink in the server area had been removed. Clean plates were stored alongside an employee water bottle and keys. A required followup inspection has not yet been held. Read Webster’s full report.

The inspector observed moldy pepperoni stored in a cookline cooler. Paint peeled from the kitchen walls and ceiling. The dishwasher did not use any sanitizer and there was standing water underneath it. A required follow-up inspection was held on Oct. 12 and the restaurant got a B grade. Read Copacabana’s full report.

An inspector found a bucket of water sitting in the hand sink of this downtown Myrtle Beach location. The food warmer did not keep food cold and the inside of the door had duct tape on it. The required follow-up inspection was held on Oct. 12 and the restaurant got an A grade. Read Waffle House’s full report.

An inspector found month-old cream sauce in the walk-in cooler. Employees washed the cups, but did not sanitize them. Seafood soup did not cool down fast enough in the refrigerator. The required follow-up inspection was held on Oct. 11 and the restaurant got an A grade. Read La Ceiba’s full report.

Atlantic Beach voters will have big decisions to make at next month’s polls as they opt for a new mayor and flip the council by at least one new member on the panel.

Those officials are set to talk about how to handle growth and development issues in the historically Black town sandwiched in North Myrtle Beach.

Mayoral candidate Josephine Isom and council candidates Jacqui Gore, Shaun Swinson and Carla Taylor did not reply to the The Sun News’ questionnaire.

John David Jr. is running for mayor and Jerry Leo Finney is seeking a council seat.

Swinson, convicted of felony drug charges in Virginia, spent 72 months in prison.

Some answers have been edited for length.

Q: Is the proposed $100 million condotel project that is now the subject of a lawsuit a good fit for the town? Why or why not?

A: The current hotel and condo development project plan is NOT a responsible development for Atlantic Beach. Atlantic Beach is a historical and cultural treasure.The project poses challenges to the community infrastructure, the natural habitat along the shore, traffic congestion in the town and most of all preservation of our historical structures. We must protect our natural habitats, maintain public beach access, and consider the impact on our local infrastructure and ecosystems.

Q: Are you in favor of connecting Atlantic Beach to North Myrtle Beach or Horry County?

A: I am not in favor of the newly proposed Wiley or Madison connectors. This project will immediately bring new and increased traffic into the town. This new road will overload the current very small single lane road, and if expansion is required to support the projected traffic volumes the construction will displace many of our long-time residents in Atlantic Beach and North Myrtle Beach.

Q: How can Atlantic Beach remain economically viable over the next decade?

A: Our history is rich, and the community is working hard to document and preserve this history. In addition to the historic preservation grants that the Town has received, we are also focused on reasonable and responsible growth. Atlantic Beach can remain economically viable by capitalizing on the current growth and development along with creating a forward-looking plan to support our community.

Q: Should Atlantic Beach consider outsourcing any more of its services to North Myrtle Beach or Horry County?

A: Atlantic Beach has the right balance of utilization of services currently.

Q: Is the proposed $100 million “condotel” project that is now the subject of a lawsuit a good fit for the town? Why or why not?

A: I do not support the development of the 21-story condotel. Atlantic Beach currently faces one of the highest tax rates in Horry County. To address this, we must rethink our approach to finances. Exploring new revenue sources can have an immediate impact. Our focus for Main Street should be on quality, low-scale developments that enhance the community’s character and provide enjoyable experiences for our residents and visitors. As a lawyer, I support the 1930s deed restrictions limiting oceanfront development to residential construction. I believe in upholding these restrictions and following the law as written. Any ordinances rooted in misinformation should be eliminated. Together, we can improve our town.

Q: Are you in favor of connecting Atlantic Beach to North Myrtle Beach or Horry County?

A: No, I am not in favor of connecting Atlantic Beach to North Myrtle Beach with the newly proposed Wiley or Madison Connectors as recommended by the Grand Strand Area Transportation Study. I would internally assess Atlantic Beach’s road infrastructure and collaborate with the council to address town needs, aiming to enhance our community without introducing unnecessary traffic from external connections.

Q: How can Atlantic Beach remain economically viable over the next decade?

A: Atlantic Beach’s greatest asset is the people of Atlantic Beach. Atlantic Beach continues to attract families and business people who are looking for a quality of life that has long since disappeared in the neighboring cities in order to enjoy a slower, more serene community with less traffic. Atlantic Beach enjoys an escape from the hustle and bustle of the Grand Strand to the north and south. Growth is occurring in Atlantic Beach with no inducements, incentives, grants, or abatements – and without revenues from high-rise condos. Atlantic Beach property values are rising. One result of revitalizing the existing community is the steady increase in demand and the rising sale prices of vacant land.

Q: Should Atlantic Beach consider outsourcing any more of its services to North Myrtle Beach or Horry County?

A: Currently, I do not think Atlantic Beach should consider outsourcing any more of its services to North Myrtle Beach or Horry County.

Voters in North Myrtle Beach could change the complexion of city leadership, with six candidate vying for three open council seats, including a trio of incumbents.

The fast-growing city continues to broaden its footprint by annexing nearby land for future development while balancing the needs of current residents who are wary of rising taxes and crowded streets.

Challengers Hunter Platt and Jolene Puffer did not respond to The Sun News’ questionnaire by deadline. Some answers have been edited for length and candidates are listed in alphabetical order.

Q: How would you improve relations with local businesses that feel ostracized by city leaders?

A: As a local business owner, myself in the city for many years, I understand the challenges business owners face. I am proud to have the support of many local business owners and North Myrtle Beach residents from all walks of life. The city has one of the lowest tax structures in the state and that helps us maintain a business-friendly environment and attract new small business to our area. I am and always have been available to meet with our citizens and local business owners to discuss any concerns.

Q: Would you support a return to live streaming city council meetings? How else would you improve local government transparency?

A: I support live streaming council meetings to encourage as much public involvement as possible. For years I have provided my personal cell phone number and email address to the public and I encourage folks to use them. I want to hear from as many people as possible on the issues that affect our city.

Q: Should North Myrtle beach continue to annex land for potential development?

A: I am not in favor of annexing land into the city unless it would otherwise have a negative effect on current neighbor hoods. Recent annexations have been designed to help LIMIT development since Horry County has fewer development restrictions than the city.

Q: How would you address ongoing complaints from residents about overcrowding from newly built developments?

A: Growth is, without a doubt, the biggest challenge we face as a community. As a lifelong resident, I know that better than anyone. This is a great place to live and we are going to continue to grow, the key is to continue to work and plan to make sure our infrastructure and our roads stay ahead of the development. We’ve increased impact fees to place the financial burden on developers, here it belongs. While I have served on council. I have always fought against high density developments. I supported buying land to create parks and natural areas so they would not be developed and I am working on many others as well, including Waites Island and Tilghman Point.

Age: 63

Past/present elected office: Currently serving on the North Myrtle Beach City Council

Occupation: Residential design build remodeler

Education: High school

Political affiliation: Republican

Past/present bankruptcies, tax liens or felony convictions: Two satisfied tax liens over a 30-year business career resulting from paperwork discrepancies

Q: How would you improve relations with local businesses that feel ostracized by city leaders?

A: North Myrtle Beach is a great place to do business. I know, I am a small business owner in the city. We have new businesses moving in every day and we have growing and thriving existing businesses that make this a great place to live. We’ll continue to support small business by keeping taxes low and maintaining a business friendly environment.

Q: Would you support a return to live streaming city council meetings? How else would you improve local government transparency?

A: Yes, I support live streaming meetings. I encourage citizens to be involved in city government.

Q: Should North Myrtle beach continue to annex land for potential development?

A: The city needs to look at this on a case by case basis. We have no immediate plans at further annexation, but I am pleased that we were able to limit density and slow the development of land that was annexed from the county previously because the county has much less restrictive development guidelines than North Myrtle Beach.

Q: How would you address ongoing complaints from residents about overcrowding from newly built developments?

A: We have recently increased impact fees on developers to make sure they are paying for the new roads and infrastructure needed to service these new residents. By making sure our roads and water and sewer infrastructure are in place and updated BEFORE new developments come online, we can limit the impact on current residents.

Q: How would you improve relations with local businesses that feel ostracized by city leaders?

A: Directly engaging business owners is the only way to find out what are the most significant issues they are facing. To that end, I would invest adequate time and resources to improve and obtain input from business owners, particularly regarding passing new ordinances that directly affect business owners. This could be accomplished using traditional and digital platforms such as forums, online panels, verbal and written communication and personal visits.

Q: Would you support a return to live streaming city council meetings? How else would you improve local government transparency?

A: There is no reason to not live stream city council meetings. As a council member, I would utilize online community engagement which enables more people to have their say, at their convenience. And I would be pro-active in this regard. As a candidate, I have regularly posted specific issues through Facebook and Nextdoor to obtain residents’ feedback on some of the same issues you are raising now. As a council member, I will continue to use Facebook and Nextdoor to apprise residents of significant upcoming issues pending before the council and actively seek residents’ opinions. I would also investigate the advance distribution of the council’s agenda to interested residents via email blasts or on social media, so residents are kept informed. I believe an official written comment period should also be instituted for those residents who cannot attend meetings but can still voice their concerns.

Q: Should North Myrtle beach continue to annex land for potential development?

A: I believe the current “annexation” process, one project at a time, focuses on short-term benefits i.e., property and other tax revenues that will benefit the community in the short run is not a successful use of the “annexation” process. Annexation should focus on the long-term impacts on current residents and their properties and businesses. Long term costs include current and future infrastructure construction and maintenance, expansion of special transit services for elderly and disabled persons, the expansion of emergency services, increases in school costs and other civic facilities, and increases in services for employees and residents of new development (e.g., affordable housing for resort workers). Failure to consider such costs before infrastructure funds have been committed can have fiscal and other impacts on residents for years to come through increased taxes and fewer services. Annexation proposals should be accompanied by a site plan with enough specificity to allow the city to conduct a thorough and complete fiscal impact analysis.

Q: How would you address ongoing complaints from residents about overcrowding from newly built developments?

A: Residents should be informed of applications to build new developments in their neighborhoods. Additionally, access to staff reports and recommendations to the planning commission must be made available to local residents affected by new developments far in advance of planning commission meetings. This must be followed by meaningful consultation and opportunities for residents to take an active part in the decision-making process of the commission and ultimately council. Currently, residents provide input with city leaders through written and verbal communication and the three minutes they are given to address concerns at city council meetings. More weight should be given to residents’ opinions and experiences which oftentimes does a better job of identifying the impact new developments have on the city’s existing infrastructure such as highway congestion, density, and quality of life related issues affecting local residents. At a minimum, and particularly when discussion regarding a new development is tabled (delayed), this should be followed by an official written comment period for concerned residents.

Did not respond to biographical questions.

Q: How would you improve relations with local businesses that feel ostracized by city leaders?

A: I would want any business that felt ostracized to know that I have an open-door mind set. I may not agree with what you say however I fully respect and defend you right to say it. I always want to discuss controversial issues so we all know each other’s positions and maybe open the door to understanding why that position might be taken. Businesses and city leaders always need to talk.

Q: Would you support a return to live streaming city council meetings? How else would you improve local government transparency?

A: I would not have any issue with live streaming. The city in my opinion does a good job of trying to keep citizens informed especially through electronic media. All council agendas are posted online along with all city department reports. Also, the city website is continuously updated.

Q: Should North Myrtle beach continue to annex land for potential development?

A: As one council person, I would not support any further expansion of city boundaries. There are pockets within those boundaries “doughnut holes” that I would consider for annexation. Also, if there were an abutting industrial or commercial venture that generated high revenues, I would consider the possibility of annexation. Residential, no.

Q: How would you address ongoing complaints from residents about overcrowding from newly built developments?

A: With the rapid growth the city leaders and city staff are focused on improving infrastructure to accommodate this growth. Primarily roadways, it will take a few years to get it all done and it is a primary focus of the council that I sit on.