Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGEORGETOWN COUNTY (WMBF) - A Murrells Inlet woman will spend over three years in prison for an over-decade-long embezzlement and identity theft scheme A judge sentenced 61-year-old Valerie Joseph to 53 months in federal prison and 12 months of home detention Joseph was convicted of wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft Officials say the scheme began somewhere around January of 2011 Joseph and her husband Robin conspired to defraud an unnamed wholesale greenhouse and garden center and its owner in Caroline County Court documents state that from 2003 until 2021 Valerie Joseph served as a bookkeeper for the business The pair schemed to make unauthorized charges to three credit-card accounts associated with the victim Valerie and Robin Joseph used credit cards associated with the victims’ accounts to make several purchases The couple used fraudulently obtained funds for vacations Robin Joseph pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme He is facing a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud conspiracy and a mandatory two years for aggravated identity theft (WPDE) — The Blessing of the Inlet is this weekend in Murrells Inlet The 29th annual event takes place at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church It kicks off Saturday with an Inlet Blessing ceremony at 10 a.m and a children’s play area with bounce houses and games Organizers say to come hungry because there will be food available from the church The money raised goes to support local missions and community members The Blessing of the Inlet Celebration is Saturday from 9 a.m at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church in Murrells Inlet Belin Memorial United Methodist Church is located at 4183 Highway 17 Business in Murrells Inlet of Murrells Inle,t was sentenced to 53 months in federal prison and 12 months of home detention in connection with a decade-long Joseph and her husband conspired to defraud a wholesale greenhouse and garden center and its owner Court documents stated that Joseph worked as a bookkeeper for the garden center MORE: 17-year-old armed robber flees store without taking any money: FPD Authorities said Joseph and her husband conspired to make unauthorized charges to three credit-card accounts associated with the victims for personal gain Records showed Joseph and her husband routinely used the business's credit cards to make purchases pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft in connection with the scheme Attorney’s Office commended the FBI for its work in the investigation By Charles Swenson|May 5 There are no signs that designate the 13 parking spaces at the south end of Business 17 for bike path users but Dennis and Alcione Brecka thought they would give it a try “It’s great having this here,” Dennis said “We saw it and figured it must be for the bike path.” The couple lives in Prince Creek and Brecka said he didn’t think there was a safe route to the Bike the Neck system of paths that now stretch from Murrells Inlet to Pawleys Island An extension of the Inlet to Intracoastal route in Murrells Inlet opened last month taking the path from Riverwood Drive to Wachesaw Road That coincided with the completion of a section on Waverly Road in Pawleys Island that replaced a sidewalk built in the 1980s The Breckas loaded their bikes on a rack and drove to the parking lot just north of Huntington Beach State Park where the bike lanes on Business 17 merge at a wooden bridge that skirts the marsh “This was beautiful,” Brecka said after a ride down the path and through the park That made the area a popular destination for people who wanted to park and cycle until the state Department of Transportation put up No Parking signs in October 2020 That was the result of “a request from the public,” a DOT official said at the time Cars were parking at right angles to the southbound lane of Business 17 The county and the Murrells Inlet 2020 revitalization group received complaints The county started working on ways to restore the parking DDC Engineers drew up a plan for 13 parallel parking spaces separated from the highway by a curb Lee Hewitt got $325,000 for the project included in the 2023 budget for the Department of Parks Recreation and Tourism.  The lowest bid was $454,773 Stephen Goldfinch got an extra $190,000 in the next year’s budget The project was completed at the beginning of the year but a snowstorm delayed the ribbon-cutting.  State and local officials gathered in the parking lot last month as County Council Member Stella Mercado and Tripp Goldfinch Barry Drecksage watched over the fence that separates the parking area from his home in the Pinnacle neighborhood The neighbors wanted the unpaved shoulder closed to parking due to concerns about safety and litter The result of the county’s search for a way to restore parking that follows DOT regulations is something that looks more urban with its yellow curbing and retaining wall of split-faced block There is also an extra lane of asphalt that runs next to the parking spaces which are covered with pervious concrete to improve drainage “It is the entrance to Murrells Inlet from the south,” Drecksage said One of his neighbors has a buffer of pampas grass “We bought this property for the view,” Drecksage said and he and his wife are thinking about selling Hewitt said the parking area is important to provide access “We’ve spent all this money on the bike path,” he said There are other places along the route where cyclist park and ride including Windover Drive on the south side of the park and Waccamaw Elementary School.  While the No Parking signs were up on the south end of Business 17 he got complaints from businesses farther along the highway about people parking in their lots to access the path While there are other areas on Business 17 where people also park perpendicular to the highway A letter’s required from the county,” Hewitt said Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" May 1, 2025 April 24, 2025 by Abigail Quinn (WCIV) — The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office and Horry County Police Department is seeking information on two men involved in an armed robbery at a residence in the Murrells Inlet area Sunday the reported robbery occurred at a residence on Sunnyside Avenue Sunday evening Two victims reported that they were robbed of money cell phones and a safe containing additional money by three men according to a report from law enforcement Photos of two of the men wanted for questioning in the armed robbery and their vehicle were obtained from a security camera at a convenience store in Horry County MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WPDE) — Parishioners at St. Michael Catholic Church gathered with heavy hearts during Monday Mass to reflect on the passing of Pope Francis, who died at the age of 88-years-old The news of his death came just a day after he greeted thousands at St Michael's Church expressed the somber mood "We have a heavy heart today knowing that our beloved pope passed away," Manny said Churchgoer Carol Westbrook also reflected on the loss but we're very grateful that we had Pope Francis and we'll try to do good works like he did," Westbrook said "I'm saddened because he was the best of the best he accepted everyone just the way they are and that's the main thing that most people need to know is if everybody could be like that Many attendees expressed their hopes for a smooth transition in finding a new pope Michael's Church where I always go and say some prayers and God bless that they find another pope right away Deacon Manny also reflected on the significance of the pope's passing "I think it's a peaceful grief and a lot of people are filled with hatred and this is the time that we get together and be at peace and spend time to grieve for the loss of our beloved Pope," Manny added Parishioners said they saw Pope Francis waving to people from his car at the Vatican just the day before and many expressed that the coming days would be difficult as they mourn his loss Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMURRELLS INLET (WMBF) - A Murrells Inlet-area marina has taken to social media to address a restaurant’s recent closure the Wacca Wache Marina detailed why Walters on the Waterway closed earlier this month ownership has been pleased with the service and operations provided by Walter and his team,” marina ownership wrote in the post within the last few months the restaurant was unable to fulfill certain aspects and remain financially aligned with the obligations outlined in the lease which has ultimately led to Walters closing.” The post went on to say that the marina’s ownership and staff wished Walter’s ownership the best in their future endeavors Marina ownership also said the restaurant is being cleaned and prepped “for a new first-in-class restaurant operator that will provide the stability the marina and this community deserves.” Walter’s, which was located on was located on Wachesaw Road, announced its closure on Jan. 7 citing “unforeseen circumstances.” (WMBF) - A man is in custody after an argument turned violent in the South Strand The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said 54-year-old Reginald Cordell Parker was taken into custody following the shooting on Lulu Loop just after 9 p.m Parker is accused of shooting an 18-year-old after the argument The teen was taken to an area hospital for treatment GCSO deputies are still on the scene working to collect evidence and interview witnesses Anyone with information is asked to contact GCSO at 843-546-5102 Parker is being held at the Georgetown County Detention Center and charged with attempted murder Courtesy of South Carolina's Hammock Coast Kruck20/Getty Images  Courtesy Of Costa Coastal Kitchen & Bar by Bryce Jacquot and possession of a weapon during a violent crime according to Georgetown County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Jason Lesley Two victims reported they were robbed of their money and a safe containing money by three men Sunday at a residence on Sunnyside Avenue Anyone with information about this incident or these individuals is asked to call 843-546-5102 (WPDE) — A third person has been taken into custody in connection to an April 13 armed robbery in Murrells Inlet the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday 21-year-old Tymarious Dereintae Shimeek Holmes was arrested Tuesday by officers from the Horry County Police Department and US Marshal's Service on charges of robbery while armed Holmes was transferred to the Georgetown County Detention Center where he joined Jamarion Qua'lee Terrell Long who were previously arrested on charges stemming from the same robbery that occurred earlier in April at a residence on Sunnyside Avenue READ MORE | "Second suspect arrested in Murrells Inlet robbery; law enforcement seeks third accomplice" Anyone with further information about the incident is asked to contact GCSO at 843-546-5102 The Marshwalk is lined with restaurants and bars in Murrells Inlet on March 23 Birds rest on pilings by the Marshwalk in Murrells Inlet on March 23 The wayfare signs in Murrells Inlet are different than other local cities in Georgetown County on March 23 Atalaya was the winter home of sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer Milton Huntington The Morrish-influenced castle was built in the early 1930s It is located at Huntington Beach State Park in Georgetown County on March 23 A cedar tree is steps away from the at Huntington Beach State Park in Georgetown County on March 23 Huntington Beach State Park is north of Litchfield Beach in Georgetown County on March 23 People walk with dogs on the beach at Huntington Beach State Park in Georgetown County on March 23 beach chair and sunscreen and head to the beach to catch some rays You could go fishing in the surf or on a charter boat Want to check out art and nature and critters All these things are close by in Murrells Inlet which is in the northern part of Georgetown County And you can cap off a busy day or week in “The Seafood Capital of South Carolina” by visiting any of the plentiful seafood markets or restaurants along both Business 17 or Bypass 17 (U.S Many of the dining places are on the MarshWalk a half-mile wooden boardwalk along the edges of the marsh in Murrells Inlet Seafood and wide varieties of other food items are often accompanied by music on scheduled nights that you can enjoy during or after your seafood dinner DJs and bands are features in many of the restaurants Among the other top-notch attractions in the area are many boating and fishing opportunities you can put it in at Morse Landing Park at 4925 U.S There are also commercial marinas in Murrells Inlet and Garden City Beach that people may use Personal watercraft and paddle-boarding are also popular Georgetown County maintains a number of public beach access points along its part of the Garden City Beach/Murrells Inlet area Just inside Horry County is the Garden City Pier that people are welcome to visit and enjoy some fishing Several marinas offer fishing trips and boat tours or take a fishing charter inshore or offshore head boats and party boats and parasailing A little south of the Murrells Inlet area are two major attractions not only for Georgetown County but for South Carolina One is Brookgreen Gardens that was established in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington The couple set up a private not-for-profit corporation to operate Brookgreen Gardens Brookgreen Gardens encompasses about 9,100 acres That figure includes Huntington Beach State Park Plenty of activities and amenities are available at this coastal nature preserve — oceanfront swimming a park store and what many people call Atalaya Castle Atalaya — which means Watch Tower — was the home and the studio for the Huntingtons Anna Hyatt Huntington was a well-known sculptor Parts of Atalaya were used for her studios They also had areas where animals could be housed so they were available as models for her artworks Huntington is the only fully open state park in Georgetown County "The park's causeway offers a wonderful vantage point to observe both the salt marsh and a managed brackish water impoundment where it is possible to see most species of wading birds found in South Carolina as well as alligators," said Mike Walker "Two hours on either side of low tide in the salt marsh provides the greatest diversity of birds." Huntington Beach has logged over 300 species of birds which arrive between the first and second week in April and stay until the fall Much more information about Huntington Beach State Park and Atalaya is available on the park’s website: southcarolinaparks.com/huntington-beach Georgetown County is on the way to adding two more state parks The Black River Water Trail and Park Network runs along the Black River from near Kingstree to Georgetown County’s Rocky Point Community Forest Rocky Point’s 660 acres is part of the network Ramsey Grove is also situated on the Black River Highway 17 from Huntington Beach State Park is the bulk of Brookgreen Gardens At the entrance is a large sculpture of the fighting stallions It has long been one of the most photographed objects in South Carolina Brookgreen Gardens contains what may be the world’s largest collection of outdoor statuary Not only are many of Anna Hyatt Huntington’s sculptures on display walking paths and the Lowcountry Trail provide views of natural and man-made beauty The Lowcountry Zoo and Lowcountry Center tell much about the area’s history Other displays provide beauty and showcase talent by a variety of artists Their works help people learn more about the flora and fauna of the Lowcountry There is a Lowcountry Education Center with many programs there are regular series about the Gullah Geechee culture of the descendants of enslaved Africans who provided the skill and the labor that made Georgetown County the wealthiest county in the United States in the years before the Civil War The website for Brookgreen Gardens has much information about admission fees programs and the many exhibits that are on display Bordering on parts of Brookgreen Gardens along the Waccamaw River About 9,000 acres of the island are part of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge The land is owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by the Waccamaw refuge Towards the southern end of Sandy Island is a community of between 50 and 100 people who are generations-long residents of Sandy Island They are descendants of the formerly enslaved people who first bought some of the land in the years immediately following the end of the Civil War Residents and visitors must arrive by boat Reporter Nicole Ziege contributed to this report  Follow Nicole Ziege on Twitter @NicoleZiege Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Gator Zone Sports Bar and Grille is scheduled to open Feb A Murrells Inlet couple will be fulfilling their dream of opening a sports bar this week Gator Zone Sports Bar and Grille will open in the former Voodoo Brewing location on Feb MURRELLS INLET — Angela Anthony and Eric Richter have both been widowed but they've found love again— in each other and in their shared dream of opening a sports bar Gator Zone Sports Bar and Grille emerged from the couple’s desire to bring a bar to Murrells Inlet that offered the same atmosphere as those found in the couple's home state of New Jersey "We just weren't getting that vibe of a true sports bar," Richter said Finding a space big enough for the open layout they envisioned was a challenge, Richter said. They wanted a free-standing building rather than a space in a strip mall. Eventually, they found a match in the former home of Voodoo Brewing The size and layout of the bar have allowed for 30 televisions It will offer multiple sports streaming packages to satisfy almost every type of fan Customers can stand practically anywhere in the bar and still watch their desired sports event each room will have an individual audio source allowing the sound from one TV to be broadcast into any of the rooms "We're trying to appeal to everybody who has sports in their blood," he said Gator Zone will also have an expansive food and drink menu Anthony’s family has been in the restaurant industry for 40 years she started washing dishes and peeling potatoes "Learning the true meaning of hard work," she said The restaurant will serve bar favorites such as pub pretzels Richter said they have connections with pizzerias that have helped them create pies close to those found in the Garden State but we're hopeful that we have the right people and we're using the right ingredients to make it memorable," he said Although the restaurant concept draws inspiration from their home state they knew they wanted to honor Murrells Inlet by naming the bar after one of the area’s iconic reptiles they considered calling the bar “Master Gator” but decided against it Master Gator has become a nickname for Richter "He’s the master gator because his creativity has been shining through this whole process … so that’s me telling Eric his work is shining," Anthony said It’s also the name of one of Gator Zone’s cocktails Gator Zone will have eight additional cocktails, six wine options and 24 beer taps. A dozen taps are reserved for the most popular domestic beers and about a dozen more are for local beers from Grand Strand Brewing, New South Brewing, Tidal Creek and others Richter said there’s a natural anxiety that comes with opening a new restaurant but he hopes customers will feel at home there “We're hoping that we have just a little bit of a uniqueness to us where you know … they put us on their social calendar for one of their favorite places to go,” he said — A suspect is in custody after a shooting that took place in the Murrells Inlet area on Friday evening was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder by Georgetown County Sheriff's Office deputies The arrest occurred at a residence on Pee Dee Lane after an 18-year-old male was shot following an argument at a residence on Lulu Loop shortly after 9 p.m The victim was transported to a regional hospital for treatment Authorities urge anyone with information about the incident to call the Georgetown County Sherriff's Office at 843-546-5102 (WPDE) — The South Strand Assembly of God hosted its sixth annual glow-in-the-dark easter egg hunt Friday in Murrells Inlet The event featured the glow-in-the-dark egg hunt an easter gospel message for children and inflatables outside TODAY: Former Darlington police officer exchanges vape pens for home repair work, SLED says "We're glad that we have an opportunity to make a difference in the community here You know South Strand has been a part of the community since 1983 It was founded by our current pastor and his wife so long ago and their heart is for the community and their heart is for children and for watching those come up in the lord and having their lives transformed by what God can do in it if just given a chance," John Hayes associate pastor at South Strand Assembly of God Hayes says he got the idea for a glow-in-the-dark easter egg hunt from a friend of his who is a pastor in the upstate They were inspired to celebrate Easter in a unique way South Strand Assembly of God has one service on Easter Sunday at 10 a.m (WPDE) — A Surfside Beach favorite is expanding with a third location in Murrells Inlet Neal and Pam's announced on Sunday that they will open a new restaurant on The Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk Sloppy Jose's Cantina and Seafood Grill will take over the former Neptunes building, according to a Facebook post from Neal and Pam’s. The restaurant is partnering with El Cerro Grande to bring the vision to life TRENDING: Marlboro Co. man dies from hypothermia Neal and Pam’s thanked Wicked Tuna Dining Group for connecting them with El Cerro and helping make the expansion possible The business says they will be keeping the pirate ship and offering a special sweet tooth concept in the adjacent building with “Little Burros Churros.” Neal and Pam’s opened Neal's Creekhouse, off of Highway 17 Business, in 2023. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInMURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WMBF) - A Murrells Inlet brewery that previously announced it was closing soon is staying open a little while longer. In social media posts Saturday, Voodoo Brewing company announced that its Murrells Inlet location would stay open through the end of the month. The business said the decision was made following "community support and the backing of financial investors" and called it a “Christmas miracle.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Voodoo Brewing Co. - Murrells Inlet (@voodoomurrellsinlet) “The support of our community has been beyond astounding and we have had multiple people reach out regarding upcoming business opportunities… So the future is looking very bright and exciting for the location in the inlet," the post continued the brewery announced that Sunday would be its final day of business Voodoo Brewing Company opened a second location at Broadway at the Beach earlier this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Voodoo Brewing Co. - Murrells Inlet (@voodoomurrellsinlet) by Ian Kayanja (WCIV) — A second man was arrested Thursday for his alleged actions in an armed robbery that occurred near Murrells Inlet was arrested by the Myrtle Beach police on charges of robbery while armed kidnapping and possession of a weapon during a violent crime Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver reported Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies are continuing to seek a third suspect two victims reported being robbed at a residence on Sunnyside Avenue of money Anyone with information is asked to call 843-546-5102 (WPDE) — A Murrells Inlet man was arrested after being accused of assaulting an official in the back of an ambulance on Sunday according to a report by the Horry County Police Department is charged with assault and battery to the third degree The report said an ambulance was transporting Parsons from Westham Drive to the hospital around 1:40 p.m when Parsons became "aggravated and aggressive" towards officials Officials said Parsons grabbed one of the officials by the wrist of one hand and then grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him against the side of the ambulance while on the way to the hospital The report said Parsons held the official to the ground Parsons told the official that "he wasn't let him call anybody for help and also told him that nobody was coming to help him." Officers responded in reference to the Horry County Fire Department requesting police The report said that on their way to the hospital officials were told that fire and EMT personnel were being "assaulted by a patient." Officers arrived at South Strand Medical Center and made contact with the official and Parsons the patient was locked inside a secure room There was no visible injury to the victim at the time of the incident Reuben Long Detention Center on a $2,130 bond in relation to this incident Parsons was also charged on Friday with trespassing on another's land without permission and public intoxication He was later released Saturday on a $457.50 bond (WPDE) — A standoff in Murrells Inlet overnight ended peacefully - but the 911 caller ended up jailed Horry County Police were called to a home on the McDowell Shortcut Road around 9:45 Tuesday night on reports of a domestic disturbance in progress The 911 caller told dispatch she was being assaulted and she was locked in a bathroom Officers and the Horry County SWAT team responded to the home and attempts to make contact with the occupants were unsuccessful An officer noted in the incident report that a woman's shoes were in the front yard and there was a bullethole in a window on the front of the residence The 911 caller again called dispatch and told them she was okay and she "only called earlier because she was upset," the report states both parties inside the home exited and the standoff ended without incident After interviewing the male inside the home HCPD arrested the 911 caller for making a false report Reuben Long Detention Center just before 1 a.m A Horry County road is reopened Wednesday morning after a police investigation Horry County Police announced McDowell Shortcut Road in Horry County has reopened after being temporarily closed. HCPD closed McDowell Shortcut Road between Day Break Road and Rosehall Road while the standoff was underway (WPDE) — The 11th Annual Oyster Roast & Bloody Mary Festival is this weekend in Murrells Inlet Area restaurants will compete for the best Bloody Mary recipe on the Strand The event benefits the Sea Beyond Foundation MORE: Body recovered from Georgetown Marina You can expect a variety of tastes and unique garnishes and you can vote for your favorite to win the People's Choice Award all you can eat oysters and $20 oyster buckets we have great- really interesting bloody marys It's a competition," Jared Hendrix from the Sea Beyond Foundation said The 11th Oyster Roast and Bloody Mary Contest is Sunday from 11 a.m NNE winds shifting to SSE at 10 to 15 mph. VFW Post 10420 in Murrells Inlet will be holding a raffle and silent auction on Feb 7 to raise money for costly building repairs A statue of a soldier stands outside a memorial at the VFW Post 10420 in Murrells Inlet The post will be holding a raffle and silent auction on Feb A Murrells Inlet VFW post needs to make $200,000 worth of repairs to its building MURRELLS INLET — With tree roots threatening to grow into its foundation a rutted parking lot and a host of other issues the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Murrells Inlet needs roughly $200,000 worth of repairs Local VFW posts are nonprofit groups that don’t have the same kind of resources as the national organization, said Dallas Landrem, senior vice commander of Murrells Inlet’s Post 10420. Post 10420 won’t be able to fund all of the necessary repairs "I don’t think we could afford to move," he said "I just don’t think we could afford another building." Post 10420 is asking the community to help fund the repairs It launched a GoFundMe site with a goal of $5,000 and will be holding a raffle and silent auction for a fundraiser on Feb The post has collected over $2,000 through the GoFundMe and has received several donations to their fundraiser Local businesses have taken notice of the post’s plight as well At Your Service Plumbing and Drain Cleaning volunteered roughly $2,000 worth of labor to the VFW post They did plumbing repairs for free and only charged the post for the the parts Texas Roadhouse donated to the raffle and will be giving a percentage of its sales to the repair effort ”I’m really proud of the response that we got from our members from our associates and from the people supporting us,” Landrem said It would cost roughly $130,000 to completely repair the parking lot and about $14,000 to replace the post’s failing walk-in cooler And that’s not counting all the other needed repairs The building’s age is largely responsible for its issues there hasn’t been much done to address the problems over the past several years Post 10420 is an important gathering place for its members and is active in the community It donated about $4,000 of its veterans relief fund last year to help other veterans and regularly supports local schools and their ROTC programs "We're known as the friendliest post on the coast," he said Amanda O'Connor is an auxiliary member of Post 10420 She said it's a vital space for veterans like her husband It allows them to mingle with like-minded people and feel a sense of camaraderie Post 10420 has a goal of providing a safe space not just for older veterans But she worries that if the issues with the building aren't fixed soon conditions could worsen over time and interfere with that goal it's not going to be there for them," she said she said fixing up the inside of the building could lift the spirits of VFW members She said even superficial changes like the addition of the American flag mural to the outside of the building and a mural in the women's bathroom brought a new sense of joy to the post She said repairing the building would have a similar effect on morale Anyone interested in supporting Post 10420 is encouraged to attend the fundraising event She said there will be a variety of prizes to be won in the raffle or purchased during the auction Anyone looking to donate a prize or gift basket for the raffle should do so by Feb Landrem said it’s unlikely that the post will raise the full $200,000 but he hopes it will receive enough money to fix the worst of the issues so the building can remain operational "That’s where the veterans know where to go," he said News tips/online questions: cperry@postandcourier.com Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com (WPDE) — A missing pregnant woman last seen in Murrells Inlet has been found safe Juliet Lanae Martin was located by the Myrtle Beach Police Department Thursday Martin was first reported missing on Jan.13 after walking out of a Murrells Inlet hospital The Georgetown County Sherriff's office has listed her as safe and sound Floor & Decor is expected to open in August at the redeveloped Inlet Square Mall Floor & Decor and Hobby Lobby are the big box retailers planned for Inlet Square Mall The redevelopment of Inlet Square Mall is underway on April 2 MURRELLS INLET — Inlet Square Mall's newest stores could welcome shoppers by early fall Other stores and hotels are also being planned as the first projects in the shopping complex's overhaul near completion "People have been waiting for Inlet Square Mall to be redeveloped for a long time," said Neal Bowers of Paramount Development Corp. "They're excited to see progress — finally see progress." the South Strand mall was developed in 1990 Paramount proposed major changes: keep Belk Planet Fitness and the buildings that once held Kmart and JCPenney Belk and Planet Fitness have remained open through the renovation and the project has moved to its second phase which includes improvements to the stormwater system we're hoping for people to be able to come shop (at the new stores)," Bowers said Among the new stores will be the Myrtle Beach area's first Floor & Decor The Atlanta-based specialty retailer sells products ranging from wood and laminate floors to tile and stone Floor & Decor opened its first South Carolina store on Rivers Avenue in North Charleston in 2019 It now has locations in Columbia and Greenville with another planned for Mount Pleasant Floor & Decor operates more than 250 warehouse stores and five design studios across 38 states The mall location will be a warehouse store in the former Kmart building, Bowers said. That Kmart closed in 2014 Floor & Decor's grand opening is tentatively scheduled for Aug customer service specialist Sha-kila Browning said in an email The mall's Hobby Lobby is planned for the former JCPenney, which closed a decade ago An Oklahoma-based arts and crafts giant, Hobby Lobby boasts more than 1,000 stores and operates in 48 states. It has a store in North Myrtle Beach and plans to build another beside the Carolina Forest Walmart Along with an extensive crafting inventory and items for jewelry making and picture framing A representative for Hobby Lobby could not be reached for comment Apart from the big box stores, a 134-room Home2 Suites by Hilton is planned for a 4.5-acre site near Belk There is also space for a second hotel in the mall area though there's no timeline for that project Paramount officials are in talks with potential tenants for the outparcel spaces but Bowers said nothing has been finalized Managing Editor - Post and Courier Myrtle Beach The Eric Wayne Band performs in Roanoke, Va. Catch the band on May 3 at Dead Dog Saloon in Murrells Inlet Eric Wayne Slone, aka Eric Wayne started taking piano lessons when he was growing up in Roanoke "My mother told me that I had to have some type of culture in my life – whether it was piano or ballet," he said He continued to take lessons for six years until school sports began to eclipse music for a time he taught himself guitar and began to sing Slone started jamming with friend and guitarist Derek Kelly Slone said it occurred to them that they could probably drink beer for free and have fun playing at a local spot Slone talked to bar owners about possible gigs for the newly formed duo no videos or demos – this was a tough sell "There were a couple of bars in the Roanoke area that took a chance on us what are you going to do?' I told them I had a guitar out in the truck 'I’ll bring it in here and we’ll figure it out and the duo began to get bookings – starting in Roanoke and then fanning out into places like Richmond Harrisonburg and Charlottesville – eventually bringing in a trio or a full band "A really good friend of mine used to work at the Tin Roof franchise in Charlotte Something happened when the pandemic hit and the Charlotte location was closing its doors Management and staff were moving to Raleigh and my friend told them that they needed to get us in," he recalled Slone offered to do a livestream for free, tagging Tin Roof. After two such livestreams, the full band – the Eric Wayne Band – got booked at Tin Roof locations in Raleigh, Columbia and, ultimately, Myrtle Beach Regular bookings at Dead Dog Saloon followed the band now includes Shavante Hughes on drums and Tyler Carter on bass “Southern Soul,” is now available on multiple streaming platforms a lyric from title track “Southern Soul” sums everything up perfectly: "We do what we love/That's all we know how to." Catch The Eric Wayne Band on May 3 at Dead Dog Saloon from 8-11:30 p.m "Our original music is a Southern rock/country rock/rock ‘n’ roll kind of vibe," he said We also play things from Tracy Chapman to R&B – to hip-hop and country to Southern rock to rock ‘n’ roll We’re not going to leave anything on the table For more information, hit up www.facebook.com/EricWayneBand Hobcaw Barony encompasses 16,000 acres in Georgetown County and has long been a center for research The property features every habitat found on the coast of South Carolina – and it’s the ideal spot for birding enthusiasts join staff and volunteers and explore the salt marsh longleaf pine forest and the grounds of Bellefield Plantation and pond for various species of feathered friends – including shorebirds Birding on the Barony is $38 per person and reservations are required. Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Bring water and sunscreen. For more information, visit www.hobcawbarony.org It’s not every day that you get the chance to meet a New York Times bestselling author, but thanks to your friends at Litchfield Books, you can do just that. On May 2 from 10:45 a.m. until 1 p.m., enjoy a literary lunch at Caffe Piccolo in Pawleys Island and rub elbows with Marie Bostwick in support of her latest offering Bostwick has 19 books of historical and contemporary fiction to her credit – including "The Second Sister,” which was adapted into the 2018 Hallmark Hall of Fame film "Christmas Everlasting," starring Patti LaBelle Your $37 ticket includes an author presentation, meet & greet, a personalized book signing, luncheon and an opportunity to buy the event book. For complete details, visit www.litchfieldbooks.com Any day in the pristine Lowcountry splendor of Brookgreen Gardens is good for the soul you can take this experience to the next level at the fifth annual Spring Wine Festival Get away from the rat race for a relaxing afternoon on the Pegasus Lawn games and activities (tickets available on site) and the opportunity to buy featured wines at a discount A selection of beers will also be available General admission is $55 for members and $65 for non-members. Get the VIP treatment for $135. All event proceeds support Brookgreen Gardens’ Campaign for the Next Generation. For details and tickets, go to www.brookgreen.org Two Hobby Lobby stores are planned for the Grand Strand Two Grand Strand communities are in line to get Hobby Lobby stores, according to plans filed with Horry County Government MYRTLE BEACH — Two Grand Strand communities are in line to get Hobby Lobby stores, according to plans filed with Horry County Government The plans, which are under review by county staff, show the arts and crafts giant coming to the redeveloped Inlet Square Mall on the South Strand and adding a location beside the Carolina Forest Walmart Hobby Lobby already has a store in North Myrtle Beach Headquartered in Oklahoma, Hobby Lobby is the world's largest privately owned retailer of arts and crafts supplies, boasting more than 1,000 stores, according to the company's website The company employs more than 46,000 people and operates in 48 states The plans for the Hobby Lobby at Inlet Square were submitted in December while those for the Carolina Forest store arrived in February The Murrells Inlet mall redevelopment is being spearheaded by Paramount Development Corp Although a Paramount representative did not respond to messages seeking comment swaths of the 35-year-old mall have already been razed Paramount officials have said they plan to construct some new buildings though they are keeping Belk and Planet Fitness Along with adding Hobby Lobby, plans for the mall area include a 134-room Home2 Suites by Hilton a 55,000-square-foot Hobby Lobby is planned for a nearly 13-acre site close to the corner of U.S That area of Carolina Forest has seen other construction in recent months Plans have been submitted for a Parker's Kitchen convenience store at the corner of Highway 501 and Burning Ridge Road Across the highway, a developer has been in talks with Conway officials about the city annexing property near the corner of Gardner Lacy Road and Highway 501 for a project that could include nearly 2,000 apartments and additional retail space and restaurants The only tenants identified so far are a Popeyes and a Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Those properties are already in the city limits and would be outparcels of the shopping center that developer has not submitted any plans for the main shopping complex Follow Charles Perry on Twitter at @horryjournalist (WPDE) — A fundraiser this weekend will support pediatric brain injury research The Annie Banannie Foundation fundraiser will be held at Neal's Creekhouse in Murrells Inlet The foundation was started in honor of Annie Nichols a Murrells Inlet girl who suffered a traumatic brain injury and was saved by doctors at MUSC The fundraiser starts with a Road Rally for Research which is essentially an adult scavenger hunt that leads to Neal's Creekhouse TRENDING: Florence school kids go green, tree planting day You can donate money to then make someone else sing our fundraiser to make a friend of mine sing karaoke But if they don't want to sing karaoke they can double down and match my donation So it is kind of pay to play or pay not to play," said Kelsey Nichols from the Annie Banannie Foundation The Annie Banannie Foundation fundraiser is on Saturday You can also choose to head over to Neal's Creekhouse at 5:30 p.m All funds raised will go directly to MUSC Children's Hospital for traumatic brain injury research in pediatrics Mike Dapolite didn’t expect his Voodoo Brewing Co. location to make it to the end of the year MURRELLS INLET — Mike Dapolite didn’t expect his Voodoo Brewing Co. location to make it to the end of the year 4 he announced the Murrells Inlet pub would close by Dec despite being in business for just 13 months But an outpouring of support has kept the pub going and Dapolite aims to soon finalize a long-term deal that will ensure the pub can continue serving patrons "It meant the world to me," he said of the community's response The pub's opening was delayed for more than a year due to budgeting and permitting issues it was the offseason and business was slow Dapolite wasn’t making enough money to keep the doors open Customers flocked to the restaurant to grab a last bite and give their hugs and goodbyes to the staff Some even asked Dapolite what they could do to help save the business he said the restaurant had several investors lining up he plans to either sell the business or form a partnership with investors wood pallet tables are surrounded by drawings from local artists including a skeleton head full of beer a sea turtle and a hamburger dotting the colorful walls Usually Dapolite can be found chatting with a customer a trend that has turned customers into friends "The locals that come as regulars took an interest in (Voodoo Brewing) themselves," he said They’ve been here every week or every other week for a year." the pub had built up its own following in Murrells Inlet where locals found themselves every week whether it was for Saturday karaoke the live music or just to grab a craft beer after work and he makes the trek to the restaurant several times a week with his German Pinscher named Minnie He said Dapolite is frequently out chatting with his customers and is passionate about his business Among his patrons Dapolite found that sour beers such as the green-colored Lacto-Kooler which supposedly tastes like a jolly rancher were fan favorites along with the light beer called Empty Calories These brews were originally born out of Meadville, Pa., in 2005 when Voodoo Brewing Co. was founded. The brew pub now has locations across the United States, including a second independently-owned Myrtle Beach area bar at Broadway at the Beach The company's business model allows for owners to run a location without the responsibility of brewing the beer on site as it is shipped from Pennsylvania When he decided to bring Voodoo Brewing to Murrells Inlet Dapolite was presented with the option of opening three locations — an offer which he decided against to ensure he wasn’t spread thin “I needed to be here with my staff and interacting with my customers,” he said who does everything from bartending to running the restaurant’s social media accounts said this December has been “a roller coaster,” but the tight-knit family atmosphere is what makes Voodoo Brewing so lively "To see the outpouring of support from people it’s literally blown my mind," Stopko said