🌱DHEC Test Kits + Longs Shooting Victim ID'd + MB Probes GSHS

Kathy Mandell
Updated ·5 min read

Good mornin', Myrtle Beach! Let's get you all caught up to start this Tuesday, January 25 off on an informed note. Here's everything worth knowing on the Grand Strand today.

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A check on Tuesday's slightly warmer weather:

Mostly cloudy. High: 55 Low: 36.

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Here are the top five stories today in Myrtle Beach:

  1. SCDHEC began distributing free home COVID-19 tests on Monday. The department has 140,000 of the at-home rapid antigen tests, and is expecting to receive the remainder of a 2 million kit order soon. Half of the test kits will go to first responders, correctional facilities, nursing homes, school districts and other state agencies. The other half will be available for pickup at public health department locations. Test kits can also be ordered online from the federal government. (WBTW) (WPDE)

  2. On Monday, SCDHEC announced that it will be delaying the release of new COVID-19 case numbers until today because of a large volume of test results received. Normally, weekend results, including Monday's results, are announced on Monday afternoons. Today's report will include results from Tuesday. (WBTW)

  3. A 21-year-old woman was shot and killed in Longs over the weekend. The deadly shooting occurred in a field near Highway 9 and Pine Needle Drive on Sunday afternoon. Officers responded to a call, and heard a gunshot shortly after arrival near the scene. They reported that they witnessed a woman with a firearm, and officers instructed her to drop the weapon. She was arrested. On Monday, the female victim, De-Erica Fisher, was identified by Horry County Deputy Coroner Tamara Willard. (WMBF)

  4. On Monday, a gas leak at Lowe's Home Improvement store on Seaboard Street required response from the Myrtle Beach Fire Department. The store was evacuated, and the gas provider, Dominion Energy, repaired the leak. (WMBF)

  5. Grand Strand Humane Society has been accused of using drugs not approved by the FDA in treating feline infectious peritonitis, a lethal disease that affects cats. The antiviral drug is expensive and difficult to find because it is not approved by the FDA. The organization located some of the medicine and publicly held a fundraiser to pay for the medication during Giving Tuesday in 2020. The fact that the fundraiser was intended to cover the costs of the purchase of that drug was publicly disclosed in November of 2020. Officials say city funding to GSHS may be in jeopardy, but they want to keep working with the shelter as they have been doing for many years. Several city officials have adopted pets from GSHS. Taxpayer money was not used in the purchase of the medication. Four infected cats died, but three survived the deadly disease with the treatment. (Myhorrynews)

Last week, we told you about our new favorite non-alcoholic go-to — the refreshingly bitter drinks from our partners at Betera. They’re chef-created from natural botanicals, lightly effervescent and worthy of life beyond “Dry January.” We mentioned that their Ginger-Orange was excellent; we’ve since tried Elderflower-Lime and loved it as well — light and floral with the perfect amount of zing. We're converts.

Enough of you took Betera up on their 15% discount on first orders for Patch Daily readers that they’ve extended the offer for another week. Use PATCH15 at checkout. Highly recommended — try Betera here.

Today in Myrtle Beach:

  • City Council Workshop @ Myrtle Beach City Hall (9:00 AM)

  • City Council Meeting @ Myrtle Beach City Hall (10:00 AM)

  • Jake Abraham Transfer Station Dedication Ceremony @ Mr. Joe White Ave Ext (1:00 PM)

  • Chapin Memorial Library Board @ Myrtle Beach City Hall (5:30 PM)

  • Randy Atwood @ Cooper's Tavern (6:00 PM)

  • Town Council Regular Meeting @ Town of Surfside Beach (6:30 PM)

From my notebook:

  • There's a new solid waste transfer station in Myrtle Beach. Today there will be a dedication ceremony for the new facility that is replacing the original facility which was built in the 1970s. The site is named for "Mr. Jake" Abraham, who worked for the city from 1947 through 1986 as a solid waste collection operator. Mr. Jake died in 2011. The dedication ceremony is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (WMBF)

  • Myrtle Beach is on the list of South Carolina cities with the highest number of residents living in poverty. The number of people living in poverty across the United States went down for the fifth year in a row, according to U.S. Census numbers. Myrtle Beach has more than 22,000 people living below the poverty line. (WBTW)

  • Myrtle Beach area job openings: Browse the latest! (Myrtle Beach Patch)

  • Nextdoor Neighbor, Market Common: Do you have artistic talent? - Are you the "hostess with the mostest" and known for the parties you throw? Looking to put a little fun into your routine? Painting with a Twist is now hiring party host/hostesses for our Myrtle Beach studio! Email a resume AND samples of your artwork (please show work with acrylic paint on canvas) to studio350@paintingwithatwist.com (Nextdoor)

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That's it for Tuesday, everybody! I'll see you in your email box Wednesday for the latest Myrtle Beach news.

— Kathy Mandell

About me: The best decision I ever made was relocating to the Myrtle Beach area from New England a few years ago, with my three dogs and three cats. I enjoy dogs, cats, road trips, photography, writing, vegetarian food, live music, bicycling and above all my daily walks on the beaches in and around the Grand Strand.

This article originally appeared on the Myrtle Beach Patch