Boulevard Almost Done+Help Baby Turtles+New Law For Boaters

Good morning, Grand Strand neighbors! It's me again, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily. I hope y'all had a safe and enjoyable 4th of July holiday! Here's what's going on today in town: Carolina Forest Boulevard is almost done, find out how you can help nesting sea turtles, 4th of July flag marches, flyovers and boat parades, and the Coast Guard initiates a new boating law.

First, today's weather: Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 86 Low: 75.

Here are the top stories in Myrtle Beach today:

1. Work on the $54 million Carolina Forest Boulevard expansion project will resume today. The neighborhood is one of the fastest growing areas in Horry County, and traffic woes have caused motorists and residents some headaches. The expansion will make the road into four lanes, and should be completed by July 22nd. A recreational path alongside the roadway will be finished in the fall. (WPDE)
2. State Park rangers say visitors and residents can help nesting sea turtles. Loggerhead sea turtles are at the peak of laying their eggs and nesting right now, and there are ways to be aware and help the little shelled creatures get to the sea. Their trek usually takes about 20 minutes, but can be treacherous for the baby turtles because of disturbances from humans and predators. (WMBF)
3. Local residents and visiting vacationers gathered on the beaches of the Grand Strand to celebrate the 4th of July on Sunday. Events included the American Pride March from Main Street to Cherry Grove Beach in North Myrtle, as well as the Salute From The Shore military flyover. Video and photos from both events are available below in the Notebook section. (MyHorryNews.com)
4. The popular Murrells Inlet July 4th Boat Parade returned this year after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. Dozens showed up for the celebration, and the weather was perfect. Spectators and business owners on the nearby Marshwalk said it's great to be feeling like things are back to normal. (WMBF)
5. Speaking of boaters. If you're going out on the waters, be aware that a new Coast Guard law needs to be followed on the water regarding kill switches. The new boating law requires vessels less than 26 feet long have an engine cut-off switch that must be physically attached to the person operating the vessel. (WBTW)

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Today in Myrtle Beach

• Music Camp for kids 1st grade through 6th grade. Garden City Baptist Church (10 am)
• Little Picasso's Art Club for kids age kindergarten - 2nd grade. Studio 4319 (10 am)
• Paige King Johnson at Duplin Winery (12 noon)
• Yappy Hour with Grand Strand Humane Society at Grand Strand Brewing Co (4 pm)
• Brain Health Free Workshop, True Health Chiropractic, 2nd Avenue North, NMB (6:15 pm)
• Loomis Bros. Circus : 2021 Tour - July 6 and 7 in Florence, SC (7:30 pm)

Myrtle Beach Patch Notebook

• Conway neighbors launched their 'STOP THE FENCE!' effort as CCU and the SCDOT eye a new safety plan on route 544. (wpde.com)
• A multi-vehicle crash in the Myrtle Beach area sent four to the hospital late Sunday night.(WMBF)
• Can you volunteer for one of our local animal shelters by providing foster care for animals in need? Local shelters are overcrowded, and some are refusing intakes. Foster care is desperately needed. (WBTW)
• North Myrtle Beach residents and visitors witnessed the American Pride March on July 4th. Two sets of color guards carrying flags marched a total of eight miles from two directions, meeting at the NMB Horseshoe. (WPDE)
• Salute from the Shore took off on the 4th of July near the NC/SC border, and continued south to Beaufort. I was lucky enough to be on the beach to witness the event, when two F-16s zoomed overhead, followed by a C-17, and then a small "red baron" type plane flew behind. A beachgoer managed to get video of the quick flyover. (WMBF)
• For the next three Mondays, a Murrells Inlet church is hosting MAD Mondays for area kids. The event, held at the Lowcountry Community Church (aka LC3), is a chance for kids to get messy and dirty (MAD) with a free meal — and parents get a night off. (wpde.com)
• The South Carolina State Fair announced its deadline of September 1st for contest entries for the 2021 fair . The fair returns to an in-person format after doing a drive-in event last year. (Live5News.com)
• The Myrtle Beach Pelicans won its third game against the Wood Ducks in front of a sold-out crowd on Sunday. (Facebook)
• They're hiring! Here are the latest job openings in the Myrtle Beach area. (Patch)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for Tuesday, July 6, 2021. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

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— 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.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Myrtle Beach Daily? Email all inquiries to me at myrtlebeach@patch.com.