Watching Elsa+Night Work Delay+Surfside Town Offices Need To Move

Hello, Grand Strand neighbors! It's me again, Kathy Mandell, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily. Today is Wednesday, July 7, 2021, and here are the most important things going on today in and around town. Tropical Storm Elsa puts us on watch, Carolina Forest Boulevard nighttime work has been delayed, Surfside Beach's town offices look to relocate due to mold and structural issues, and the 4th of July was declared a huge success on the Grand Strand despite large crowds.

Let's take a quick look at today's weather: Cloudy morning with thunderstorm activity in the afternoon and evening. High: 85 Low: 76.

Here are the top stories today in Myrtle Beach:

1. Tropical Storm Elsa will give us lots of rain and thunderstorms starting today and going into Thursday. A Tropical Storm Watch is in effect for SC's Lowcountry Coast. We will certainly keep an eye on this storm, especially for wind, storm surge, and rip currents. (WBTW)
2. Due to the approaching storm and expected bad weather, the Carolina Forest Boulevard widening project will suspend overnight construction for the rest of this week. Crews will begin at 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 11 instead, and expect to complete their work by 7 a.m. Friday, July 16. Work will occur overnight every night that week from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (Patch)
3. Officials in Surfside Beach are considering relocating the town's municipal offices due to mold and structural problems. The current town hall was found to contain mold spores after a recent inspection. Officials will meet on Tuesday, July 13 to discuss the possibility of purchasing the former Coldwell Banker offices on Highway 17 Business. (WBTW)
4. The Grand Strand saw a lot of traffic and crowds during the July 4th weekend. With everything open here and no mask mandates, folks said it was refreshing seeing people out and having fun. Traffic was heavy, and campgrounds and hotels were booked up. (WPDE)
5. In a related story, business owners had growing lines of customers, and say they broke records from previous years. MYR airport had a record-breaking weekend as well, with a 70% jump over 2019, and an obvious 94% jump compared to 2020. (WMBF)

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Today in Myrtle Beach

• Mommy & Me Art Play Session, Studio 4319 (10 AM)
• Red Cross blood drive at Coastal Grand Mall (11 AM)
• Ukulele Class at Socastee Library (2:30 pm)
• Pups on the Patio with Kind Keeper No-Kill Animal Rescue, Local on the Water (4 PM)
• Loomis Bros. Circus: 2021 Tour Florence, SC (7:30 PM)

Myrtle Beach Patch Notebook

• A North Myrtle Beach man who was fostering a dog from Kind Keeper Animal Rescue adopted the pooch after it ran away Sunday night during fireworks. The shelter is inundated with surrendered animals and there's a big need for adoption or fostering. (WBTW)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: This handsome hound was found in Barefoot Landing on July 5th. The HSNMB is looking to reunite him with his family. The pup is not up for adoption at this time. (Facebook)
• Five state agency directors in South Carolina will be getting pay raises totaling tens of thousands of dollars. (WBTW)
• It was 20 years ago this week that an F2 tornado caused havoc on Myrtle Beach during the height of the 4th of July week! (WPDE)
• SCDHEC isn't changing its recommendations, but notes a rise in COVID-19 delta variant cases, statewide. There were six confirmed delta variant cases in the Lowcountry. (WBTW)
• The enrollment period for the Socastee flood buyout program will start July 12. The entire process could take up to a year for processing. (WMBF)
• Do you know any of these Grand Strand reality TV personalities? (WBTW)
• Check out this great photo gallery of old photographs from Horry County, including Myrtle Beach. (WBTW)

That's it for Wednesday, folks! 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.