City’s tough budget decisions

 "City soon will wrestle with tough budget decisions"?   Gee, do you think any of them remember when I spoke to City Council and the Mayor (in front of a large crowd, at the meeting in City Hall) when they were proposing the large increases in city workers  some as high as 20%, and I got up at the meeting and said, You should rethink these large increases, we (meaning everyone) are getting ready to enter in the next year or so, the worst recession  this country had faced in long time.

It went in one ear and out the other, which just shows me they could care less — it’s somebody else's money — so shove it to the taxpayer, because remember, the more money we get for the  workers, the more  the mangers get ...

As soon as the market will allow, I am moving out of this place.  My perspective, I can see no advantage to living in the city. It offers nothing above the county, just more taxes, rules and problems.

Wm. Herring

Teaching kids about careers

Personal Pathways to Success  (PPTS) represents one of the most ambitious workforce development initiatives in South Carolina’s history and a one-of-a-kind approach to bringing all stakeholders together.

It includes reliable tools and resources, powered by Kuder®, for students, parents, educators, adults, and businesses.

Kuder® Connect 2 Business® (C2B), a key component of PPTS, provides an effective communication highway for students, adults, and employers.  It is vital that South Carolina businesses get involved and provide Extended Learning Opportunities (e.g., youth internships) to ensure students learn about their career interests, research the local industries, and prepare for the workforce.

By taking part in an Extended Learning Opportunity, students can supplement their individual graduation plans, which are required in South Carolina and managed through PPTS.

PPTS  is a free resource built by South Carolinians for South Carolinians.  Please join us in supporting this initiative.

  You can learn more at our Web site for this region www.scpathways.org/waccamaw/ or by contacting our Waccamaw Regional Education Coordinator Patty Shortt at 843-436-7207 or pshortt@scpathways.org.

Brad Dean, CEO, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Annette Fisher, CEO, Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce

Bridgette Johnson, CEO, Conway Area Chamber of Commerce

Marc Jordan, CEO, North Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce

Leslie Spivey, CEO, Williamsburg Hometown Chamber of Commerce

Dr. H. Randall Dozier, Georgetown County Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Cynthia C. Elsberry, Horry County Superintendent of Schools

Ms. Linda Huell, Williamsburg County Interim Superintendent of Schools

Souper Bowl thank you

It was the best ever! Habitat for Humanity Georgetown County’s Souper Bowl on Jan. 30 exceeded all expectations, raising a record amount of money for our next Women Build house.

With over 100 volunteers taking part, it’s impossible to thank each individually, but there are some people who deserve special recognition for the success of this event.

Appreciation to Father Pat Stenson of Precious Blood Catholic Church for the use of his beautiful parish hall and Skip Reilly for his hours of help. Gratitude to the event’s sponsor, South Carolina Bank and Trust, for their generous support. Tremendous thanks to the 40 area restaurants who created sumptuous soups and generously donated their labors.

Thanks to the Souper Bowl Committee with special recognition to Lynn Vogl for chairing the Restaurant Committee and the Basket Committee and to Joy Tiller for her work on the baskets. Thanks to Heather Teems, Kathy Patrick, Low Country Prep and all the bowl makers for their imaginative, beautiful bowls.

Special gratitude to Andy Giarrantano of the Front Street Deli for his expert managing of the kitchen.

Acknowledgement to Habitat’s Executive Director Annette Perreault and the Habitat staff for helping out before, during, and after the event. Recognition to Scott Richards and Bill Shannon of Easy Listening 105.9/Movin’ 94.5 for promoting the Souper Bowl so generously; The Georgetown Times, Coastal Observer, and Alternatives Magazine for their coverage of the event; area businesses who donated basket items; Georgetown High School Junior ROTC; Better Brands and Mike Riley; and DeRoMa’s Pizza.

Thanks to all of you and all the volunteers for your contributions toward building another Habitat house.

Elaine Minkler

Volunteer Chairperson

Smokeless locations

I would like to take this time to thank Tony's Famous Pizza for going "SMOKELESS"!

 Tony's is one of my favorite places to go to see our friends, have  a wonderful meal, get the greatest service, have the coldest refreshments in town, and now not to have to worry about smoking, I will enjoy my visit even more.

 I understand that people do smoke, but I just don't like to smell it when I am eating.

Also the other locations in town that have gone "SMOKELESS"  THANK YOU!

Susan Sawyer

Thanking McGill

The people of Piney Forest Baptist Church would like to thank Sen. Yancey McGill for helping to get our road paved which has been in the making for a long time. I know we will enjoy it.

Thelma Ray and church