The following headlines also took place in 2009 in Georgetown County:

n On Jan. 3, Nicole Jiles, 24, and her 5-year-old son Gary Vereen died as a result of a fire in their home on S. Rosemary Ave. in Andrews.

n On Jan. 9, the new terminal at the Georgetown County Airport was named in honor of former County Administrator Tommy Edwards, who played a big role in making it a reality.

n On  Feb. 19, Chris Eldridge was hired as the new Georgetown City Administrator.

n On March 16 , Beulah White and her daughter Dayo White pled guilty in connection with missing and misappropriated money from the Five Rivers Community Development Corp.

Beulah White was ordered Monday to repay $3,500 and was placed on five years’ probation. Dayo White must pay back $52,489 and is also on five years’ probation.

n On April 22, Pawleys Island resident Antonio Grate, 20, was shot and killed during a home invasion at Carolina Breeze Apartments on Ceder Street in Myrtle Beach. He was a 2007 Waccamaw High School graduate and a former member of the Warriors basketball team.

n On May 3, the search for 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel of Rochester, N.Y., expanded into Georgetown County after phone records revealed her cell phone had been used in the North Santee area. Drexel was last seen in Myrtle Beach on April 25.

n On May 4, Georgetown Planning and Development Director Sabrina Morris resigned her position. City Administrator Chris Eldridge said her resignation was voluntary.

n On May 13, School Superintendent Dr. Randy Dozier announced nine teachers and 13 other district workers would be laid off to help balance the district budget.

n On May 21, this area's S.C. National Guard unit was placed on "alert" status, meaning there is a possibility of deployment. They will depart for Afghanistan Wednesday.

n On June 9, it was announced Georgetown County workers  would have to take a three-percent pay cut and seven workers were laid off.

n On July 1, the doors of the new 80,000-square-foot Georgetown County Judicial Center opened.

n On July 23, it was announced the Port of Georgetown secured five potential customers.

Paul McClintock, SPA senior vice president and chief commercial officer, said the new business could generate as much as $5.4 million in revenue and create as many as 300 new jobs.

n On July 23, Solomon Sifontes, 35, drowned in the ocean in Pawleys Island after saving his young son. The child made it safely to shore but rescuers were unable to save his father.

n On Aug. 16, Georgetown City Council approved spending $1.07 million to purchase the old Eagle Electric facility on Highway 17 which will be used for a new Maryville fire station.

n On Aug. 22, the new $3 million U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge in Yauhannah opened to the public.

n On Aug. 28, Gerald Leon Benton, 55, drowned  after falling into the Sampit River near Maritime Marine.

n On Sept. 3, Tommy Grainger, 43, a worker for Carolina Marine, was working on the arm of a crane at the new Sampit River Boat Landing when it fell on top of him, killing him instantly.

n On Sept. 19, the new state-of-the-art YMCA on Highway 51 opened to the general public.

n On Nov. 13, Georgetown County Councilman Glen O’Connell announced he will not seek reelection in 2010.