Personal Injury Attorney in Myrtle Beach, SC

Myrtle Beach, SC — The 2024 Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam wrapped up a successful 7th annual event on October 27th, uniting thousands of Jeep enthusiasts, business partners, and the local community while celebrating the Jeep lifestyle along the Myrtle Beach coastline. Produced locally by NS Promos and presented by Myrtle Beach Chrysler Jeep, this year’s event drew visitors from 40 states, generating an estimated $8 million in direct economic impact and $12.5 million in total financial benefits for the Myrtle Beach area.

“Since launching Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam in 2018, it has been incredible to see how this event has grown and positively impacted the local economy,” said Steve Taylor, President of Native Sons, the Official Merchandise Partner and Creator of MBJJ. “The support from the city and local authorities has been essential to our success. Their partnership enables us to create an event that benefits our community, and we’re grateful for the welcome they extend to Jeep enthusiasts every year.”

Jeep Jam Community and Partner Support

Jeep Jam’s success this year is credited not only to enthusiastic attendees but also to a remarkable team of volunteers who helped ensure a smooth and vibrant experience throughout the weekend. “A special thank you goes out to the hundreds of volunteers from regional Jeep clubs who dedicate their time and efforts to make this event possible,” said Chris Trout, President of NS Promos. “Their dedication and commitment create an unforgettable experience for Jeep fans and our community.”“We’re also incredibly grateful for our local partners, like Burroughs and Chapin and Myrtle Beach Chrysler Jeep, whose support year after year has allowed Jeep Jam to grow,” Trout continued. “These partnerships are essential to the event’s ongoing success and positive impact on Myrtle Beach.”

The event featured more than 120 unique vendors offering everything from custom Jeep builds and accessories to lifestyle gear, with over 2,500 registered Jeeps on display. Our key partners played a vital role in enhancing the event experience, such as Carolina Custom Vehicles, Crooked Hammock Brewery, The Crazy Mason, Dave & Busters, Hard Rock Cafe, The Hangout, WMBF News, AccuAir, Distinction Applied, FBK Off-Road, Total Offroad & More, and Aggressive Krawlers Off-Road. Local families, including children under 12 who were admitted free, turned out to enjoy the interactive displays, obstacle courses, and beach crawls that Jeep Jam is known for. This year, the event also raised funds for Special Operations Wounded Warriors, Neighbor to Neighbor, and Hurricane Helene Relief, contributing to meaningful causes within the community.

“The positive response from the local community and media has been fantastic,” said Philip Van der Vossen, Marketing & Communications Manager for Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam. “The excitement and support we’ve seen this year generated tremendous enthusiasm, bringing out local families who enjoyed the event just as much as the Jeep community. It’s truly rewarding to see Jeep Jam embraced as a family-friendly tradition here in Myrtle Beach.”

Looking Forward to 2025

Looking ahead, efforts are already underway to expand the Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam and make it even more welcoming to families within the local community, while also enhancing the experience for Jeep enthusiasts traveling from out of town. Jeep Jam is actively surveying guests and partners in a continuous improvement effort and is committed to making next year’s event even bigger and better. Organizers look forward to welcoming Jeepers, partners, volunteers, and the Myrtle Beach community to an even more exciting event around the same time of year in 2025.

About Myrtle Beach Jeep JamThe Myrtle Beach Jeep Jam is an annual event that brings together Jeep enthusiasts for a weekend of camaraderie, obstacle courses, beach crawls, and a celebration of the Jeep lifestyle. Since its launch in 2018, Jeep Jam has grown each year, offering Jeep owners, fans, and families an unforgettable experience on the scenic shores of Myrtle Beach. For complete event details, updates, and access to the new app, visit MBJeepJam.com. The website also offers official merchandise, designed and printed locally by Native Sons, along with event photos available for attendees to purchase.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Audubon South Carolina is excited to announce the addition of key leadership to further advance its mission to protect birds and the places they need in the Palmetto State and beyond.

Merrill McGregor joins Audubon South Carolina as the organization’s new Policy Director, bringing 15 years of experience in legislative advocacy and policy analysis to the role. McGregor will spearhead the development and execution of an ambitious, bipartisan, science-based policy agenda focused on protecting South Carolina’s working lands, safeguarding its coasts, conserving its waters, and tackling the causes and effects of climate change for the benefit of birds and people alike.

“Merrill is a true force at the State House, with a well-earned reputation for her strategic leadership and ability to bring together diverse groups under the most challenging circumstances,” said Rebecca Haynes, Executive Director of Audubon South Carolina. “Her proven track record of advancing bipartisan policies will be invaluable to Audubon as we continue to tackle some of the toughest issues in South Carolina.”

McGregor joins Audubon after building a distinguished career with the Coastal Conservation League, where she most recently served as Senior Director of Government Relations. During her tenure, McGregor led legislative strategies focused on coastal management, wildlife habitat preservation, and renewable energy, helping secure bipartisan legislative victories on Audubon-shared priorities, including passing the SC Energy Freedom Act, permanently reauthorizing the SC Conservation Bank, and the creation of the SC Office of Resilience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in international business from the College of Charleston.

Audubon South Carolina is also pleased to announce the recent hire of Erin Rogers, who started as Coastal Program Manager in June. Rogers comes to the organization after seven years with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, where she gained extensive experience in marsh bird surveys, habitat management, and saltmarsh restoration in her roles as a wetland and marsh bird biologist.

“Erin’s knowledge of saltmarsh ecosystems and resilience, coupled with her collaborative approach, is exactly what we need to protect critical habitats along South Carolina’s coast,” said Sherri Fields, Conservation Director at Audubon South Carolina. “Her work will be instrumental in safeguarding numerous threatened species, including the Saltmarsh Sparrow and Black Rail, while also advancing our broader coastal stewardship and restoration efforts.”

Rogers is responsible for overseeing Audubon South Carolina’s growing coastal program, which protects rapidly declining coastal bird species and their habitats through restoration, stewardship, and education, while prioritizing efforts that increase climate resilience and create co-benefits for frontline communities. Rogers holds a Master of Science in biological sciences and GIS certificate from Illinois State University and a Bachelor of Science in biology from SUNY Geneseo.

The appointment of McGregor and Rogers is a boon to the organization as it continues to advance its goals and priorities under “Flight Plan” — National Audubon Society’s bold, five-year strategic plan aimed at reversing the alarming decline in bird populations by safeguarding critical habitats, driving urgent action on climate change, and building a community of passionate supporters across the hemisphere who are committed to building a more resilient future for birds and people alike.

Audubon South Carolina

Erin Rogers pictured just above brings extensive experience in avian ecology and wetland biology and restoration to her role as Audubon South Carolina’s new Coastal Program Manager. During her time with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Rogers led key initiatives in saltmarsh restoration and marsh bird monitoring and research.

About Audubon South Carolina

Audubon South Carolina protects birds and the places they need, right here in South Carolina. We’re the state office of the National Audubon Society, which has more than one million members and a century-long track record of success. In South Carolina, we represent nearly 30,000 Audubon members and supporters, nine Audubon chapters and bird club partners, two Audubon sanctuaries, one nature center, and more than 30,000 acres of land that we own or manage using bird- and climate-friendly forestry. Learn more about what we do and how to help at sc.audubon.org. Follow us on Facebook at @scaudubon and Instagram at @audubon_sc.

The Barefoot Resort community has a brand new fire engine.

“This marks a big occasion for us in the fire department,” North Myrtle Beach Fire Chief Billy Floyd said at the blessing and push-in ceremony for the engine on Monday, Nov. 4.

Engine 5, which cost more than $800,000, will replace a ladder truck which was stationed at North Myrtle Beach Fire Station No. 5 in the Barefoot Resort community.

“It’s a big investment,” Floyd said. “Our goal, from the fire department side of it, is that when these rigs go in service is that we can get 20 years out of it. We take a $1 million apparatus and we get 20 years out of it; that’s a $50,000 investment each year.”

After the retirement of an older ladder truck, the ladder which was previously stationed in Barefoot became one of two in the North Myrtle Beach fleet, meaning it was the only spare ladder truck that could be used in case of mechanical repairs or maintenance of the main ladder truck stationed across from city hall.

“What we were able to do is by putting this one in service in the Barefoot community, we could take the engine that served here that also had a small ladder and we’re able to move it to reserve status to accommodate the need for that reserve ladder that we lost,” Division Chief of Support Services Michael Huber said. “As our city grows, one apparatus as a reserve was not enough.”

The new engine was put into service immediately and is equipped to respond to fires as well as medical emergencies. Mayor Marilyn Hatley called it “a mean machine.”

“This is what we call an engine company. So this is our bread and butter. It’s going to respond to your medical calls in Barefoot Landing. It’s got water on board. It’s got a large pump on board and hose,” Huber said. “We try to keep it simple. For firefighting, this is the core of any fire department is an engine.”

North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue first responders are EMT trained to respond to medical emergencies, but the city does not have ambulances. Horry County responds to emergencies and transports patients to the hospital when needed. NMB first responders can provide care while Horry County Fire Rescue makes its way to the incident.

If you think Myrtle Beach area laws are stricter in the summer than in the off-season, you would be right.

And while things generally shift when the throngs of tourists leave the area, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t laws that you still need to follow for the beach and at many of the coastal cites.

Some violations of these ordinances could cost a hefty fine or even jail time.

Here’s a few you need to know.

Beginning Nov. 1, you can park for free in Surfside Beach and North Myrtle Beach.

All parking locations in North Myrtle Beach are free from November through February. After that, parking is paid from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March through September.

In Surfside Beach, parking is free beginning Nov. 1 through February. Paid parking begins on March 1 through Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Myrtle Beach has year-round paid parking from 9 a.m. to midnight daily.

As Daylight Savings Time began on Nov. 3 and the days grew shorter, it’s a good reminder to drivers that there are laws regarding when they can operate a golf cart.

According to South Carolina law, golf carts can only been driven during daylight hours and only four miles from the address on the registration certificate. In addition, golf carts can only be driven on roads in which the speed limit is 35 mph or less.

Daylight hours means after 6 a.m. and no later than 6 p.m.

However, when daylight saving time ends, the time shifts from after 6 a.m. and no later than 8 p.m.

Golf carts are allowed on Horry County beaches from Nov. 1 through Feb. 28. However, you must have a valid state permit and they have to be driven by a licensed driver.

Myrtle Beach prohibits cruising from 2 to 6 a.m. from May 1 through Labor Day. But after that, drivers are free to travel the boulevard as much as they want.

Cruising is defined by the city ordinance as “driving a motor vehicle, or causing or allowing a motor vehicle to be driven, past a traffic control point between 3rd Avenue South and 21st Avenue North on Ocean Boulevard two or more times in any two-hour period between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. during the period from May 1 through Labor Day of each year.”

There’s no restriction on what time of day dogs are allowed on the beach after Labor Day through April 30 in the city of Myrtle Beach.

In North Myrtle Beach, there is no time restriction for dogs from Labor Day through May 15.

During the summer season, dogs are not permitted on the beach during certain times of the day in both cities.

While your pooch must still be on a leash, and you must pick up and dispose of their droppings, your pet can enjoy a romp in the sand or water any time.

Bicycles are allowed on the boardwalk anytime after Labor Day through April 30. After April, they are only allowed from 5 to 10 a.m.

That goes for dogs as well.

There is always the question of kind of umbrella is allowed on area beaches, especially when it comes to the popular Shibumi Shade.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, only circular umbrellas, up to 7 1/2 feet in diameter are allowed in the city of Myrtle Beach

But after Labor Day, tents and shading devices are allowed on the beach in both Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach. However, there still are guidelines for what size.

If you’re under the age of 18, the city of Myrtle Beach has a year-round curfew between midnight and 6 a.m.

That means a minor can’t be in a public place during the curfew hours.

In North Myrtle Beach, it’s against the law for any person to ride a surfboard or skimboard on the public beach or any waters near between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. from May 15 through Labor Day except in designated areas.

However, after Labor Day, the ocean is open to any surfer, anytime.

The Grand Strand is home to an abundance of marine life from common animals like crabs and fish to more unusual sights like dolphins, manatees and even sharks.

But cooler temperatures in November mean you might catch a glimpse of one of the rarest animals in area waters: whales.

Only one species, the pygmy whale, makes its home in the ocean off of South Carolina year round, according to Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network director Lauren Rust. In addition to education and conservation, LMMN coordinates responses for sick, injured, trapped and dead marine mammals stranded in South Carolina.

Based on “stranding data,” information collected from stranded marine mammals, Rust says pygmy sperm whales are consistently present in South Carolina throughout the year. However, the 8-to-10-foot whales are spotted infrequently.

“They’re very rarely seen alive for a couple reasons. They live in the deep water, so most people are not there to see them because they’re deep divers,” Rust said. “They’re also just really dark and small and have a really small dorsal fin.”

While pygmy whales are in South Carolina waters more often, whale species passing by the Palmetto State can be easier to spot.

“Most whales are going to be migrating kind of in the shoulder seasons, like in the fall and the spring,” Rust said. “They’re typically gonna go down to warmer waters in the wintertime and then go back up to the north in the summertime, when the food is much greater and the temperature better.”

Beaked whales, humpback whales, North Atlantic right whales, pilot whales and sperm whales — not the pygmy kind — all migrate along the Atlantic coast. Depending on the species, some go as far south as the Gulf of Mexico.

Once the weather starts to turn in the spring, migrating whales will return up the Atlantic toward the northeastern United States, with some species traveling as far as Nova Scotia, Rust said.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration maintains seasonal management areas during the migratory season to protect critically endangered North Atlantic right whales’ migratory routes and calving grounds.

Along South Carolina’s coast, vessels that are 65 feet or longer can’t travel faster than 10 knots between Nov. 1 and April 30. While only larger boats are restricted, NOAA encourages smaller boats to slow down during the season as well.

There’s no reliable formula for finding whales in the Grand Strand, even during the peak season.

“All of these whales are going to live offshore,” Rust said. “So it’s harder to see them close to shore.”

The best chance of spying whales without getting in a boat in the Myrtle Beach area is probably on a pier. But even at a pier, the animals are a rare sighting. The last time one was spotted at the Myrtle Beach State Park pier was in January of 2023, a park ranger said.

“It’s just they don’t come close enough. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Rust said. “You might get a rare whale that comes in shore to feed a little bit, but pretty far off shore.”

Because most whales and pods tend to travel in deeper water, farther from shore, the most likely place to spot the marine mammals is in a boat off the coast. If you do encounter a whale in a boat, NOAA says to observe the whale from at least 100 yards — or one football field — away.

The Sun News

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Maria Elena Scott writes about trending topics and what you need to know in the Grand Strand. She studied journalism at the University of Houston and covered Cleveland news before coming to the Palmetto State.