Personal Injury Attorney in Myrtle Beach, SC

Filing taxes every year is always a chore, but at least there’s a chance of getting decent refunds.

The IRS and the S.C. Department of Revenue recently announced that they’d start accepting 2024 income tax returns on Jan. 27. The filing deadline for both federal and state returns is set for May 1, due to relief granted in October because of Hurricane Helene.

So, when is the soonest a South Carolina taxpayer can get a tax refund?

The IRS will begin processing tax returns on Jan. 27. If you file your tax return online and opt for direct deposit on Jan. 27, then you can expect your refund from the IRS in less than 21 days. Taxpayers who choose to get their refunds by mail can expect a longer wait.

Unlike the IRS, the SCDOR has stated it will begin processing tax returns on Feb. 3 to allow employers time to meet the Jan. 31 W-2 submission deadline for workers.

If you file your return immediately on Feb. 3 online, you can expect your refund up to eight weeks later, SCDOR states. Paper returns will again take even longer.

According to SCDOR, more than 94% of returns in South Carolina were filed electronically last year. And approximately 88% of taxpayers received a direct deposit refund.

“I am pleased that South Carolinians are filing online and choosing direct deposit in greater numbers than ever before,” SCDOR Director Hartley Powell said in a recent press release. “Our ultimate goal is for all taxpayers to file electronically since it is the safest, most accurate way to file, and it’s the fastest way to receive refunds.”

Both the IRS and the SCDOR have ways taxpayers can track the progress of their refunds online.

IRS

You can find the latest information on your federal refund by clicking on Where’s My Refund?

Information at the refund site is updated once a day, meaning you don’t have to check back often. You can use it 24 hours after e-filing your 2024 tax return. To access the system, you will need:

SCDOR

The state also has a Where’s My Refund tool that taxpayers can access by clicking here.

Refund status changes are posted nightly. To access the system, you’ll need:

As the Grand Strand braces for another cold blast, the Myrtle Beach area could see freezing rain, sleet or even snow in a winter storm next week.

“We’re concerned that there could be some wintry weather, if things shape up correctly, Wednesday,” Steven Pfaff, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Wilmington, said on Thursday.

On Thursday, Pfaff estimated there’s a 20% to 30% chance of a winter storm impacting the Grand Strand next week.

“This far south, we’re basically on the edge of the snow belt that’s to our north,” Pfaff said. “It’s just very atypical for us to get any sort of winter weather, but we do anticipate another cold, Arctic air mass to be moving into the area on Monday, it looks like, and that air mass will linger through mid week.”

While the NWS forecasts a 90% chance of rain on Saturday and a 40% chance of rain on Sunday for the Horry County coast, current predictions don’t anticipate the possibility of snow until temperatures drop below freezing early next week.

Current NWS predictions forecast low temperatures in the low 20s and highs in the mid 30s from Monday through Wednesday. Although the Myrtle Beach area will likely experience freezing temperatures, the possibility of snow is less certain.

“There’s a lot of disparity in the models at this point, which is no surprise, because it’s so far out in time,” Pfaff said. “I would say there’s a high likelihood of another round of very cold temperatures, but low confidence in the precipitation.”

If the Grand Strand does get a winter storm, it’s too early to know how much precipitation to expect and whether it will come as snow, sleet, freezing rain or a wintry mix, Pfaff said.

With the looming possibility of extreme weather, Pfaff encouraged folks to check reliable sources, like the NWS, emergency management and local media outlets.

“If we do get some precipitation, there’s just a lot of unknowns at this point, and there’ll be a lot of misinformation on social media,” Pfaff said. “People are going to share the worst case scenarios, even though there’s a minuscule chance that they can occur, so just be ready for a lot of misinformation on social media.”

Before freezing temperatures and a potential storm hit the area, experts say to plan to protect people, pets, plants and pipes.

The NWS recommends:

This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 5:30 AM.

A thick layer of fog that has covered a roadway in the Longs area has people questioning what it possibly could be and if it may be dangerous.

People took to Facebook Wednesday and Thursday after a post showed a white, fog-like vapor covering the ground around a Dominion Energy substation and on Water Tower Road in the Longs area. The substation sits near the corner of Water Tower and Kerchies roads.

The white fog that covered the roadway made it impossible for drivers to see at night, one poster said.

Those who commented on the post said that it was a natural gas leak coming from the substation. Many reported smelling gas in that area.

But that’s not the case, according to a spokesperson with Dominion Energy in South Carolina.

Paul Fischer said that there is no gas leak, and that what people are seeing, and smelling, is all due to the recent cold weather that has come to the Grand Strand in the last week.

Fischer said it’s water vapor in the air, a byproduct of the gas flow and cold temperatures. So basically, fog.

“There is no concern,” Fischer said.

To meet the growing demand for natural gas in Horry County, Dominion Energy is operating temporary liquified natural gas stations in the North Myrtle Beach and Little River areas, Fischer said by email.

“These facilities provide supplemental natural gas to our system during periods of high demand, such as the stretch of very cold weather we have experienced this month,” he said. “As we increase the flow of LNG on our system, the combination of varying temperatures and moisture in the air can create low-lying fog near our facilities.

“This cloud of clean water vapor is safe and similar to the fog that forms over a natural body of water during an early-morning commute. We urge drivers in the area to exercise caution if fog is present.”

Such “fog” can appear on clear, cold nights with high pressure. During a strong temperature inversion, a warm layer of air will sit above the surface and the cold air is below it, according to the National Weather Service.

The warm layer of air can trap things below it, such as fog and the smell of gas that is being “burped” out from gas meters, especially in areas where there is a lot of gas service in a neighborhood, according to an article by WCNC meteorologist Brad Panovich in Charlotte, North Carolina.

These inversions are most common in the morning and at night.

The smell happens because gas companies, like Dominion, often add the compound mercaptan to natural gas, which doesn’t have any odor. Mercaptan is what gives the smell of rotten eggs and is used for safety purposes so that people know when there is a gas leak.

So under certain weather conditions, such as cold weather, you might smell the mercaptan, which is heavier than natural gas and will often sink and hang closer to the surface. Natural gas is lighter than air and when released, rises quickly and dissipates outside, Panovich wrote.

This story was originally published January 17, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

In the most recent restaurant inspections by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture, inspectors observed moldy food, contamination from raw meat and oysters unmarked for freshness.

In general, SCDA gives restaurants scoring between 88 and 100 points A grades, restaurants scoring 78-87 points B grades and restaurants scoring 77 points or fewer C grades.

However, the department sometimes lowers grades for restaurants that have consecutive violations, are under enforcement action or are under pending enforcement actions, including imminent health hazards, permit suspensions or permit revocations.

Of the 107 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between Jan. 2 and Jan. 9, SCDA gave five restaurants B grades and three restaurants C grades. Here’s what inspectors found.

Charleys Philly Steaks #257

2000 Coastal Grand Circle, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Score: 74

At a routine inspection of Charleys Philly Steaks in the Coastal Grand Mall on Jan. 3, the inspector observed an employee handling raw chicken with gloved hands, then handling buns, ready-to-eat foods and utensils without changing the gloves or washing their hands.

Other violations included black build-up in the ice machine, ready-to-eat foods like chopped tomatoes and cooked chicken stored for more than a day without dates marked for safe consumption and food stored on the floors of walk-in refrigerators and freezers.

The inspection report also notes that chicken wings were stored at insufficiently cold temperatures, cheese sauce wasn’t properly reheated, one sink was inaccessible because it was being used for storage and another sink wasn’t stocked with soap. A follow-up inspection was scheduled for Jan. 13.

Dirty Don’s Oyster Bar & Grill

3090 Deville St., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Score: 75

A routine inspection of Dirty Don’s in The Market Common on Jan. 6 found several violations, including oysters not stored in chronological order and without dated tags, raw chicken stored uncovered over seafood and ready-to-eat foods and black build-up in the ice machine.

The inspector also observed ready-to-eat foods like shrimp and tuna stored for more than a day without dates marked for safe consumption, foods like cooked potatoes and tuna stored at insufficiently cold temperatures, unlabeled spray bottles at the cook line and inadequate levels of sanitizer in the dish washer.

The report also notes grime, dirt and textured build-up on a dicer stored as though it was clean, dish racks, the pre-rinse sprayer, cooking equipment and refrigerator shelves. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Jan. 16.

Jupiter Pies

9261 Highway 707, Unit B, Myrtle Beach, SC 29588

Score: 77

At a Jan. 8 routine inspection of Jupiter Pies there were moldy tomato pies in a display case, moldy apples in the refrigerator, dirty pans from previous days stored throughout the kitchen and raw shell eggs and cracked shell eggs stored on top of cheeses.

The inspector also observed that the thermometer was inaccurate, the chlorine test kit was expired and ready-to-eat foods like milk and pies were stored for more than a day without dates marked for safe consumption.

The inspection report also notes many unclean surfaces. There were build-ups of food, grime, debris and dirt on the can opener, inside the microwave, inside the reach-in refrigerator, on oven handles, on shelving, on the mixers and under all kitchen equipment, coolers, sinks and shelves. According to the inspector’s notes, the consecutive violations may be referred for enforcement. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Jan. 18.

NY Pizza Kitchen Bar & Grill

2001 S. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Score: 78

A Jan. 7 routine inspection of NY Pizza Kitchen Bar & Grill found several violations, including a dirty slicer stored as though clean, ready-to-eat foods like mozzarella and open hot dogs held for more than a day without dates marked for safe consumption, insufficient sanitizer in the dish washer and no food thermometer.

The inspection report also notes that the person in charge didn’t have a minimum certified food handler certification, tomato sauce was held at temperatures that weren’t hot enough, the walk-in refrigerator wasn’t cold enough and foods stored in the refrigerator like cheese and alfredo sauce weren’t adequately cold.

A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Jan. 17.

Jessyca Bakery LLC

315 Highway 15, Suite C, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577

Score: 81

Labelled as Panaderia Jessyca on Google Maps and Facebook, Jessyca Bakery LLC was routinely inspected by the SCDA on Jan. 8. The inspection found that the person in charge didn’t have a minimum certified food handler certification, bulk containers of flour and sugar were stored uncovered and eggs were insufficiently refrigerated.

Other violations included bagged trash left on the floor of the kitchen, donuts prepared with unapproved equipment and in an outdoor frying area, splash accumulation on the walls and build-up of food and grime on mixing equipment, oven surfaces and speed racks.

The inspector also observed that the kitchen didn’t have a food thermometer or chemical sanitizer test kits. The inspection report didn’t indicate when a follow-up inspection will be conducted.

Panda

3320 4th Ave., Unit C, Conway, SC 29527

At a routine inspection of Panda Restaurant on Jan. 8, the inspector observed an employee working with raw ground beef didn’t wash their hands before putting on gloves and working with other kitchen equipment, an employee using their cellphone didn’t wash their hands before returning to work on the cookline and a cellphone on the prep surface in contact with food.

The inspection report also noted that the sink wasn’t properly cleaned after being used to prep raw chicken, raw beef was stored over uncovered cut vegetables, rice warmers “encrusted” with build-up of grease and food, buckets of not easily-identifiable food weren’t labeled and ready-to-eat chicken wings weren’t marked with a discard time.

Other violations included a heavily-rusted meat cleaver, rusted shelves, excessive build-up around a grease container and an accumulation of dirt, debris and grease on the floors and walls. The report indicates that a follow-up inspection is required, but didn’t specify when.

Bojangles #756

2780 Highway 501, Aynor, SC 29511

Score: 84

A routine inspection of the Bojangles location in Aynor on Jan. 3 found several violations, including an employee changing gloves but not washing their hands after handling raw chicken, fried chicken and dirty rice past their expirations, foods like sausage and eggs not marked with expirations and foods like liquid eggs and country ham held at insufficiently cold temperatures.

The inspector also observed an employee with long hair unrestrained, litter strewn around the back storage area and build-up around the kitchen. There were accumulations of grime, mold, grease, dirt and debris on the sink, pre-rinse sprayer, hot-holding unit, refrigerators, freezers, shelving, floors, walls and outside all kitchen equipment.

A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Jan. 13.

501 Pizza

2286 Highway 501, Conway, SC 29526

Score: 84

At a Jan. 7 routine inspection of 501 Pizza, there were several violations, including foods like meatballs and gyro meat held that weren’t adequately refrigerated, foods like lasagna and chicken wings without preparation or discard dates to endure safe consumption and cups without handles used to scoop food.

The inspection report also notes that repurposed food containers containing new foods weren’t labeled to reflect their contents, there weren’t chemical sanitizer test strips, the hand sink didn’t have sufficiently hot water and refrigerator shelves were lined with cardboard, which is considered unsanitary because the absorbent material can harbor bacteria.

A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Jan. 17.

As we head deeper into winter, the coyote mating season begins in South Carolina.

That means coyote activity will increase and residents may see more of them.

The breeding season usually lasts from January to March, and male coyotes could become more territorial and potentially aggressive, said Jay Butfiloski with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Here’s what to know as coyotes reproduce around the Myrtle Beach area.

Coyotes breed in the winter and early spring, with offspring being born in the spring after a two-month gestation period, according to the SCDNR. While trying to breed, male coyotes tend to become territorial.

“Essentially, they’re competitors for mates in their territories,” Butfiloski said.

As the mammals enter the pup-rearing season, they also become protective of their dens. Coyotes will typically build a den during this time of year to raise their young. Dens include brush piles, old barns, abandoned burrows and gullies. The pups start to leave the den after around a month and are weaned around two months.

It’s possible for coyotes to breed with domestic dogs, but it is unlikely.

The opportunistic feeders usually rely on small animals, like rabbits and rodents, but if there is a deficit of food sources, coyotes may go after pets.

Coyotes are most active from dusk until the next morning.

“Pet predation is usually due to the territorial nature of the coyote and lack of an alternative prey base in suburban areas,” Butfiloski and Buddy Baker, SCDNR wildlife biologists, wrote in “Coyote - Biology and Control In South Carolina.”

As coyotes become more aggressive, keep an eye on small pets, especially cats. It’s best to feed pets inside and avoid leaving food outside at night as that could attract the animal. Butfiloski and Baker also recommend walking dogs in open areas on short leashes.

Also, take caution feeding feral cat colonies, as the food and easy access to prey can attract coyotes to an area.

If you stumble upon a coyote, treat it the same way as a strange dog.

“Keep (dogs) on a short leash where you can pull them up if you need to. As far as coyotes go, you don’t turn and run because sometimes it can trigger a pursuit instinct,” Butfiloski previously told The Sun News. “Just like when you encounter another strange dog, you pick your pet up and you just start backing up, keeping your face to them.”

In South Carolina, it is legal to hunt coyotes year round. With a valid hunting license, people can go after coyotes on private land during the day, according to the SCDNR.

On registered land, people can hunt coyotes at night as long as it’s 300 yards or more from a residence. This distance does not matter if the property owner is hunting on their own land.

When on public land, hunters need a special permit and have to use the weapons in season. This means using weapons appropriate for small game hunting during the small game season while larger guns are allowed during deer hunting season.

For people without hunting licenses trying to deal with a coyote problem, they can apply for a coyote depredation permit. The free permit lasts 30 days and allows property owners to shoot and trap damage-causing coyotes. Keep in mind, it is illegal to use poison to kill a coyote, the SCDNR wrote.

From Dec. 1 to March 1, it’s also possible to trap coyotes with a trapping license.

The Sun News

Emalyn Muzzy is a breaking news reporter for The Sun. She covers everything breaking and everything new in the Myrtle Beach area. She graduated from the University of Minnesota is 2022 with a degree in journalism and Spanish.