MyrtleBeachSC News covers thousands of stories every year. Our articles run the gamete from downtown City of Myrtle Beach crime to state politics.
2021 was an interesting year, as South Carolina re-opened its doors and allowed schools and business to fully operate.
Here are our top 5 most notable stories of 2021. We believe these stories will continue to shape the local landscape for the rest of this decade. That was our key criteria as we thought through this process.
These articles are not weighted in order, but rather are listed as they happened chronologically in the year.
RICE CHOOSES TO IMPEACH TRUMP
This story would have legs throughout the year. Multiple reports we covered following this initial article went viral. The most viral articles included I-73 For Trump Impeachment Trade Big Financial Win For Congressman Rice
MyrtleBeachSC News is a local Horry County publication reaching only 40,000 readers, however the I-73 article was shared state-wide and nationally.
After these two were published, revelations about statements made by the Congressman’s wife, Wrenzie, were brought to light. We covered that article as well and it also went viral nationally. Wrenzie Rice called Trump followers a cult and compared Trump to Hitler.
Rice would later go on camera making a weak attempt at claiming his wife did not exactly say that. We covered that news item and the video as well.
TOURISM’S HISTORIC SUMMER
After a year cooped in by Covid, Americans wanted to travel. Health mandates warranted no overseas travel, however.
Those very covid mandates made the Grand Strand the top destination for domestic travel. The area shattered all previous revenue and occupancy records.
It was a good Summer for all things Grand Strand Tourism.
RANKIN’S RETALIATION
In February, the courthouse steps were politically bloodied after Horry County Senator Luke Rankin took no prisoners.
Upset about the big money that poured in from NextEra during his June 2020 primary, Rankin sought revenge.
As we reported in February:
Rankin is demanding NextEra give Rankin’s committee every piece of paper or electronic communication related to Santee Cooper dating back to the news of Santee Cooper’s V.C. Summer $9 billion nuclear fiasco.
According to Folks, “The problem? Rankin doesn’t have a leg to stand on in this fight … be it related to Santee Cooper or his war against NextEra. That’s because Rankin and his allies routinely rely on secrecy … even when conducting the public’s business.“
The President of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce would later resign as a result of Rankin’s retaliation. The Santee Cooper sale was nixed. Santee Cooper lost over $9 billion in a nuclear power plant design fiasco.
HENRY’S PROMISE
With no monies in hand, and no assurances from the S.C. General Assembly, Governor Henry McMaster promises $300 million for a connector road from I-95 to near Marion, S.C.
This news item continues to develop.
GENERATIONAL CHANGE
With the death of beloved Lois Eargle and power broker Hugh Leatherman, a generational sea change is happening along the coast.
The death of the Myrtle Beach founding generation, coupled with huge the influx of new residents will forever change Horry County permanently.
The sell of Brittain Resort Hotels to Grey Hospitality is just one example of how this generational change is playing out. Long time business owners are selling their investments as their grandchildren no longer wish to work in the family business.
MyrtleBeachSC News wrote: If you graduated from Myrtle Beach High School in 1970 something, then you are aware the hotel and business community is going through a generational sea change.
THIRD GENERATION BUSINESS CYCLE
Life-long, locals know that the founding generation for all things Myrtle Beach business truly began in the 1940’s. The founding generation hit their peak in the late 1960’s to 1980’s. Most of those founders have now passed. The hotel and service industry is where these business leaders made their fortunes.
New leadership just ahead into 2022.