Lighting Store Showroom Near Litchfield Beach, SC

The holiday season can bring unwanted house guests — and not just the human kind. While the Palmetto State is known for relatively mild winters, South Carolina still gets its share of cool weather from the late fall to the early spring.

As the weather changes, the kinds of pests in Myrtle Beach-area homes can change too. Here’s what to watch out for around the Grand Strand this winter.

Critters

As temperatures continue to drop, rodents and other small mammals are more likely to seek refuge in homes, garages, attics and basements.

“Obviously, your mammals are going to be looking for places to get in, out of the weather,” said Todd Metz, owner of Critter Control in Myrtle Beach. “Rats, mice and especially field mice and things like that will start trying to move into where it’s warmer.”

In addition to mice and rats, Metz says squirrels and raccoons sometimes try to find warmth in homes.

Bugs

While critters in the house are a more common problem in the winter, the good news is that bugs like mosquitoes and wasps are less of a nuisance in the chilly winter months.

“Insects do drop off, especially your spiders and stuff like that on the outside, some of that stuff will drop off,” Metz said. “Stinging insects aren’t as prevalent, but you’re still going to have your occasional invaders, and interior insects will still be around.”

The Myrtle Beach area is home to two common kinds of cockroaches: the larger American cockroaches often called palmetto bugs by locals and the smaller German cockroaches, which are typically about half an inch in length.

Both can survive in South Carolina winters, but aren’t more common in houses or apartments during the cold months than other seasons. According to Metz, keeping your home clean is the most important factor in keeping roaches out.

“You don’t see an influx of them coming in, because they’re usually already in the house,” said Metz.

Other year-round insects Metz says enter Grand Strand homes in the winter include ants and spiders. Even though you may see less ants and spiders outside around your home, they can still be an issue inside.

“You’ll see a little bit of a decline on movement of ants outside, but if they’re inside and they have access to have a colony, they’re still going to be fine on the inside,” Metz said.

Protecting your home

If you’re concerned about pests in your home, their are steps you can take to keep your living area free of critters and creepy crawlies. Professional help from an exterminator is a good idea for both regular maintenance and if you’re experiencing an infestation.

“You definitely still need to treat [for pests] through the winter months,” Metz said.

In addition to chemical treatments to keep pests out, Metz recommends making sure your home is well sealed to keep tiny pests from creeping in through cracks, keeping your home clean to avoid creating food sources or habitats for pests, checking your electric sockets and keeping an eye out for animal activity around your house.

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June 30, 2024 6:00 AM

This story was originally published October 29, 2024, 6:00 AM.

Reality Check is a new Sun News series holding those in power accountable, shining a light on local issues, and answering readers’ essential questions. Have a question or concern we can answer? Email online@thesunnews.com.

Food Network star and restaurateur Guy Fieri has many restaurants all over the world.

Over the weekend, some folks have taken to local social media groups to talk about where his next one might be in Myrtle Beach.

According to Fieri’s marketing team with Downtown Flavortown in Pigeon Forge, TN, there is nothing to confirm with the new Myrtle Beach location as of Monday morning.

They said over the phone that a public announcement will be made soon to confirm what may be happening with a new franchise in the future.

Over the weekend, a local Facebook group posted a message saying the chain would be allegedly opening a new location at the Myrtle Beach Mall, where the JCPenney location used to be.

Representatives from the mall did not return The Sun News’s request for comment.

Local blog, The Scoop on Myrtle, also made a post on social media claiming the news of Fieri’s new restaurant and entertainment center in Myrtle Beach.

According to Fieri’s main website, Downtown Flavortown is a restaurant and entertainment concept featuring an extensive food and drink menu, a bowling alley, arcade games and a full-service Tiki Bar.

“Flavortown is a place where iconic food, moments together and fun meet in perfect harmony,” the description on his website said.

The first Downtown Flavortown location in Tennessee opened two years ago in 2022, according to a press release at the time.

Their food menu features nachos, chicken wings, burgers and unique appetizers such as Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls and Hot Chicken and Waffle Sliders.

Fieri first rose to fame with his Food Network show Dinners, Drive-Ins and Dives, where he travels across the United States exploring new places with incredible food. He also hosts a cooking competition show on Food Network called Guy’s Grocery Games.

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A new Amazon facility will help Amazon shoppers in the Myrtle Beach area get some of their packages the same day they order them. It just depends if the center has what you need in stock.

In March 2024, the Myrtle Beach Regional Economic Development Corporation announced that a 156,000-square-foot delivery Amazon facility would open in North Myrtle Beach along Water Tower Road.

The new facility will be part of the Palmetto Coast Industrial Park along Water Tower Road.

The center provides same-day deliveries. In an Oct. 28 email to The Sun News, a public relations specialist with Amazon said that these sites are located near large metropolitan areas to reduce the distance between shippers and customers. However, the center won’t provide this service for all Grand Strand Amazon customers’ orders.

Sandy Davis is the CEO and president of MBREC, which works to add jobs and support economic development in Horry County.

Davis said that the facility will have a specific inventory of products that can be ordered for same-day deliveries. Davis added these requests within five hours of ordering, as long as the customer places their order before 8 p.m.

Davis didn’t have a list of goods available for same-day delivery at the North Myrtle Beach site. Amazon sells same-day delivery for things like Clorox Wipes, USB surge protectors, Clorox Wipes, paper plates, and other products.

She said customers looking to buy items unavailable at the North Myrtle Beach facility won’t receive those orders the same day.

Davis said the center will also offer same-day delivery grocery services with parameters similar to those for ordering a package from the facility.

Davis added that the facility would hopefully open sometime in November 2024 but didn’t have a target date. She said that adding the grocery store delayed the center’s opening.

Davis said that the same-day delivery center is the first in South Carolina. According to the City of North Myrtle Beach, the site will add 100 jobs. The Amazon public relations specialist also said that interested applicants can apply online, new listings go live Friday nights after 7 p.m. EST and interested parties can sign up for job alerts via texting ‘HIREME’ to 31432.

The center itself hasn’t generated controversy, but the former North Myrtle Beach city manager’s actions at the groundbreaking of the Palmetto State Industrial Park did.

In February 2023, then-city manager Mike Mahaney claimed it was never turned on. , which officials later allegedly got into a physical altercation. Mahaney previously placed Mahaney on administrative leave with a business owner, but he did not face charges for the alleged incident.

In September 2024, The City of North Myrtle Beach placed Mahaney on administrative leave. The Sun News reported that city council removed Mahaney at the time due to allegedly not hiring a grants coordinator as “urged” by members of the city council, according to the council’s approved notice of approval.

Mahaney resigned October 22, 2024.

This story was originally published October 28, 2024, 9:44 AM.

Thousands of tourists pour into the Myrtle Beach area each summer to bask in the warm weather and enjoy its miles of sandy beaches.

However, when the temperatures drop and the crowds leave, the area becomes an off-season retreat, especially for those who love to shell.

The Carolina coast from North Myrtle Beach, to Pawleys Island, to neighboring North Carolina, offers shellers an abundance of seashells, including some that can only be found in the area.

Even popular shellers on social media platforms such as YouTube have made their way to the area to gather sea biscuits, found only in Holden Beach, North Carolina, and South Carolina’s state shell, lettered olives.

If you’re new to the area, or just visiting, here are some things you should know about shelling from fall to spring, and some of the best spots for your treasure hunt.

The Carolinas are in hurricane season through November. So it’s not unsual for the Myrtle Beach area to be impacted by severe storms, some that can develop into a hurricane.

However, it should be said that shelling after storms some times produce better opportunities to find more shells as the ocean is churned and waves roll those beauties onto the beach.

A good place to find shells is the rack line. This is the highest spot where the tide has come in and deposited shells and other debris before going back out.

While the water may be too cold to get in, the temperatures stay mild year round. The temperatures can be in the 70s to 80s in the fall and then hover in the 60s from December through April. But there can be some cold days as well, so plan to bundle up if you do hit the beach. The winds are a lot chillier closer to the ocean.

The tide schedules shift during the winter and spring. Low tides are mostly in the early morning hours of 2 to 4 a.m. and high tides are during the day. So plan accordingly.

There is some debate among shellers about whether it’s best to shell during low or high tide. But whatever your preference, paying attention to the tide charts will make your beach trip more pleasant.

Most shellers have their favorite spots to hunt. And many of them don’t like to share.

A good place to get connected with other shellers are the Facebook groups Carolina Seashellers and Grand Strand Shell Club, whose members often share tips and ideas for shelling.

While you can find shells at most of the beaches along the Grand Strand, South Strand and in North Carolina, there are some that offer better results.

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