Local News

Dillon County School Board Attorneys Interfere in House District 55 Campaign

(Jack Scott pictured above)

Attorneys representing the Dillon County Board of Education have involved themselves in the current primary campaign for the Democratic nomination for S.C. House District 55.

White and Story, LLC sent a letter to candidate and current Dillon County Council member Jack Scott requesting Scott remove some posts from “your social media site relating to your political campaign.”

The attorneys requested Scott remove posts allegedly containing “misleading communications” and “patently false information” and “cease and desist from making any other defamatory statements.”

The four-page letter goes on to address specific lines in various posts on Scott’s website with additional exhibits of the full posts included with the communication. (Click on the link below to view the letter and exhibits).

What is particularly interesting is the areas of emphasis, according to lawyer bios on the firm’s website, are: providing advice and counsel on issues relating to personnel matters, student discipline, the education of students with special needs, policy development, board/executive officer relations and tort issues.

The issues addressed in the letter, however, deal with free speech protections of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The letter appears to specifically take issue with core political speech, the form of speech elevated above all others in protections against its restriction, according to numerous U.S. Supreme Court decisions over the years.

The letter cherry picks sentences or phrases from larger texts to demonstrate what the attorneys allege are “misleading” or “patently false” statements. However, when viewed within the context of the larger posts in which they are contained, the statements objected to seem to be well within the general form of core political speech practiced by the vast majority of politicians today and quite tame compared to what spews forth from the White House on a weekly basis via Twitter.

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Grand Strand Opera Workshop Scholarship Awards Night

This year, as well as for the past 7 years, the Grand Strand Opera Workshop Inc, a IRS 501c3 Tax Exempt Organization, will again be offering Herron-Carleton-Talbert scholarships to talented voice students from Coastal Carolina University. 

This year the faculty professors of Vocal Studies have selected four voice majors as equal winners of the scholarship. Professor Jeff Jones of CCU said the faculty felt this year’s four winners rose above the over 30 students who auditioned for the award, but chose not to rank them in any specific order.

The winners are:

Megan Hoffman, soprano

Hannah Battley, mezzo-soprano

Kevin Arnold, tenor

Walter Tucker, baritone

An Awards dinner, “A Night of Vocal Splendor”, will be held by GSOW Friday January 26, 2018 beginning at 6 p.m., at BROTHER’S GRILL 5900 North Kings Hwy (Hwy 17 Bus) Unit G, Myrtle Beach, Tele 843-497-8882. 

Each of the four winners will perform individually and there are plans for the four to be joined up in a quartet for further entertainment.

I’m certain you will want to enjoy the vocal splendor of these four young vocal artists chosen by the Faculty at CCU to receive the scholarships. I believe it will be an evening you will not want to miss.

The event is open to the public, but seating is limited so get your tickets early.

A complete dinner with a Social Hour will cost $30.00 per person tax and tip included. One free glass of wine will be paid by the GSOW, and a cash bar will be available where wine will cost $3.00 per glass and beer also $3.00 per bottle.

The proceeds from the dinner will go toward future scholarships to local students at CCU.

The GSOW wishes to acknowledge with grateful appreciation the Officers and member of the Order of the Sons of Italy Darrigo Lodge 2868 for their generous financial assistance towards the Herron-Carleton-Talbert Scholarship.

For ticket(s) and seat or table reservation(s) call Nick Ballabani -Co-Chair of the Awards Dinner843-497-8882; or John e Bonsignor 843-385-3963.

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CRIME — DRUGS — KILLINGS — GANGS

The shooting crime on Sunday-Sept. 24th, killing a Mother and her unborn child, is the latest carnage of what happens when crazed young people that often live for today with no dreams or aspiration for tomorrow and have far too much access to firearms run loose on our streets.

Far too many times our young turn towards criminal gangs and run rampant without a restraining arm to stop them.

The unified voices of everyone in the community must assist law enforcement. to stamp out these desensitized criminal youthful gangs. 

Whatever the reason(s) to allow these unruly, hopeless youth, to run rampant in our community is just not tolerable. When innocent lives, law-abiding citizens and the tranquility of neighborhoods are affected by youth gangs causing the crimes which disturb the communities, we must afford these citizens and other children the protection they deserve. 

The Grand Strand Community Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee (CLEAC) is calling on all agencies of government to tackle the gang problems, immediately, by the development of a Blue Print for action that provides community supports and resources required to redirect our young misdirected young.

We are calling on a three-prong strategy of Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression to break the back community of gun violence. The community can no longer face the number of crimes being perpetuated, most of the time by guns.

We condone the rights for citizens to carry a firearm, as we believe in the 2nd Amendment, but we do object to the indiscriminate use and sale of firearms. We can no longer look the other way, knowing gangs are one of the principal reason for the shooting, killings, and disturbances in communities. 

The CLEAC, will be holding a meeting to address this vital issue, in the next week… The date, time, & place will be announced shortly…

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Dan Liu Fires Back at Founders Group International Partner

(Pictured above, Dan Liu (left) and Nick Dou in happier times)

Dan Liu, majority partner of the Founders Group International entities, fired back hard at minority partner Nick Dou in answering a complaint in a lawsuit filed by Dou against Liu, three Chinese corporations and the many limited liability companies that make up the Founders Group International holdings.

According to Dou’s complaint, the three Chinese corporations were 90 percent owners of the Founders Group properties and Dou was 10 percent owner. Liu was the exclusive authorized agent in the U.S. for the Chinese corporations.

In his lawsuit, Dou alleges Liu was stripping assets out of the corporation for personal and other uses. The suit alleges breach of contract, fraud and conversion by Liu.

Additionally, Dou asks for a full accounting of corporate assets as well as a temporary restraining order directing Liu “shall not divert, remove, alienate, convert, encumber or otherwise manipulate any corporate assets of FGI or any of the other FGI Entities for his personal use or benefit, until such time as the claims raised in this action have either been resolved by this Court, settled and/or withdrawn by the Parties to this action…”

The complaint also states, “Plaintiff Nick Dou is informed and believes that the assets and property of FGI and the affiliated FGI Entities are at grave risk and danger of loss, and of material injury and impairment, at the hands of Defendant Dan Liu, if such property and assets are left under the exclusive control of Defendant Dan Liu.”

Dou’s complaint also states, “Upon information and belief, on or about March 27, 2017, the Nanjing District Attorney’s office for the Jiangsu Province of the PRC issued public statements that it seeks the arrest of Defendant Dan Liu for suspicion of investment fraud and “absorbing public money.”

A copy of this public statement release was submitted as an exhibit with Dou’s complaint.

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Italian-American Council to Host Fundraiser

The Italian-American Heritage and Charitable Council will host a silent auction to benefit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson’s program for at risk kids.

The event will take place at Angelo’s Steak and Pasta, 2311 South Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, on Sunday December 4, 2016 between the hours of 3 – 6 p.m.

Richardson’s program is designed to give at risk kids a second chance to be successful in the community.

The event will also benefit musical students at Coastal Carolina University and to help promote other programs of the IAHCC in the coming months.

The silent auction will feature over 100 gifts perfect for the Christmas and Hanukkah season with beginning prices set in the 50-60 percent of value range.

The IAHCC is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit meaning all money spent for auction items is tax deductible.

Free Angelo’s famous pizza and soft drinks will be available to all in attendance.

“It is our hope you will do your best to attend this very worthwhile event that will bring a smile of happiness to the faces of everyone who has helped and especially the young kids who need a break,” said IAHCC president Fred Nesta.

The following corporate sponsors have contributed to the cost of the event:

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CLEAC Sponsors Connecting Cops, Kids and Community Event

The Community Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee Inc (CLEAC), a S C Eleemosynary For for Profit Corporation and a pending IRS 501c3 applicant, is hosting a FREE Cook-Out called “Connecting Cops-Kids-Community” at the Market Common Grand Park (Shelters A &B) Saturday November 19, 2016 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The event is a joint effort by CLEAC and the Myrtle Beach and Surfside Beach Police Departments. Officers from Horry County Police Department, North Myrtle Beach PD and the Horry County Sheriff’s Office will also participate in the activities.

The aim of the CLEAC, is to bring together the Communities of the Grand Strand, Police and Kids to establish a rapport of trust, understanding and communication and to foster a better relationship between these groups.

In conjunction with this aim, a FREE Cook-Out and games, sports, and other activities will allow the children and community members to mingle with police officers in casual settings.

The goal is to get the kids to understand police officers are normal people and to establish a bond of friendship, understanding and trust between community members and the police.

Children needing transportation to the event may be signed up by their parents for bus rides at either Pepper Geddings Recreation Center or Mary C. Canty Recreation Center in Myrtle Beach. Parents must sign permission slips at either of these locations for their children to ride the bus and participate in the day.

Please come out and support the community efforts of the CLEAC–bring your Children, friends neighbors, and family, everyone is welcome…

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State Treasurer Curtis Loftis Co-sponsors Cyber Security Summit

Columbia, SC – South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis kicked off a gathering today of state and local government leaders, higher education administrators and bankers to discuss cyber security threats to the public and private sectors. Treasurer Loftis delivered opening remarks at the Cyber Security Summit along with co-sponsors Dr. Harris Pastides, president of the University of South Carolina, and Phil Smith, head of Government and Institutional Banking at Wells Fargo.

“Protecting the personal information and money of our state’s citizens must be our highest priority,” said Treasurer Loftis. “One of the things that I want to do is help make the people of South Carolina feel safer and more secure.”

The summit, held at USC’s MyAlumni Center in Columbia, was designed to build awareness of local and global cyber security threats and share information on how organizations can mitigate their cyber risk. The event featured presentations from experts at USC’s SC Cyber initiative and global security company Palo Alto Networks as well as information from attorneys who specialize in cyber security issues.

“A year ago we launched SC Cyber and formed essential public and private partnerships,” said Dr. Pastides. “Our goal was and is to advance our state’s reputation as a place where cyber security is understood, practiced and advanced.”

Treasurer Loftis added, “I appreciate that Dr. Pastides joined me in sponsoring the Cyber Security Summit to bring more attention to this important issue.”

The Cyber Security Summit was co-sponsored by the State Treasurer’s Office, SC Cyber, Wells Fargo and Palo Alto Networks. Presenters included Thomas Scott, executive director of SC Cyber; General Les Eisner, deputy director of the Office of Economic Engagement at USC; Rick Howard, chief security officer at Palo Alto Networks; Chris Swecker, attorney and former assistant director at the Federal Bureau of Investigation and David Furr, partner at Gray, Layton, Kersh, Solomon, Furr & Smith, P.A.

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Zika Virus Case Confirmed in Horry County

The first confirmed case of travel related Zika virus in Horry County has been reported in Plantation Point.

DHEC officials notified the county yesterday.

Nearby Florence County also has one reported case of travel related Zika virus.

In most instances, Zika virus is not fatal, but can be very damaging to fetuses.

According to local officials, Horry County has been working on a plan to combat Zika virus for approximately four months. In the case of Plantation Point, the county has reportedly been going door to door with information, eliminating areas of standing water and using foggers on properties.

What everyone should know:

Zika infection during pregnancy is linked to birth defects. Pregnant women should avoid or delay travel to areas with Zika.
Zika is primarily spread through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito.
Most people infected with Zika don’t even know they have it. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital.
In most cases Zika is not life-threatening.
The best way to prevent Zika is to prevent mosquito bites. Tips include:
– Apply EPA-approved insect repellent.
– Wear pants and long-sleeve shirts that cover exposed skin. In warmer weather, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that covers exposed skin.
– Use screens or close windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out of your home.
– Remove standing water in and around the home. This includes water in cans, toys, tires, plant saucers, or any container that can hold water.
– Cover trash cans or containers where water can collect.
See a health care provider if you develop a fever, rash, joint pain, or red eyes during a trip orwithin 2 weeks after traveling to a place with Zika, or if you have had sexual contact with someone who has traveled.

Citizens with questions can call the county’s road and drainage hotline at (843) 381-8000 for more information.

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Enjoying the CLEAC Cookout

Let me give you a first-hand account of the fabulous Saturday we had at the Cook-Out themed “Connecting Cops, Kids and the Community” sponsored by CLEAC.

Over 500 guests from the communities, Sheriff & Police Officers, Fire Fighters and First Responders enjoyed thrill of the kids interacting, with the Fire-Sheriff-Police and politicians, at the magnificent North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.

Everyone had a fun time and played sports and games assembled by the efficient personnel staff from the NMB Recreation department. Sheriff Phil Thompson, with an assist from Chief Deputy Sheriff Tom Fox at their booth, greeting everyone who came by plus the Sheriff’s staff handed out silver Junior Sheriff badges to the many kids who came by to say ” Hi Sheriff”.

Horry Police Deputy Chief Maurice Jones and Capt Bob Carr went around greeting and getting to know the people of the community and children. Carr went one step further throwing and competing with the kids at bean ball, and fishing at a simulator provided by DHEC.

Public safety Director Jay Fernandez standing by the new Fire Rig, with its ladder soaring high above the truck, looked quite happy at the many people who came by to where he greeted them with a big smile. Director Jay and the Fire personnel guided the kids to the Fire truck to blare the fire siren, shoot the water cannon, receive red fire hats, and run through water sprinklers.

The Myrtle Beach P D brought along their K-9 unit and SWAT team..naturally the kids and adults adored the German Shepard, a big gorgeous looking dog. The Shepard was calm, friendly and beautiful and was unfazed by the petting, kisses and of the huge attention it was getting.

The weather was perfect for a cook-out. There were plenty of games, sports activities. The looks on the happy faces of the kids showed their delight.

What was as joyful was to see Chairman Mark Lazarus playing football with the young future stars, with Councilman Harold Worley as an impartial spectator looking at the action.

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