News and Announcements

Conway, South Carolina – Horry County announced the three winners of the Horry County Employee Quarterly Awards and a winner from each of the three divisions was chosen.

Walter J. “WJ” Brown, Library Courier for the Horry County Memorial Library System, won the Administration Division Quarterly Award for his consistent demonstration of integrity, generosity, excellence in performance, and willingness to assist others. Mr. Brown is known for staying until the job is done and is always the first to volunteer to assist others with whatever project they are working on. He regularly displays a very positive and cheerful attitude, which makes everyone that works around him feel good. WJ portrays the “Character First” words of the month for all months of the quarter (Obedience, Gratefulness and Generosity).

Damond Wynn, Custodian at the J. Ruben Long Detention Facility, won the Public Safety Division Quarterly Award for his exceptionally positive attitude and the obvious pride he takes in each and every task he is assigned. Damond is known for always volunteering to take on tasks that others may not wish to do. He requires minimal supervision and always takes the initiative to find tasks to accomplish when he has his normal duties completed. Mr. Wynn knows that his attitude affects others and always acts accordingly. His work ethic is admirable and he is considered an invaluable member of the staff.

Shirely Pyatt, Custodian II for Horry County Maintenance, won the Infrastructure & Regulation Division Quarterly Award for her demonstration of excellence in the performance of her duties. As lead custodian in the ML Brown Jr. Public Safety Building, Ms. Pyatt often faces unique situations with departments that work unusual hours, overcrowding and areas that contain sensitive/confidential materials. Shirley has established an excellent rapport with other County employees in her building and has demonstrated her trustworthiness. She assists in the training of new custodians, as her level of work is always excellent. Her good judgment, excellent work ethic, good attendance, cooperative attitude and dedication to duty make her worthy of recognition.

These three winners of the Horry County Employee Quarterly Awards received $250, a designated parking space, a certificate of achievement, and are eligible for the Employee of the Year Award of $1,000.

Other outstanding nominees were:
David Brinson-Beach Services
Jeffrey Delisio-Register of Deeds
Karen Graham-Assessor’s Office

Sam Jordan-Stormwater

The Employee Quarterly Award Program focuses on an act or performance accomplished by an employee that is significant or of great value to the department or county organization as a whole and is beyond normal expectations of the employee. Considerations are also given to customer service, cost/time savings, recognized increased efficiency, and/or effectiveness, or revenue generated funds.

Conway, South Carolina – The Horry County Keep Horry County Beautiful (KHCB) Committee will partner with the Carolina Forest Rotary Club and the Carolina Forest Veterinary Hospital to clean up the stretch of Carolina Forest Boulevard from the intersection with US Hwy 501 to the entrance of Plantation Lakes on Saturday, January 19, 2013, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Cleanup group participants will meet in front of Beef O’Brady’s at 1:30 p.m.

The Community Cleanup Program encourages civic, neighborhood and other community groups to adopt county roads, parks, playgrounds and other public areas for regular cleanups. The program is based on a two-year contract, which requires groups to hold six or more cleanups per contract period depending on the level of litter in their area. Community Cleanup groups not only benefit their community but also gain public recognition through placement of a roadside sign acknowledging their efforts.

For more information about the Community Cleanup Program and other projects of Keep Horry County Beautiful, please visit us online at www.horrycounty.org/planning/KHCB/KHCBDefault.pdf.

Conway, South Carolina – The Horry County Animal Care Center was awarded a $51,060 grant from PetSmart Charities® to Trap Neuter & Return 1,000 free-roaming cats in the 29526 zip code (Conway area) to reduce the feral population in Horry County. The Horry County Animal Care Center will host four public education meetings regarding the project to explain the purpose of the project, how the project will be accomplished and how the public can get involved with the project. Below is a listing of the upcoming meetings that will be held in the Horry County Government & Justice Center (1301 2nd Avenue in Conway) in Multipurpose Room B:

• Tuesday, January 15, at 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, January 22, at 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m.
• Thursday, January 31, at 3 p.m.

This initiative will aim to reduce the number of kittens being born, thereby lowering the number of cats that enter the Animal Care Center. Our goal is to reduce the number of feral cats by breaking the cycle before the kittens are even born, through a Trap-Neuter-Return program. The 29526 zip code has been identified as the location of where the most intakes of feral and free-roaming cats are brought in to the center.

Along with spay/neutering 1000 free-roaming cats, the grant will also provide those cats with a rabies vaccine and will be ear-tipped, before they are released. The ear-tipped is universally recognized as a sign that a cat has been neutered. “Stray and feral cats are the greatest source of the center’s overpopulation,” stated Kelly Bonome, Operations Manager for the Horry County Animal Care Center. “If we can assist in breaking the cycle of reproduction, these free –roaming cats will be less of a nuisance to our community.”

For more information about the services of the Horry County Animal Care Center, please log onto www.horrycounty.org or visit them on Facebook. They can also be reached at 915-5172.

About PetSmart Charities
Established in 1994, PetSmart Charities, Inc. is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that creates and supports programs that save the lives of homeless pets, raise awareness of companion animal welfare issues and promote healthy relationships between people and pets. The largest funder of animal-welfare efforts in North America, PetSmart Charities has provided more than $165 million in grants and programs benefiting animal-welfare organizations and has helped save the lives of more than 5 million pets through its in-store adoption program. To learn more about how PetSmart Charities is working toward its vision of a lifelong, loving home for every pet, visit petsmartcharities.org or call 1-800-423-PETS (7387).

Conway, South Carolina – The Bucksport Branch of the Horry County Memorial Library, located off of Highway 701 South, will close for renovations on January 31 for a couple of months. We hope to open the new-improved library in spring 2013.

Library renovations will include the reconfiguration of space to make more room for 12 computers and more space for programming. The library will also receive new carpet, a fresh coat of paint, new furnishings and shelving. Mobile shelving will also be installed, which will allow more space options to accommodate patrons and various programs that are hosted in the library. Bucksport Library will be the first public library in the state to install such mobile shelving that will be accessible to the public. “We are excited to rejuvenate the Bucksport Library and update the interior to make it a more pleasing experience for our customers,” stated Clifton Boyer, Horry County Memorial Library Director. “The renovations will also make the space much more functional for staff and allow us to alter the space as needed for specialize programs and events.”

The Horry County Memorial Library system has nine library branches countywide to include Conway, Aynor, Green Sea/Floyds, Loris, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Stephens Crossroads and Surfside Beach. For more information on the Horry County Memorial Library, please go to www.hcml.org.

Conway, South Carolina – All Horry County offices, other than public safety operations, will be closed on Monday, January 21, 2013, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday. Regular courts may be in operation in the Horry County Government & Justice Center and all jurors, witnesses, etc. will be required to be present.