The Opinion Blog

Lions Gift Lifts Up Food Bank

Wednesday’s lead editorial highlights the good work of the South Strand Lions Club and the South Strand Assembly of God food bank.

When the South Strand Assembly of God church started a food bank about six years ago, 15 or 20 families were provided food, pantry director Vicky Bell recalled. Now, “we feed about 200 families a month.” These are the regular clients of the estimated 300 families in the program, Bell said. Like her counterparts across the area, Bell said the pantry has five or six new families every day.

Keeping Warm

Saturday's editorial describes Myrtle Beach's need to help the city's homeless population in the coming year.

Out of respect, perhaps, few of the sad circumstances surrounding the deaths of 18 men and women on the streets of Myrtle Beach this year were shared at vigil for them Thursday, but even the scant details mentioned as the mourning bell was rung and the memorial candles were lit were heart-wrenching.

Three apparent homicides, plus one man killed when his tent caught fire. Three heart attacks, two cancer deaths, one seizure and half a dozen who simply slipped away in their sleep.

Then there was Frank, "found frozen to death behind the old fish market."

Frozen to death. In March. In Myrtle Beach.

Restart the Search

Sunday’s editorial condemns the Horry County Council’s deadlock over the new administrator job as politics at its worst.

The intense politicking surrounding John Weaver's possible appointment as Horry County's next administrator illustrates precisely why high-level governmental appointments should be filled when possible with external searches – to prevent every job opening from becoming a political prize.

The wrong list to top

Thursday’s editorial describes a recent report showing a dramatic plunge in job growth relative to other cities nationwide as an indictment of our economic development efforts.

It would be difficult to conjure a more direct illustration of Myrtle Beach's fragile economy than the sobering recent report that described our area as seeing the fourth-largest reversal in growth in the country.

Trying to be Distinguished

The powers-that-be have (in perhaps an overt act of desperation) allowed me to begin writing a periodic political column. In the course of any given week, I attend a number of events and conduct a number of interviews that never make it into “official” editorials, simply because they don’t warrant the newspaper’s taking an “official” position on them. But they still represent other people’s legitimate opinions, so I hope a column might give them some audience – after all, that’s why they call and invite me.

My column won’t have a regular run date; it’ll be kind of catch-as-catch can, which somewhat reflects the state of the industry these days. It’ll be more observational than ideological, and I hope it’s better than nothing.

It was a rule begging to be broken: each office-seeking Democrat had four minutes to explain to a crowded Pawleys Island living room why he should be the next governor of South Carolina.

I wasn't keeping time, so I don't know if anyone actually kept it to four minutes – but it was striking how quickly contrasts emerged between the four candidates for the Democratic nomination. Unlike the top-heavy Republican field (which includes two statewide officers and a Congressman), most of the Democrats are new names for most S.C. voters, giving them the added hurdle of forging an identity as they pitch their ideas.

Back Gate Takes Off

Saturday’s second editorial expresses support for the start of construction on the back gate interchange.

In a year when the sales tax rate has been at the center of political controversy, it's good to see a reminder this week of the way such taxes are supposed to work.

Construction is beginning at one of Horry County's most notorious sore spots, the “back gate” intersection of U.S. 17 with S.C. 707 and The Market Common's Farrow Parkway. Crews will spend the next year or so clearing the area around the existing road and moving utilities before beginning late next year on the primary task of elevating U.S. 17 and building ramps onto the road below. Construction could take until 2013.

Food Card Use Soars

Wednesday’s editorial highlights the fact that more S.C. families than ever need help buying food.

The number of Horry County residents using federal food cards (still popularly known as food stamps) increased by 28.7 percent in August from August 2008.

Try a Little Openness

Saturday’s lead editorial is a reminder than in its second round, the Horry County Council’s search for a new administrator should have the transparency the first round mostly lacked.

Though the process improved toward the end, taxpayers don't know exactly what led their representatives on the Horry County Council to a stalemate in choosing a new county administrator and the subsequent need to interview a new set of candidates. Citizens are largely in the dark on the why and how because the process was kept secret until this week, when three semifinalists were interviewed publicly.

Charitable Giving Week

Wednesday’s second editorial acknowledges the good work of a local community foundation.

In its first decade, Waccamaw Community Foundation has grown to manage approximately $16.6 million in assets and has helped hundreds of Georgetown and Horry County nonprofit organizations to the joyful tune of $8.8 million. WCF was started in 1999 with only $1,200.

Book Club Helps With Literacy

Tuesday’s editorial praises a local group’s annual tradition of donating money toward literacy rather than exchanging personal gifts.

Members of an area book club decided three years ago to do something other than exchange Christmas gifts. They pass an envelope with members putting in whatever amount they wish, and the Book and Brunch Club makes a contribution to an organization that promotes literacy.

This year, the club's holiday donation will be to the Literacy Council of Horry County. “What we were thinking is that if other groups, especially book groups, were aware of this idea they might consider doing the same,” says book club member Diane Schroeder. “What could be more appropriate at Christmas time than for a reading group to donate to something that promotes reading?”