On assignment

What we're covering December 31, 2008

Good morning from WMBF News.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford is holding a news conference to discuss accountability at the Employment Security Commission and announce his decision on seeking a federal loan for continuation of unemployment benefits today. Sanford has until the end of the day to request the money or the fund will run out. WMBF News and WMBFNews.com will carry the governor's news conference live.

Authorities say an Horry County inmate slipped out of his handcuffs in a police car and grabbed the driver's gun before officers managed to restrain him. The director of the county jail says Jeffrey Holcomb, 40, of Myrtle Beach attempted to escape Monday night on his way back from a hospital. Holcomb is expected to be in court today to face new charges of assault and battery with intent to kill and attempted escape.

It has been three years since a deadly hit and run accident killed a pedestrian in Socastee, and so far no arrests have been made. The South Carolina Highway Patrol reports the accident happening December 31, 2005 on Highway 707 at 10:35pm. The patrol says the person was hit by a white four door Mercury and the driver of the car got out and ran according to witnesses.

Live Local Late Breaking news all day on WMBFNews.com and starting today at 4. We hope you'll join us.

Kyle

Kyle Grainger | Kgrainger@wmbfnews.com

It's That Time of Year Again....

Time to make a New Year's Resolution.  Your options are endless, although many people tend to stick to popular resolutions such as -losing weight, -paying off credit cards, student loans, the house, -finding a new job, -volunteering more often, -quitting a bad habit (i.e. smoking) etc.

If you haven't started to think about it, now's the time!  I feel many people pick a resolution based on the need to say something when that gigantic, lighted ball falls at Midnight.  To find the most success though, you should put some thought into your resolution, and try to find one that will work best for you.  If you want to lose weight, but aren't planning to change those late-night pizza snacks you enjoy so much, it might not work.  If you'd like to find a new job, but haven't taken the initiative to update your resume, that resolution may fall flat for you. 

The point of a resolution isn't to make yourself feel bad about your habits and shortcomings, but to start a new year off on the right foot, for a more healthy and happy YOU!

Good luck in your resolution research, and if you need a guiding voice throughout 2009 to keep you on track, send me an email... I'll do my best to help keep you motivated!

Happy New Year!

Paula Caruso | pcaruso@wmbfnews.com

What we're covering December 30, 2008

Good morning from WMBF News.

Lower gas prices continue across the country, with the cheapest gas coming in at $1.42 a gallon on average in Missouri. According to the AAA, a gallon of regular gas in Alaska is the most expensive at $2.52. In South Carolina the cheapest gas is being reported at an Exxon station in Aiken at $1.22, while the most expensive is being reported in the Low country at $1.69 at a BP in McClellanville. I'll be reporting on some prices in our area today.

Police are continuing to investigating a child that was hit by a truck on Monday night. The child was airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina after being hit by a truck in Horry County Monday evening. Cpl. Paul Brouthers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol says a boy on a bicycle was attempting to cross Socastee Boulevard, also known as S.C. 707, when he was struck by a Dodge pick-up truck.

One man was killed in a shooting at a bar outside Timmonsville early Saturday morning. According to Florence County Coroner Bubba Matthews, Cornell Mack, 21, of Timmonsville, was killed. Although still under investigation, Lt. Brett Camp with the Florence County Sheriff's Office said the shooting happened around 3 a.m. at the bar adjacent to Strickland's Mini Mart. The businesses are located at the intersection of Highway 76 and Cale Yarborough Highway (SC 403) just west of the Timmonsville town limit.

Live Local Late Breaking News all day on WMBFNews.com and starting at 4. We hope you'll join us.

Kyle

Kyle Grainger | Kgrainger@wmbfnews.com

What we're covering December 29, 2008

Good morning from WMBF News.

Many of you are planning New Years parties, and there are some thing you need to know before you do that. Tonight WMBF News looks at some of the safety concerns and liability issues you could face by hosting a holiday party. A look at the laws and how you can protect yourself. Plus the free ride home if you've had too much to drink starting at 4.

One man was killed in a shooting at a bar outside Timmonsville early Saturday morning. According to Florence County Coroner Bubba Matthews, Cornell Mack, 21, of Timmonsville, was killed. Although still under investigation, Lt. Brett Camp with the Florence County Sheriff's Office said the shooting happened around 3 a.m. at the bar adjacent to Strickland's Mini Mart.

The number of police officers killed in the line of duty dropped dramatically from 2007 to 2008. That's according to a report released Sunday by two law enforcement support groups, which found that 140 officers nationwide died on the job this year. That number is down 41 from a year ago, a reversal attributed to better training and tactics. The Palmetto State had three officers die in the years released.

We hope to learn more information today about a set of bones found in Conway last week. Authorities say hunters found the remains around 11:45 a.m. on West Johnston Road. Investigators on scene say the body was so badly decomposed that only the skeleton remained. However, they do believe the remains that were said to be scattered within a small area are that of an adult. Police say hunters made the discovery. The bones were removed by Horry County Forensics specialists.

Live Local Late Breaking news all day on WMBFNews.com and starting at 4. We hope you'll join us.

Kyle

Kyle Grainger | Kgrainger@wmbfnews.com

My Home Away From Home

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year because it is shared with family and friends.  Most of my family is in Pennsylvania and with only Christmas Day off, a trip to the northern part of the country was impossible.  I was lucky enough to be able to spend the holidays with my Aunt, Uncle and my two cousins in Columbia.  As soon as I got off of work on Wednesday, I packed my bags and hit the road.  We stayed up until 6:00 in the morning cooking and telling stories.  On Christmas morning, we opened presents and had a wonderful dinner and flipped the television on to catch one of the many viewings of "A Christmas Story."  I had to leave on Christmas to be back at work bright and early Friday morning, but it was nice to spend time at my home away from home. 

Dick's a trooper

For just turning 21 in August... I sure do feel like I've added 10 years to my life somedays.

It hasn't been one of those days.. it's been more like one of those WEEKS.

Even though I left my PA roots behind three (gosh I can't believe it's been that long) years ago, every time I return home to visit my grandparents and family friends, I can always count on one thing not changling -- York's local NBC affiliate -- WGAL.  In October, I was so excited to watch my hometown station that I cancelled plans with my friends just to tune in.

Well, next time I go back, one face will be missing - one of my favorite anchors of all-time, Dick Hoxworth.

He was such a trooper, serving the York/Cumberland/Harrisburg viewing area for over FORTY years.  I honestly can't remember not watching him, Ron Martin, Joe Calhoun, Janelle Stelson, Susan Shapiro on the tube - wanting to be in their places someday.  Dick's ethics and character in delivering a fair news story are two of many reasons why I look up to him as a journalist.  Now, a "video biography" on Dick has been placed in my "inspiration" folder under my favorites on my computer.

It's crazy how times change. Check out the video:  http://www.wgal.com/video/18343497/index.html

Meghan Miller | meghanmiller@wmbfnews.com

What we're covering December 24, 2008

Good morning from WMBF News.

This morning Florence police will continue their investigation into a body found inside of a home last night. According to the Florence Police Department, the body was found on Stratford Circle after a call was received by emergency dispatch of a possible break-in around 4:15 p.m. When officials arrived, they found the back door had been broken into. We'll see what police find today that may lead them to an arrest.

Lumberton Police say they are investigating a homicide in the city. Lumberton Police are asking for the help of residents in tracking down the person responsible for the death of a 23-year-old in Lumberton Tuesday afternoon. According to the Lumberton Police Department, the male victim was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound around 2:30 p.m. Investigators say the body was discovered across the street from the Park View Activity Center on Inman Street in the city.

Fire officials are investigating a fire that left 8 families with out a place to call home. A fire started at the Midway Apartment Complex in Latta. According to Firefighter Andy McDaniels with the Latta Volunteer Fire Department, crews responded to the call around 9:30 p.m. off of Highway 301. Officials say the Midway Apartment Complex was an old motel that was converted into eight apartments. We'll be checking in with the families today to see how they are dealing with this fire so close to Christmas.

Tonight officials in Atlantic Beach are expected to meet to decide on a new date for the town's third mayoral election in a little over a year. The South Carolina Supreme Court postponed a run-off election originally scheduled for Dec. 16 after an emergency injunction was filed by two Atlantic Beach residents. We'll be live in Atlantic Beach tonight.

Live Local Late Breaking news on WMBFNews.com and starting at 4. We hope you'll join us.

Kyle

Kyle Grainger | Kgrainger@wmbfnews.com

Christmas Is Often What You Make It

For the first time in their lives, my parents won't be home for Christmas this year. They'll be staying with me.

Something about living in Myrtle Beach tends to attract the relatives, you know.

And thank goodness it looks like it's going to be near 70 for the holiday.

Sadly, there is another motive behind their trip. Each of their parents has died. So the old traditions of going to my father's mother's house on Christmas Eve and my maternal grandmother's house on Christmas Day are no longer traditions. I'm sure it will be weird for them to not be home for Christmas. Yet it might be weirder if they stayed.

So we'll have a Myrtle Beach Christmas and try to create new memories. Heck, it might be warm enough to even take a stroll on the beach.

The holidays can be hard. Families change through death, divorce, or economic circumstance.

But I've found, even when you can't have that Norman Rockwell Christmas, you can still make it a good day. You're still in charge of your life. You can cook the foods that give you that childlike cozy feeling inside. You can watch Ralphie stick his tongue on the frozen flagpole for the thousandth time in "A Christmas Story." And if your family is not nearby, inviting friends over will fill your Christmas with good stories and laughter.

Although we have an idealized vision of how Christmas should be, as adults we learn that in reality, Christmas is often what you make of it.

Matthew Nordin | mnordin@wmbfnews.com

70 Degrees on Christmas?

That is what Storm Team Meteorologist Katy Morgan is predicting, and I have to say I can't believe it!

Being from the Mid-West, anything over 45 Degrees is considered a "warm" Christmas, and right now, most of my family and friends are buried beneath 10 inches of snow!  Now that's Christmas!  I think it will be very strange for me to be wearing warm-weather clothing on Christmas Day, almost as weird as not being at home.  Everyone says it will be great to gloat to family about how warm it is down here during the Holidays, but I have to admit, I'm a little jealous they're all experiencing a white Christmas right now.

Luckily, one of my good friends down here is also from the Mid-West and misses snow (and her family!) just as much as I do!  So, we're going to head to Midnight Mass together, then have a big breakfast in the morning, just like we would do with our families.

I hope all of you enjoy your Christmas, whether it's with your original families, or maybe families you've created in places you've moved.  And whatever the weather may be where you celebrate, enjoy it! because you never know where you'll be next year.

Paula Caruso | pcaruso@wmbfnews.com

What we're covering December 19, 2008

Good morning from WMBF News.

South Carolina's unemployment rate continued to soar in November reaching 8.4 percent, the state Employment Security Commission reported Friday. This is half a point above the revised rate of 7.9 percent in October and the highest rate since September 1983. The number of unemployed rose 11,500 to 182,900, while the state's labor force was little changed at 2,171,400.

Tonight the Horry County Humane Society is planning to have another meeting about how to move forward. At a meeting Wednesday night the board voted to fire the executive director, and we learned that the shelter will remain closed until they decide what to do next. That meeting starts tonight at 5 at the Chapin Memorial Library and WMBF News will be live there and we will have a live stream online of the meeting.

City and county officials say no one has bought the world's first rock n' roll theme park. WMBF News learned that there were multiple parties who were interested in Hard Rock Park, but none were able to come up with the minimum bid of $35 million. Hard Rock Park officials have said that if the park was not sold before the end of the year, that it would not open in 2009. Today WMBF News will look at what next for the park.

Live Local Late Breaking news all day on WMBF News.com and starting at 4. We hope you'll join us.

Kyle

Kyle Grainger | Kgrainger@wmbfnews.com