Enjoy a FREE September 9 Showing of “Shaun the Sheep (PG)” at McLean Park in North Myrtle Beach

The public is invited to enjoy a FREE September 9 showing of the movie, Shaun the Sheep (PG), at McLean Park in North Myrtle Beach. The movie starts 15 minutes after sunset (about 7:30 pm).

There will be a free sheep petting zoo on site from 6:00pm – 7:15 pm.

The free movie is part of the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department’s Movies @ McLean series sponsored by McLeod Seacoast (www.mcleodhealth.org).

Patrons and movie-goers are encouraged to bring a beach chair or blanket to sit on. Concessions will be available from the North Myrtle Beach Lions Club.

About “Shaun the Sheep”: Shaun the Sheep thinks and acts like a person in a barnyard, which usually gets him into trouble. The farmer's sheepdog, Bitzer, tries to keep Shaun and his friends out of trouble. The farmer is oblivious to the humanlike features of his flock, who are like one big, happy family. When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix-up with the farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it is up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home.

For day of event weather information call the “Rec Check” hotline at (843) 280-5594 ext. 3, follow on Facebook, or visit their website http://parks.nmb.us.

Fire Truck Push-In Event Set For August 31 In North Myrtle Beach

The North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department has scheduled a fire truck Push-In event for Wednesday, August 31, immediately following City Council’s special called 2:00 p.m. meeting, to formally celebrate the arrival of its latest fire truck. The Push-In will occur at Fire Station #1, 1015 Second Avenue South. During the event, City Council members, Public Safety personnel and others will push the new fire truck into its bay, cementing its arrival in the community. The public is invited to attend.

Ladder Truck Outside Station 1 Bay

Fire truck Push-In events reportedly began in the time of horse-drawn firefighting equipment, which could not be easily be backed into a building by the horses but had to be pushed in by firefighting personnel.

The celebration of the arrival of a new piece of apparatus has been a source of pride for volunteer fire companies for more than 100 years. The volunteers of the 18th and 19th centuries spared no expense in outfitting and decorating their new "engins" (a popular term in the 19th century).

For decades, 19th-century volunteers in our largest cities retained the services of some of the most famous artists of the period including John Woodside, Thomas Sully, and Joseph Johnson, who rendered incredible pieces of art on the rigs, composed of patriotic, mythological, and historical scenes. Many of these companies held soirees and other social events to mark the occasion of the new piece of equipment.

Norman Rockwell's 1971 illustration "The New American LaFrance Is Here!" captured the moment of a new engine's arrival. Showing his hometown Victorian firehouse in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, Rockwell conveyed the excitement in the town, showing children and adults rushing to see the modern fire engine. Next to it is the town’s retired 1920s-era pumper.

About the City’s New Fire Truck

On July 15, North Myrtle Beach Fire/Rescue took delivery of a 2016 Pierce 95-foot Mid-Mount fire truck on an Arrow XT chassis. The new truck, which is now the city’s primary tower ladder, has been designated Truck 714 and is located at Fire Station #1.

The fire truck cost $1.2 million and was paid for out of the City’s capital improvements fund over two fiscal years. A fire truck of this type has an effective lifespan of about 20 years.

The new truck replaces a 1996 KME Aerial Cat 102 foot Rear-Mounted Aerial, which has been moved out to another fire station as a reserve apparatus. The KME has served the City well as its primary tower ladder for 20 years. It was replaced due to its age and condition.

With the purchase of the new Pierce, the department has its third operational aerial device within the city limits.

Carolina Soul Band Performs in a FREE September 1 Concert at the Horseshoe in North Myrtle Beach

Carolina Soul Band

The public is invited to enjoy a free September 1, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m.concert featuring Carolina Soul Band at the Horseshoe in North Myrtle Beach.

The free concert is part of the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department’s Music on Main summer concert series sponsored by Anderson Brothers Bank. (www.abbank.com)

The Carolina Soul Band performs sweet soul sounds of such legendary groups as The Drifters, The Coasters, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and many more.

Concert-goers are encouraged to bring their beach chairs.

For day of event weather information call the “Rec Check” hotline at (843) 280-5594 ext. 3, follow on Facebook, or visit their website http://parks.nmb.us.

SCDOT Advisory - Partial Johnny Causey Boat Ramp Closure

A portion of the Johnny Causey Boat Ramp underneath the US 17 bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway at Little River in Horry County has been closed while South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) crews inspect and perform minor, nonstructural repairs to the bridge beams and underside of the bridge deck.

Daytime lane closures on US 17 will occur at this location beginning Tuesday, Aug. 30 through Thursday, Sept. 1, and continue on Tuesday, Sept. 6 through Thursday, Sept. 8, in order to complete this work. For safety reasons, the public is not allowed past the roped off areas at the boat ramp.

QUESTIONS: Contact SCDOT’s Bob Kudelka at KudelkaRP@scdot.org

NMB Public Safety Department to hold August 29 Test of Enhancement to its Nixle Emergency Notification System

North Myrtle Beach, SC – August 23, 2016 – On Monday, August 29, between 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., the North Myrtle Beach Public Safety Department will conduct a test of an enhancement to its Nixle emergency notification system. The upgrade supports the automatic dialing of telephones for major emergency voice alerts.

The test will connect with residential land-lines in North Myrtle Beach and with cellphones containing the Google application.

As part of its expanding Nixle service, along with the text message and email notifications that area Nixle subscribers current receive from the public safety department, residents who choose the additional phone call option will receive calls on their land-lines and cellphones alerting them to a variety of potential public safety issues that may have an impact on the whole community, including threatening weather.

The content of the test voicemail will be as follows: “This is a test of the City of North Myrtle Beach’s Nixle dial emergency notification system. The Nixle dial telephone notification system will be used to deliver emergency information to City residents. If you also want to receive email, text and voice alerts on your cellphone, go to www.nixle.com and create an account. This is only a test.”

For more information, please contact Lt. Sean Downey at (843) 280-5698.

Dolphins Swim Team Pre-Team Practice Program September 6-29

Swimmers ages 5-18 years who want to join the Dolphin Swim Team at the NMB Aquatic & Fitness Center, but who may not be entirely ready to make that jump, are invited to participate in a Pre-Team Program September 6-29 at the Center. The program will focus on breathing techniques, stroke development, and endurance.

Swimmers must be comfortable in 9 feet of water, know how to tread water, and be able to swim freestyle and backstroke for 20 yards.

Practice begins September 6. Practice days are Tuesday and Thursday. Practice time is 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Fees are $30 per month for AFC members and $45 for nonmembers.

For more information, call Judy Childers at (843) 281-3743 or email Judy at jachilders@nmb.us

Special Blend Experience Performs in a FREE August 25 Concert on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach

The public is invited to enjoy Special Blend Experience in a free August 25, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. concert on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach. Concert-goers will enjoy a wide variety of hits, including Motown soul, R&B, pop, funk and today’s top 40.

The free concert is part of the North Myrtle Beach Parks & Recreation Department’s Music on Main summer concert series sponsored by Anderson Brothers Bank (www.abbank.com).

Special Blend Experience covers the tunes of legendary groups such as LaBelle, The Supremes, Chic, The Temptations, Rose Royse and many more.

For day of event weather information call the “Rec Check” hotline at (843) 280-5594 ext. 3, follow on Facebook, or visit their website http://parks.nmb.us.