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Burning Ban Too Limited?
Six months after the devastating wildfire that burned dozens of houses, the Horry County Council heard little public opposition to a qualified ban on burning debris. Some council members opposed the ban.
The new county ban will be effective in unincorporated areas such as Little River. The April wildfire has been described by firefighting experts as a highly unusual situation, including perfect weather conditions, as in "The Perfect Storm,'' for the conflagration. The April wildfire evidently started after a debris burn rekindled and roared out of control. Over an extremely windy afternoon and night, the fire burned through more than 19,000 acres and ultimately destroyed 76 houses and damaged another 100 in the North Myrtle Beach area.
The Horry County ban will apply to burning debris on red-flag warning days. Such warnings are issued by the S.C. Forestry Commission. The Horry ban applies to subdivisions with more than 11 houses. It's worth asking why the Horry County ban should not apply to all outside
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Water officials ban septic tanks in Malibu
Water officials have banned septic tanks in portions of Malibu, ending years of wrangling between surfers, environmentalists and residents in the celebrity-filled community.
The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board agreed late Thursday to ban the tanks in central and eastern Malibu. Businesses were given until 2015 and residents until 2019 to hook into a central sewage system.
Surfers and environmentalists have said for years that raw sewage from septic tanks has polluted Malilbu shores, including Surfrider Beach.
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Smoke-free along the strand
Don't like the smoke-free options we identified on the previous pages?
Here are some more choices.
Besides eateries in Surfside Beach that must comply with the town's recently re-instated smoking ban, locally, there are a number of area restaurants, bars and nightclubs that have decided to go smoke-free, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (a full, statewide list is available at www.scdhec.gov/health/chcdp/tobacco/smokefree.htm ; locally, you can also go to www.smokefreehorry.org/dining.html ).
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Stay Here: The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn south of Myrtle Beach
The Oceanfront Litchfield Inn is both majestic and modest in all its uncomplicated Pawleys Island/Litchfield charm. Naturally fresh and honest without all the fuss.
A cozy landmark along the Atlantic since 1960, the inn, however, is receiving a little TLC - from cosmetic renovations to landscape refurbishing. Ashley Fitzgerald, part of the new management team with Charlestowne Hotels, says some standards have also been set for the private owners (condo hotel in concept) for each room and suite to keep the interiors updated. The feedback from guests, she says, has been overwhelmingly positive; the results in décor are absolutely lovely, with tropical bedding, appliances and TVs.
During our recent walkthrough tour, Fitzgerald said the inn was gearing up for a seaside sandcastle-building contest. Preparations were also underway to install an outdoor grill and umbrella rentals.
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NC commission: No alcohol ban on Masonboro Island
The Coastal Resources Commission is recommending that the state not ban alcohol on Masonboro Island and the state's nine other coastal reserve sites.
The Star-News of Wilmington reported the commission met Thursday in Atlantic Beach and decided not to recommend an alcohol ban. That recommendation goes to the Division of Coastal Management.
The commission considered the ban after problems on Masonboro Island, including garbage left behind each July 4th.
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