🌱Mike Pence To Visit Myrtle Beach + Ongoing Search For Missing Boater

Hello again, friends. Karena Garrity here with your Sunday edition of the Myrtle Beach Patch newsletter, full of all the local news you need to know right now. Including updates on:

• Mike Pence to visit Myrtle Beach.
• Is Myrtle Beach going to become a "smart city?"
• Search for lost boater is ongoing.

But first, today's weather:

Milder with a shower or two. High: 61 Low: 44.

Business owners and marketers in Myrtle Beach: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top four stories in Myrtle Beach today:

1. Myrtle Beach is getting a special visitor on Monday. According to a press release from the Great American Committee, Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to visit Myrtle Beach on Monday at 6 p.m. He will be here to visit with local businesses and leaders and meet with members of the Horry County Republican Party. (WBTW)
2. Is Myrtle Beach on the brink of becoming a "smart city?" If Chief Innovation Officer Howard Waldie has anything to do with it, it will be. Smart Cities reportedly use technology to provide services and solve city problems and Waldie is urging the Myrtle Beach council to consider turning parts of the Grand Strand into a Smart City utilizing new technology such as; smart poles that can offer free Wi-Fi and augmented-reality-based tourism and acoustic gun-fire detection systems that could help lower crime rates. An internal smart cities council consisting of staff members from various departments is reportedly in the works to explore the idea further. (WBTW)
3. It's been over a week now that the search for a boater missing from the North Myrtle Beach area has been ongoing. With a combined effort from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina Marine Patrol, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, the Sunset Beach Police Department, the North Myrtle Beach Rescue Squad, Horry County Fire Rescue, the Ocean Isle Fire Department and dozens of volunteers, the search for the 23 year old boater last seen in the North Myrtle Beach area continues. The next step is to make use of the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources fixed-wing aircraft to search from the sky now that the weather is more compliant. Keep your fingers crossed that the young boater is found soon. (WMBF)
4. The Myrtle Beach Police Recruitment Expo was scheduled to be held Saturday but was rescheduled for February 11 because the PAT course was too wet and needs dries out. Anyone who has any questions about the re-schedule can contact the Myrtle Beach Police Department recruiting officer at 843-918-1804. (Myrtle Beach Police Department via Facebook)

Today in Myrtle Beach:

• Marine Science Research Center Tour - Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach (3:00 PM)
• Gaelic Storm (7:00 PM)

Myrtle Beach Photo Of The Day:

Would you like to see your photo in the Myrtle Beach Daily? Send one in. Be sure to give Patch permission to republish the photo, and tell us that you own the rights to the photograph. Send your pic to karena.garrity@patch.com.

From my notebook:

• South Carolina Aquarium: "Our Sea Turtle Care Center™ team, vet staff and our friends at the @scdnr were hard at work last week tagging 11 you read correctly, 11 sea turtle patients! Tagging that many sea turtles does require a “divide and conquer” strategy." (South Carolina Aquarium via Instagram)
• Visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: "Feeling beachy this Valentine's Day? Send one of our Myrtle Beach conversation hearts to your special someone to let them know how much you care! " (Visit Myrtle Beach, South Carolina via Facebook)
• House of Blues Myrtle Beach: " Tony Jack & Always Friday Present: Spring Rally Coastal Carolina is coming to House of Blues Myrtle Beach on April 20th (18+ w/ valid ID) Get tickets now: link in our bio." (House of Blues Myrtle Beach via Instagram)
• Florence Center: "8 year old Campbell Dowling getting ready for the Florence Stampede and Rodeo tonight!" (Florence Center via Facebook)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: "Today’s featured. PetOfTheDay is Dutch! His adoption fee is being sponsored today by Murray Law Group, LLC. Dutch is a super sweet 2 year old hound doggy! He gets along with other dogs and enjoys playing with toys." (The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Sunday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with a new update.

— Karena Garrity

About me: Journalism is in my veins. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Myrtle Beach Patch newsletter? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com