🌱 Therapy Animals Calming Travelers + Celebrating With Holiday Lights

Hello, everybody. It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Myrtle Beach Daily — back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in town these days. In today's issue, you'll find news about...

• Celebrating with lights!
• Calming animals!
• It's Christmas all year long for one local artist.

But first, today's weather:

Strong winds subsiding. High: 53 Low: 15.

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Here are the top five stories in Myrtle Beach today:

1. Making the holiday season extra special for the community, David Maxwell has been setting up his holiday light display since early November. According to wpde.com, "[Maxwell] has been planning [his light display] all year. Some of his [ligt display] was made by 3D printing and controlled by circuit boards as well as a computer. The lights are sequenced with the Christmas music and sometimes you can see Maxwell dressed as an elf and passing out candy canes to visitors. People can drive by the house on Browns Way Shortcut Road and turn the radio to 95.3 to hear the Christmas music and watch the synchronized light show." Happy Holidays! (wpde.com)
2. Charges have been dismissed against a former South Carolina police officer. According to wpde.com, "The case against a former South Carolina trooper for an altercation in 2019 was dismissed this month on the grounds of double jeopardy, according to a release from Savage Law Firm. Former state trooper, David Andrew Eck, was arrested by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for assault and battery, third-degree, for trying to detain a drunk driver after leaving a Sunday church service while off-duty on May 5, 2019, the law firm said. Eck, who served the state for 19 years, was terminated from the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) and then sued by his accuser. The City of Myrtle Beach, the City of Myrtle Beach Police Dept., the South Carolina Dept. of Public Safety, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol are also named as defendants in the lawsuit. De Leon Aguilar sued on claims of excessive force, due process violations, deliberate indifference, negligence, and gross negligence."(wpde.com)
3. It's no secret that animals can bring calm and peace to people during stressful times, which is why dogs are being used at the Myrtle Beach International Airport to help with stress and anxiety during this holiday season. According to wpde.com, "Orio is hard at work bringing joy to holiday travelers. She is the first of eight therapy dogs hired for the Myrtle Beach International Airport’s P.E.T.S. Program, which stands for Pups Easing Travel Stress. "We are just helping everybody ease a little stress, whether they’re afraid of flying, or they’re flying for not-so-good reasons," said Monica Callahan, P.E.T.S. Program and owner of Family Fido Training."(wpde.com)
4. Two armed robberies happened Wednesday night in Myrtle Beach. Police are investigating. According to WBTW, "One armed robbery was reported at about 7:30 p.m. and another was reported at about 11 p.m., according to Sgt. Tom Vest with the Myrtle Beach Police Department. One armed robbery was in the 1000 block of Highway 501 and the other was in the area of 8th Street and Canal Street, Vest said. It’s unclear if it was businesses or people that were robbed. There has been no word on any arrests." Residents keep an eye out and be safe! (WBTW)
5. Outgrowing his garage, an artist and lover of Christmas celebrates the holidays all year round. According to WMBF, "you might start getting into the holiday spirit after Thanksgiving, but one local artist nicknamed Tommy Christmas stays in the zone year-round making handmade holiday decorations. Tommy Christmas said he actually got into making wooden creations by accident three years ago. “I did a job with my family, and I took home a piece of plywood. My brother handed it to me and said, ‘go make a Grinch’. So, I made a Grinch,” said Tommy Christmas. He said the very first six-foot-tall Grinch he made from wood sold within 20 minutes. So, he started up a Facebook page and the business took off. Now, Tommy Christmas recently moved into a workshop because he simply outgrew his garage where orders for his handmade Christmas decorations started piling up. He spends all day in his workshop making Christmas decorations year-round, and his most requested item is still his original Grinch." (WMBF)

From our sponsor:

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Myrtle Beach Picture 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. Thanks!

Today in Myrtle Beach:

• City Holiday: Christmas - Myrtle Beach City Hall (12:00 AM)
• Holiday Movie: Elf - Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach (12:00 AM)
• Holiday Cookie Workshop - Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach (7:00 PM)
• The Carolina Opry Christmas Special (7:00 PM)

Special notice:

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile for two new series: Local Heroes and Star Student Athletes. The goal is to highlight heroes and star athletes in Myrtle Beach!

• If you want to nominate a local hero, click here
• If you want to nominate a local athlete, click here.

From my notebook:

• North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue: "Congratulations to FF/EMT Magnus Lewis on completing his Probationary period and receiving his new helmet front from Deputy Chief Floyd with members of A-Battalion present this morning. FF/EMT Lewis is currently assigned to Truck 1 on A-1 on A-Battalion." (North Myrtle Beach Fire Rescue via Facebook)
• Myrtle Beach Police Department: "Thank you to Goldfinch Funeral Home, Rosemary Coins, Gordon Law Firm, Palmetto Sleep Labs, Global Police Solutions, Lovely Law Firm, Strand Towing, Associated Charities, Rushing Wind Ministry, citizens within our community and everyone else who dropped off food and desserts to our department throughout this holiday season!" (Myrtle Beach Police Department via Facebook)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: "Thank you to Coastal Paws Pet Resort and everyone who brought a donation for the Angel Tree!" (The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach via Facebook)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: "Our ”hippos” want a home! Check out all of our adoptable pets at https://humanesocietynmb.org/adopt/. Please call 843-249-4948 to schedule an appointment to meet our animals, or you can submit an application online." (The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach via Facebook)
• The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach: "Today’s featured #PetOfTheDay is Shadow! Her adoption fee is being sponsored today by Elliott Beach Rentals. Shadow is a sweet and mellow kitty. She enjoys playing with her roommate, Corrine. Shadow can be a little bashful at first, but ..." (The Humane Society of North Myrtle Beach via Facebook)
• South Carolina Artists: "Did you know SCA organizes 30 exhibits every year. Come take a tour of the South Carolina Artists exhibits featuring original works of art by local & regional artists." (South Carolina Artists via Instagram)
• Myrtle Beach Police Department: "The holiday season is here. Our Mental Health Alliance Partner, Sachi Baird, has some tips for our community about mental health." (Myrtle Beach Police Department via Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow 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 Daily? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com