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Thursday, November 12, 2026

Horry County's fire chief is out, and the county won't say why

Plus, a $90 million Margaritaville resort clears its first Myrtle Beach City Council vote.

The 5AM Socastee team2 stories17 sources5 min read

Public SafetyTop story

Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Joey Tanner is out, and the county won't say why

Tanner spent 31 years in Georgetown fire service before Horry County

31
years with the Georgetown Fire Department
18
of those years as chief
Over 2,000
acres burned in the Carolina Forest wildfire his team contained

Sources: Myrtle Beach News, Post and Courier

If you rely on Horry County Fire Rescue, here's what we know. Chief Joseph "Joey" Tanner is no longer with the agency, and spokesman Tony Casey declined to say whether he was terminated. Tuesday, Nov. 10, was his last day.

Tanner has led the department since December 2015 and was named the state's best chief in 2023 by the South Carolina State Association of Fire Chiefs. Before Horry County, he spent 31 years in Georgetown, 18 of them as chief.

The same day, the county council's public safety committee met in , behind closed doors, on what county attorney David Jordan called "employment matters." Casey wouldn't say whether that session was related to Tanner.

  • Interim chief: Deputy Chief Mike Norket
  • Search for a permanent chief: expected in the coming weeks
  • Closed session: over an hour, with no votes taken

Tanner's last day came the same day as a closed-door committee session

  1. Dec. 2015Tanner begins leading Horry County Fire Rescue.
  2. 2023State fire chiefs' association names him the state's best chief.
  3. March 2025Officials praise his team for containing the Carolina Forest wildfire.
  4. Nov. 10Tanner's last day; the public safety committee meets in closed session.

Sources: Myrtle Beach News, Post and Courier, Myrtle Beach Sun News

City Hall

Myrtle Beach City Council gives first approval to a $90 million Margaritaville resort

If you drive past Ocean Boulevard and 17th Avenue North, this one's for you. Myrtle Beach City Council approved the first of two readings Tuesday, Nov. 10, of an ordinance on public alleyways for a proposed $90 million Margaritaville resort. The 18-story hotel would have 296 rooms, city spokesperson Meredith Denari said.

The proposed resort would span more than 406,000 square feet

Floor area of the proposed Margaritaville resort, beside places you know

The proposed Margaritaville resort406,000 sq. ft.18 stories, 296 rooms
A football field57,600 sq. ft.end zones included
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

7 football fields would fit inside the proposed Margaritaville resort

Source: WPDE

View as table
Floor area
The proposed Margaritaville resort406,000 sq. ft. (18 stories, 296 rooms)
A football field57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included)
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

The city would swap some alleyways with the developer and get fair market value for others. Council added three additions: sharing the cost of Boardwalk improvements from Plyler Park to 16th Avenue North, a public parking lot, and public restrooms on a second-row lot if infrastructure allows.

  • Height: about 188 feet
  • Site: the former Chesterfield Inn
  • Projected impact: more than $20 million a year
  • Construction: about two years

Myrtle Beach News reports the oceanfront pool area wouldn't be limited to hotel guests. When occupancy allows, the public could buy a day pass, and pricing isn't announced. WMBF reported Tuesday night that the is expected next Tuesday, while WFXB says a special meeting is planned for late November.

Developers hope to break ground in December

  1. Nov. 10Council approves the first of two readings.
  2. NovemberA special council meeting is planned for the .
  3. DecemberDevelopers hope to break ground.

Source: WPDE

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Asked

If the Margaritaville pool opens to the public, would you buy a day pass?

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News Notes

Fire weather

If you're burning outdoors, take extra care today. The South Carolina Forestry Commission says sustained winds and gusts around 2 p.m. Thursday could make fires spread quickly, and humidity is expected to drop even lower Saturday after the front passes. WMBF

Tourism fee

Myrtle Beach City Council voted unanimously Tuesday, Nov. 10, to approve an agreement with the Greater Myrtle Beach Collaborative to jointly advocate for changing how the city's 1% is split. The proposal would move the split from 80-20 to 60-40, and the city's share now goes entirely to property tax credits for qualifying owner-occupied homes, WBTW reports. Mayor Mark Kruea said, "now I think we have finally reached a meeting of the minds." MyHorryNews.comWBTW

A proposal would give the city a bigger share of the tourism fee

80%Collaborative's share60%
20%City's share40%

Source: WBTW

Highway 22

If you live in the Farm at Timberlake neighborhood, one proposed Highway 22 extension route would displace 30 to 40 families. Councilman Cam Crawford gave the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers a letter of concern at a county transportation committee meeting, and officials are evaluating three route alternatives. WBTW

Rabbit Man

You can't miss "Rabbit Man," an 8.5-foot sculpture by Massachusetts artist Dale Rogers at Fourth Avenue North and Broadway Street, next to Gallery 320. The city says it cost $21,000 from the Public Art Fund, plus $4,959 for installation, Meredith Denari with the City of Myrtle Beach said. Some social media users took issue with the price after the Friday, Nov. 6, unveiling. WMBFWPDEMyrtle Beach Sun News

Surfside Beach

Surfside Beach Town Council pulled the of a 2.3-acre storage facility annexation from Tuesday's agenda, WMBF reports, but residents still spoke during public comment. Mayor Robert Krouse said the AI inference point DC Blox wants to add at the site is not part of the annexation vote. WMBF

The Buy

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Home

Tackling a fall project? You already know you’ll find the tools, storage, outdoor essentials, and supplies you need at The Home Depot — but have you browsed Black Friday savings? Check out The Home Depot’s current deals and see what you can cross off your project list.

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

— Jesus, Mark 3:25

Things to Do

Things to Do

Socastee, SC

Thursday, Nov. 12

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The Buy

The Wrap

Tootsie Altman Watkins grew up on Pawleys Island in the 1930s, when there was no electricity, air conditioning, refrigeration or running water. Now she's 95 and still cooking and creating. Her mother kept a 2-acre garden and preserved the yellow plums she grew. Talk about farm-to-table before it had a name.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Margaritaville resort clears first Myrtle Beach vote

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Every source in this edition17 links · 10 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Post and Courierpostandcourier.com
  3. Myrtle Beach Newsmyrtlebeachnews.com
  4. Myrtle Beach Sun Newsmyrtlebeachonline.com
  5. WPDEwpde.com
  6. WFXBwfxb.com
  7. Myrtle Beach Newsmyrtlebeachnews.com
  8. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  9. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  10. MyHorryNews.commyhorrynews.com
  11. WBTWwbtw.com
  12. WBTWwbtw.com
  13. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  14. WPDEwpde.com
  15. Myrtle Beach Sun Newsmyrtlebeachonline.com
  16. WMBFwmbfnews.com
  17. Socastee events calendar5amsocasteesc.com

Past issues

  1. Fri., Nov. 13Horry County's fire chief of nearly 11 years has left
  2. Wed., Nov. 11Margaritaville resort clears first Myrtle Beach vote
  3. Tues., Nov. 10Conway unveils a WWII marker for the Norton twins
  4. Mon., Nov. 9Horry County approves a Wawa, and neighbors roar back
  5. Sun., Nov. 8Rabbit Man, a $21,000 statue, lands in downtown Myrtle Beach
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5AM Socasteeto me · Thurs., Nov. 126:00 a.m.

Horry County's fire chief is out, and the county won't say why

Plus, a $90 million Margaritaville resort clears its first Myrtle Beach City Council vote.

The TLDR

  1. Horry County Fire Chief Joey Tanner is out; no reason given
  2. Margaritaville resort clears its first council vote
  3. Take extra care with outdoor burning today
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Socastee’s other editions

All the news
Public SafetyHorry County Fire Rescue's chief of nearly 11 years has left, and the county hasn't said whyIf you live in Socastee or Burgess, this one hits close to home. Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Tanner has left the department after nearly 11 years. Deputy Chief Mike Norket is interim chief while the county looks for a permanent replacement.Today’s editionRead Myrtle BeachMyrtle Beach council gives first approval to alley swaps for a $90 million Margaritaville resortIf you've wondered what's coming to North Ocean Boulevard next to the Atlantica Resort, it's a Margaritaville. Myrtle Beach City Council approved the first reading Tuesday of an ordinance to abandon seven city alleys, which WBTW says had been holding up developers. A second and final vote is set for next Tuesday, Nov. 17.Wednesday’s editionRead City HallMyrtle Beach wants a bigger share of the tourism fee, but state lawmakers have to approve itIf you own a home in Myrtle Beach, this one touches your property tax credit. City council on Tuesday approved an agreement to seek a new split of the Tourism Development Fee, a 1% sales tax on purchases inside city limits. Nothing changes yet: the 80/20 split is written into state law, so lawmakers have to act.Wednesday’s editionRead

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