High-speed chase attorney in Loris, SC

LORIS, S.C. — Christmas is coming early to Loris this year.

"We'll have several vendors on Main Street, water slides, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a Young Entrepreneurs Fair where ages 7-to-17 can sell their products, get business experience, and gain confidence," said Stacie Ginther, Loris Chamber of Commerce Executive Assistant.

The Loris Chamber is sponsoring Christmas in July on July 25 and Chamber Executive Director Samantha Norris expects it to be a unifying event.

"Christmas in July is a wonderful way to bring our community together while supporting local businesses," she said. Norris also said the Young Entrepreneurs Fair is a way to encourage the next generation of business leaders. "If your child has ever dreamed of owning a business, the Young Entrepreneur Fair is the perfect opportunity to get started," she said.

In addition to vendor events, there will be a golf cart Christmas Parade that includes units decked out in yuletide decorations. The golf cart parade is scheduled to begin at 12:25 p.m. in homage to the date of Christmas.

The Chamber is currently taking applications for golf cart Christmas parade entrants, said Ginther. For those interested in participating, visit www.lorischamber.com or call 843-756-6030.

Why will there be Christmas in July?

The December 2025 Loris Christmas parade was cancelled due to frigid weather conditions. So Christmas in July is making up for that, but the plan is to make Christmas in July an annual event, Ginther said. t

The Loris Christmas parade is still scheduled for December 2026.

There will also be a separate Christmas in July event at The State Theater on Main Street with a "Curated Holiday Market" from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. offering unique gifts and holiday finds in a cool indoor shopping experience that allows for the escape of the summer heat with a festive holiday vibe.

LORIS, SC (WMBF) - Horry County may soon be losing one of its airports.

In a statement to WMBF. The Horry County Department of Airports said they have intentions of closing the Loris-Twin City Airport.

The decision follows an evaluation of “the airport’s activity levels, financial sustainability, future infrastructure needs, and long-term viability.”

Property owners adjacent to the runways and stakeholders were notified.

John Stephenson owns one of the hangars beside the runway and said he received a letter from the county, mentioning the airport runway’s condition and lack of use.

“Both things sort of concern me in terms of why they’re using those reasons, given the vital nature of the airport here in Horry County,” Stephenson said.

Several people are opposing the county’s decision to close the airport for numerous reasons, one being the runway itself.

Pilots say the runway is a vital resource for those learning to fly, allowing them to take off and land in an area with less air traffic compared to other airports.

“It gives you the opportunity to get into an uncontrolled airport and learn and practice the procedures required so they don’t have the mid-airs and near misses,” said Mike Smith, an aircraft mechanic.

Another said that without this training, it may impact the future of aviation as a whole.

“These small airports for training purposes are a pipeline to you know huge things in aviation,” said pilot David Allen.

The runway also allows pilots to briefly land before continuing their routes, something that can be helpful in the event of bad weather.

One aviation enthusiast, James Lovitt, said this airport is the only one he can fly his paramotor out of. He worries about not being able to fly anywhere else in the county if the airport closes.

“If I lose this airport, I have to sell my gear and give up on my dream that I’ve always dreamt of doing,” Lovitt said. “And I’m not able to move out of my home or the county, so this is my last hope.”

Sam Sarvis said his father helped establish the airport. Sarvis, who has an aviation business, worries about what the closure will mean to him and his family’s work.

“Not only the legacy of my father’s going away, I have a maintenance business on this airport, I have established it in 1989, my father had a business since 2001, but if the airport closes, my livelihood’s gone,” Sarvis said.

The HCDA said the decision to pursue the closure did not come lightly. Many argue that the decision will not be beneficial due to the future loss of resources and opportunities.

“It’s a disaster for the community,” Stephenson said.

The HCDA said the airport will remain operating for the time being, and there is no established timeline for the airport’s closure.

The HCDA’s full statement is below.

Horry County Department of Airports (HCDA) has notified adjacent property owners and other stakeholders of its intent to pursue the closure of Loris-Twin Cities Airport (5J9). This decision follows a lengthy evaluation of the airport’s activity levels, financial sustainability, future infrastructure needs, and long-term viability.

In 2021, the FAA removed Loris-Twin Cities Airport from federal funding eligibility because it no longer met the minimum operational criteria, including maintaining at least 10 based aircraft. Since then, Horry County has been solely responsible for funding the airport’s operation, maintenance, and future capital improvements.

While annual maintenance costs range from approximately $65,000 to $100,000, the airport’s runway, taxiway, and supporting infrastructure are nearing the end of their useful life. Rehabilitation costs are expected to total several million dollars to meet current federal standards. Given the airport’s limited activity and small number of based and transient aircraft, the County determined that this level of investment would not be a responsible use of taxpayer resources.

The airport generates no operating revenue, and all hangars and aviation buildings serving the airport are privately owned and located on adjacent property. Those facilities do not contribute toward the costs of maintaining or operating the County-owned airfield.

HCDA has notified the FAA of its intent to close the airport and will soon submit a formal closure request for review. No timeline for closure has been established, and the airport will remain open while the FAA review process moves forward.

HCDA and the County recognize this decision will affect the small number of individuals who currently use Loris-Twin Cities Airport, and it was not made lightly. Throughout this process, the County’s priority has been the responsible stewardship of public funds while continuing to provide safe and efficient aviation services. General aviation users will continue to have access to nearby facilities at Grand Strand Airport (CRE) and Conway-Horry County Airport (HYW), both of which are well-equipped to accommodate the operational needs currently served by Loris-Twin Cities Airport.

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COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) - A South Carolina woman was arrested Monday after investigators say she allowed a man to sexually abuse three children in her care.

Mary Blanton, 52, of Loris, S.C., was arrested July 6 and charged with three counts of felony child abuse by sexual act. A warrant for her arrest had been issued June 9.

According to court records, the alleged offenses date to on or about Jan. 2, 2019.

The warrant alleges that Mary Blanton allowed Jeromy Blanton to engage in sexual contact with three minors under the age of 16 who were in her guardianship.

Jeromy Lee Blanton, 44, of South Carolina, was previously arrested on June 10 by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office and faces 49 charges, including statutory rape of a person 15 years of age or younger, statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult, crime against nature, sexual activity by a substitute parent or custodian, and statutory sexual offense with a person 15 years of age or younger.

PREVIOUS STORY: 44-year-old faces multiple child rape charges in Columbus County

The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit previously said it reopened the investigation into Jeromy Blanton’s case after new information was brought forward. Additional victims who were minors at the time of the alleged offenses came forward during the renewed investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.

Jeromy Blanton appeared in Columbus County court on June 11, where he was given no bond. He had a probable cause hearing on July 2. He is expected back in court on Sept. 10 for a disposition hearing.

Mary Blanton appeared in Columbus County court on July 7. Her bond setting has not been authorized. She is expected back in court on July 21.

Warrants did not specify the relationship between Mary Blanton and Jeromy Blanton. The two are both listed as living at the same address in South Carolina. WECT has reached out to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office for additional information.