Criminal Defense Lawyer in Pawley's Island, SC

GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Pawleys Island has been named the "Best Beach in South Carolina" for the second time, according to the venerable USA Today/10Best Readers' Choice poll.

Furthermore, Litchfield Beach placed number three and Huntington Beach was placed at number four.

There were 17 South Carolina nominees in the running.

Local officials spoke on how beneficial this ranking is for the tourism industry, with state officials estimating a $300 million economic impact for Georgetown County.

I couldn’t be more excited about this news,” said Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce. “Pawleys Island topping the list for the Best Beach in South Carolina once again is wonderful, but it’s made even more sweet with Litchfield Beach and Huntington Beach State Park also finishing in the Top 4. Clearly the Hammock Coast’s beaches are beloved by residents and vacationers. Our beaches are adored for their pristine shores and mild crowds, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Beth Stedman, the Chamber’s president and CEO, emphasized how you "don't have to be the biggest to be the best."

We love to say we are comfortably nestled between two of the biggest tourism meccas in South Carolina – Myrtle Beach to the north and Charleston to the south, but we love being our own unique brand," he said. “The natural beauty of our area and its history bring visitors here throughout the year and they return again and again. The majesty of our area, with tens of thousands of acres preserved and protected, sets it apart from many other coastal regions.

The judges for USA Today who selected the 17 beaches to compete for "Best Beach in South Carolina" were Jamie Davis Smith, Marla Cimini and Catherine Smith.

They all have shared interests in travelling, writing and adventures.

Locations on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast have been featured in other USA Today/10Best contests such as Huntington Beach State Park, Brookgreen Gardens, Georgetown and Caledonia Golf and Fish Club.

Kerry Van Arsdel was declared missing on Thursday after his boat washed ashore near Butlers Island in Georgetown. (Van Arsdel)

GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WPDE) — Georgetown County officials are continuing the search for a boater who went missing last week.

According to SCDNR, Kerry Van Arsdel was declared missing on Thursday after his boat washed ashore near Butler Island in Georgetown.

Police said he left The Reserve Marina in Pawleys Island by sailboat last Monday.

Kerry's son spoke on the incident Thursday.

Chance said his dad loves to sail and goes by himself all the time, but disappearing out of the blue is not like him at all.

I'm lost because it’s not like him. We just want him home. He’s never the one to go three days without talking to someone, either to my brother Michael or to me. He will tell us he is going to the boat, and say 'I love you more.' That’s what he would always say," Chance said.

Employees found his unmanned boat on Thursday near Butler Island in Georgetown.

Officials said the boat was found miles away from the dock, and Kerry's personal belongings were still inside.

Kerry has been known to tie up near the island and channels of the Waccamaw River.

SCDNR said, "Due to the amount of time that passed before he was discovered missing, our original search area consisted of Sandy Island on the Waccamaw River near Reserve Marina to Butler Island. Through additional info that was obtained, the current focus is now on Butler Island East to Winyah Bay."

“I'm still hopeful and optimistic in still finding him," Chance said. "Maybe he has passed and we are just trying to find the body, but I'm not positive, and not trying to not think that way."

The South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources was the main agency in the search, but requested the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office to take over the investigation.

Those two agencies, along with Midway Fire Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, have been searching the waterways, utilizing boats, drones, a helicopter, and airplanes.

Once I hear what has happened or if we find him alive, I will be ecstatic. But if I have to hear the worst of the worst, I think, then, it is really going to really hit me. I'm just trying to stay strong," Chance explained.

Chance told ABC 15 he spoke with the Georgetown County Sheriff on Thursday and said there have been no updates in regard to the investigation but that officials searched on Thursday and will continue tomorrow.

The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office says his last-known clothing is not known for certain, but he may have been wearing a red shirt.

The investigation is ongoing, and the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office says to reach out to them by calling 843-546-5102 if you have any information.

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WPDE) — The festivities won't end on Independence Day.

The third annual Wave That Flag Festival and a laser-light show will be on Sunday, July 6 from 6-8 p.m. at Retreat Park in the Litchfield community of Pawleys Island.

There will be a Bocce Ball tournament, live music (including headliner Elise Testone), vendors, food trucks and a laser-light show produced by Stone Entertainment and sponsored by South Carolina’s Hammock Coast and the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.

We invite the community out to enjoy a free evening that is family friendly and won't break the bank," said VibeTime’s Blaine Harvey, who has organized the event every year. “ will be an affordable event with a wow factor for local families and tourists visiting the Hammock Coast from all over the United States.

Harvey said the festivities exists to create one last special event for Independence Day weekend.

We don’t want all the fun to end on the Fourth of July,” he said. “We will have a lot of local and regional vendors, allowing people to enjoy dinner and local craft beers. People will really enjoy the line up of musicians, too. The gates open at 6 p.m., and bands hit the stage at 6:30 p.m., all leading up to the laser-light show that Stone Entertainment does so well. It’s a fun night to complete the holiday weekend.

Here's the lineup of events:

Testone, finished sixth in the 2012 season of 'American Idol.' Her music is described as the perfect combination of soul, rock, attitude and restraint.

She has a vocal performance degree from Coastal Carolina University and has appeared on The Tonight Show, Good Morning America and more.

Entry is free. The event is hosted by the Georgetown County Parks and Rec Department and coordinated by VibeTime.

A Grand Strand woman knew exactly which scratch-off lottery game she was going to buy when she stopped at a convenience store along the coast, according to South Carolina Education Lottery officials.

She had been having good luck playing the $5 Money Money Money scratch-off, officials said in a news release. Her latest ticket purchase didn’t disappoint, as the woman won the game’s $200,000 grand prize, according to the release.

“It was so exciting,” the winner said in the release.

The winning ticket was purchased at the Pawleys Express gas station/convenience store on Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island, officials said.

The winner will be allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

The winner did not reveal how she plans to spend her newfound windfall, saying only the six-figure jackpot has “definitely made life better.”

The woman overcame 870,000-to-1 odds to win the Money Money Money game’s grand prize, according to the release. One of the game’s four top prizes remains unclaimed, officials said.

Pawleys Express received a commission of $2,000 for selling the claimed ticket.

PAWLEYS ISLAND — A Hammock Coast beach just netted a statewide honor for the second year in a row.

Pawleys Island, one of the country's oldest seaside resorts, has been named “Best Beach in South Carolina” by the USA Today/10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. It first won in 2024.

Three Georgetown County destinations — Huntington Beach State Park, Litchfield Beach and Pawleys Island — were among the beaches in the contest. Huntington (No. 4) and Litchfield (No. 3) also placed in the Top 5 again.

"It shows that you don’t have to be the biggest to be the best," said Beth Stedman, president of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce. "The natural beauty of our area and its history bring visitors here throughout the year and they return again and again."

To the north, Horry County also saw several winners. North Myrtle Beach and its Cherry Grove Beach also placed in the Top 5, and Myrtle Beach State Park came in at No. 8.

The remaining Top 10 included: Hunting Island State Park (Hunting Island, No. 6), Edisto Beach State Park (Edisto Island, No. 7), Coligny Beach Park (Hilton Head Island, No. 9) and Bloody Point Beach (Daufuskie Island, No. 10).

The list was narrowed from 17 initial nominees. It was part of a series to name the best beaches in South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, California, New Jersey and Michigan, according to tourism officials.

Other Palmetto State beaches in the running included: Myrtle Beach, Folly Beach, Folly Field Beach Park (Hilton Head Island), Isle of Palms, Kiawah Beachwalker Park (Kiawah Island), Sullivan’s Island and Surfside Beach.

The voting period ran from April 21 to May 19, and the beach with the most votes won. Winners were announced May 28.

"I couldn’t be more excited about this news," said Mark Stevens, the chamber's director of tourism development. "Clearly the Hammock Coast’s beaches are beloved by residents and vacationers. Our beaches are adored for their pristine shores and mild crowds, and we wouldn’t have it any other way."

Locations along the Hammock Coast have been featured in the USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards in previous years. Huntington Beach and Brookgreen Gardens have been nominated in several categories, while Georgetown topped the list for the Best Coastal Small Town in 2018.

Murrells Inlet placed sixth earlier this year in the contest for the Best Small Town in the South, according to the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.

Also, Caledonia Golf and Fish Club in Pawleys Island placed fourth this year in "America's Best Public Golf Course" poll from USA Today/10Best.

The USA Today/10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards highlight “top-notch attractions and businesses, providing readers with trusted recommendations,” according to a news release.

A panel of judges chose the South Carolina beaches in the running. The judges included travel writers Jamie Davis Smith and Marla Cimini and USA Today Top 10's coordinator Catherine Smith, according to USA Today.