Ben Hestad
WBTW News 13
United States
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Past articles by Ben:
20 displaced in 2-alarm River Oaks fire
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Twenty people were displaced after a two-alarm fire Friday morning at a multi-unit building in the River Oaks area, according to Horry County Fire Rescue. HCFR officials said they were dispatched at 1:35 a.m. to the 500 block of White River Drive in the River Oaks area of Horry County. […] → Read More
Carolina Forest community members voice concerns about potential River Oaks rezoning
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Carolina Forest community members spoke up about their thoughts on a potential rezoning in River Oaks. The Carolina Forest Civic Association held a special community meeting that allowed residents to come in, look at some designs and ask questions regarding a proposed rezoning centered around the River Oaks Golf Course. […] → Read More
Florence police respond to armed robbery in Walmart parking lot
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Florence police responded to a Walmart parking lot regarding the armed robbery of an individual Wednesday night. Police were called to the parking lot of a Walmart at 230 Beltline Drive across from West Florence High School in reference to the armed robbery of an individual around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, according […] → Read More
Conway police close all lanes of traffic due to Highway 501 collision
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) — Conway police officers have closed all lanes of traffic on Highway 501 due to a collision Wednesday night, according to police. Officers and Conway Fire Department are on the scene of a collision on Highway 501 between El Bethel and Four Mile Roads, according to the Conway police department. All lanes […] → Read More
Escaped Florence County prisoner now in police custody
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Florence County police have captured a prisoner who escaped from McLeod Hospital around 8:30 p.m. Friday night. Angel Gutierrez escaped from McLeod Hospital around 8:30 p.m. Friday night, police said. Gutierrez was captured without incident just after 10:30 p.m. Friday night, according to police. He was located around the CSX wooded area. → Read More
1 man shot in the arm in Florence County shooting
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — A man was shot in the arm in a shooting in Florence County Thursday evening, according to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. According to police, the shooting happened on Old Number 4 highway near Scranton. Florence County Sheriff’s Office officials said the investigation is ongoing. No further information was immediately […] → Read More
Wilmington man charged with 2nd-degree murder in 2021 shooting
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — A man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder in Robeson County on Wednesday. Michael Ray Locklear, a 37-year-old Wilmington man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. According to officials, Robeson County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a shooting at […] → Read More
Paramedic among 2 killed when car hits first responders working at Florence County crash scene
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Two people were killed and several others injured Tuesday night while first responders were working at the scene of a crash involving two motorcycles and a car on Pamplico Highway in Florence County, authorities said. One of those killed was a paramedic, and at least four people, including two law-enforcement officers, […] → Read More
Multiple first responders hit in Florence highway crash
FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — Several first responders were hit in a crash on Pamplico Highway Tuesday night, according to the Florence County Sheriff’s Office Florence County Sheriff TJ Joye said a paramedic, police officer and a trooper were hit in a crash on Pamplico Highway at South Cascade Avenue in Florence. He said the first […] → Read More
North Carolina authorities search for Robeson CRV escapee
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — Authorities are searching for a man who escaped from the Robeson Confinement in Response to Violation (CRV) Center in Lumberton Friday night. Wayne Zachary Holshouser was discovered missing just after 5:30 Friday night from the Robeson CRV Center, police said. Holshouser, a 37-year-old male, was serving time due to a […] → Read More
Horry County police search for person connected to July shooting
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The Horry County Police Department are searching for a man who is wanted for attempted murder, according to HCPD. Reginald Francis Neville is wanted for attempted murder in connection with a shooting on July 19 on Chanticleer Village Drive, according to HCPD officials. Neville was last seen driving a light […] → Read More
North Myrtle Beach police look for person of interest in armed robbery
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The North Myrtle Beach Police Department is looking for a person of interest for an armed robbery that occurred at a Home Depot in the city. Anyone with information regarding the individual is asked to call or text the North Myrtle Beach Detective Tip Hotline at 843-447-9376. → Read More
North Myrtle Beach Council approves second reading of beach obstruction ordinance
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — North Myrtle Beach City Council heard the second reading of an ordinance that would require beachgoers to pick up after themselves at a council meeting Monday night. The ordinance would amend a section of the city’s code of ordinances to ‘clarify the use/placement of beach wares between the hours […] → Read More
Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance proposes creation of municipal improvement district
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance is proposing the creation of a Municipal Improvement District (MID) in downtown Myrtle Beach. If the proposal is approved, businesses in that district would see a tax increase of 10 mills, or one percent of their assessed value. That money would then be funneled back […] → Read More
North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission postpones decision for ‘The Preserve’ plans
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The North Myrtle Beach Planning Commission postponed a decision on a new development called ‘The Preserve’ at a meeting Tuesday night. The Preserve is proposed to span a more than 110-acre lot at the southeast corner of Highways 31 and 22 and include over 800 multi-family units and over […] → Read More
Surfside Beach Town Council approves first reading of near $20 million budget
SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The Surfside Beach Town Council heard the first reading of a near $20 million budget at a council meeting Monday night. The proposed budget of $19,908,845 includes no tax increase, proposed FOIA request fees and funding for a new full-time employee in the town’s facilities department. It also includes setting […] → Read More
Surfside Beach survey responses show negative feedback to pier admission fees
SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Surfside Beach Town Council members heard recommendations for the pier at a special-called meeting Wednesday night. The Surfside Beach Pier Committee presented the results of a survey conducted asking people what they wanted from the new pier. Responses to the survey were overwhelmingly negative, according to Tabitha Mull, vice-chair of […] → Read More
Surfside Beach budget proposal includes 3% raise for employees
SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The Surfside Beach town council heard the first reading of a new budget, which includes a three percent increase for town employees. William Shanahan, Surfside Beach town administrator said the budget includes proposed fee increases and a three percent cost of living increase for town employees. When Councilman William Kinken […] → Read More
New Whittemore Park Middle School may require budget increase
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The Horry County Schools Finance Committee heard an update about the new Whittemore Park Middle School at a meeting Monday night, including a potential need for a budget increase. The total cost to build the school is now estimated to be $48.5 million, according to Joe Burch, HCS planning coordinator. […] → Read More
Horry County Council shuts down proposal for higher impact fees
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County Council voted 8-3 Tuesday to reject an increase in impact fees. Horry County Council heard the first reading of an ordinance proposing higher impact fees at a Tuesday night workshop meeting. Money from the added fees would go to capital investments like police cars and firetrucks but would […] → Read More