Chris Spiker
WBTW News 13
Myrtle Beach, SC, United States
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Past articles by Chris:
Doctors urge caution as S.C. relaxes COVID-19 restrictions for bars, large gatherings
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — A couple coronavirus restrictions in South Carolina have been lifted as cases continue to fall. Gov. Henry McMaster lifted his executive order requiring restaurants and bars to stop serving alcohol at 11 p.m. “We’re in a much better place than we were a few weeks ago,” said Dr. Paul Richardson, […] → Read More
Myrtle Beach police call Officer Hancher’s death an ambush as new video is released to public
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The Myrtle Beach Police Department is calling the October shooting that killed one officer and injured another an ambush. MBPD released new video in the case Friday as SLED’s investigation report became public. Officer Jacob Hancher arrived at 9:53 p.m. Oct. 3 at the house on the coroner of 14th […] → Read More
CDC, experts warn about need to improve genetic sequencing to track COVID-19 variants
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — The CDC is warning the new COVID-19 variants could lead to another rapid rise in cases. South Carolina’s daily COVID-19 case rate continues to fall, as it’s been cut by more than half in the last month. That seven-day rate is at the lowest point since the beginning of December, […] → Read More
‘I can never thank you enough’: Horry County officer reunites with family he saved from submerged vehicle
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — An Horry County police officer who helped save a family from their car in floodwater received a special honor Tuesday night and was reunited with the family for the first time since the rescue. “Without Officer Tack coming to save us when he did, I don’t know how it […] → Read More
Conway Medical Center’s proposed $100 million hospital in Carolina Forest moves forward
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) – A $100 million hospital in Carolina Forest proposed by Conway Medical Center is moving forward. About a mile from the busy intersection of Carolina Forest and International drives, on the west end of Carolina Forest, are trees, wetlands and the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve. Even as this part of Horry […] → Read More
South Strand boxing academy helps families fight through a difficult 2020 together
SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) – A South Strand boxing academy is trying to bring families together by having them fight. Todd “The Punisher” Poulton is a former celebrity boxer who runs Southpaw’s Boxing Academy off Glenns Bay Road just outside of Surfside Beach. Shortly after the pandemic began, he started family boxing nights to unite […] → Read More
Horry County Council passes mask recommendation; stops short of requirement despite COVID-19 spike
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County Council voted Tuesday to strongly recommend masks, but stopped short of a requirement despite a spike in COVID-19 cases. The coronavirus is now spreading in South Carolina even more than it did during the state’s summer surge, including a sharp increase in Horry County. Despite that, county leaders […] → Read More
Horry County looks to update comprehensive plan for maintaining its beaches
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) – Horry County is looking for your help in guiding how to manage its beachfront. With highs in the 70s on Thursday, going to the beach was just as tempting as snagging seconds on this Thanksgiving. “I think this is the best place me and my wife could be on Thanksgiving,” said […] → Read More
Surfside Beach looks to fix hospitality tax rules as legal battle winds down
SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) – Surfside Beach is closer to resolving its portion of the Horry County hospitality tax legal battle. Town leaders are looking to fix the confusion over where hospitality tax revenue generated in Surfside’s limits will go. “This is the settlement agreement that came out of all of this,” said finance director […] → Read More
HCS to begin installing plexiglass; hopes to have 5-day in-person learning in January
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — The Horry County School District will begin installing plexiglass barriers around every desk Friday in hopes of having students return to in-person classes five days a week in January. “Everybody wants to be back in school and we understand that,” HCS Board Chair Ken Richardson said. “We want to do […] → Read More
Developer plans shopping center on south end of Myrtle Beach
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) – A developer is looking to put a large shopping center on the south end of Myrtle Beach, about one mile outside of the Market Common. The city’s edge near South Strand Medical Center could soon be home to many more people and businesses. Later phases of the Belle Harbor neighborhood […] → Read More
Neighbors upset about proposed housing development near busy Murrells Inlet intersection
MURRELLS INLET, S.C. (WBTW) – A developer is looking to put more than 100 condos and homes near a busy South Strand intersection, along the border of Horry and Georgetown counties. The intersection of U.S. Highway 17 Bypass and South Carolina Highway 707 is especially known for its heavier traffic. A new housing development could […] → Read More
COVID-19 hospitalization increasing as state approves nearly all large events despite risk
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — As coronavirus cases rise in South Carolina, nearly all large events with more than 250 people have gotten special approval from the state. The Myrtle Beach Gun and Knife show will return to the city’s convention center this weekend, although it will look very different. “This will be our fourth […] → Read More
Horry County mask mandate faces renewal vote on Tuesday
CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – Horry County Council will vote on Tuesday night whether to continue its mask mandate. The mandate is part of a state of emergency, which must be reauthorized every 60 days. The mask requirement began in July to curb a surge in coronavirus cases. TRACKING CORONAVIRUS: View county-by-county data The ordinance requires […] → Read More
Horry County Schools board votes to stay with hybrid instruction until further notice
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) — Horry County Schools board voted 11-1 Monday to stay with the hybrid instruction model until every school can have in-person classes five days a week, despite concerns from teachers. Kathleen Cogland, a teacher at Myrtle Beach Elementary School said she wishes Horry County Schools was more clear about how school […] → Read More
Parents react as Horry County Schools remains in hybrid learning while COVID-19 cases rise in area
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) – Despite rising coronavirus cases in Horry County, public schools won’t move to a completely virtual class model next week. Horry County Schools (HCS) will remain in its hybrid model of two days of in-person classes per week because the district says it has a low number of cases in schools. On […] → Read More
‘Folks really need to pay attention’: Conway Medical Center seeing more COVID-19 patients as Horry County cases rise again
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) – Grand Strand hospitals are starting to see more coronavirus patients as cases rise in places like Horry County. According to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), Horry County hospitals were at 95.2% capacity on Wednesday. Georgetown County hospitals were at 98.4%, Florence County hospitals were at 91.1%, Dillon […] → Read More
Hundreds mourn killed Myrtle Beach police officer at visitation service
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) – First responders and loved ones are paying their respects to Myrtle Beach police officer Jacob Hancher, who was shot and killed last weekend. A public visitation was held for officer Hancher, who was 23 years old, at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Thursday. “We were very, very saddened,” said […] → Read More
Despite traffic concerns, proposed 300+ homes on The Witch golf course near Conway move forward
CONWAY, S.C. (WBTW) – A plan to build hundreds of homes on a golf course just outside of Conway is moving forward. The Witch Golf Club has been open to golfers for 31 years. It could be one of the next golf courses on the Grand Strand to be replaced by a housing development. Some […] → Read More
Johnsonville woman opens city’s first community center to “offer everyone into our hearts”
JOHNSONVILLE, S.C. (WBTW) – A Pee Dee woman’s dream of a central location to help people around her city is coming true. Barbara Black, who’s the founder and CEO of Lydia’s Nest, says she’s been inspired to volunteer for a decade. “Over the years, I’ve just been working and didn’t really have a place,” Black […] → Read More