Local | Man tries to flee Myrtle Beach crash site

POLICE

MYRTLE BEACH

Man tries to flee Myrtle Beach crash site

Police on Monday arrested a man in connection with a traffic collision that occurred on Highway 15 in Myrtle Beach, according to a police report from the Myrtle Beach Police Department.

Alejandro Lopez-Chilel, 31, was charged at 4:41 a.m. with traffic/leaving the scene of accident involving unattended, traffic/driving without a license-first offense and traffic/reckless driving.

Police said Lopez-Chilel struck two cars and a fence then fled on foot. Officers found him on Kings Highway and 26th Avenue South, running southbound.

STATEWIDE

Highway deaths up from a year ago

Seven people were killed on South Carolina highways and roads from 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27 to midnight Sunday, Jan. 29, according to preliminary numbers released Monday from the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Thus far, 61 people have died on S.C. highways, compared to 42 deaths during this same time last year.

Of those, as of midnight Jan. 29, nine were pedestrians, one was a motorcyclist and one was a bicyclist.

Of the 41 motor vehicle fatalities, 27 were not wearing seat belts.

Local

PAWLEYS ISLAND

Festival to give inaugral scholarship

The Pawleys Island Festival of Music and Art will give the inaugural Kathryn Bryan Metts Scholarship, which is worth $1,000 for one academic year, according to a news release from the festival.

This is the first scholarship that the festival has endorsed.

The scholarship is only available to upper-level (junior, senior or graduate) students who are specializing in painting and drawing at a post-secondary institution. They must also be a native or present resident of Georgetown County or Alamance County, N.C.

In September 2010, the festival opened the “Remembering Kathy Metts Exhibit” at the Cheryl Newby Gallery, which showcased the original works of the artist.

“Kathy’s paintings reflect an excitement for life and family, and I can’t think of a better way to honor her than through this scholarship,” said Delores Blount, executive director.

The two-week festival features cultural entertainment and musical performances, as well as the Culinary Symphony and Pawleys Island Wine Gala that serve as fundraisers for the event.

The deadline to apply for the scholarship is 5 p.m. June 15, and complete details on the application process may be found online at www.pawleysmusic.com or by calling 843-626-8911.

For more information on the festival, visit www.pawleysmusic.com.

HORRY COUNTY

Fashion Show set for middle school

The Ritz at St. James Middle School Fashion Show will be held Friday from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the school auditorium.

Tickets are $5 for students, $8 for adults, and all proceeds will go to the Special Olympics of South Carolina.

Refreshments will be available, and 36 students will model formalwear.

STATEWIDE

Some drivers to get break on suspension

The S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles’ Driver Suspension Eligibility Week will be held March 5-9 for drivers with certain license suspensions, the department said in a news release.

The program will be held in all DMV offices across the state and in six offices March 10.

During Driver Suspension Eligibility Week, S.C. drivers who have lost driving privileges for suspensions included in the program may be able to reduce or clear the remaining time of their suspension.

Drivers the program will benefit are: underage drivers suspended for excessive points; those suspended for operating an unlicensed taxi or vehicle; drivers suspended for operating an uninsured vehicle that they did not own; those suspended for operating or allowing operation of an uninsured vehicle; and drivers suspended for driving under suspension, excluding alcohol or drug related convictions.

To qualify for the program, drivers must meet all of the conditions of their suspensions. All fees must be paid, and SR-22 insurance must be filed, if required. For those with more than one suspension, DMV will recalculate the suspension time. Drivers with suspensions not covered by the program must serve their suspension.

Drivers who have clear records may apply for a driver’s licenses.

Depending on the type of suspension, they may be required to take the vision, knowledge and road skills tests before getting a new driver’s license. During Driver Suspension Eligibility Week, many DMV offices may experience a longer wait time due to the increased number of customers.

For more information, visit www.scdmvonline.com.

From staff reports