Let’s face it, politics are unpredictable, but the Palmetto State’s primary season definitely stretched the limits of unpredictability.

And it’s not over yet for Horry County, which is holding a special general election on Tuesday to fill the vacant seat left by former state representative Thad Viers.

However, the term is only for five months. And as of right now, there’s only one candidate in the running.

Confused? You wouldn’t be the only one.

Republican Heather Ammons Crawford defeated fellow GOP challengers Larry Richardson and Thomas Muse in the June 5 special primary election to fill the remainder of the House District 68 term.

Since there were no Democrats in the race, Crawford, who won the June 5 special primary with 431 votes, will be the only one to appear on the ballot for Tuesday’s special general election that determines who spends the next five months filling the seat Viers vacated in March following his arrest on charges of felony harassment.

Still, there could be a write-in candidate, so nothing is official until the votes are tallied Tuesday night.

Then there is the general election in November for a full two-year term as the District 68 representative. In the June 12 state primary, Crawford again beat Richardson. And again, she has no Democratic opposition for the fall.

Still confused? To clarify, there were two elections running at the same time and it appears as though Crawford will be the district’s new representative for the next few years.

But again, nothing is set in stone until the votes are counted. Tuesday’s special general election will include 16 precincts in the Socastee area and the polls will remain open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters must show a voter’s registration card, driver’s license or a picture ID issued from the Department of Motor Vehicles before casting a ballot.

Those unsure of their voting location should contact the Horry County Voter Registration Office at 915-5440 or log onto the State Election Commission’s website at www.scvotes.org.

Terminal expansion continues to progress

The Myrtle Beach International Airport’s terminal expansion project remains on track for a late January 2013 completion date.

At a recent Horry County Airport Advisory Committee meeting, board members were given the latest project update.

The terminal’s walls are going up, as fiberglass reinforced panels continue to be installed. Temporary air conditioning will soon be turned on and the building is being sealed with temporary walls where necessary so sheetrock installation can be completed, according to an airport report.

Also, the rental car facility is expected to be finished after Labor Day and the “go live” date is tentatively scheduled to correspond with a partial opening for traffic on the terminal access road in October.

Once complete, the $118 million project will bring the airport’s total number of gates up from seven to 13.

DUI checkpoints scheduled throughout the county

State and local law enforcement will conduct additional DUI checkpoints and saturation patrols throughout Horry County on Saturday, according to a press release from the Horry County Community Action for a Safer Tomorrow.

The times and areas where these checkpoints will occur were not listed.

Contact BRAD DICKERSON at 626-0301.