MYRTLE BEACH

Spots still available for city-sponsored garage sale

Registration continues for folks wanting to sell their stuff at South Carolina’s Largest Garage Sale this fall.

Each space costs $50, and vendors can register at www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/garagesale.html.

The 24th annual sale is set for 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 8 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

MYRTLE BEACH

Five indicted in heroin conspiracy

Five illegal aliens in Myrtle Beach have been indicted in a heroin conspiracy. Luis Gonzalez-Cazares, 24, Hector Mario Ochoa, 27, Diego de Jesus Cruz Gutierrez, 24, Arturo de Jesus Gonzalez-Velazquez, 24 and Roberto Gutierrez, 28, were charged in a three-count indictment last week, according to Bill Nettles, U.S. Attorney for South Carolina.

One count charged all five men with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin. The second count charged Ochoa, Cruz Gutierrez, Gonzalez-Velazquez and Gutierrez with attempt to possess with intent to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin. The third count charged Gonzalez-Velazquez with alien in possession of a firearm.

The five men were arrested July 12 in Myrtle Beach by the Drug Enforcement Agency and they all face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if found guilty.

MOUNT PLEASANT

Storms knock out cranes at port

The storm that ripped through Mount Pleasant on Saturday night disabled four cranes at the Wando terminal.

Port officials were evaluating the damage Sunday and will continue their assessment Monday, Ports Authority spokeswoman Allison Skipper said.

The cranes, which load and unload ships, were knocked out of commission when a microburst swept through the area shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday, she said. Nobody was operating the cranes at the time, and there were no injuries.

The terminal remains operational. It’s not clear how having four of the 11 cranes out of commission for even a little while might affect production, Skipper said.

GREER

Man killed while walking near flea market

Authorities say a Greer man was hit and killed by a vehicle while walking near a local flea market.

The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office says 69-year-old Gale Henry Hussey was struck by a vehicle Friday night while walking in the crosswalk in front of Tabs Flea Market. Hussey was transported to Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:25 p.m.

The coroner's office, along with the S.C. Highway Patrol, are conducting an investigation into the incident.

MOORESVILLE, N.C.

Authorities seize 201 animals from small house

Animal control officers have taken more than 200 animals out of a small Iredell County home, where they described conditions as “horrific and deplorable.”

Iredell County Animal Services said 198 cats and three dogs were found at the 900-square-foot home. Animal control officers spent nearly 10 hours clearing the animals from the home. One official said 50 of the cats had to be euthanized.

Animal Control Director Chris Royal said an officer was sent out following an anonymous tip. He said after multiple attempts to get someone to come to the door, the officer took out a search warrant.

Royal said there were only three litter boxes in the home and cat food was on the bed and counters. He said charges are pending against the homeowner.

LENOIR, N.C.

Fire destroys 100-year-old house

Authorities in Caldwell County say a vent in a clothes dryer is to blame for a fire that destroyed a 100-year-old house.

The Charlotte Observer reports that the couple and two children who live in the two-story, wooden frame house were not injured and were not at home when the fire occurred Saturday.

Caldwell County Fire Marshal Robbie Wilkie said the family had left a load of laundry in the clothes dryer and left their home. Wilkie said a passerby noticed the flames. Firefighters were on their way just before 11 a.m. when the homeowner noticed smoke nearby and returned home. By then, the house was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters were rotated to fight the blaze as a result of the heat.

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

Autopsy pending for N.C. lawyer who died while snorkeling

Turks and Caicos Islands police say autopsy results are pending for an American attorney who apparently drowned while snorkeling.

Police spokesman Kevin Clarke says an official autopsy for 46-year-old Jeffrey Trent of Charlotte, N.C., should be available in a few days.

Trent's body was found floating offshore July 22 by people on an excursion boat.

An official at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center says a preliminary autopsy shows Trent died from accidental drowning.

Clarke says Trent was vacationing alone and staying at a Providenciales resort.

Trent was a partner in the Charlotte firm FrickTrent PLLC.

Law partner Tracy Frick says they have contacted the U.S. State Department for help in investigating the death.

From staff reports