Top Grand Strand stories: New flights, fatal crashes and boy hurt by wind on beach
The Grand Strand saw a busy news day on June 8, 2026, with a new airline expansion, several deadly incidents and a high-profile court ruling making headlines.
Here’s a roundup of the top stories from the Myrtle Beach area.
- Contour Airlines is adding two more non-stop flights from Myrtle Beach International Airport starting July 1, with service to Altoona, Pennsylvania, and Parkersburg, West Virginia. Read story here
- A 4-year-old boy was transported to Grand Strand Hospital after a strong gust of wind swept him off his feet on a North Myrtle Beach beach, spinning him around before he fell on his arm. Read story here
- Jimmy Gagum, 34, died after losing control of his motorcycle during a high-speed chase with a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper near Conway early Sunday morning. Read story here
- Meshelle Janiel Johnson, 46, was arrested and charged with attempted murder following a shooting just south of Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach that left one person injured. Read story here
- The Virginia Supreme Court reversed conspiracy convictions against Myrtle Beach Safari owner Bhagavan “Doc” Antle related to the sale of lion cubs, dismissing all underlying indictments. Read story here
- Calvin Smith, a 34-year-old man from Galivants Ferry, was shot and killed during a late-night argument in Aynor on Friday, and Horry County Police are investigating. Read story here
- Christian Lopp, 26, of Thomasville, North Carolina, died from injuries he sustained in a May 24 motorcycle crash on U.S. 17 and Mt. Gilead Road in Murrells Inlet. Read story here
- Former Coastal Carolina baseball player Alex Buccilli is opening a 15,000-square-foot indoor training facility called Big Game Performance near the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex by the end of June. Read story here
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
Terri Richardson
The Sun News