Mobile Home Sales in Longs, SC

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — Jerry Pinkas runs the Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum.

You might also say he runs an illegal operation.

ABC15 asked if he ever had minors playing pinball in the museum, which has been illegal for decades.

"We absolutely do, yes," Pinkas said. "Kids of all ages, actually."

Sure enough, moments after opening, the bright lights, big numbers, and binging and ringing sounds had already lured at least one youth into the facility.

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We informed 13-year-old Clark Strange of the ban, and asked if he would continue playing...it should come as no surprise, the type of kid who plays pinball, isn't concerned with playing by the rules.

"Probably," he said.

Pinkas has no shame in soliciting rogue juveniles like Clark.

"I don't have any problems sleeping honestly," Pinkas said.

He says the state's ban on adolescent pinball dates back to the 1960s, when things were, allegedly, different than now.

"It was also, back in the day, used as gambling," Pinkas said. "So people would rack up credit and that sort of thing...those days are gone."

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Our team was admittedly unable to spot any unsanctioned gambling.

Pinkas says that's why he supports a bill introduced last month allowing minors to play statewide, amending the old, typically unenforced law.

"If they're not going to be used, if they're obsolete, or they're out of date, sure we ought to clean those out," Pinkas said. "Honestly people have no clue...as a matter of fact you can't park your horse on the left-hand side of the street either."

Clark's got his own vagabond reasons for wanting the law to pass.

"'Cause [pinball's] awesome and I love Star Wars, Marvel and stuff," the teen said.

The ATV pulled two jon boats away from the trailer off S.C. 905 in Longs. The boats were loaded with clothes, furniture, even a deer head, and everything else that makes a life. Eddie Lightsay said his sister lived there and just had a baby a week ago.

Ben Bishop, the father, Lightsay and almost a dozen friends were helping back the house into a U-Haul trailer after they brought the stuff through about 100 yards of water as the Waccamaw River continued to rise Wednesday and threatened the road in front of the home.

“We’re trying to move my brother and sister out of their trailer before they lose it all,” Lightsay said.

One friend drove the ATV down to the house, careful to keep the driveway where the water was only a foot or two deep. The others helped hold the bags, boxes and everything else in place on the boats.

A number of homes had flooded along S.C. 905 as it passes north of the Waccamaw River. Heavy rains from Hurricane Florence are swelling the Waccamaw, and flooding is forecast to be worse than it was after Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

Highway 9, the main route from Longs to North Myrtle Beach, was covered in water and closed Wednesday.

National Guard troops in large trucks went door to door and evacuated people from the Aberdeen Country Club along the river in Longs. Much of the golf course and the homes around it were under water.

Bass swam through yards, punctuated by the occasional water moccasin and at least one large alligator hunting in the bushes next to a small house.

Daniel Cerro and Lisa Garnish evacuated their home in Aberdeen. “It started quietly,” Cerro said. “The water just started inching up.”

The golf course had moved its equipment to the highest contours of the course as the water continued to rise.

“You just grab a couple sentimental things,” Garnish said before the couple got in their car and left the neighborhood.

Emergency vehicles with rescue boats and big National Guard trucks that could push through high waters drove through the roads around Longs and the northern areas of Horry County, helping people evacuate.

The Miami-Dade swift water rescue teams staged with other first responders at the Horry County Fire Station on S.C. 905 in Longs.

LONGS, S.C. (WPDE) — Congressman Russell Fry wrote a letter to the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service to express his concerns about the reconstruction of the Longs post office.

The post office was destroyed on June 25, 2021, in a structure fire.

After being closed for nearly two years, the community is still confused and concerned about the progress, or lack thereof, to rebuild.

The congressman's letter claims the Postmaster General has "not been forthcoming with information" or "adequately addressed" his concerns.

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Fry said the closest full operational post office options for Longs residents are all about 10 miles away.

Since the fire, customers were directed to the post office located in North Myrtle Beach. Then in August 2021, a mobile unit opened to assist customers but offered reduced hours of operation.

In early April, the area's state representative took to social media declaring that Fry's office needs to pay attention to the post office issue.

I am hopeful he and his multitasking staff will get around to showing a little support for the Longs community!

ABC15 reached out to Fry's office following the announcement and Rep. Fry tells us this has been an ongoing issue that he says the USPS has dragged its feet on in providing proper public communication.

"Right now it looks like a jungle, I think that it's unacceptable that this is even happening," Rep. Fry said. "This post office was promised to be completed in early 2023 and here we are halfway through the year and they haven't moved a single blade of grass for the new construction of a post office."

WPDE has also been working to hear more information from the USPS in regard to the Longs Post Office. Amid our request for public information, post office officials sent us a statement.

The Postal Service continues to work toward a solution regarding the rebuilding of the Longs Post Office at 50 Highway 9 E in Longs, SC 29568. We regret the delay, but progress has been made and we are confident a resolution is expected soon.

Fry said the agency made a similar comment to him when he inquired about the post office site earlier in the year.

"This just tells me all that we need to know," Fry said. "Which is that they're not doing anything, they're not providing any new information that the people of Longs can rely upon and I think that is unacceptable."

His letter requests responses with the agency's construction plan and answers to the following questions:

What is the status of the reconstruction of the post office located in Longs, SC?

He asked for his questions to be answered by May 5 as well as an in-person briefing to gain insight on the construction timeline.

USPS's statement to ABC 15 continued further saying:

"In the interim, customers may continue to conduct retail transactions at the mobile van parked on the Longs Post Office property. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Postal Service also has cluster box units on the property to serve Post Office Box customers. They may pick up their mail seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Mail and package delivery service has continued without interruption since the fire that damaged the Longs Post Office. The Postal Service appreciates its customers and thanks them for their patience as we work on a resolution to restore the facility to the community."

The representative of the post office owner, Tom Williams, told ABC15 Wednesday morning that the contracts are signed and construction will begin by late May or early June. He added all state and county permits were expedited last year, so there shouldn't be any delays. He claimed the USPS has been the reason for the delays.

LONGS, S.C. (WMBF) – Congressman Russell Fry wants answers as to why the Longs post office hasn’t been rebuilt nearly two years after a fire destroyed it.

The congressman wrote a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy airing his frustrations over the situation and the lack of answers.

“My staff has been in contact with the United States Postal Service (USPS) regarding your plans for reconstruction of this post office since January,” Fry wrote. “However, you have not been forthcoming with information and have not adequately addressed my concerns, necessitating this correspondence.”

The USPS promised to replace the town of Longs' post office by early 2023. They failed to deliver on this promise. I sent a letter to the Postmaster General to formally request answers about this unacceptable delay. pic.twitter.com/3Escw3XInZ

— Congressman Russell Fry (@RepRussellFry) April 25, 2023

The Longs post office on Highway 9 was destroyed on June 25, 2021. At first, customers were directed to go to the post office in North Myrtle Beach for their mail. Then in August 2021, a mobile unit was opened to help customers but offered reduced hours of operation.

“My constituents in Longs, SC have lacked access to a fully operational post office for almost two years. The closest fully operational post offices are located roughly 10 miles away,” Fry wrote to DeJoy.

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Fry also tweeted that the USPS promised to replace the post office by early 2023, but they have failed to deliver on that promise.

“The people of Longs deserve to know why USPS has failed to move a single blade of grass on the property where the new post office should already be built,” Fry tweeted.

The congressman sent the following list of questions to the Postmaster General to answer:

Fry requests an in-person briefing with DeJoy to get more information on the reconstruction timeline. He also asks that the questions be answered no later than May 5.

USPS released the following statement to WMBF News in regard to the Longs Post Office rebuild.

“The Postal Service continues to work toward a solution regarding the rebuilding of the Longs Post Office at 50 Highway 9 E in Longs, SC 29568. We regret the delay, but progress has been made and we are confident a resolution is expected soon. In the interim, customers may continue to conduct retail transactions at the mobile van parked on the Longs Post Office property. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Postal Service also has cluster box units on the property to serve Post Office Box customers. They may pick up their mail seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Mail and package delivery service has continued without interruption since the fire that damaged the Longs Post Office. The Postal Service appreciates its customers and thanks them for their patience as we work on a resolution to restore the facility to the community.”

The owner of the land and Post Office building said they are working with USPS to make sure the construction can begin as soon as possible.

“American Postal Infrastructure, the owner of the prior Longs Post Office building and land, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) are working together closely to commence construction on the new Longs, SC post office as quickly as possible,” said Jon Otterberg, CEO American Postal Infrastructure LLC. “We hope to share an update on this with the community very shortly, and we very much appreciate your patience during this inconvenience.”

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

Copyright 2023 WMBF. All rights reserved.

LONGS — A new fire station for one of the fastest-growing sections of Horry County was dedicated during a July 26 ceremony, replacing an outdated building that was in operation for decades along S.C. 9.

More than 50 community members, first-responders, local and state dignitaries came together under sunny skies for the grand opening of the 8,000 square foot Horry County Fire Rescue Station 13, although the department located in Longs has been running calls since May.

Horry County Fire Rescue Chief Joseph Tanner said his team looked at data and because of all of the growth in Longs, a larger station was needed. Historically Station 13 was staffed by volunteer firefighters, but now a new collaboration with career employees, including an ambulance, serves the area full-time.

“This is one of the fastest-growing areas of our county,” Tanner said. “We realized we were asking a lot of our volunteers to do it all by themselves while they had other jobs. This station was built because of the growth here.”

Much of the growth in Horry County in recent years has occurred in Longs along S.C. 9, which is east of Loris and closer to the beach.

The number of housing units in the Longs area rose by 46 percent between 2010 and 2020, almost five times faster than the housing growth rate in all of Horry County, according to Census data.

Construction crews broke ground on the $2.3 million station in February 2020; however, supply chain issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays in finishing the project. The new building features three drive-through bays, a gym, expanded living quarters and bathrooms.

“Horry County Fire Rescue is a great group of individual men and women,” Horry County Councilman Mark Causey said. “We are very lucky to have them. It is a wonderful team.

“We don’t want to forget the volunteers. They spend so much time away from their families and they are the backbone of fire and rescue in my opinion.”

One of the volunteers recognized during the ceremony was Billy Gore, who Tanner said was instrumental in getting a new fire station for the Longs community. Gore, a long-time volunteer and former district fire chief, was presented with a plaque that will be hung in the building.

Tanner noted the main reason a new station was built — for the Longs community.

“You are the reason we are here,” Tanner said. “We’ll continue to be here to serve you 365 days a year. We haven’t missed a day yet and we don’t plan on doing it now.”