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County Council approves bid for construction of new Andrews rec. center
June 26, 2018

Georgetown County Council approved a bid at its June 26 meeting for construction of a new Andrews Regional Recreation Center. Bids came in over budget, which County Administrator Sel Hemingway said is a sign the economy is continuing to improve. The county received interest from 12 contractors and received five bids. The project was awarded to Hanco, Inc., which had the low bid at $5.5 million. The county is working with architects on minor changes to the facility that may shave approximately $100,000 of the cost. These changes will not impact functionality of the building or usable space. Construction is expected to begin in August.

Georgetown man win's county-hosted Bassmaster tournament
June 22, 2018

In a field of nearly 400 anglers from 17 states and Canada, Gary Pope was the only one from Georgetown County — the host site for the B.A.S.S. Nation Eastern Regional Championship. The home field advantage paid off when he won the tournament’s non-boater division on June 22, earning him a spot in the national championship.

Pope led the field from start to finish, hauling in a three-bass limit on each of the tournament’s three days. During the final day’s weigh-in, however, it looked like the championship could go to another S.C. resident. Stacey Jefferson Proctor of Conway had been in the hot seat — the area on stage reserved for the current tournament leader — since nearly the start of the weigh-in process. Pope was the last non-boater to weigh in. He regained the lead and took the prize, but both anglers will fish again in the championship, earning a chance at a spot in the Bassmaster Classic. The date and location of the national championship has not been announced.

Pope’s catch over all three days of the tournament weighed a total of 17 pounds, 6 ounces. It earned him $3,000 and a Pawleys Island hammock in addition to his second trip to nationals. His best catch was on day one when he brought in a bag weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces. It was a lead that was hard to beat.

An employee at International Paper, Pope said he was lucky to have been paired with a boater on day one who was willing to take some suggestions from a local in regard to fishing location. He and his partner fished the Pee Dee River.

“I managed to pick the right baits and the right times as the tide got lower and lower,” he said.

Over the next two days, he said, he had to scramble just to “eek out a limit.” A daily heat index topping 100 degrees surely didn’t help.

He threw Senko worms throughout the tournament, along with a blue crawfish lure he custom makes. As he accepted his trophy, he thanked his wife, Julie.

“She kept me supported, focused, and everything I needed the whole tournament. She helped me keep my head in the game,” Pope said.

In second place in the non-boater division, Proctor finished the tournament with a total catch weight of 15 pounds, 13 ounces.

Winning the Boater Division of the Championship was Mark Hogan of Delaware. He caught a five-bass limit on day three of the tournament that weighed a total of 15 pounds, 9 ounces. With a limit all three days of the tournament, his final cumulative weight for the tournament was 31 pounds, 15 ounces.

The Big Bass for the tournament was caught by Brad Bressler of the Pennsylvania team on day two. It weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces.

This is Georgetown County’s fourth consecutive year hosting Bassmaster tournaments, and it was the biggest yet in terms of the number of boats. It presented a challenge for staff as they showed up at the Carroll A. Campbell Marine Complex daily at 3:30 a.m. to get ready to start putting boats in the water at 4 a.m. But all in all, it was a success on several levels said County Administrator Sel Hemingway. Not only did most tournament participants and their families offer compliments on everything from accommodations to their treatment by staff and the community, but they spent an estimated $1.5 million in the community and had a total economic impact of about $2.6 million, conservatively.

The county’s goal is to host a Bassmaster event every year, and it hopes to get another Elite Series event in 2019, Hemingway said. The county will also host an Inshore Fishing Association Redfish Tour and Kayak tour in Georgetown Sept. 21-22. That event is open to all anglers. Register at www.ifatours.com.

Treasurer announces new delinquent tax program
April 9, 2018

The Georgetown County Treasurer’s Office will begin using a third party collections agency, American Financial Credit Services (AFCS), to assist in the collection of delinquent taxes.

In the past, the Annual Tax Sale was the primary and only delinquent collection program. The South Carolina Department of Revenue offers a Setoff Debt Program, but it has limitations. Businesses cannot be submitted through the Setoff Debt program because the program requires the use of a social security number, an identifier most businesses do not have.

“Pursuing and collecting delinquent taxes is a sensitive subject, but it is part of my role as Treasurer, so we utilize programs that fulfill our responsibility with professional and personalized services. AFCS’s collection services are unique, in addition to pursuing taxes owed, they will assist delinquent taxpayers who are found to have been taxed incorrectly, by educating them on the proper documentation to file so the tax does not continue to be assessed each year. American Financial Credit Services also offers the delinquent taxpayer a payment plan that by law our office can not offer.” said Allison Sippel Peteet, Georgetown County Treasurer.

There is no cost to the County for this program and the taxes will be collected in full. AFCS’s 20% fee is in addition to the delinquent taxes and is paid by the delinquent taxpayer.

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