Class Day #3

December’s Class really stood out from the rest so far and was extremely educational as we focused on Horry County Government. We started off at the Horry County Council building in Conway and heard from the CountyAdministrator, Chris Eldridge. He oversees 30 separate departments, all needed for the county to run smoothly on a day-to-day basis. We also got an update about the many road projects currently happening, such as the Back Gate project, as well as future projects such as I-73. Lastly, we got a behind the scenes tour of the 911 operating center (amazing!) and had some time to speak with county police officers.

Next, we traveled to J. Reuben Long Detention Facility and heard from the County Sherriff, Phillip Thompson and his Chief Deputy, PaulButler. We got a complete overview of the jail operations and what it takes to keep the streets safe.  Most interesting, was the actual tour of the jail. We split into groups and were able to go inside the command center, into the pods, the maximum-security wing and visiting areas. Our safety was top priority at all times and the staff was all very knowledgeable and professional. To end the day, we sat and watched a few jail bond hearings.  It really is an incredible operation and we must give kudos to all who help run it successfully.