Hardwood Flooring in Myrtle Beach, SC

When people emerge from the cold dark of winter with an unnatural orange color, a bad spray tan is usually to blame. But in the case of orange alligators, the reason’s a little different.

Photographer Dan Krieger is no stranger to gators. With a host of ponds and small lakes connected by culverts that serve as storm drain reservoirs, his Little River neighborhood is a welcoming habitat for the large reptiles.

But when he spotted a 9-foot alligator the color of a pumpkin from his back porch, Krieger knew he had to grab his camera.

“Sure enough, it was one of these orange gators, and it was a very sunny day, so he’s just lying out there sunning himself,” Krieger said. “I grabbed my camera and, fortunately, I didn’t have to get that close. I have a telephoto lens, and took a picture of Gary the gator.”

The Little River alligator Krieger affectionately dubbed “Gary” isn’t the only South Carolina animal seen donning an unusually bright coat this time of year. The strange coloring is a result of environmental factors, and can be completely natural.

During the winter, alligators hunker down in a period of relative inactivity called brumation. Their metabolic rates slow and, while they continue drinking to stay hydrated the reptiles cut out meals, according to the South Carolina Aquarium.

Brumating alligators settle into mud holes to stay warm on cold days, which can give them a distinctive orange color.

“Usually, an orange alligator is due to a mud that has clay in it, or sometimes it could be rust,” South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Alligator project leader Morgan Hart said. “But we’ve even seen them in pretty pristine wilderness where there wouldn’t necessarily be rust in the mud, so it can just be oxidized natural metals in the mud.”

According to Hart, orange gator sightings are common in cooler months not because the mud dyes or stains the reptiles during brumation, but because the reptiles emerge from the mud to sun themselves on warmer days.

As the sun dries the mud it brings out the vibrant orange, so folks are more likely to spot the gators. When February rolls around, South Carolina weather favors sightings. Krieger spotted an orange gator around this time last year and other sightings made February headlines in years past.

“They’ve been on the bottom, they’re covered in mud, they come up and they sit in the sun and it just dries on them like a thin coat,” she said. “And then it looks like their natural color is almost like a dark orange.”

Because the orange coloring is essentially nature’s body paint, Hart says it washes off like any other mud. In some cases, the mud will stick around longer in the alligator’s scutes or back scales, creating a grid-like pattern until the animal gets in the water for a prolonged period.

But why don’t other animals in the same ponds take on the same rust-colored crust as alligators? Well, some do.

Turtles have occasionally been spotted with similar coloring. With tough skin and shells, turtles sometimes dry with an orangey coating, just like gators.

“A beaver might be in the same water, or an otter, but they’re going to shake it off, and it’s not going to dry in that hard crust that you would get on the back of a turtle or an alligator,” Hart said.

Orange or otherwise, alligators are an important part of South Carolina’s ecosystem. But that doesn’t mean they’re friendly.

For those who spy one of the oddly-colored gators, it’s best to enjoy the sight from afar. Don’t try to feed alligators and remember to maintain a safe distance for humans and pets.

“Watch them and appreciate them,” she said. “It’s kind of a unique thing to see, and [people] get a little bit lucky if they get to see them.”

Pop music superstars the Jonas Brothers are coming back to Columbia for a concert in 2025, the group confirmed on their website.

The brothers — Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas — will perform at Colonial Life Arena on Nov. 6, as part of the tour dubbed “Living The Dream.”

The Jonas Brothers previously performed at the Columbia, South Carolina arena in October 2023.

Tickets will go on sale to the public on March 28, but various presale events will begin March 27. To help fans get access to tickets, the Jonas Brothers are allowing people to register for a presale event on their website.

Information on ticket prices was not available.

After tickets go on sale to the general public exclusively at ticketmaster.com, any tickets that are still available can be purchased the next Tuesday at the Colonial Life Arena box office — as well as on ticketmaster.com.

The All-American Rejects are scheduled to appear as an opening act in Columbia for the Jonas Brothers’ “Living the Dream” tour stop.

This is the Jonas Brothers’ only scheduled performance in South Carolina on the upcoming tour. Prior to the Columbia performance, the group is slated to make tour stops in North Carolina — Raleigh and Charlotte — as well as a date in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Jonas Brothers formed in 2005 and rose to fame with help from the Disney Channel. They released four albums that sold about 4 million copies before breaking up in 2013 to pursue solo musical and acting careers among other ventures.

They reunited in 2019 and released the album “Happiness Begins,” which has sold more than 1.3 million copies worldwide.

The group is known for hits “Year 3000,” “Burnin’ Up,” “When You Look Me In The Eyes,” and “Sucker,” among other songs.

The Jonas Brothers have been nominated for two Grammy Awards (Best New Artist in 2009 and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance in 2020).

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BUSINESS

Topeka Capital-Journal

Matt Pivarnik, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership is leaving the organization to take a position in South Carolina.

Pivarnik will take the role of president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce encompasses Partnership Grand Strand and Visit Myrtle Beach.

Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla said Pivarnik’s leadership has changed the trajectory of Topeka for the better.

“His unwavering commitment to progress and his ability to unite business and community leaders has been truly inspiring," said Padilla. "He has made Topeka stronger, and his impact will be felt for generations to come. He and his wife Wendy have been friends to all, and my wife and I wish him the very best in this next chapter.”

When will Pivarnik leave the Greater Topeka Partnership?

Pivarnik’s final day with the GTP will be May 18, 2025, a GTP news release said.

Pivarnik said his past nine years have flown by in a flash.

"I’ve had the opportunity to serve alongside incredible leaders in moving Topeka & Shawnee County forward, and I will forever be a ‘Super Fan’ of this community that Wendy and I love so much. While this is heartbreaking in so many ways, the time is right for us to go in a new direction," Pivarnik said.

"I am happy that the Greater Topeka Partnership and all its entities are in a strong operational and financial position. The Partnership Executive Leadership Team is in the very top of its class in the country, and they are in position to lead the organization into the future."

Cody Foster, former chair of the Greater Topeka Partnership and co-founder of Advisors Excel, said while he's sad to see Pivarnik leave the community as a leader and friend, he knows Pivarnik has built a solid foundation for a new leader to build upon.

“The team he’s assembled and the progress that has been made over the past decade has positioned Topeka, and the next leader of the GTP, to do some incredible things,” said Foster.

Pivarnik led the Greater Topeka Partnership for almost a decade

Pivarnik arrived in Topeka in 2016 as the CEO of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. He graduated in 1990 with a business management degree from Oklahoma’s Northeastern State University. He went to work in the financial services industry straight out of school, working for credit unions and an association that represented credit unions, The Capital-Journal reported.

Before moving to Topeka, he lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he left the financial world at 31 in 1999 to work for the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Under his leadership, leaders said Topeka witnessed a historic era of collaboration, economic revitalization and community growth. He played a pivotal role in the formation of the Greater Topeka Partnership, bringing together such entities as GO Topeka, Visit Topeka and Downtown Topeka Inc. into a unified organization that has since led numerous economic and community development initiatives, the GTP release said.

"Topeka has changed dramatically and positively during our time here, and I credit that to this team, our full staff, volunteer leadership, stakeholders, and elected leaders. My life has been enriched by Topeka, and I will forever be indebted to this amazing place. The momentum has exceeded all our expectations, and Topeka’s best days are ahead.” said Pivarnik.

Who will be the new CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership?

JuliAnn Mazachek, president of Washburn University and incoming 2026 GTP chair, will lead a search committee to identify Pivarnik’s successor.

More details on the search process will be announced in the coming weeks, said the release.

Mazachek highlighted Pivarnik’s role in fostering collaboration between the business community and local institutions.

“Matt Pivarnik’s leadership has elevated the way Topeka’s public and private sectors work together to drive growth and innovation," she said in the release. "His passion for this community and his ability to connect people and ideas have positioned Topeka for a strong future. While he will be missed, his contributions will continue to shape our city’s success for years to come.”

When coming to the Myrtle Beach area, tourists — especially those coming from an area without an ocean — are excited to get fresh seafood.

However, people don’t need to drop a lot of money to get decent shrimp and flounder. Seafood markets are a great place to find quality seafood as you can often pick out what you want and have it fried up. Publix will also steam certain seafood at no additional cost.

According to Yelp, here are the best local places, from North Myrtle Beach to Murrells Inlet, to grab seafood while on a budget.

The Cackalacky Fish Company, 400 S Kings Highway, is a fish market and restaurant. Patrons can order seafood platters, with sides like fries and hush puppies, or raw fish to cook at home. The restaurant took a small hiatus last fall before re-opening to the public again, The Sun News reported.

When looking for fried fish to go, The Fish Shak is a great option. The Murrells Inlet food truck, located at 513 Courtfield Drive, serves up flounder, grouper and shrimp, among other options. Find fried shrimp baskets and fish tacos for under $20.

The Tasty Crab House in Myrtle Beach, 740 Oak Forest Lane, dishes up seafood boils along with fried fish. Order boils have crawfish, snow crab legs and lobsters, as well as sausage, corn and potatoes. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, there’s also fried baskets and seafood combos.

A well-known seafood market in North Myrtle Beach, Platt’s Seafood, located at 1108 Sea Mountain Highway, offers baskets with steamed and fried fish to take to-go or to eat outside when the weather is nice. There’s also a seafood counter with everything from shrimp to salmon to stuffed crab.

Platt’s is a part of the Boulineau’s brand, a local North Myrtle Beach chain with a large grocery store, ice cream shop, hardware store and gift shop.

Another long-time seafood market in Myrtle Beach, Mr. Fish Seafood Market and Grill plates up fried platters, steam pots and specialties like a crab stuffed flounder. The family-owned restaurant, found at 6307 North Kings Highway, has been around for several decades in the Myrtle Beach area.

“It’s not easy to survive as long as we have,” said owner Ted Hammerman.

A video of a Myrtle Beach boy with spina bifida joyfully spotting a Target advertisement featuring another child in a wheelchair has touched the hearts of millions.

“There’s a girl in a wheelchair, just like me,” then 4-year-old Ezra Spinelli repeats in the viral video.

@ezbruhhspinz Just like me… #spinabifida #spinabifidastrong #spinabifidawarrior #spinabifidaawareness #spinabifidabeautiful #target #targetkids #physicaltherapy #occupationaltherapy #wheelchair #wheelchairkids #wheelz #IYKYK @Em + Abby @target ♬ Dreams - Acoustic - Jada Facer & Dave Moffatt

Since Ezra’s mother, Bri Spinelli, shared it on TikTok last Sunday, the candid moment has garnered more than 22 million views and 5 million likes.

Because of his spina bifida, a spinal condition where the neural tube doesn’t close completely or form properly, Ezra has weaker ankles than most kids and uses ankle-foot orthosis (AFOs) and a wheelchair to get around.

“My wife and my son were in Target together, and he wheeled up to this girl who was pictured in front of the kids clothing section, and she happened to be in a wheelchair, and he thought that that was a magical thing,” said Ezra’s father, Nick Spinelli. “And so my wife happened to have her phone near her at the time, and so she just took a candid video of my son in this wholesome moment.”

Now 5, Ezra’s been using his wheelchair for more than a year. But when Bri filmed the moment in March 2024, he was still getting used to wheeling around. Bri believes seeing the advertisement was “impactful” for Ezra.

“We own a small business, so we know not all businesses can have that representation, but to have a place that can afford that, a place that can do that, to have them put in those little details to bring joy to kids like that, that was amazing,” she said.

Bri first shared the sweet moment on Facebook last year, but it wasn’t until she posted the video to TikTok that it circulated among millions of people. The video has amassed nearly 34,000 TikTok comments, and even major brands like Barbie and Dove have chimed in.

For her and Nick, comments from other parents helping their kids navigate life with spina bifida are especially poignant. For Ezra, the scale of attention and support is difficult to grasp.

“He doesn’t understand the number … We’re like, ‘Ezra, seven-infinity people like your video and have been watching it,’” Bri said. “So we’re trying to explain to him it’s a crazy number, and he’s like, ‘wow!’ And he’s a typical 5-year-old, so he’s like, ‘Everyone loves me.’ He’s super excited about all the comments.”

While virality is new for the Spinelli family, Ezra’s parents say he’s always inspired joy.

“We’re just really proud of him … He is the type of kid that, when he’s wheeling around, he makes eye contact with everyone and tries to talk to all of them, and he’s such a bright light,” Bri said. “And honestly, from as soon as he was making eye contact with people and communicating and talking, he’s always brought so much joy.”