HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – People who live, work and drive along Highway 501 are used to seeing hundreds of cars on the busy road, but on Wednesday there was an unusual sight.

A small plane made an emergency landing on Highway 501. Not only did the small plane make the landing, but the pilot did it without any cars around.

The FAA said the pilot reported engine issues with the single-engine plane and made the decision to land on the busy highway.

Nancy Rivera and Ashley Porter were working at Sparks Toyota when they noticed the plane getting unusually close.

“We were sitting on the bench waiting for some nice customers to come in and all of a sudden we heard some loud noise and looked up and a plane glided onto 501 right in front of us,” the two co-workers said.

Charles Ashworth, who works at the Dunkin’ Donuts nearby, said it caught the attention of his fellow employees.

“I was in the office with my boss and everybody started running into the office saying, ‘Oh my God, there’s a plane on 501.’ So we all rushed out here and we were checking it out and it was right there in the turning lane, and was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is so crazy,’” Ashworth described.

He added that it’s a miracle that no cars where in the plane’s path and no one inside the plane or on the road were hurt during the landing.

“A lot of cars here and there really wouldn’t give much room for him to land, but I guess he was very observant and he had a big open spot for him to land and he did it. It was a miracle,” Ashworth said.

Once the small plane landed, it was quickly moved to the middle of the highway and a truck was brought in to tow it back to the airport.

The FAA is investigating exactly what caused the pilot to make the emergency landing.

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The federal court trial of a suspended sheriff accused of ordering an assault on an inmate has been delayed again.

Suspended Marlboro County Sheriff Charles Lemon was set to begin his criminal trial in Florence on Monday, but now that won’t happen until at least Aug. 13.

That’s because U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Dawson found that the court had not notified potential jurors in a timely enough manner.

Jury selection is now set to begin July 15.

This is the third time Lemon’s trial has been delayed, and the first time since his trial was moved from state to federal court in March.

Lemon stands accused of ordering a deputy to repeatedly shock a county inmate in 2020. The state Attorney General’s Office indicted Lemon in December, 2021.

When it comes to living in the South, most southerners would bet on their town being the friendliest.

This is due to the tradition of southern hospitality being passed on from friends and family to neighbor and stranger. Down in these parts, you can expect to make friends while running your daily errands. Southerners love to meet new people, and they are not afraid to chat up a storm, whether it’s while waiting in line at the grocery store or walking your dog around the neighborhood.

While there are many charming cities and towns in the South that keep up with the tradition of southern hospitality, there are only a few that made Southern Living’s recent list.

SC cities on Southern Living’s friendliest list

South Carolina dominates the top of Southern Living’s 15 Friendliest Cities in the South analysis. Charleston ranks No. 1, while Greenville is No. 3. Here’s what Southern Living had to say about these cities.

No. 1 Charleston

Charleston is a favorite among Southern Living readers, and the magazine says it has topped the annual list “for more years in a row than we can count on one hand.” It cites the city’s dining, waterfront views and architecture as standout features. But what about friendliness? One reader was quoted in the article: “I was walking down King Street with my family, and it started pouring rain. A perfect stranger stopped in his car, handed us an umbrella, said ‘Welcome to Charleston,’ and drove away.”

No. 3 Greenville

One thing Southern Living said it liked about Greenville is that it still feels like a small town with its walkable downtown. It singles out Falls Park on the Reedy River as a distinguishing feature of the city. Southern Living also mentions the Swamp Rabbit Trail: “Time in the great outdoors is good for the soul, so maybe that’s what makes Greenville locals so sunny? A leisurely bike ride along the Swamp Rabbit Trail … could turn even the deepest of frowns upside down.”

∎ No. 1: Charleston, South Carolina

∎ No. 2: Savannah, Georgia

∎ No. 3: Greenville, South Carolina

∎ No. 4: New Orleans, Louisiana

∎ No. 5: Nashville, Tennessee

∎ No. 6: Wilmington, North Carolina

∎ No. 7: Asheville, North Carolina

∎ No. 8: Franklin, Tennessee

∎ No. 9: Lexington, Kentucky

∎ No. 10: Lafayette, Louisiana

∎ No. 11: Chattanooga, Tennessee

∎ No. 12: San Antonio, Texas

∎ No. 13: Austin, Texas

∎ No. 14: Bentonville, Arkansas

∎ No. 15: Cary, North Carolina

SC towns on Southern Living’s friendliest list

Beaufort and Spartanburg are two S.C. towns that made appearances; Beaufort ranked No. 2 out of 20 Friendliest Towns in the South, while Spartanburg came in at No. 4. Here’s why the magazine recognized these towns as some of the friendliest.

No. 2 Beaufort

The city of Beaufort, located on Port Royal Island, is mostly known for its beaches and antebellum style mansions such as the John Mark Verdier House Museum. It is also known for the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront, which looks over the Beaufort River and Woods Memorial Bridge. Southern Living has listed the city on its South Best Awards several times throughout the years. But what is it that makes the city a friendly place?

“I’d prefer to keep it a secret, but y’all have let that cat out of the bag. The city itself is like a warm hug, her people are icing on the cake,” said one Southern Living reader. “Folks greet each other on the street, share stories over ice cream cones on benches, kids play and engage in the riverfront park, folks will scooch over a seat or two to make room for others. It’s just a lovely corner of home in this crazy world.”

No. 4 Spartanburg

Earlier this year, Spartanburg made Southern Living’s Best Cities on the Rise list due to its population growth and upcoming development projects. Readers of the magazine enjoy living in the Upstate city and appreciate the well managed city service and helpful employees.

One reader said: “They have great shopping downtown and friendly staff. The library is fantastic and worth visiting to look around. The staff there is also helpful with local history. Everybody says hello on their walking trail, families stop to chat and let their kids play on the trail. All around great experience.”

Another reader shared they have been “warmly welcomed at every turn” since retiring to the city.

Southern Living’s 20 Friendliest Towns in the South

∎ No. 1: Covington, Louisiana

∎ No. 2: Beaufort, South Carolina

∎ No. 3: Fairhope, Alabama

∎ No. 4: Spartanburg, South Carolina

∎ No. 5: Oxford, Mississippi

∎ No. 6: Southport, North Carolina

∎ No. 7: Round Top, Texas

∎ No. 8: St. Augustine, Florida

∎ No. 9: Fredericksburg, Texas

∎ No. 10: Laurel, Mississippi

∎ No. 11: Carolina Beach, North Carolina

∎ No. 12: Eureka Springs, Arkanas

∎ No. 13: Gatlinburg, Tennessee

∎ No. 14: Hendersonville, North Carolina

∎ No. 15: Williamsburg, Virginia

∎ No. 16: Ocean Springs, Mississippi

∎ No. 17: Auburn, Alabama

∎ No. 18: Paducah, Kentucky

∎ No. 19: Henderson, Kentucky

∎ No. 20: Fernandina Beach, Florida

Nina Tran covers trending topics. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com