Sosial Dilik duduk mendengarkan para hakim Pengadilan Negeri Sampit membacakan keputusan mereka soal masalah hukum yang menimpa Dilik dan rekannya Sidang secara virtual berhubung wabah Virus Corona tersambungkan lewat program Zoom –sebuah pemandangan yang mulai terjadi pada 2020 ketika virus mulai menular di seluruh dunia Baca: Perjuangkan Tanah yang Diklaim Perusahaan Sawit, Tiga Warga Kotawaringin Timur Malah Ditahan Mereka memutuskan Dilik bersalah karena “secara tidak sah memanen” hasil perkebunan PT Hamparan Masawit Bangun Persada (HMBP) Dia disebut melanggar Pasal 107 (D) UU Perkebunan tahun 2014 Pasal itu juga menjerat James Watt karena “menyuruh” Dilik memanen hasil perkebunan sawit HMBP Sutrisno membacakan vonis bahwa Dilik dihukum delapan bulan penjara Sutrisno bertanya apakah mereka menerima vonis James Watt menjawab masih akan pikir-pikir dahulu: menerima putusan atau banding Dalam sidang ini seharusnya ada terdakwa ketiga Hermanus meninggal di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah Sampit pada 26 April 2020 Baca juga: Pejuang Agraria di Kotawaringin Meninggal, Koalisi Minta Sidang Dihentikan Kematian Hermanus membuat sidang ketiga petani Dayak versus HMBP–anak perusahaan dari Best Agro mendapat sorotan media massa dan aktivis lingkungan Tempat di mana ketiganya didakwa “mencuri sawit” adalah obyek sengketa lahan antara warga Desa Penyang Bama Adiyanto adalah pengacara dari Justice sebuah organisasi hak asasi manusia di Palangkaraya Bama juga penasihat hukum James Watt dan Dilik hingga mengikuti kasus ini sejak awal sengketa antara para petani Dayak versus Best Agro mulai di Desa Penyang saat HMBP menggarap lahan melampaui izin hak guna usaha (HGU) HMBP memperoleh izin konsesi dari pejabat pelaksana Bupati Kotawaringin Timur Suandi seluas 8.200 hektar pada 13 September 2003 izin itu diberikan pada PT Karya Agung Sumber Kencana (KASK) berlokasi di Desa Tanah Putih Kebetulan salah satunya yang masuk di-land clearing mereka adalah lahan milik masyarakat Desa Penyang seluas 117 hektar,” kata Bama Mereka mendorong Panitia Khusus DRPD Kotawaringin Timur untuk pengukuran bersama pada 2011 “Berdasarkan hasil pengukuran saat itu didapati 1.726 hektar tanaman sawit di luar HGU 117 hektar di lahan yang dimiliki masyarakat.” Masyarakat Penyang juga dapat rekomendasi Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia yang memperkuat keputusan DPRD Kotawaringin Timur “HMBP harus mengembalikan lahan milik masyarakat Desa Penyang HMBP harus membayar kompensasi atas tindakan yang sudah menggarap memanfaatkan hasil dari tanah milik Desa Penyang.” Hasil gelar kasus Badan Pertanahan Nasional juga menyimpulkan tanah warga Penyang memang berada di luar HMBP Kemudian (BPN) juga memerintahkan agar perusahaan menjalankan rekomendasi yang sudah diberikan oleh pansus.” Forum Warga Penyang dan Tanah Putih memberi kuasa tertulis kepada James Watt dan tiga orang lain untuk mendampingi warga dalam mengambil tanah 117 hektar itu muncul surat pernyataan dari Manajer Legal HMBP perusahaan bersedia menyerahkan atau memitrakan lahan seluas 117 hektar itu Wahyu Bima Dharta juga anggota pengurus Gabungan Pengusaha Kelapa Sawit Indonesia –sebuah organisasi beranggotakan pelaku usaha persawitan di Indonesia dipahami warga Penyang bahwa mereka sudah mendapatkan kembali lahan yang dirampas Best Agro James Watt punya riwayat sengketa dengan HMBP di wilayah Bangkal untuk memaksa HMBP mau bernegosiasi dengan masyarakat,” kata Bama Kemampuan James Watt inilah yang membuatnya dipercaya bantu advokasi masyarakat Penyang HMBP melaporkan Pak James ke Polres Kotawaringin Timur dengan tuduhan provokator Desa Penyang Karena berdasarkan kesimpulan pemeriksaan awal kasus ini lebih condong ke ranah perdata.” Hermanus dan Dilik ditangkap di Sampit pada 17 Februari 2020 ada pertemuan antara warga Desa Penyang dan perusahaan dengan mediator Setda Kotawaringin Timur “Kami junjung tinggi apa yang jadi keputusan,” kata Wahyu Bima Dharta Kemudian pada Maret 2020, Kepolisian Daerah Kalimantan Tengah mencari James Watt sampai di Jakarta saat James sedang mengadukan sengketa lahan oleh Best Agro ke Walhi–organisasi lingkungan paling besar di Indonesia James juga menginap di mess Walhi di Jakarta dini hari polisi dari Palangkaraya mendatangi mess dan menangkap James Watt dan Dedi Susanto–belakangan jadi saksi ”Tindakan kepolisian terhadap kedua orang itu murni kriminalitas terkait kasus pencurian buah sawit. Tidak ada kaitan dengan konflik sengketa lahan antara masyarakat dengan HMBP. Ditreskrimum Polda Kalteng sudah menerbitkan dua kali panggilan, tertanggal 24 Februari dan 28 Februari,” kata juru bicara polisi Kalimantan Tengah Hendra Rochmawan Polisi mengubah perkara perdata jadi pidana “pencurian buah sawit” dan mengeluarkan biaya buat terbang ke Jakarta belakangan diserahkan kepada Kejaksaan Sampit untuk didakwa pencurian Apa yang membuat polisi begitu rajin mengejar perkara pencurian Kelompok Tani Sahai Hapakat saat bergerak menggelar aksi panen massal pada 22 Januari 2020 Aksi ini sebagai bentuk perlawanan mereka kepada PT HMBP yang tidak juga merealisasikan penyerahan lahan sesuai janji “Best Group memiliki lahan konsesi sawit seluas 200.000 hektar di Kalimantan Tengah Best juga pemain hilir dengan klaim sebagai satu dari lima kilang minyak sawit terbesar di Indonesia,” kata Dimas Novian Hartono Direktur Eksekutif Walhi Kalimantan Tengah Best Agro tak memiliki kebijakan “No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation,” sebagai perkebunan yang berniat berkomitmen terhadap kelestarian lingkungan hidup. Orang utan pernah ditemukan mati dengan puluhan peluru di tubuhnya dalam perkebunan mereka Panama Paper sebuah investigasi soal persembunyian kekayaan orang super kaya Mereka memiliki perusahaan yang ditaruh di British Virgin Islands Nama Rendra Tjajadi, pernah bikin ramai pada Desember 2018 ketika menikahkan putranya, Jusup Maruta, dalam pernikahan mewah di hotel bintang lima, The Mulia Bali. Jusuf dan mempelai perempuan Clarissa Wang, melakukan pre-wedding di lima benua: Afrika Mereka juga mengumumkan penggalangan dana sosial Marcelino Wuran dari Bali Wedding Association mengatakan Tamu yang datang antara 100-500 tamu dari Indonesia dan luar negeri.” Wuran menyebut keluarga ini sebagai “crazy rich Surabaya” –orang Surabaya yang luar biasa kaya Instagram pasangan itu @jusupclarissa kini dibikin tertutup namun jejak berbagai acara mereka, dengan hashtag #TalesofJnC Di luar urusan pernikahan yang mewah –tentu saja tak melanggar hukum—kelompok bisnis ini punya nama tak sedap di Kalimantan Tengah “Perusahaan ini tidak transparan dan banyak melanggar hukum sering dilakukan di Kalimantan Tengah,” kata Arie Rompas dari Greenpeace Indonesia menilai Best Agro The Gecko Project dan Mongabay melaporkan, bahwa Best Agro mendapat izin bikin perkebunan sawit dengan memasuki Taman Nasional Tanjung Puting Aksi massa Desa Penyang memasang Hinting Pali Berbagai kesaksian dalam persidangan di Sampit membuat Bama Adiyanto menduga Dilik dan Hermanus sebenarnya usaha kriminalisasi lebih dipakai untuk menakut-nakuti warga Desa Penyang agar bukan saja tak mendapat tanah 117 hektar juga berbagai kasus lain yang melingkari Best Agro Panen massal buah sawit memang dilakukan pada November 2019 lewat Kelompok Tani Sahai Hapakat dari Desa Penyang Ketika Dilik dan Hermanus ditangkap polisi Bama Adiyanto kesulitan untuk menemui mereka “Kami tidak bisa langsung bertemu orang ini Selalu ada alasan dari Polda yang untuk menghalang-halangi kami untuk bisa bertemu dan mendengar langsung versi penangkapan dari tiga orang ini.” “Merasa hak kami sebagai penasehat hukum dibatasi penyidik sudah segera men-tahap-dua-kan penyidikan ke kejaksaan dalam waktu dua hari itu sudah P21 (berkas lengkap-red) hingga kami tidak bisa melanjutkan praperadilan,” katanya yang diklaim dalam Berita Acara Pemeriksaan Dalam persidangan ada sembilan saksi dengan keterangan tak sesuai tentang keabsahan kepemilikan lahan 117 hektar lahan 117 hektar itu tak pernah dilepaskan oleh Desa Penyang dan ada kesaksian dari pihak desa dalam persidangan Polisi yang diduga memukul Hermanus juga tak diperiksa James Watt belum memutuskan apakah akan banding dan tetap mencari keadilan atau memutuskan menerima serta memikirkan cara lain buat menegakkan keadilan Jalan perjuangan mewujudkan keadilan agraria dan lingkungan makin terjal sebenarnya permasalahan ini banyak unsur perdata unsur yang selama ini digunakan penasehat hukum untuk pembelaan.” hakim mengabaikan surat pernyataan penyerahan lahan pihak legal perusahaan kepada warga pada 15 Oktober 2019 “Mereka (pihak legal dianggap) tak punya kewenangan dalam mengambil keputusan perusahaan Bahwa pengambil kebijakan legal itu bukan mereka Makanya itu dikesampingkan oleh majelis hakim.” ‘surat penyerahan kepada kelompok Tani Sahai Hapakat ini jebakan Batman buat masyarakat.” Entah bagaimana kelak sejarah menilai kematian Hermanus dan hukuman penjara pada Dilik dan James Watt Entah bagaimana juga sejarah kelak menilai keluarga Tjajadi dan gelar “Crazy Rich Surabaya” … yang boleh jadi kekayaannya didapat dengan bersengketa lahan dengan para petani di Kalimantan Tengah Keterangan foto utama:  Aksi warga Desa Penyang memasang Hinting Pali setelah mereka mendengar Hermanus (almarhum) dan Dilik   Facebook   Twitter   Instagram   RSS / XML Kedatangan kapal perang tersebut ramai dikunjungi warga Ada yang sekedar melihat sejumlah isi dan ruangan yang ada di dalamnya Juga Ada yang memanfaatkannya dengan berfoto dan selfie Kahaba.- Mengawali rangkaian Safari Ramadan 1446 H Bupati Bima Ady Mahyudi bersama Wakil Bupati H Irfan Kahaba.- Klinik Utama Amalia Medical Center Cabang Bima NTB baru-baru ini telah meraih perhatian publik La Hila Music Indonesia memberikan karya besar yang tertuang dalam single lagu Welcome to Mandalika dalam rangka menyambut International Event MotoGP 2022 di Mandalika International Circuit Kahaba.- Paus kepala melon ditemukan terdampar di Bima Kahaba.- Cabang Olahraga Panjat Tebing NTB berhasil menyabet emas pada Pekan Olah Raga (PON) XX Papua Kahaba.- Kabar gembira untuk Kota Bima dari Pekan Olahraga Nasional (PON) XX Papua Karena pada Cabang Olahraga (Cabor)… demonstrates how he replaced a collapsed septic tank in his backyard discusses the issues with septic tanks the Sampit community faces and his desire for a sewer system on Jan Design work on a $13 million sewer project in a Georgetown community is set to begin after 10 years of community petitioning It will address dangerous raw sewage overflows and has the potential to stimulate economic growth GEORGETOWN — Franklin Nelson was doing yard work outside his quaint blue house in the Sampit community when he heard the boom After dismissing the possibility that a bomb had gone off he found that his septic tank had collapsed The walls had caved in and the bottom had given way A collapsed septic tank can cause untreated sewage to spill out “Thank God I know how to run equipment,” Nelson said “I was able to dig the hole and I was able to put down my own field lines but they had to bring me a brand new tank.” He said the tank cost roughly $3,350 to replace If he had needed to hire someone else to do the work The Sampit community relies on septic systems rather than sewer to manage household waste Nelson worries that some of his neighbors may not have the money or skills to replace a collapsed tank “Some folks wouldn’t have been able to make it through that,” he said Members of the community have long been seeking an escape from septic tanks which they say have been failing in increasing numbers over the past several years After about 10 years of community petitioning, design work on a $13.3 million sewer project is set to begin in late spring or early summer, said Tommie Kennedy, executive director of the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District. The Sampit sewer installation project was listed as the fourth most critical on state health officials' priority list of sewer needs in 2013 Septic tanks come with the risk of raw sewage rising up to the surface "Winter time — when all the grasses are dried up but you got one spot in your yard with pretty green grass — that's raw sewer," Nelson said Kennedy has been working with Sampit community members for several years to set the sewer project in motion he’s heard stories about the toll failing septic tanks have taken on them He said children have been unable to play outside because of raw sewage bubbling up and pooling in yards Churches have had to limit programs and services because of issues with their tanks people are unable to flush their toilets after a heavy rain Sampit residents have reported needing to pump their septic tanks every quarter if field lines are clogged or a lot of waste is produced Household septic tanks are typically pumped every three to five years, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Nelson said it costs him roughly $90 to get his tank pumped who served on the Georgetown County Council for eight years as the District 3 representative the septic tank size and size of the household contribute to how often tanks need to be pumped Carolina represented the communities of Sampit Lambertown and Western Andrews during his time on County Council He has been a long-time advocate of the sewer project warning of the health concerns associated with clogged field lines and other septic tank failures as well as the economic detriment that comes with the lack of a sewer system residents have wanted to establish laundromats and other small businesses but the lack of a sewer system has prevented them from doing so It also hinders the construction of affordable housing “You cannot build a sizable subdivision or apartment complex on septic tanks You must have real live sewer infrastructure,” he said In November, county voters approved a capital project sales tax that charges a 1 percent tax on most retail items to fund public infrastructure projects A committee created by the County Council compiled a priority list and a contingency list of projects to be funded with the tax revenue The Sampit sewer improvement project ranks ninth on the priority list. The ranking disappointed and concerned some Sampit residents who have been advocating for the project "We have fought this thing with everything we have," Nelson said "It’s like we’re blowing out hot air to a lot of these people that live in luxury." The Sampit community has petitioned for the sewer project three times and has spoken to the water and sewer district board on several occasions about failing tanks unsafe conditions and the inability to introduce new commercial facilities Sampit resident Joe Cooper has been part of the effort to bring sewer to the community for the last decade he presented a petition of 300 signatures to the GCWSD board After fighting for the sewer project for so long and with conditions worsening he doesn’t understand why it wasn’t ranked higher on the list of sales tax projects "I don't know why we can't seem to get it," he said Kennedy said the sales tax list was ordered according to how many people the projects would affect and how the projects would benefit the county overall projects that would require less money from the sales tax program were placed higher on the list because they can be funded more quickly Kennedy said it’s also difficult to bring new infrastructure to rural areas because the homes are farther apart "The cost to serve five houses on the Waccamaw Neck is way cheaper than to serve five houses in Sampit or any other rural community like that," he said "So it makes it more challenging financially It was also a challenge to get community members on board with the project which made getting things started more difficult Although a large portion of Sampit residents are in favor of the sewer project Carolina said this is largely because of a monthly fee that would come with tying into a sewer system it could be challenging to pay an extra $55 a month to have sewer Nelson estimates about 60 percent of residents are against tying into a sewer system Carolina said thanks to some negotiation with the water and sewer district residents will not have to tie into the sewer system if they don’t want to It will still be several years before the project is completed according to the water and sewer district's projections It’s estimated that it will take two years or more to complete the project once it’s funded That has left residents like Nelson nervous about living with septic tanks for several more years Carolina said the project will help to ensure the health and future growth of the community He anticipates that it will increase the value of properties in the area and encourage commercial and residential development He said he’s hopeful that a sewer system will improve the quality of life for Sampit residents and facilitate positive change “It’s going to transform that community,” he said Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Cari English Land Conflicts and Palm Oil Looting in Central Kalimantan Continue to Bring Suffering TEKS › English›Land Conflicts and Palm Oil.. Iklan Land Conflicts and Palm Oil Looting in Central Kalimantan Continue to Bring Suffering Looting and claiming palm oil land caused conflict in Central Kalimantan to culminate in the looting of palm oil companies Audio Berita This article has been translated using AI. See Original Please note that this article was automatically translated using Microsoft Azure AI, Open AI, and Google Translation AI. We cannot ensure that the entire content is translated accurately. If you spot any errors or inconsistencies, contact us at hotline@kompas.id and we'll make every effort to address them TEKS KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWOSome houses of residents still stand among palm trees in Kotawaringin Timur Regency Dozens of people were arrested by the police on suspicion of stealing palm fruit most of whom previously lived in those houses Oil palm looting in company plantations triggered by mutual land claims has been rampant in Central Kalimantan in the last month Some of the alleged perpetrators were arrested there are still residents hiding in the forest Margaretha Maria's (49) heart and mind are still unsettled The arrival of new people coming in and out of her residence in Penyang Village he chose to sit in the corner of his relative It is about 300 kilometers from Palangka Raya their eyes are more active in observing their surroundings Anyone who passes in front of them is scrutinized from head to toe a resident of Penyang whose relatives were arrested by police for allegedly stealing palm oil and bringing it into their house on Wednesday (8/5/2024) Land conflicts have led to the arrest of residents in Kotawaingin Timur he started to talk while collecting memories of the incident on Friday (26/4/2024) night "The incident started when Aur returned from Sampit "He asked all the doors to be locked," said Margaretha Not knowing why all the doors had to be locked Margaretha got an answer several hours later When she was almost asleep because it was already past midnight she heard the sound of a car's tires screeching in front of the house Her concern peaked when several people got out of a car She intended to leave through the back door there were already two big men waiting for him The wooden door did not have a door handle The door lock was only a piece of wood that supported it with the frame A pickup truck which is suspected to be evidence in a palm fruit theft case in front of the East Kotawaringin Police Station office in Central Kalimantan on Thursday (9/5/2024) When Margaretha was about to move away from the door The remaining residents locked their homes tightly and covered their windows with wooden bars a resident of Sebabi who was met on a village road They are afraid and have fled into the forest after several residents were arrested some were eating at a food stall," he said revealed that he did not know exactly how many people were arrested when interviewed He added that there was no prior notification before the arrests were made Notification in the form of a letter of arrest was given after the arrest to each local neighborhood representative Also read: Conflict Escalates in Central Kalimantan, Palm Oil Looters Arrested and Officials Attacked he is convinced that everything is triggered by theft of oil palm fruit and land claims between residents and companies In the last month, the conflict between the oil palm plantation company and the community in West Kotawaringin and East Kotawaringin has escalated The conflict escalated when it was followed by widespread looting of the company's palm fruit Four attackers at the Pangkalan Banteng Police were arrested by the West Kotawaringin Police They did not accept that their relatives had been arrested The authorities' response to catching citizens involved in looting is aggravating an unworkable situation One example is the attack in the West Kotawaringin Police Sector by citizens who did not accept that their relatives were arrested Assistant I of the East Kotawaringin District Secretariat explained that the arrested residents claimed that the land used to belong to the company (Musim Mas Group) A 400-hectare plot of land has already been sold to another party and now it is being claimed again by residents it was managed by a company (Musim Mas Group) but because it was sold to someone else without the right to use it (HGU/license),” said Rihel Rihel and other officials mediated in 2023 for residents in conflict with the companies PT Sukajadi Sawit Mekar (SSM) and PT Maju Aneka Sawit (MAS) which are subsidiaries of the Musim Mas Group Unilateral land transactions have angered residents The issue has been ongoing since the company entered the area 26 years ago residents have begun to demand their rights They built huts on land they believed belonged to their ancestors Also read: The Phenomenon of Palm Oil Looting in Central Kalimantan is Not Just a Crime to be precise on the right side of the Causei Village KM 56 intersection Upon entering the gate guarded by security a booth is immediately visible at the first turn several individuals with two sedan cars were present at the location Remnants of a resident's hut claiming their land in the midst of a palm oil plantation Similar shacks are also scattered a few kilometers from the aforementioned gate There are still makeshift wooden shelters with cooking equipment That is where residents have launched their occupation of the land that they claim as their own residents harvest palm fruits that were planted by a company decades ago This action has been happening for at least two years The residents who lived in the cottage were arrested by the police Some who have not been arrested have now fled to a number of places The village is now deserted because many people have left the village as some of them were arrested by the police those who took our land are the real thieves KIL stated that he only deals with companies The company came directly and opened the land without his knowledge When he asked the company for responsibility KIL only received an answer that the land had been sold He even saw the name of the land buyer with the initials MS yet he suddenly has the ability to buy my land," said KIL Remains of makeshift homes belonging to residents who claim the land in the middle of a palm oil plantation Dozens of people were arrested by the police for allegedly stealing palm fruit while hundreds of others fled their homes for fear of being caught KIL has joined other residents in building huts and harvesting palm fruit on their land "We have run out of ways to solve this problem our land has run out and we can't farm or manage it A similar situation was also expressed by LNK (59) in his hut which is located tens of kilometers from Sebabi Village LNK has even been stealing palm oil from the company for more than a decade because he is upset that his land those who took our land are the real thieves," said LNK Kompas visited the PT MAS office and met with the General Manager of Musim Mas Group Regional Central Kalimantan Rusli Salim Rusli alias A Tong explained that the land claimed by the residents was not part of PT MAS or PT SSM The origin of the land isAPL (other use areas) not forest areas He was going to attend an invitation from the local prosecutor's office The incumbent pair of regent and deputy regent of East Kotawaringin re-registered at the PDI-P DPC East Kotawaringin on Thursday (9/5/2024) Halikinnor revealed that there are still many unfinished tasks at hand revealed that what happened in Sebabi and its surroundings is not a dispute The company that has been operating for decades has already fulfilled its legal requirements we are forming a Social Conflict Resolution Team (TKS) we acknowledge that 40% of them have not been implemented yet but there are those who have already carried them out," revealed Halikinnor Halikinnor added that there are currently several plasma-related issues being handled by the district and provincial governments "Plasma has indeed been a recent topic of discussion and this (including social conflicts) will be our priority," said Halikinnor who plans to run again as the East Kotawaringin Regent in the 2024 regional elections yet the issue of disputed palm oil plantation land is far from being resolved more and more people in the surrounding areas will only reap suffering Also read: Conflict between residents and palm oil plantations in East Kotawaringin becomes Halikinnor-Irawati's "homework" liputan6 Wapres Megawati Soekarnoputri berencana akan mengunjungi daerah tersebut (WPDE) — A man was shot in the hand during an altercation in the Sampit section on Saturday night according to Georgetown County Sheriff's Office The 40-year-old man went to Tideland's Georgetown Medical Hospital READ NEXT: 'Critical injuries' reported after a crash in Longs He told deputies in the emergency room that he was shot in the left hand with a .22 caliber pistol GCSO is investigating and said anyone with information should call 843-546-5102 By Charles Swenson|November 25 Work is moving forward on a plan to dredge the Georgetown harbor although the actual  work to deepen the channel is still more than a year away we’ve got to do some studies and preliminary work,” said Mark Messersmith the project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers’ Charleston District Georgetown County Council last week approved a resolution taking responsibility as the non-federal sponsor of the project which turned over 40 acres on the waterfront that had operated as a port since 1959 to the county last year The county also got ownership of over 200 acres farther up the Sampit River that serve as a disposal site for material dredged from the harbor the county has to provide the land for spoils disposal provide access for the dredging project and investigate whether there is any hazardous waste in the project area “It doesn’t obligate them for funds,” Messersmith said That will come from the federal government $6.5 million was included in the budget for the Georgetown harbor It plans to clear vegetation from the spoils site in the middle of next year “We’re about to award a contract for a consulting firm to evaluate the sediments,” he said A study commissioned by Georgetown County and completed in 2022 found that toxic material had settled in the sediment The study also showed that the depth of the channel was under 2 feet in some areas The shoaling has affected the recreational boats that use the harbor and even boats coming for the annual Georgetown Wooden Boat Show The Corps plans to dredge the channel from the mouth of the Sampit River at Winyah Bay past the city’s waterfront to the port to a depth of 12 feet That is the same depth maintained in the Intracoastal Waterway The county hopes that the increased depth will provide barge access to its 948-acre industrial park upstream on the Sampit River “That is the great unknown,” Messersmith said of the environmental study “I really don’t know what we’ll find out there.” The results of the study will be known in three to four months Preliminary options for the project call for dredging 380,000 to 415,000 cubic yards of material a renourishment project at Litchfield Beach in 2022 pumped 400,000 cubic yards of offshore sand onto the beach Messersmith said “$6.5 million doesn’t do a lot of dredging.” The schedule calls for the dredging contract to be awarded at the end of 2025 with the work to start in early 2026 Since much of the cost is in getting the dredge to the site setting it up and then breaking it down afterward The Corps will try to time the Georgetown work with other projects “to take advantage if there is a dredger working in the area,” Messersmith said Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" May 1, 2025 April 24, 2025 Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGEORGETOWN COUNTY (WMBF) - The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said deputies are investigating a shooting that took place Saturday night A 40-year-old man was reportedly shot at a home on Charlie’s Place in the Sampit area the victim told deputies at Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital that he was shot in his left hand with a .22 caliber pistol during an altercation Anyone with any information should call 843-546-5102 Indonesia This image from Sentinel-1A’s radar brings us over Indonesia’s Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo Surrounded by the South China Sea, Borneo was once part of mainland Asia, but rising sea levels following the end of the last Ice Age submerged the surrounding low-lying areas. Its rainforest is among the oldest and most diverse in the world, and home to a variety of plant and animal species, including the Borneo orangutan, Asian elephant and Sumatran rhinoceros Running through the image we can see the Sampit River with the timber town and port of the same name located in the lower left The surrounding area is dominated by peat swamp forest where waterlogged soil prevents dead leaves and wood from fully decomposing This image was captured on 22 March by Sentinel-1A’s radar in Interferometric Wide swath mode and in ‘dual polarization’ horizontal and vertical radar pulses Different colors show different types of land cover Varying tones of the same color represent a difference in the state of land cover such as the varying shades of orange of the planted areas showing younger versus older vegetation Borneo’s natural resources have tremendous social and economic value at local But the island has experienced extreme deforestation in recent decades through logging Indonesia also has a variation of colors covering over the land Satellites can be used to monitor the impact of these activities European Space Agency Councilman Everett Carolina of Georgetown County's 3rd district speaks with Sampit-area residents outside the Pawleys Island office of the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District on Oct The Georgetown County Water and Sewer District board was presented with a petition of over 300 signatures on Oct signifying the Sampit community's desire to see their homes connected to the county sewer system Mike Woodel reports on Georgetown County for The Post and Courier He graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2018 and previously worked for newspapers in Montana and South Dakota PAWLEYS ISLAND — Sampit resident Joe Cooper presented the Georgetown County Water and Sewer District board with a petition of over 300 signatures Oct 13 signifying the rural community's desire to see their homes connected to the county sewer system Georgetown County Councilman Everett Carolina addressed the board and noted that in the late 1990s sewer infrastructure was put in place along Pennyroyal Road up to Saints Delight Road to accommodate the area of Sampit Elementary School which was required to maintain a sewer connection The school opened in 2000 but more than two decades later residents in half of the community are still relying on septic tanks economic development such as residential economic development commercial economic development and industrial economic development," Carolina said of a sewer connection to Sampit homes Carolina's district spans much of southern Georgetown County from the Williamsburg County border to the Atlantic Ocean and includes the communities of Sampit North Santee and Lambertown as well as western Andrews He said that when he held town hall meetings after being elected to the Georgetown County Council in 2016 the Sampit area was not as concerned about sewers forecast sea level rise and the cost of septic tank maintenance a sewer connection is at the forefront of their minds "It's essential at this time for the health of the community that we make this move to press upon Georgetown County Water and Sewer to bring sewer to the community," Carolina said it opens up the possibilities for residential development it opens up the opportunities for big commercial and big industrial development Georgetown needs this water and sewer infrastructure." Paul AME Church told the board that the present sanitation conditions at Sampit Community Park pose a health risk "All the young boys and girls go there every day to play," Spann said every now and then they have to relieve themselves there is no adequate water to wash their hands." Franklin Nelson echoed Carolina's message that a sewer connection would stimulate development in the area laundromats back in the area so that our folk don't have to drive 20 miles to get to a laundromat," Nelson said Board chairman William Schwarzkopf told residents who attended the meeting that the petition will be taken under advisement The proposed Riverview Resort & Marina would sit just south of the intersection of Shadey Grove Lane and U.S Highway 521 between Georgetown and Andrews Construction could begin as early as next year on a proposed RV resort and marina in western Georgetown County if permits for the project are approved Richard Caines is a business reporter for The Post & Courier - Myrtle Beach/Georgetown Times He is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University GEORGETOWN — Construction could begin as early as next year on a long-awaited RV resort and marina in western Georgetown County if permits for the Sampit River project are approved would sit just south of the intersection of Shadey Grove Lane and U.S It could also include a restaurant and a commercial area with a gas station “Our team is currently working through the design and permitting process for the park and its associated amenities with the hopes of breaking ground in 2024,” development representative Matthew Ryan said The 260-acre site was rezoned in 2021 The property was initially expected to hold a subdivision of nearly 350 homes called Bluffs at North Hampton but the zoning change was needed for the construction of the resort and green spaces that would vary between pads utilizing both back-in and pull-through style lots wide enough for guests to park an extra vehicle and set up an outdoor space “My partners and I have been working diligently to bring this project to fruition,” Ryan said “The initial rezoning was one of the first steps in the ongoing development process We have been working with our design team to lay out the site to accommodate our approved uses while protecting and promoting the environmental assets that initially drew us to the site.” A permit application has been filed with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to build a 98-slip marina in two phases allowing the resort to provide boating access and day storage within the Sampit River That is in addition to the upland RV park being considered for a Corps permit that would allow a developer to work on minor projects with little delay or paperwork A presentation by National Land Lease Capital before Georgetown County Council two years ago said the total estimated tax revenue from the completion of the RV resort would surpass $130,000 we want to ensure we are bringing the best possible product to Georgetown,” Ryan said “We are very optimistic and look forward to the continued upward trajectory of Georgetown County.” While 30 miles away sit some of the Grand Strand’s top RV resorts Georgetown County officials hope to draw more visitors to the Hammock Coast and its waterways and parks USA Today has named Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet as one of the best state parks in America for RVers "It would certainly provide options for travelers here in Georgetown County,” said Beth Stedman CEO and president of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce “Providing an additional place for tourists coming to our area is something that's needed in the western part of county — near 8 Oaks Park and Back Woods Quail An RV park would certainly fill that need." 8 Oaks Park is located about a mile east of the proposed RV park The ballfield is known to host many tournaments throughout the year a few miles away off the Sampit River near Georgetown In addition, the development of nearby Black River State Park could potentially bring in more tourists The park is named for the blackwater river that winds its way from Bishopville in Lee County into Winyah Bay near Georgetown “With South Carolina's newest state park opening over the next few years along the Black River I think we will see more of this growth that gives people seeking an outdoors retreat a chance to regroup and reconnect with nature – and enjoy the natural beauty of South Carolina's Hammock Coast," said Mark Stevens director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce.” Follow Richard Caines on Twitter at @rickcaines By Charles Swenson|July 25 but that isn’t practical for her new job as the Riverkeeper for the Black and Sampit rivers “There was talk of a potential Jet Ski donation,” Donmoyer said She was hired in March by the Winyah Rivers Alliance which hired the Waccamaw Riverkeeper in 2002 It was always a goal of the nonprofit alliance to have a Riverkeeper for each of the rivers that empty into Winyah Bay It hired a Riverkeeper for the Lumber River The Black-Sampit Riverkeeper program was approved last month by the Waterkeeper Alliance a national organization that campaigns for clean water The 151-mile-long Black River is the focus of an effort to create a new state park that would encompass about 40 miles from Kingstree in Williamsburg County to the Rocky Point Community Forest in the Choppee community of Georgetown County The Winyah Rivers Alliance and the county own tracts totaling 650 acres at Rocky Point “They’re calling it the anchor point,” Donmoyer said she will help create plans for the Rocky Point property which now has a boat and kayak launch ramp and some concrete picnic tables on a bluff overlooking the Black River “There are some neat plans that we have here in terms of the trail systems and remote camping sites along the river bank where it’s just paddle-up camping,” Donmoyer said She would like to see fishing platforms along the river since people now fish and swim from the boat dock There is the potential for the state park to bring tourism to the rural areas of Georgetown and Williamsburg counties which will help the local economy and create additional advocates for protecting the river “I also hope it results in some of the rural local communities coming out to utilize it more and learn more about their backyard,” Donmoyer said “There’s kind of a lack of that in a lot of the rural communities.” Williams Hill in the northwest corner of the county.  Her family moved to Lexington “but I regularly came back here to the family farm,” Donmoyer said “I was very much not an outdoor explorer when I moved there,” she said “But I became a very outdoorsy Alaska person in my time there Donmoyer earned undergraduate degrees in environmental science and marine biology from Alaska Pacific University She then went to work for a consulting firm She moved to Vermont in 2016 with her partner at the time who had a job as a wetland scientist for the state “We started a farm and a bed and breakfast,” Donmoyer said The farm raised cut flowers in two large greenhouses and sold them wholesale in the Boston area As a way to maintain her connection to South Carolina they sold the farm and Donmoyer moved back to Georgetown County to help manage the family farm about 300 acres on the Great Pee Dee that was once planted in tobacco There is longleaf for conservation and loblolly for timber “That plan was put in place before I was managing it I would rather not participate in the timber industry really,” Donmoyer said “Maybe if it was selective logging here and there The job with Winyah Rivers was a change to fulfill a goal she had since college of working strictly in conservation.  “Those jobs are highly sought after in Alaska “A conservation job with rivers and protecting the swamps that I grew up exploring and loved just seemed kind of like kismet.” Donmoyer’s priority has been to gather water quality data on the two rivers there were some sampling sites done on the Black but in the absence of someone to run the program it had gotten kind of spotty,” she said “And there wasn’t much monitoring going on on the Sampit.” she hasn’t seen anything out of the ordinary on the Black starting in a swamp just west of Highway 17-A and flowing east through the Georgetown harbor to the bay Donmoyer was surprised to find the salinity near the river’s headwaters was 2 parts per thousand Her first thought was that water being drawn from the river for industrial uses was causing saltwater intrusion A researcher at Clemson University’s Baruch Institute told her it was likely the result of sea level rise.  “That was a relief to hear,” Donmoyer said The Sampit is approved by the state for discharges from 3V Chemical Liberty Steel and the city of Georgetown’s wastewater treatment plan Georgetown County is developing an industrial park on about 950 acres along the river “The public focus seems to be mostly on the Black That’s what I’m excited to dig into,” Donmoyer said (WPDE) — The Georgetown County Water and Sewer Board agreed on Thursday to present a possible sewer project to the tax committee Everett Carolina told ABC15 that part of the Sampit community has been fighting for a sewer system for decades READ MORE:'If anything happens, it's not suicide': Boeing whistleblower's prediction before death As their current septic tank system deteriorates Councilman Carolina said the project costs about $10 million to complete and they’re requesting the board to get other organizations like DHEC so the burden does not fall solely on the community members The tax committee will then present it to council the sewer project would then appear on a referendum to be voted on by residents in November 2024 20 Mar 2014 03:53:31 GMT — The United States Coast Guard continues to monitor cleanup efforts at an oil spill on the Sampit River in downtown Georgetown ArcelorMittal Steel Mill took responsibility for the spill and has contracted with HEPACO to contain and recover the oil HEPACO is a spill response organization The company is still trying to pinpoint the source of the oil and how much spilled into the river The USCG arrived on the scene Wednesday night and said "Upon arrival at the mill Wednesday evening Coast Guard pollution responders discovered a portion of the containment boom which always remains around the facility to protect the Sampit River from any residual pollutant creating a gap in the containment system and allowing the spilled oil to escape into the Sampit River more than 500 gallons of oil-water mixture has been recovered A 50-foot section of new containment boom has been placed in the area where the gap occurred and additional 100 feet of new sorbent and hard boom has been placed at the drain pipe where the oil exited the facility." There have been no reports of injured wildlife "The mill has been extremely cooperative throughout the entire process They immediately took responsibility and immediately hired contractors to start recovering the product as soon as possible they've been very cooperative which makes the process much easier and go much more effectively," Petty Officer First Class Lauren Jorgensen said The Department of Health and Environmental Control and the Department of Natural Resources are also responding (WPDE) — A second person has been charged in connection to the shooting at Sampit Community Park in Georgetown Thursday night according to the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office 17,of Georgetown has been charged with three counts of accessory after the fact to felony She is being held in the Georgetown County Detention Center Jaquan Ramell Archie, 21, of Georgetown was charged earlier Friday with three counts of attempted murder stemming from the shooting at Sampit Community Park on St Witnesses said individuals met at the park to fight prior to shots being fired and three people wounded By Chris Sokoloski|June 20 A recently released study of Georgetown’s port recommends dredging part of the inner harbor to support existing commercial and recreational needs The project to deepen the harbor’s two channels is estimated to cost around $4.4 million It is a different project that the one Georgetown County proposed for a capital projects sales tax in 2014 That would have dredged a channel from Winyah Bay to the ocean The $66 million price tag sank those plans The current project involves the Sampit River along the city’s waterfront presented his firm’s report at a public meeting in Georgetown this week The study recommended that county and city officials apply for a federal permit now for dredging that would start in the fall of 2024 and investigate what would be needed to close the Goat Island Cut which is a shortcut that allows boaters to go between the Sampit River and Winyah Bay without following the river’s historic course past the steel mill and the Harborwalk The creation of the shortcut disconnected the island from the mainland Hutto said closing the shortcut would reduce the need for dredging but have “unintended consequences.” It could also not be done without permission from the federal government partially closing the shortcut would reduce sediment in the inner harbor by 55 percent Completely closing it would reduce sediment by 85 percent.  Hutto said a wall could potentially be installed which would have to go all the way down into the limestone in order to hold up under the water pressure “If you don’t think that water is going to have a lot of pressure you’ve got another think coming,” he added “It’s going to take a heck of a lot of engineering.” Since the Corps of Engineers created the shortcut “The Corps of Engineers likes nothing better than to fix things that they’ve done in the past,” Hutto said “It’s done well and served the community well it may be time for them to come back and take another look at that.” Hutto was asked whether closing the shortcut would wash out the seawalls along the waterfront “We would have to have a structural engineer look at each seawall and evaluate it A dredge is not going to go next to a seawall because you wouldn’t want to cause it to collapse “I’m not signing off on any seawalls without a big study … You wouldn’t want to close the cut and not do that evaluation.” The study also recommends not proceeding with closing the shortcut until the long-term needs of Sampit River use are well-defined Hutto was also asked about the effects of dredging on the steel mill the effects of of dredging on climate change whether there are hazardous chemicals in the sediment to be dredged and how hurricanes would affect a deeper port.  GEL’s work is the second phase of a study commissioned by the city and county in 2018 and conducted initially by Coastal Carolina University.  Local officials were looking for a more sustainable and affordable solution than repeated dredging.  Among CCU’s solutions were deflection walls restoring the harbor to its natural state and methods that would also assist in flood protection GEL started working on the engineering aspect of the study in 2020 (WPDE) — A possible tornado touchdown was reported along the 600 block of Woodland Avenue in Georgetown Wednesday evening according to Emergency Services Director Brandon Ellis Georgetown County Emergency Management said the possible tornado happened in the Sampit community Emergency responders are investigating and monitoring multiple flooded roadways in flood-prone areas throughout the county Officials said the threat of flash floods and tornadoes will continue over the next few hours Sampit Elementary School recognized their Student of the Month winners on Tuesday These students did a great job of demonstrating sportsmanship during the month of January Photo and information supplied by Sampit Elementary Sampit Elementary School celebrated with their Student of the Month Winners on Thursday These students did a great job of demonstrating Confidence during the month of February This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Bloodshed in Borneo” Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents Ahead of the vote on May 3rd, politics has flipped The country is making it first big bet on semiconductors This one could be riskier than their last major crisis in 2019 After the Kashmir attack, military action is possible but comes with huge risks The body of a man that was found on Mauresina Road off Pennyroyal Road close to the Sampit River in Georgetown County Wednesday afternoon has been identified Georgetown County Deputy Coroner Chase Ridgeway has identified the body asAlphonzo Alston III Georgetown County Sheriff's Deputies arrested Herbert Antonio Deas Deas was taken into custody in Longs by Georgetown County Sheriff's Deputies and S.L.E.D Ridgeway said Alston was reported missing by his family in early October Deputies added that around 11:30 on the night of October 11 there was a fight between Alston and Deas at a home in the Sampit community Deputies determined that during that fight Deas fired a shot at Alston Sheriff's investigators determined Deas had fired one shot intending to harm Alston and Deas was subsequently marked as wanted for attempted murder Alston's body was found in a wooded areas off of Mauresina Road The body was found by two people who were traveling in the area Based upon the positive identification and subsequent investigation the attempted murder warrant for Deas was recalled and a murder warrant issued The preliminary autopsy results are still pending Lee Gantt was at a Hurricane Florence party in her neighborhood in Georgetown where the story goes that some houses haven't flooded from the Sampit River since they were built before the American Revolution watching the nearby river rise from Florence's heavy rains and seeing if the luck finally runs out on her home built on Front Street in 1737 We just left everything up above the floor just like from the hurricane The Sampit is one of five rivers that reach the Atlantic Ocean in and near Georgetown on the South Carolina coast And Florence — which arrived as a hurricane dumping record rainfall in North Carolina — is expected to cause record flooding downriver in Georgetown County as its final act So much water is coming that it is backing up other rivers that aren't even flooding And still more is coming: The National Hurricane Center said a broad area of low pressure about 260 miles (420 kilometers) south of Cape Hatteras is producing showers and thunderstorms on its north side Forecasters said it could become a tropical depression Tuesday as it approaches the coast and will dump rain regardless on coastal areas of North and South Carolina The county has recommended almost 8,000 people leave their homes — more than 10 percent of the population Officials expect floodwaters to top several bridges nearly cutting Georgetown County in two and leaving only one highway out during the expected crest early Thursday The deluge has made its way so slowly down the Lumber Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers that the state last week released detailed maps on where it expects flooding the floodwaters have invaded close to 1,000 homes near Conway as the Waccamaw River was slowly making its way to a crest a full 4 feet (1.2 meters) over its record level set just two years ago after Hurricane Matthew Roy Cooper said it was time to start concentrating on recovery "Florence is gone but the storm's devastation is still with us," Cooper said at a news conference About 400 roads across North Carolina remained closed due to the storm that's claimed at least 46 lives since slamming into the coast Sept Crews have reopened the major highways closed in the storm Interstate 95 was reopened to all traffic Sunday night for the first time since the floods and Cooper said Monday that a previously closed portion of Interstate 40 had reopened sooner than expected Power outages and the number of people in shelters also were declining lawmakers considered almost $1.7 billion in new money for disaster relief and recovery And the economic research firm Moody's Analytics estimated that Florence has caused around $44 billion in damage and lost output Last year's Hurricane Harvey cost $133.5 billion it is a disaster nearly two weeks in the making Georgetown County spent days under hurricane warnings before Hurricane Florence made landfall about 110 miles (175 kilometers) up the coast near Wrightsville Beach causing only minor flooding in Georgetown and some downed limbs All along the sidewalk were piles of artwork and boxes as owners emptied out their inventory to take to higher ground Tomlinson department store sent an empty truck normally used to stock stores and employees rushed to fill it with everything but predictions call for up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water by Thursday I'm glad we had the time to do this," said district manager Kevin Plexico Georgetown was positioning ambulances and firetrucks in the busy tourist section along the beaches in case the floods cut off the U.S National Guard troops were prepared to float more equipment across the river if needed Exhausted emergency officials said they have lived nothing but Florence for more than two weeks "The work has been done," Georgetown Mayor Brendon Barber said Indonesia said yesterday it would send extra troops into Borneo where it fears the spread of brutal ethnic violence Chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Jakarta would support a state of civil emergency in the bloodied central Kalimantan province if local officials deem it necessary "The central government has asked the local government to assess the situation over the next three days certainly the central government would back it up," Yudhoyono told a news conference late yesterday It is some of the most savage bloodshed to hit Indonesia a giant archipelago straddling the equator which has been racked by violence over the past three years of political upheaval and economic collapse including influential parliament speaker Akbar Tandjung have urged the government to declare a civil emergency in the province "If the situation in the region has turned into chaos it is necessary for the government to consider imposing a state of civil emergency," the official Antara news agency quoted Tandjung as saying Civil emergency is a step down from martial law and the measure allows security forces to search houses One report said that notorious special forces could be sent in to help end the killings which erupted over a week ago when indigenous Dayaks began attacking immigrants from the island of Madura whom security forces have done little to stop have forced some 30,000 mainly Madurese to flee Sampit town in central Kalimantan bringing a few belongings and grim stories have fled south by ship to the city of Surabaya in Java and just across from their homeland They dragged out one passenger and cut off his head Then they cut off three more heads," said Tarmi We thought we were next but they left us alone We know how Madurese smell," she said in Surabaya By yesterday evening an estimated 10,000 Madurese remained in Sampit Officials were planning to evacuate them this week.