by Abigail Quinn (WCIV) — Deputies with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public's help in locating a missing 17-year-old-girl Gabriella Brock was reported as a runaway Sunday evening after she reportedly left her home in Lady's Island around 5 p.m It is currently unknown what direction Brock was heading and what her means of transportation are She is described as 5’ and weighing 98 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes Deputies report that she was last seen wearing black leggings Anyone who believes that they may have information on Brock's whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777 festivals and other community happenings in Beaufort check out our Lowcountry Calendar of Events If you have an open-to-the-public event you would like to announce 2nd Annual Gillison Branch Baptist Church Health Fair The 2nd annual Gillison Branch Baptist Church Health Fair will be held May 17 from 10 a.m The event will allow the public to meet with local health and safety leaders to discuss community health There will be food trucks available and many other events during the day Please join us for Storytime May 13 at 10:30 a.m at the temporary location of the Pratt Memorial Library The library is located at 112 Weathersbee Street and the event is for ages 2 to 5 Free diapers and wipes will also be available that day during library hours Vendors needed for Hardeeville's 4th Off Main event We're now accepting vendor applications for Hardeeville's 4th off Main Hampton County Recreation Department hosts Kids Summer Camp Lowcountry author holds book event in Yemassee Hamilton is hosting "Down Memory Lane," a lighthearted interactive presentation featuring her first book Papa Didn't Preach: Words of Wisdom for Daddy's Girls to 11 a.m.Yemassee Senior Center 4 Orell Street Yemassee and the timeless life lessons he taught made a difference in her life You can preview the book on Vasilisa's website Hampton County’s 83rd Annual Miss/Master Watermelon Festival Pageant The Marine Corps fired the commanding officer of one of the service's most storied air stations on Tuesday a regional spokesperson confirmed to Military.com Col. Mark D. Bortnem, a former F/A-18 pilot with more than 30 years in the service, was relieved of his duties as commander of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort director of communications for Marine Corps Installations East Fahy said the reason was "due to a loss of trust and confidence" in Bortnem's ability to command The military often uses that phrase as an opaque justification for firings that avoids specifics Read Next: Shaving Waivers Revoked by Massachusetts Guard in Change Disproportionately Impacting Black Troops Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo Jr., the commanding general of MCI East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune fired Bortnem "effective immediately." The decision came nearly two years into Bortnem's tenure as MCAS Beaufort's commander meaning he was likely nearing the end of his command time Military.com asked why Bortnem was fired and whether his relief came in response to a criminal probe the air station's headquarters and headquarters squadron executive officer is the acting commander of MCAS Beaufort until a permanent leader is officially appointed The Island News, a South Carolina paper, first reported Bortnem's relief on Tuesday Bortnem first enlisted into the Marine Corps in 1991 and served as a supply administration and operations specialist before commissioning as a second lieutenant in 1998, according to his biography which was still posted on a Marine Corps website as of Tuesday afternoon where he flew combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom His biography said that he had nearly 3,000 flight hours under his belt including more than 500 hours of combat flights He took command of MCAS Beaufort in July 2023 Military.com attempted to reach Bortnem through a publicly listed phone number and social media His relief came just two days after the installation's annual air show, one of Beaufort's largest events of the year, in which Navy Blue Angels and prop planes performed maneuvers and the Marine Corps' V-22 Osprey was on display There were no known reported incidents at the air show Bortnem was pictured greeting a Blue Angels pilot on April 9 Related: Commander, Command Master Chief Fired from Navy Expeditionary Security Squadron Russian forces intercepted more than 100 Ukrainian drones fired at almost a dozen regions of Russia The parade didn't begin until Alan Kennett Hegseth argued that senior leaders should be "unencumbered by unnecessary bureaucratic layers that.. 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Visit our Customer Support center for solutions or to contact us wild horses and an endless array of family vacation activities.Laura Johnston .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Laura Johnston, cleveland.comBEAUFORT North Carolina — I was paddling the swift current of Taylor’s Creek when I spotted them: two feral horses deposited across the creek from downtown Beaufort in the 1940s but I didn’t expect to see them on my first day of spring break I landed the stand-up paddleboard I’d hauled from Cleveland onto the island I clicked away with my iPhone and crept closer I looked down to see a host of whorl shells and picked one up only to be swiftly pinched by a hermit crab I spotted these horses on Carrot Island from my stand-up paddleboard.Laura Johnston separated by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from the southern part of North Carolina’s Outer Banks Beaufort has both small-town charm and undisturbed nature The city of fewer than 5,000 residents is one of the oldest in the state founded in 1709 on what the tourism brochures call the Crystal Coast It’s pronounced BOW-fort and is located a five-hour drive from its identically-spelled Beaufort (BU-fort) And it delighted my family for a week of pickleball games and golf cart drives Beaufort — an 11-hour road trip from Cleveland — isn’t unknown to Ohioans; locals told me they get more visitors from Ohio than just about anywhere But it’s nowhere near as popular as other southern vacation destinations I read about the town years ago in Southern Living magazine and added it to my vacation bucket list we rented a three-bedroom Airbnb in Beau Coast a new enclave of Easter-egg colored homes with a shared dock We decided to bring our golden retriever — and my parents My husband wanted to hang out and read his book on the porch (Our only complaint was that the neighborhood pool was still closed for the season Here’s why you should consider Beaufort for your family vacation is 163 feet tall and built in 1959.Laura Johnston with a host of uninhabited barrier islands to kayak search for shells and watch for dolphins and government-protected wild horses some of which are descendants of Spanish horses that arrived centuries ago Three-mile-long Carrot Island is just across the creek, close enough to swim to. Core Banks, home to the Cape Lookout National Seashore, is a 45-minute boat ride. The 1859-built Cape Lookout Lighthouse stands 163 feet tall over the beach in a distinctive black-and-white diamond pattern you can wade knee-high in the middle of the inlet while hunting for sand dollars I found 10 perfect circles before the tide swallowed the hump of sand If you’re adventurous, you can bring a paddleboard or rent a kayak from Beaufort Paddle. Or if you’re less so, and you don’t want to explore the islands, you can still see them from a boat tour, including on a sunset dinner cruise on the Crystal Coast Lady The 300-year-old town of Beaufort has about 4,000 residents including spots to dock and golf to play.Laura Johnston on the golf and the driving range.Laura Johnston “There’s something about Beaufort that feels like going back in time. It’s a historic town, but it’s also very friendly,” author Kristy Woodson Harvey told Walter magazine. Harvey moved to Beaufort after falling in love with the town and has set several of her novels there fun restaurants and centuries-old white wooden homes with dark shutters loaded with aqua-colored center consoles and impressive sailboats try on bright floral dresses at a boutique buy a T-shirt or admire the restored homes I particularly liked the styles at Isla Boutique and Ocean Outfitterz You can also learn about the past at the Maritime Museum or the Beaufort Historic Site which runs an enclave of historic buildings open to the public as well as a 1960s red double decker British bus The tour bus will stop at the Hammock House, known also as Blackbeard’s house Legend has it that he stayed for several days at a white wooden home just outside downtown where my son drove a golf cart and beat me on the back nine The Beau Coast dock is a relaxing spot to watch the sun set.Laura Johnston drive 12 minutes to Atlantic Beach for a wide swath of white sand and big waves.Laura Johnston Atlantic Beach has an impressive town park Nearby is Fort Macon Cleveland.com content director Laura Johnston writes weekly about life in her 40s in the column, Our Best Life. Subscribe to the newsletter to get the column delivered to your inbox Friday mornings This was our golden retriever's first spring break right where I swam to Carrot Island.Laura Johnston Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices Decoration Day is an award-winning theatrical production by the Gullah Kinfolk Traveling Theater that brings to life the rich history and cultural traditions of the Gullah people this powerful play honors the origins of Memorial Day highlighting the role that formerly enslaved Gullah people played in decorating the graves of fallen Union soldiers Decoration Day delves into themes of freedom showcasing the Gullah contributions to America’s history Don’t miss this captivating show that both educates and inspires as it beautifully commemorates an important chapter in the Gullah heritage and American history Join Aunt Pearlie Sue and the Gullah Kinfolk at the USCB Center for the Arts for an inspiring tale that left an indelible mark on American history Purchase your tickets here. This work, Joint Base Security Drill- Beaufort South Carolina, by Lindsay Schreiber, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright Memorial Day is fast approaching and the Beaufort National Cemetery is looking for volunteers to assist in placing a flag at every one of the nearly 25,000 grave sites within its brick walls to help honor our fallen Veterans Beaufort National Cemetery is coordinating the placing of the flags on Friday Individuals can volunteer or groups can get together and help out scout troops and other groups and volunteer organizations are encouraged to come out Flag placing starts around 6pm and will end when all flags are placed Flags are provided by the National Cemetery you can just show up at the date and time specified Groups wishing to schedule an individual Flags In event between Wednesday May 21st and Friday May 23rd should contact the cemetery at 843-524-3925 or email Beaufort.NationalCemetery@va.gov no later than Friday this year’s Flags Out event (removal of the grave site flags) for the public will be held on the week of Memorial Day Groups wishing to schedule an individual Flags Out event should also contact the cemetery Learn more about the Beaufort National Cemetery here. Four new graduates in the ninth cohort of Beaufort Memorial’s PATH program (People Achieving Their Highest) received their accolades in a graduation program on April 23 The graduation was also a pinning ceremony for newly certified graduates in their field and a “signing day” commemoration for Beaufort Memorial employees entering a new career pathway The four graduates in Cohort 9 completed programs as Clinical Medical Assistants (1) Patient Care Technicians (2) and Endoscopy Technicians (1) Ten employees also committed to entering the program marking a milestone decision for each of them A pinning ceremony commemorated the next step for Sequina Register as well as five certified Patient Care Technicians Beaufort Memorial President & CEO Russell Baxley used the well-known metaphor “Bloom where you’re planted” to describe the achievements of current and past PATH graduates to thrive and grow where they are planted,” Baxley said don’t stop growing where your feet are planted.” with graduates’ family and friends present Sequina’s sister Edwina Register was one of the 10 that signed on for the program’s 10th cohort Edwina and Patient Care Technician Tonya Coaxum are both reentering the PATH program in Cohort 10 starting out on a pathway to become Clinical Medical Assistants The two graduated as PCTs in the program’s very first cohort in September 2022 the workforce development program has benefited nearly 120 Beaufort Memorial team members and resulted in almost 60 national certifications traditional education and non-traditional financial assistance to encourage individuals to advance their careers building and supporting a stronger healthcare network throughout the Lowcountry Anyone interested in learning how they can join the team at Beaufort Memorial and grow their career through the PATH program should visit BeaufortMemorial.org/PATH or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading or sign up for a new account to continue reading We hope that you continue to enjoy our free content no promotional deals were found matching that code 2025 - Beaufort County employees recently celebrated Earth Day 2025 this past Friday by volunteering several hours to help clean up litter and debris at various heavily traveled roadways around Beaufort County More than 580 volunteers — representing 24 partner organizations and over 200 Beaufort County employees — worked side by side to pick up litter along 40 miles of roadways collecting an incredible 9,000 pounds of litter across the Lowcountry County Administrator Michael Moore and Keep Beaufort County Beautiful Board Chairman Christopher Campbell and the County's state partner Awareness and Education Coordinator from Palmetto Pride made remarks at the luncheon and ceremony that followed Volunteers also got a chance to visit at a number of local environmental education booths to learn the impact of litter on Lowcountry wildlife and waterways County departments were represented as well including Beaufort County Solid Waste & Recycling natural beauty is one of the greatest treasures Picking up litter helps protect the marshes and wildlife — ensuring that Beaufort County stays a clean Every piece of litter picked up is a step toward a healthier The Keep Beaufort County Beautiful (KBCB) Board is dedicated to promoting litter prevention and environmental stewardship across our community The Board meets quarterly and welcomes public participation We're always interested in hearing about news in our community there are no recent results for popular commented articles Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Signature Group Events will present the Music Festival of the Lowcountry at Henry C featuring headliners including Tony Jackson America’s Favorite Country Music and Who’s Bad – The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience With a distinctive voice that embodies country’s best traditions yet teems with an infectious energy that propels the genre into the future, Jackson is an old country soul in the body of a rising superstar.” See Tony here. Then, there’s an exciting Michael Jackson tribute group, Who’s Bad As the longest-running Michael Jackson tribute and the only one to predate his untimely passing Who’s Bad is the World’s #1 Michael Jackson Tribute Local businesses and local talent were well represented and the event organizers plan to continue the trend at this year’s event Inclusivity across various music genres was a key consideration as our picturesque historic town had not previously hosted an event of this nature all-day music line up that will be released soon attendees can anticipate a diverse list of performers encompassing country Chambers Waterfront Park on June 7th for the music event of the year and browse the amazing craft and vendor market Visit www.musicfestivalofthelowcountry.com for more information. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. Beaufort County Deputies recovers stolen vehicle in Craven County An investigation into a stolen vehicle in the Chocowinity area resulted in three men being arrested The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office responded to a residence in Chocowinity regarding a stolen car on Monday and checked the surrounding area but could not find the vehicle It was determined following an investigation that the stolen car was in Craven County With assistance from the Craven County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division authorities say the vehicle was found on Antioch Road near Brame Lane in New Bern and was taken to the Beaufort County Detention Center where he received no bond: threatening an impending storm which gives me the perfect ambiance for writing about Beaufort Scale Day The Beaufort Wind Force Scale is “an empirical measure that relates wind speed to observed conditions at sea or on land” according to the Royal Meteorological Society’s website (link below) an Irish hydrographer and Rear Admiral in the British Royal Navy in an effort to establish a simple but consistent method for estimating wind speeds and the effect that would have on both sea and land conditions The scale starts with zero (0) and climbs up to a force of 12 wind speeds are between 0-1 mile per hour (mph) or 0-1 knots and the sea is mirror-like and on land smoke would rise vertically into the sky so too do the wind speeds and the sea becomes rougher indicating wind levels around 25-31 mph or 22-27 knots large waves are beginning to form and foam crests are everywhere and on land large tree branches are moving and it’s difficult to use umbrellas; this level seems to fit the weather conditions I see outside at the moment with a chance of moving up to a level 7 or higher later today I don’t believe our weather conditions will reach a level 12 or higher and at sea the air is filled with foam and spray and the sea itself is completely white From this level we are directed to the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale Beaufort finished defining his scale in 1805 and by 1830 his scale was officially adopted by the Royal Navy In 2006 Beaufort Scale Day was established look up the complete Beaufort Scale and then see if you can accurately estimate the level and wind speeds; you can even double check your prediction with whichever weather app you have on your phone or by checking out the weather channel and may we all enjoy a nice level 2-3 (light or gentle breeze) (City Hall Drive renamed in honor of fallen officer Questions? Email us at: contactus@bossierlibrary.org Website: https://www.bossierlibrary.org/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/bossierlibrary is looking for a new home at Beaufort County Animal Services so she's going to need a home that will put her on a bit of a diet plan and some exercise but that's easy for the most part," said Boyd She does get the zoomies every once in a while Moxie was found in a ditch by a family when she was about a year old Boyd noted that Moxie is likely house-trained and dog-friendly as she lived with other dogs in her previous home She is ready to go to her new home the same day Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBEAUFORT COUNTY (WTOC) - One person is dead after a hit-and-run on Okatie Highway in Beaufort County According to Master Trooper William Bennett with the South Carolina Highway Patrol the incident happened around 11:50 Sunday night The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as Dontay Frost South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash the SC Highway Patrol Community Relations Officer for Charleston Beaufort and Jasper Counties posted more information about this crash 🚨Beaufort County🚨 We need your help! If you have any information about the below hit and run collision please let us know. Call us at *HP pic.twitter.com/Kk4WJCEH09 South Carolina Highway Patrol is looking for more information about this crash They said two vehicles hit a pedestrian who was lying in the road The pedestrian then died as a result of their injuries one suspect was driving a 2016-2018 Honda Civic Law enforcement said they do not know the color of the vehicle but say it should have damage to the lower passenger side front This vehicle was last seen travelling westbound on SC-170 toward Bluffton The second vehicle involved in the fatal hit and run was also last seen traveling westbound on SC-170 toward Bluffton Law enforcement said this vehicle may have undercarriage damage Anyone with information on the location of these vehicles or those responsible can call South Carolina Highway Patrol at 843-953-6010 or 1-800-768-1501 🚨Beaufort County🚨 We need your help! If you have any information about the below hit and run collision please let us know. Call us at *HP pic.twitter.com/Kk4WJCEH09 The MCAS Beaufort Airshow is back this weekend to entertain everyone and light up the Beaufort sky Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is scheduled to host nearly 100,000 friends and neighbors at the MCAS Beaufort Air Show this Saturday and Sunday There is no cost to the general public to attend the show however special seating and VIP tickets are available The weekend will showcase Naval aviation at its best with a demonstration by the United States Naval Flight Demonstration Team It’ll be loud around the Lowcountry in the next few days as the Blue Angels will be able to be seen in the sky around the area later this week as they practice for the show and drum up lots of excitement in the community there’s actually a lot more to the show than the Blue Angels performers at the event will include Red Thunder Airshows Barry Hancock and Karl Gashler are veteran pilots who know how to put all their skills and precision to the test in a way that captivates audiences across the country Between the sound of the heart pounding radial engine and their thrilling maneuvers the Red Thunder Airshows’ performance is unforgettable Millions of air show spectators around the globe have witnessed the ferocity of a Mike Goulian air show performance and tumble of his flight is a deliberate execution of precision With his aggressive approach to the air show arena Mike Goulian has mastered the ability to convey his message of passion through flight athletic style of flying is the evolution of his landmark career as an aerobatic competitor Mike reached the pinnacle of the sport when he won the United States Unlimited Aerobatic Championship at only 27 years of age He was honored to represent the United States at the World Aerobatic Championship on three separate occasions Also on the schedule for the weekend is Vanpire Airshows The Vampire Airshow profile grips audiences with speed While the pilots banter with the announcer crowds are drawn into learning about this sensational aircraft The deHavilland Vampire is a fully aerobatic aircraft that wows audiences by performing rolls high-speed passes and all with a killer smoke system The Vampire is awe-inspiring as the aircraft that led the way for ALL modern jet aviation Included in the show is the United States Air Force F-16 Viper Demonstration Team based out of Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina This single-ship performance travels across the country to demonstrate the professionalism instilled in Air Force pilots and to show the capabilities of the F-16C Fighting Falcon Spectators will also be treated to several techniques possessed by the F-35B the MCAS Marine Air-Ground Task Force demonstration and the Top Gun Experience; the opportunity to dress as a real Fighter pilot complete with flight gear and helmet for a hands-on tour and experience For the full schedule of events at this weekend’s MCAS Beaufort Airshow, visit here For a list of Do’s and Dont’s while attending the show, visit here there will be lots of exhibitors to visit and food and beer vendors will also be on hand There is also a Kids Zone featuring a variety of bounce houses kids can jump and play to their hearts’ content The mission of the MCAS Beaufort Air Show is three-fold: to promote the Marine Corps and Navy recruiting efforts to demonstrate the full force and capabilities of our military and to say a big “THANK YOU” to all of the members of the surrounding communities who support the men and women who serve this nation and are stationed at the Beaufort Air Station and in the Tri-Command area Produced by Artin John and Kealani Kitaura In a time when getting anything off the ground in LA is nothing short of miraculous cameras will roll on independent horror feature Another in Hollywood The film stars The 100 ‘s Bob Morley and Night Court’s India de Beaufort and marks director Andy Chen’s highly anticipated transition into feature length story telling The film is produced by Chen’s longtime collaborators Artin John and Kealani Kitaura—and is shepherded by Range Media Partners including popular Youtuber and comedian Anna Akana (A Million Little Things) and horror legend Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare on Elm Street) Penned by Chen and Alexander Hernandez-Maxwell an author struggling to cope after her brilliant scientist husband When Joey wakes one morning to find Ben making pancakes in their kitchen—as if nothing ever happened—her reality begins to fracture The team previously worked on Chen’s viral hits The Spider also produced by Artin and Kealani (starring Chandler Riggs, which registered millions of YouTube views in mere hours), Gateway Drug (which was optioned by Jeff Robinov), and live-action horror short Fiona Producer Artin John explains: > We’re a tight-knit indie “family” working off an exciting commercial script We’ve all done this together before and have developed a great shorthand—that’s the secret ingredient here and it’s an honor to support his feature debut and produce this film from both a creative and logistical standpoint with Kealani Kitaura I like to dream big and hop on the phone – that was the key to assembling this epic cast Our audience will be hooked and I’m confident there will be a bidding war Our highly efficient team includes: wizard production designer Alen Stubbs ( known for building spaceships overnight) and our very own in-house Deakins Connor Myers and capabilities uniquely positions us to deliver pictures of a certain caliber without premium budgets associated with major studio shows – and it’s just the start of investment opportunities we’ll offer for future projects Director Andy Chen adds: > “My ultimate goal with this is just to make something that I would enjoy watching myself This project is just a genre blending mash-up of all my favorite things — sci-fi along with lots of fun twists and cool practical effects We’ve built such an amazing team of talented creatives and close collaborators that even though we have huge scope ideas and only a modest budget I’m confident we’re going to pull off something really unique” Filming will take place at multiple locations in LA including Andy Chen’s Cinepacks Studios in Burbank With a state-of-the-art stage and an advanced video wall the studio gives indie filmmakers access to top-tier production resources without the Hollywood  price tag Producer and actor Artin John (currently filming a role in a major studio feature in Australia) brings extensive on-set experience with screen credits including SWAT His roles have ranged from Arab intellectuals and Italian mobsters to British rock stars His producing slate includes sci-fi feature Druuna based on the cult Italian graphic novel from the pages of Heavy Metal Magazine and the hospitality workplace comedy series Zafs Catering co-created and written with Christiaan Westerveld took home Best Short at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards earning recognition alongside genre luminaries Jordan Peele and John Carpenter Andy Chen is represented by Range Media Partners Artin John is repped by Mercury Management (AU) and Integral Artists (CA) Bob Morley is repped by Brave Artists Management (LA) and Morrissey Management (AU) India de Beaufort is represented by Gersh and Think Tank Management Anna Akana is represented by Principal Entertainment and CAA Doug Jones is represented by Omnipop Talent Group and Heather Langenkamp is represented by Roe Management The South Carolina Highway Patrol is seeking the public's help in locating two vehicles which the agency said were involved in an April 27 fatal hit and run in Beaufort County which is about five miles west of the City of Beaufort The incident involved two vehicles and a pedestrian The unknown vehicles had been traveling west on Okatie Highway and struck the pedestrian in the roadway was identified by the coroner's office as the pedestrian involved in the hit and run Frost died at the scene from blunt force injuries sustained in the incident Beaufort County Chief Deputy Coroner Shane Bowers said SCHP released further information April 29 about the vehicles being sought in connection with the fatal hit and run SCHP said the first suspect was driving a 2016-2018 Honda Civic and the color of the vehicle is not known The agency said the vehicle should have damage to the lower passenger side front and it was last seen traveling westbound on SC-170 towards Bluffton is an SUV which may have undercarriage damage The vehicle was last seen traveling westbound on SC-170 towards Bluffton Anyone with information on the identity of those responsible is asked to submit their anonymous tip by calling the South Carolina Highway Patrol at (843)953-6010 or 1-800-768-1501 Beaufort County has ranked the healthiest county of all 46 counties in S.C. according to the County Health Rankings by Niche.com one of the most popular rankings sites in the U.S Beaufort is a very active community and the findings show that Beaufort surpasses all of the other counties in South Carolina in its quality of life “Beaufort County is one of the best places to live in South Carolina and many young professionals and retirees live there,” Niche.com said in the report Beaufort County received an A for Health & Fitness Beaufort County also received a B+ for Jobs the 2025 Healthiest Counties ranking is intended to provide a comprehensive assessment of the general levels of health among residents at the county level “This grade takes into account key indicators of personal health as well as the availability and proximity of fitness facilities in an attempt to measure an area’s performance in health and fitness.” Other popular studies have shown that Beaufort County residents enjoy the longest life expectancy in the state as well as the best quality of life in South Carolina They’ve also found that Beaufort County leads the Palmetto State when it comes to health behaviors This includes a lower amount of cigarette smokers a lower rate of adult obesity and the ease of access to many exercise opportunities the top 5 healthiest counties in SC are (in order) Beaufort the counties with the poorest health in SC are Barnwell See the full list of U.S. Counties and see how they ranked here See the full list of South Carolina counties and see how they ranked here Beaufort is surrounded by sea islands and that provides an easy way for folks to enjoy the water do some fishing or take the kayak out for a few hours trails and parks in the area make for some fabulous long walks as well If you’re looking for a good quality of life….Beaufort County is your obvious choice A list of potential jury trials for the April 21-25 term of Beaufort County General Sessions Court Please note this list of matters is subject to change We will not spam you or share your information with others The Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office is the chief prosecuting agency for Allendale Covering 3,200 square-miles of South Carolina’s renowned Lowcountry we are the only five-county circuit in the state Copyright © 2024 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office seen on the right at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on Aug the same year he took over as commanding officer of the air station Marine Corps)The United States Marine Corps removed a commander from his position after deciding he was unfit to lead Bortnem was relieved of his duties as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on April 14 and reassigned to duties at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island “This decision was made due to a loss of trust and confidence in Bortnem’s ability to command,” said Nat Fahy a Marine Corps Installations East spokesperson commanding general of Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Eubanks - Air Station Beaufort’s headquarters and headquarters squadron executive officer - will assume Bortnem’s previous position in the interim until another individual is appointed The Marine Corps did not provide any further details as to the circumstances of the firing, which was first reported by The Island News who has served in the Marine Corps for over 30 years took over as commander of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in July 2023 He’s logged nearly 3,000 flight hours throughout the duration of his career including more than 500 hours of combat time he served as a supply administration and operations specialist in Camp Lejeune before going on to join the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program He attended Ohio State University from 1994 to 1998 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant there he became a naval flight officer after attending flight school joined the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 332 and deployed to Iraq for several Operation Iraqi Freedom combat missions He continued to ascend the ranks until he was assigned in 2016 to be the Marine Forces Pacific air officer and director of aviation operations at Camp Smith he was eventually appointed as director of the commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division his last position before taking over as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Riley Ceder is a reporter at Military Times He previously worked as an investigative practicum student at The Washington Post where he contributed to the Abused by the Badge investigation For folks wondering what was going to happen in Cross Creek Shopping Center to the old vacated locations of Pet Smart and TJ Maxx they didn’t have long to wait to find out the parking lot outside of the two vacant stores in Beaufort has been walled off and a transformation is occurring; albeit a slow one Academy Sports + Outdoors has taken over both vacant stores and is currently constructing one large 45,000 square foot store the large sporting goods retailer has been expanding at a rate of 5 to 10 new locations per year over the past several years and after the Beaufort spot opens it will have over 300 locations in some 20 states making it one of the largest sporting goods and outdoor retailers in the U.S Other South Carolina locations include stores in Aiken Academy Sports + Outdoors retail outlets offer a wide variety of clothing and shoes for men and all of the cleats [that parents always look for] for soccer They carry all the supplies you’ll need for golf You’ll also find fishing and hunting clothing and licenses camping and running clothing & supplies at Academy Academy also carries a variety of firearms including handguns as well as ammunition and storage & safety items The new Academy Sports store in Beaufort promises to bring a lot. According to its corporate website every Academy store is a fun destination where families can find apparel and more from top national brands at an everyday value Academy also offers free services such as grill and bike assembly Academy Sports + Outdoors owns the naming rights to the popular Bassmaster Classic fishing tournament (officially referred to as the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic) It is also the official sporting retailer of the NCAA Southeastern Conference Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference The location is expected to open up in the third quarter of 2025 but we’re happy to welcome Academy Sports to Beaufort Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBURTON (WCSC) - Firefighters say they are now considering the late-night fire that destroyed a Beaufort County home suspicious That update came Tuesday morning after crews responded to the same location on Lemon Lane in Burton about three hours after clearing the scene from the night before Marine Corps Air Station Fire and Emergency Services Beaufort County EMS and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office to the scene A 911 caller said a mobile home at the end of the road was burning and did not know if anyone was inside Crews got to the scene to find the single-wide mobile home fully engulfed in flames according to a release from the Fire District Firefighters say they cleared the scene at 2:34 a.m but were sent back to the same home for a fire reported there at 5:27 a.m “Fire crews arrived to find the mobile home once again fully involved in flames,” a spokesman for the Burton Fire District said Firefighters brought the original fire under control in about 10 minutes but the fire took over two hours to put all the way out as crews struggled with the conditions In addition to the home being at the back of the property road conditions on Lemon Lane and vegetation overgrowth both made for a difficult firefight Joe Frazier Road had to be shut down in both directions as that was the location of the nearest fire hydrant With the fire now being considered suspicious investigators are still working to figure out how it started Construction is underway on Boundary Street in Beaufort SC and the new Culver’s Restaurant location and the much-anticipated opening is expected to come this summer Culver’s has been around since its inception in 1984 under the name “Culver’s Frozen Custard and ButterBurgers.” and it operates primarily in the Midwestern United States and has a total of 930 restaurants in 26 states as of October 2023 including 9 locations currently in South Carolina there are Culver’s Restaurant locations in Pooler and Savannah who recently relocated to Beaufort with his wife and three children to open and operate the restaurant “we couldn’t be more excited to be here and we’re expecting to be open this summer.” Referring to itself as a fast-casual restaurant Culver’s menu offers a variety of lunch and dinner items including its signature ButterBurgers “We’re definitely a family restaurant focusing on fast-casual dining,” David said “We’re proud to say that our food is grown Our chicken is antibiotic-free and American Humane Certified Midwest raised with no additives of any kind Culver’s also offers sides including fries chili and its popular Wisconsin cheese curds that are provided exclusively to Culver’s by a dairy in Stanley “Our partnership with farmers is a critical part of our day-to-day operations,” David added “Culver’s Thank You Farmers Project supports local agricultural efforts in the communities that we call home and we’re big believers and supporters of agricultural sustainability.” Culver’s dessert menu is where it’s at floats and malts offered using its own line of frozen custard the Beaufort Applebee’s location closed in 2017 during the Boundary Street construction project with its owner citing a loss of revenue due to the project it was the very short-lived home of Los Gallos Mexican Restaurant Now it will see a nice new look when the new Culver’s in Beaufort Page said that rehabbing an older building was a choice “It will cost us more to rehab an old building versus building a brand new one from the ground up but we think it’s important to take care of empty buildings and help beautify the community.” and we wish more people would look to take over an existing spot in stead of building new It’s helps the community and keeps things looking so much better Read David’s statement to the community in a post in the local Facebook group, Beaufort Eats. See more about Lowcountry restaurants and cuisine Nancy Mace speaks to members of the Dataw Island Owners Association April 23 The event was the first in-person town hall this year held by Mace in her district Lady’s Island resident Alison Davidow stands with fellow protesters outside a town hall hosted by U.S Nancy Mace attends town hall in Beaufort County though general public was not invited to event at Dataw Island Nancy Mace appeared at in-person town hall in her district The congresswoman representing South Carolina's 1st Congressional district on April 23 attended an event on Dataw Island Attendance was restricted to members of the Dataw Island Owners' Association while about two dozen protesters carrying signs and blowing horns camped out on Sea Island Parkway on St several miles from the front gates of the upscale community Protestors objected to Mace being at a meeting that was billed as a town hall but which was closed to general public It wasn't just protestors outside the gates who questioned the decision Town hall attendee Wendy Stine told The Post and Courier that she thought Mace was hiding behind the protection of the gated community participates in a town hall in the private "We have had many privileges that many people in South Carolina have not had It doesn't seem to be Nancy Mace," said Stine The population of Dataw is about 1,400 people with a median age of 73. Appearing there, Mace spoke to constituents in one of her safest political strongholds. In November, she won a decisive victory in this precinct, receiving nearly twice as many votes as her Democratic opponent Mace had won 64 percent of the vote to his 35 percent in this wealthy Beaufort County community Mace began her appearance by meeting with reporters She nearly immediately struck a combative stance in response to a question from the pool regarding the timing of her first town hall of the year She responded by chastising the media for not covering other past town halls and referring to the pool as fake news She noted her Dataw appearance drew more media representation than any other town hall because you want to see something bad happen "You're here today because you want to silence a conservative woman You want to hopefully show that I will be embarrassed today The appearance came days after Mace made national headlines following an Easter weekend confrontation with a constituent inside a Mount Pleasant cosmetic shore went viral which both parties recorded on their cell phones and posted to social media appeared to begin with the man asking Mace when she planned to have an in-person town hall in her district The exchange soon devolved into Mace telling the man "(expletive) you" and called him "absolutely (expletive) insane," and him calling her profanity-laced insults Mace did host an impromptu tele-town hall earlier this month in which she fielded five questions during the roughly half-hour event In recent days, The Post and Courier has attended and covered Mace appearances in Columbia, North Augusta and Greenville as she spoke to largely GOP groups ahead of a potential campaign to become South Carolina's next governor frequently expressing her support for the Trump administration's agenda and the efforts of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency support for the military operations in her district and the need to protect women's rights which included anti-transgender legislation "I feel very strongly that we have to speak up speak out and speak the truth and speak it boldly That's the only way we're going to protect women and girls," Mace said Attendees were allowed to submit written questions and Mace worked through about 20 of those questions She spoke about her support of a plan to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits It was one of the few points that elicited polite applause from the audience though she acknowledged the plan was far from becoming a reality at this point Answering a question about the war in Ukraine Mace said she wanted to see an end to the fighting American troops are going to be on the ground in Ukraine said that Mace's comments closely aligned with her own Asked if she would support Mace's expected run for governor "I would definitely give her some consideration."  agreed with Mace's politics but stopped short of endorsing her potential run for governor He took issue with Mace's explicative-laced video calling the behavior "unbecoming" of someone in political office Reporters Caitlin Byrd and Jessica Wade contributed to this report News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com A list of potential jury trials for the March 24-28 The bicentennial celebration for the historic visit from the Marquis de Lafayette to Beaufort in 1825 kicked off this past week and through March 18 will include lectures living history interpretations and a visit by renowned historical interpreter Mark Schneider to celebrate the 200-year anniversary Official planning has been underway since August and includes lectures program activities with the Beaufort County Library The boards are currently on display at the Beaufort History Museum through March 14th One of the many highlights will be a re-creation on March 18th of Lafayette’s arrival and procession through downtown Beaufort. The events will culminate with a special night, Dancing With Lafayette, sponsored by the Beaufort History Museum reminiscent of the dance that was planned for Lafayette when he arrived in Beaufort way back in 1825 “This 200-year anniversary of Lafayette’s visit is an important reminder to Beaufort to South Carolina and even our nation about the contributions this Frenchman made to our young country,” said Beaufort Mayor Phil Cromer Tickets for the one-of-a-kind Dancing With Lafayette ball are available here. Scheduled activities and tickets, where needed for HBF sponsored events, are listed on Historic Beaufort Foundation’s website at https://historicbeaufort.org/lafayette-bicentennial/ · March 12– Toys & Games of 1825 – Waiting for Lafayette · “In the Footsteps of Lafayette: An Artistic Expression ” – Lafayette inspired Art Exhibit/Sale at the John Mark Verdier House – sponsored by Elevate Art (letselevateart@gmail.com for more information) · March – Lafayette Traveling Display – City of Beaufort, Beaufort History Museum, John Mark Verdier House (currently on display at the Beaufort History Museum through March 14th) · March 17 – How Liberty Found a Country: Conversations with an historian & the Marquis – Mark Schneider & Dr re-creation of Lafayette’s 1825 arrival of Lafayette – Boat arrives to Waterfront Park Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard Display Colors; Singing of Hail Columbia at 10AM Henry C Bay Street; Welcome from Lafayette and state and local dignitaries – Verdier House; Unveiling of Lafayette Marker; Living history demonstrations & museum exhibits – SAR 19th century ballroom dancing (Revolution Ballroom & Beaufort County School District); Museum Lafayette Exhibits – Beaufort History Museum and John Mark Verdier House & · Also March 18: Dedication of SAR/DAR marker; Dancing with Lafayette – Beaufort History Museum – 5:30 – 8PM · Farewell to Lafayette Ceremony – City of Beaufort the Beaufort Convention & Visitor Bureau American Friends of Lafayette and The Lafayette Trail are collaborating along with some 50 local regional and national groups and individuals to celebrate the Lafayette Bicentennial In addition to the above mentioned events, the Beaufort History Museum is hosting a Revolutionary War reenactment on Saturday, March 22nd on a closed off Craven Street at the historic Beaufort Arsenal in downtown; with local children in attendance participating in a recreation of the Battle of Port Royal Children will be divided into Patriots and Loyalists to fight in this recreation of the Battle of Port Royal Island in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War “Lafayette’s visit 200 years ago has always been seen as one of the most significant events in the city’s history The short visit by General Lafayette and his son 1825 left an indelible mark in the memory of Beaufortonians For two centuries we have referred to the house John Mark Verdier built ca 1804 as the Lafayette Building,” said Cynthia Jenkins executive director of Historic Beaufort Foundation Included in the planning is a visit by Lafayette interpreter and US Army veteran Mark Schneider recently profiled in The New York Times and other publications For more than 25 years he has worked at Colonial Williamsburg portraying the French aristocrat who arrived in America at age 19 to help lead the battle for independence historic anecdotes persist that Lafayette greeted Beaufort townspeople from the steps of the Verdier House on Bay Street HBF will erect a marker in front of the Verdier House The Marquis de Lafayette was a French Nobleman and military officer who volunteered to join the Continental Army He commanded the troops in the decisive siege of Yorktown in 1781 the final major battle that secured American Independence and he is remembered as a “Hero of the Nation,” noted Lise Sundrla “This has been a celebration eight months in the making,” HBF Assistant Director Lise Sundrla said “It’s amazing how the community has come together in such a short time to ensure a fitting celebration for one of the most significant events to occur in Beaufort’s great history.” Lafayette began his “Farewell Tour of the Nation” in Staten Island He was the last surviving major general of the American Revolutionary War DC where he celebrated his 68th birthday at a White House banquet with President John Adams Lafayette arrived to a 13-gun salute by the Beaufort Volunteer Artillery and mounted officers from the St Carriages then carried Lafayette and his family through a triumphal arch for a welcome address by the Beaufort mayor a reception and ball ran into the early morning hours A list of potential jury trials for the Feb Bortnem was relieved of his command of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort on Tuesday morning due to a “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to command Bortnem had been the Commanding Officer of MCAS Beaufort for nearly two years since he took command from Col Director of Communications and Strategy (COMMSTRAT) at MCAS Beaufort initially confirmed Bortnem had been relieved of his command Tuesday morning Director of COMMSTRAT for Marine Corps Installations East (MCIE) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune provided The Island News with a statement Tuesday afternoon Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune Bortnem of his duties as commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort This decision was made due to a loss of trust and confidence in Bortnem’s ability to command “Bortnem is being reassigned to duties as directed at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island the air station’s Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (H&HS) Executive Officer Eubanks will serve as acting commander until one is formally appointed There are no further details to provide at this time.” While the statement attributes Bortnem’s removal to a “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to command this is used as a catchall phrase by the U.S dozens of officers across all branches have been removed from their commands due to a “loss of trust and confidence.” Issues with their leadership could range from the work or training environment they establish to misconduct it’s impossible to know exactly why Bortnem was removed He graduated from Ohio State University (B.A in Political Science) in 1998 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant ending his time as an enlisted Marine and beginning his career as an officer he was designated as a Naval Flight Officer in 2002 He then joined Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 332 with which he deployed to Iraq several times After graduating pilot conversion training at Naval Air Stations Corpus Christi and Kingsville with distinction he was designated as a Naval Aviator and served as a Flight Instructor Bortnem was assigned to MCAS Miramar where he completed F/A-18 pilot training and was assigned as the Executive Officer with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121 and Operations Officer with Marine Aircraft Group 11 he deployed twice to Japan and achieved all advanced qualifications as an F/A-18 pilot Canada where he served as an Exchange Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force with which he deployed to Kuwait in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE he was assigned as Commanding Officer of 401 Tactical Fighter Squadron where he was assigned as the Marine Forces Pacific Air Officer and Director of Aviation Operations Colonel Bortnem was the Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 in Miramar he deployed to Japan and the squadron was recognized as the recipient of the Robert M Hanson award as Strike Fighter Squadron of the Year Bortnem was assigned as a student to Air War College in Montgomery h was assigned as Director of the Commandant of the Marine Corps Safety Division Bortnem’s photo and biography have been removed from the leadership page on the MCAS Beaufort website, https://www.beaufort.marines.mil/ Steinhauser III remains the Executive Officer on board MCAS Beaufort Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com American Legion Beaufort Post 207 brings you Herbert Washington cadets from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at South Carolina State By Larry Dandridge Editor’s note: This article is the second in a series of five Felter assumed command Tuesday By Mike McCombs The Island News According to a From staff reports The Center for Women Veterans recently announced their selection of 28 women veterans 2024) – A local man who used a machete to kill a visiting Georgia man in 2020 will spend the rest of his life in prison following a three-day jury trial at the Beaufort County Courthouse Michael Eugene Goode was found guilty Thursday of the July 2020 murder of 66-year-old Rodney Watson of St which took place outside a mobile home on Horton Road in Burton Goode also was found guilty of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a violent crime Goode received life in prison for the murder and five years for the weapon charge “The victim in this case was simply trying to help someone who looked to be in distress but instead was met with senseless brutality,” said Jared Shedd of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and both the verdict and sentence are just.” Watson saw a man in the roadway and stopped his vehicle Watson’s niece and front-seat passenger recognized the man as Goode They picked him out of the roadway and gave him a ride But when they arrived at the destination on Horton Road Goode began attacking the woman in the front seat Watson attempted to intervene but was viciously attacked by Goode with a machete Watson sustained at least six stab wounds mostly to the back The fatal blow occurred when an artery on Watson’s left arm was severed The pathologist was one of 15 witnesses called by Shedd Goode originally claimed he was elsewhere during the deadly assault but DNA evidence linked the clothes he was seen wearing to Watson and the 10-inch machete claiming he was afraid but ultimately did remember his actions Goode’s prior criminal record includes convictions for possession with intent to distribute crack (1994); three counts of assault and battery (1996); two charges of criminal domestic violence (2005 2012); two charges of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature (2006 and 2010); resisting arrest (2007); and one charge of giving false information (2019) The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this investigation Shedd is a member of the Solicitor’s Office Career Criminal Unit which prosecutes the circuit’s most violent and habitual offenders the unit has secured convictions against 504 defendants of the 554 defendants it has prosecuted The team also has earned 65 life sentences Shedd has been with the prosecutor’s office since 2019 Both Beaufort and Jasper counties will see a change next month and in May in the amount of sales tax that is paid by some consumers in both areas according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue the county's Green Space Sales Tax will expire March 1 however Jasper County will renew one of its local taxes on the same date Beaufort County's Green Space Program was implemented to help preserve open spaces and protect the county's natural resources It was also in place to provide land for recreational opportunities The tax in connection to the Green Space Program was set for two years or until it generated $100 million "Retailers should no longer collect Beaufort County’s Green Space Tax beginning March 1," a SCDOR news release said Beaufort County’s Sales Tax rate will be reduced from 7 percent to 6 percent The School District Sales Tax will expire in both Jasper and Chesterfield counties and both counties will implement an Education Capital Improvement Sales Tax The sales tax in Jasper is a continuation of the sales tax which had already been in place "the Sales Tax rate will remain 8 percent in both counties each of which imposes a one percent Local Option Tax in addition to the 1 percent Education Capital Improvement Tax and the 6 percent state Sales Tax." and a new one is replacing it on March 1," Jasper County Administrator Andy Fulghum said Voters in Jasper County cast 8,840 votes in favor of the education sales and use tax referendum and 7,938 voted against it during the Nov The first question asked voters to consider whether or not they will want to continue with the one percent sales tax which is currently in place and will end March 1 Voters overall selected to approve continuing the sales tax including new educational facilities such as a new learning academy in Hardeeville and Ridgeland an upgrade to the athletic facilities on the campuses of Hardeeville Junior and Senior High School and Ridgeland Secondary Academy of Excellence New Transportation Sales Tax begins May 1 in Jasper County Jasper County will also see an additional one percent sales tax added May 1 that the voters overall approved during the Nov This tax will be a transportation sales tax bringing the total on that date to nine percent total sales taxes in Jasper County our state legislature might have made the next step toward taking over governance of high school sports in South Carolina and student-athletes who will be most impacted which has overseen high school athletics in the state since 1913 Erickson floated the idea in an ad hoc committee in 2023 and was one of the sponsors for bill H.4163 when it was officially filed March 6 The proposal passed through subcommittee last week and appears fast-tracked for passage in the House and Senate before heading to Gov and it would fundamentally alter how high school and middle school sports operate in the Palmetto State — or more accurately The bill would replace the member-run organization that has governed high school athletics for more than 110 years with an 11-member board appointed by the state legislature The idea has been met with mixed reviews on social media but the vast majority of veteran coaches and athletics administrators have expressed strong and unequivocal concern “This would be the beginning of the end of high school athletics,” said Jimmy Weatherford a legendary baseball coach at Chesterfield and South Florence high schools who is now coaching at Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach Much of the angst stems from the league’s handling in recent years of two overlapping issues — how to classify non-traditional schools such as private and charter schools that compete in the SCHSL and how to adjudicate situations in which players are deemed ineligible during the course of the season Critics suggest the league has been unfair to non-traditional schools pointing to the 3x multiplier for students who live outside a school’s designated attendance zone — a policy that went into place this school year and bumped most non-traditional schools up at least one classification if not more — and seemingly incongruent rulings regarding the penalty for using ineligible players powerhouse charter school Gray Collegiate Academy and traditional public school Irmo High School both were found to have used ineligible players in a handful of games during the season but there is no accountability from them (SCHSL).” Those involved in the day-to-day of interscholastic athletics dispute that notion The league has numerous committees and constantly meets with member institutions to update policy and protocol to meet the real-world challenges that can vary from small rural schools in Class 1A and 2A to well-funded and fully-staffed programs in Class 4A and 5A “I can’t think of anything worse for high school athletics in South Carolina than for our legislators to get further involved,” said Charlie Burry who spent 40 of his 45 years in public education at Hartsville High School coach and principal before retiring in 2018 The league recently made headlines with a proactive approach to alleviating the issue of eligibility hearings — and possibly stemming the tide of transfers — with a one-time free transfer rule that puts in place standardized eligibility sanctions for a student who switches schools after the season or makes a second transfer without a bonafide change of address The rule will certainly need to be adapted over time — as will the multiplier rule as it pertains to attendance figures and classifications — but that is what self-governing bodies like SCHSL do: They adapt to the times and continue on “State legislators have no idea the scope of what all the league coordinates,” said Greg Elliott longtime basketball coach at Hilton Head Island and Summerville high schools sometimes they make wrong decisions,” Elliott said “But they manage 200-plus high schools fairly well.” It’s worth noting that most of the support for this drastic and short-sighted measure is coming from advocates for charter schools many of whom are the very legislators who would appoint the officials who rule over high school sports Such a move would dramatically swing the balance of power back in favor of the non-traditional schools who dominated the past decade nearly sweeping the state championships in the Class 1A and 2A divisions once populated by small and many of its critics’ frustrations are valid But taking the decision-making out of the hands of the people who have devoted their lives to high school athletics and consolidating even more power with our legislators and their cronies Justin Jarrett is the sports editor of The Island News and the founder of LowcoSports.com He was the sports editor of the Island Packet and the Beaufort Gazette for 6½ years He has a passion for sports and community journalism and a questionable sense of humor and I’m in Jasper County Council Chambers in By Carol Lucas I have always loved playing board games 2025 New Yorker there is an opinion piece by By Larry Dandridge Are you a veteran who cannot find evidence to support a claim for A Daily News Service of the North Carolina Coastal Federation More Articles More Articles More Articles More Articles More Articles 05/02/2025 by Colby Shaw of Newport has broken a 15-year state record with his recent catch of a vermilion snapper The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries announced the new state record Thursday The previous state record for the highly prized species was 6 pounds The division said Shaw was fishing in his own vessel when the fish struck his cut bait “Shaw made quick work of reeling in his state record fish landing it using his Shimano rod and reel with 65-pound braid,” according to the announcement Shaw’s fish measured 23.5-inches fork length which is from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail Fisheries staff weighed in the fish at the division’s headquarters office in Morehead City waters “is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S regulations,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Vermilion snappers’ range extends from Cape Hatteras to southeastern Brazil and includes the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Recreational anglers landed 3.4 million pounds of vermilion snapper in 2023, the most recent figures in NOAA Fisheries’ recreational fishing landings database The North Carolina coast is spectacular! When you purchase a North Carolina Coastal Federation license plate, you help keep our coast healthy and beautiful, and support the nonprofit journalism you’re reading now. Learn more commercial landings in the Gulf and South Atlantic totaled 1.8 million pounds and was worth about $7.2 million and they spend much of their existence close to the bottom near the continental and just off the islands The story was compiled by staff members of Coastal Review Winner of seven North Carolina Press Association awards in 2024. © 2025 North Carolina Coastal Federation. All rights reserved.↑ Historic Beaufort Foundation holding May 10 fundraiser at The CastleThe Historic Beaufort Foundation will host a May 10 fundraiser at the home of Mr which is known as The Castle.Bluffton TodayThis spring’s much-anticipated Bicentennial Lafayette Soirée celebrates the 200th year of the Marquis de Lafayette's historic visit to Beaufort in 1825 and is Historic Beaufort Foundation’s primary fundraiser This year’s evening party will be held in the gardens of David and Nancy Russell’s home on The Point “This promises to be a very special evening as we celebrate the bicentennial of Lafayette’s visit to Beaufort and the work this community has done and continues to do to preserve and protect our architectural and historic legacy,” said Cynthia Jenkins Historic Beaufort Foundation executive director guests will experience an evening of French-inspired culinary treats music performed live by the Lafayette String Sextet and the Andrew Theilan Band Proceeds from this year's Bicentennial Lafayette Soirée will benefit a collaborative program to rehabilitate historic properties within the Northwest Quadrant and the Old Commons neighborhoods within Beaufort's National Historic Landmark District “These neighborhoods hold a pivotal place in Beaufort's African American history,” Jenkins said many historically and/or architecturally significant properties have become vacant and have begun to deteriorate “Residential properties that sit vacant or abandoned typically deteriorate more quickly than those that are lived in and cared for,” she said “Our goal is to help stop that deterioration.” Historic Beaufort Foundation has been holding the annual Lafayette Soirée in recognition and celebration of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit has been thought to be the location where Lafayette spoke to Beaufort-area residents during his visit in March 1825 in collaboration with dozens of private and public organizations and individuals attracting more than 3,000 people to experience the second arrival of “Lafayette,” a cannon and 13-gun salute parade and full ceremony from the portico of the Verdier House "We are pleased to welcome the Bicentennial Lafayette Soirée to ‘The Castle’ gardens to continue the tradition of honoring Lafayette's historic visit to Beaufort while helping HBF pursue its important mission of preservation and thoughtful progress,” said homeowners Dave and Nancy Russell The Lafayette Soirée is one of Beaufort’s most-anticipated events non-members $230) and can be purchased online at HistoricBeaufort.org or by calling the HBF Office Tickets are non-refundable and the event is held rain or shine Sponsors include A Friend of Historic Beaufort Foundation Lowcountry Legacy Law Firm and Montgomery Architecture & Planning Historic Beaufort Foundation has played a significant role in the preservation and protection of Beaufort’s historic resources Historic Beaufort Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit education foundation created to preserve and present sites and artifacts of historic and cultural interest throughout Beaufort County For more information on the entity's mission and history please visit historicbeaufort.org and follow them on social media As spring approaches and our alligator population starts to become more active throughout Beaufort and the sea islands let’s take a look at some alligator safety tips to make sure you stay safe around the water We’re already seeing them on the move in the area Being safe means keeping a careful eye out on your surroundings South Carolina has seen its share of alligator attacks on humans and pets there have been a total of 6 alligator related deaths in South Carolina’s modern history Nearly any water body in the coastal plain of South Carolina may contain alligators and the mere presence of alligators in or adjacent to their natural habitat in South Carolina is a normal occurrence and not normally an emergency requiring the animal’s removal alligators less than 4 feet are typically not large enough to be dangerous to people unless handled -Don’t walk your dog around a pond or other body of water Reports from the July 4th incident say that the attack victim was walking her dog around a lagoon in the Spanish Wells community –Avoid swimming or playing in areas known to harbor alligators so does the size of prey that it can consume Alligators normally are more active during the night and can mistake splashing noises for prey Only swim in areas designated for swimming Higher levels of human activity found in designated swimming areas typically make alligators keep their distance Other potential dangers include steep drop-offs and other underwater obstructions that you may not be able to see if the location is not a designated swimming area –Keep pets out of the water if alligators are present Pets are more vulnerable due to their smaller size and resemblance to alligators’ typical prey Keep leashed pets away from the edge of the water Alligators can move in quick bursts over short distances but normally do not try to run after people If an alligator is in a place where it cannot reasonably be expected to get back to the water without posing a risk to itself or to others or is in a location that presents an immediate hazard Never attempt to capture or move an alligator by yourself Read more Beaufort SC news Could snow be in the forecast for Beaufort Some meteorologists say it’s very possible that we could see some here in the Lowcountry next week on Wednesday 10 day forecasts indicate that an Arctic (Siberian) air mass and higher chances of precipitation will collide with one another in the Lowcountry on January 21st & 22nd, and the forecast from The Weather Channel calls for rain and show showers on the 22nd here in Beaufort But it’s still unclear exactly how the system will act and it’s unlikely to be only snow that is forecasted we know this forecast will most likely change When cold air makes its way south and connects with warmer moister air…the propensity for snow occurs With the way temperatures are here along the coast and the changes in temps as you move further inland away from the ocean Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region Even areas that normally experience mild winters can be hit with a major snowstorm or extreme cold damage infrastructure components such as power lines and have enormous economic impacts…and they can sure be one heck of an inconvenience We don’t have salt trucks and snow plows here in Beaufort SC Most natives don’t even know how to safely navigate their vehicles on snow covered roads SC saw a significant amount of snow was January 3 We got some five to six inches of snow and the Lowcountry froze over and most parts of it came to a standstill for four or five days; and Beaufort was a ghost town with the exception of children and families going out to play in it Snow has repeatedly blanketed other parts of the country so far this season with our friends in the northeast getting hit constantly but during the winter months in the Lowcountry because winter weather isn’t a joke around these parts you just never know when it’ll be headed our way SC is beautiful every single day of the year it looks exceptionally beautiful when its landscape is covered in snow Read more local Beaufort SC news here. (WTOC) - The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a shooting that happened Wednesday afternoon at a Jasperstone Circle home in Grays Hill Deputies say they found a gunshot victim around 11:30 a.m They say they found a 37-year-old woman with a non-life-threatening leg wound and a 64-year-old man critically injured from an assault Both were taken to the hospital for treatment Deputies say a third individual on the scene at the time of the incident was not injured and was interviewed by investigators Deputies say there is no threat to the public The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to report suspicious or criminal activity by calling their non-emergency dispatch line at 843-524-2777 tips can be reported to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app or by calling 1-844-TIPSBFT (1-844-847-7238) An F-35B sits on the tarmac of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort Trevor Felter assumed command of the air station April 29 commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort speaks with reporters during a media event at the air station Bortnem was relieved of his command April 14 Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort has a new commanding officer Mark Bortnem was fired for a loss of confidence in his ability to command BEAUFORT — Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort has a new commanding officer, a little more than two weeks after his predecessor, Col. Mark Bortnem, was fired Trevor Felter assumed command of the air station enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1994 and completed recruit training at Parris Island and graduated with a bachelor's degree in general engineering Following graduation, Felter reported for flight training in Pensacola, Fla. He was selected to fly the McDonnell Douglas AV-8B, a British-designed jet capable of vertical takeoffs and landings. The Harrier was reportedly a difficult aircraft to fly, and is said to have an accident rate three times higher than the F/A-18 Felter completed a number of deployments in a variety of roles around the world who took command of the air base in July 2023 "This decision was made due to a loss of trust and confidence in Bortnem's ability to command," said Brig No further information regarding the circumstances of Bortnem's firing has since been made public Bortnem was reassigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island which is located a short distance from the air station During his nearly two-year tenure, Bortnem developed a solid reputation in the community surrounding the air base The Department of Defense was committed to conserving land around the air base to ensure its ability to maintain operational readiness and Bortnem was well-regarded by the conservation community with which he frequently worked The same was true for Bortnem's interactions with local governments said Bortnem looked for out-of-the-box solutions to improving interactions between the base and the community "From what I could see in the interactions that we had he was trying to do a lot of good things," he added A change.org petition started by Marine veteran Joan Petrucci has garnered nearly 360 signatures so far not intended to influence the actions of the Marine Corps it's intended to express support for Bortnem whose removal Petrucci believes is a significant loss for those on and off the base "While it may not alter the formal outcome for Colonel Bortnem it can influence the perception of the leader's effectiveness and character within the Marine Corps community highlighting the loyalty and admiration they garnered from their team," wrote Petrucci