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LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Two monthsplus to read about sales tax plan
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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
12-year-old Port Royal girl shot in chest
By Mike McCombs The Island News PORT ROYAL – A 12-year-old girl was accidentally shot in the chest by her 15-year-old cousin with a 9mm pistol Monday night in Port Royal. At 10:55 p.m. Monday, Port Royal Police officers responded to Shell Point Apartments for a report of a gunshot victim. According to police, upon arrival, officers learned that a 12-year-old juvenile victim had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and had been
taken to Beaufort Memorial Hospital (BMH) by a civilian. The victim was later transported to Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston for further treatment. As of Tuesday afternoon, the girl remained in stable condition at MUSC, according to Capt. John Griffith, spokesperson for the Port Royal Police Department. “We have not received any updates today,” Griffith said. According to Griffith, during their investigation, officers and
investigators learned that the victim’s cousin, a 15-year-old juvenile, had accidentally shot the victim while in the apartment, where they both lived. She was shot a single time in the chest with a 9mm pistol, according to Griffith. Investigators believe the shooting was an accident. “Yes, at this time, we’ve found nothing to suggest otherwise,” Griffith said. Griffith said a civilian not involved in the situation drove
T
BEAUFORT he November elections are fewer than 70 days away … as anyone not living on a deserted island would know. Here on the local political scene things are, well, not as hot as the weather we’ve been experiencing. But there’s now a mayoral race, since Beaufort City Councilman Josh Scallate decided to jump into the race against Phil Cromer who opted to run for a second term since his first “half term.” (Remember, he filled the unexpired seat of Stephen Murray). And there’s four candidates running for two at-large Beaufort City Council seats which means there are folks out there who care about how the city’s growing. Thus far, all these candidates have resorted pretty much to social media campaigns, primarily on Facebook but we know campaign signs will be coming as we get closer to November. The real local contest is the proposed county-wide transportation sales tax referendum. Voters are going to vote for, or against a 1% additional sales tax projected to generate $950 million over a 10-year period. For some, it appears the additional sales tax proposal is dead in the proverbial water. A lot has been said and written about the incomplete projects listed in the 2018 transportation sales tax which collected $120 million in less than four years. The largest project on that list – the $80 million established for the U.S. 278 Corrider to Hilton Head Island – was only recently able to move forward with approval by the Hilton Head Island Town Council of design plans. Another sticking point is proposed revisions to the Lady’s Island business corridor for which $30 million had been allocated
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both juveniles to the hospital. Two firearms were subsequently recovered and seized as part of the investigation. “At this time, we’re still trying to ascertain who the owners of the gun were,” Griffith said. The 15-year-old juvenile has been petitioned to family court for Possession of a Firearm by a Person under 18. Mike McCombs is the Editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
County may release audit to sheriff Sources say vote will happen at Aug. 26 Council meeting
Connor Francis, also known as Power Washing Man, along with Tim Green and John Hazel, speak with the audience as they prepare to hear who is the winner of The Helianthus Project and Power Washing Man's Battle of the Beards. The event, held on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, at The Fillin’ Station, raised more than $8,000 to support the Helianthus Project's mission to build Esther's House for child victims of human trafficking. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
Win or be shaved Battle of the Beards raises money for young victims of human trafficking
By Mike McCombs The Island News John Hazel, owner of Port Royal’s Devil Dog Headquarters, was the winner of the Battle of the Beards on Saturday at The Fillin’ Stattion on Lady’s Island. But really, it was the juvenile victims of human trafficking that came out on top in the first-time event hosted by The Helianthus Project and Power Washing Man.
“We raised about $8,000,” said Rachel McBride, founder and Executive Director of The Helianthus Project. “Really it’s better than what we expected, more than we’ve ever raised in any of our fundraising campaings. We’re pretty exited.” The Helianthus Project is a Latina- and veteran-founded nonprofit with the mission of assisting minor/youth victims of
human trafficking. The funds are going toward a very special project. “It is all going to help us build or buy the house which will be Esther’s House, a safe house for children who have been trafficked, a safe place once they have been removed from their situations,” McBride said. “We’ll offer in-home education,
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By Delayna Earley The Island News Beaufort County Council members will reportedly be voting to release the long-awaited investigative report from an audit of the P-Card system and procurement code to law enforcement during their next meeting. The agenda for the upcoming meeting had not been officially set before this article was published on Tuesday night, but several knowledgeable sources confirmed that the plan is to vote about the report during the August 26 meeting to decide if it should be released to law enforcement. “Ultimately, the taxpayers are entitled to see what’s in that report,” County Council member David Bartholomew said. “They paid for it, it’s theirs.” Bartholomew continued to say that the “double-edge of the sword” is that releasing the report too soon would be bad, as Beaufort County Administrator Michael Moore needs to look at the report and take any corrective action necessary. “Releasing it too soon … essentially I don’t want to interrupt an ongoing investigation,” Bartholomew said. The report regarding the investigation conducted by Greenville-based law firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd is being kept under lock and key and to date has only
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EDUCATION
ARTS
SPORTS
INSIDE
Coosa Elementary’s Pender named BCSD Principal of the Year.
Beaufort Art Asociation’s Dimke to be its featured artist.
Colleton Prep stifles JPII’s early momentum.
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