POSTAL PATRON LOCAL
AUGUST 29–SEPTEMBER 4, 2024
WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
County Council releases audit to law enforcement Sheriff, solicitor say it took far too long to do “appropriate” thing By Delayna Earley The Island News Months after Greenville-based law firm Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd completed their investigation into Beaufort County’s P-Card system and procurement code, County Council has voted to release the report to local and state law enforcement agencies. During their Aug. 26 meeting, Beaufort County Council members voted unanimously to release
the report and any supporting documents to law enforcement. County Council has previously told the public Duffie that the county Stone and Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd found no criminal activity per the report and during the August 26 meeting they expressed again that they hope that law enforcement does not find anything different. In a prepared statement read by Vice Chairman Larry McElynn during the meeting, it was
promised that the report will be released to the public subject to the Freedom of Information Act if law enforcement finds no evidence of criminal activity. The law firm was retained by Beaufort County Council to conduct the audit of the county’s procurement code and P-Card system following the firing with cause of former County Administrator Eric Greenway in July 2023. Before voting to release the document to law enforcement, each member of council made comments regarding their feelings on the decision to release the report. Several council members spoke
up saying that they wished the report had been made available to law enforcement from the beginning. Council member David Bartholomew said that he had been advocating for more transparency in this process since it started. “Trust is not established by words, it’s established by actions, and I think this is an action in the right direction,” said Bartholomew on Monday. There were a few council members who defended the time that it has taken to release the report by
“The process is a process that they created. They are playing the role of fireman when they are the arsonist.” DUFFIE STONE, 14th Circuit Solicitor, on the process Beaufort County Council went through before releasing a public audit of county spending to state and local law enforcement
SEE AUDIT PAGE A4
Like cracking open a new book
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Port Royal residents celebrate the town
Y
PORT ROYAL ou might have called it a “red letter day” on Saturday, with two ribboncuttings for a new public library branch, a restaurant and a very lively night of street music. The coolish weather, in the low 80’s, was an extra treat that had hundreds of folks turning out and cheering progress. The town welcomed the sixth branch of the county library system with a tribute to the late Mayor Sam Murray, who served on town council for 41 years. A local couple opened their dream restaurant in a building that had sat empty on Paris Avenue for the past several months. And the town-sponsored street music program on Paris Avenue provided free entertainment with New Orleans music. It was just a win-win-win kind of Saturday. Much better than the week past when the lead story in The Island News was the story of a 12-yearold girl who was accidentally shot in the chest by her cousin. The young victim is still hospitalized recovering from the gunshot. The “tease” with which Mother Nature blessed the Lowcountry brought hope that fall is indeed coming. Just like the elections.
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A7
Beaufort County Library Director, Amanda Brewer Dickman welcomes the Chappell family to the new Port Royal Library located at 1408 Paris Avenue as the doors open to the public for the first time on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. Amber Hewitt/ The Island News
Suspect car located in downtown Beaufort hit-and-run incident
By Delayna Earley The Island News The vehicle allegedly involved in a hit-and-run incident with a pedestrian Thursday night, Aug. 22, in downtown Beaufort has been identified and located, but police aren’t sharing any more information. A pedestrian was injured after she was hit by a vehicle as she and several friends were crossing crossing Bay Street in a crosswalk
in downtown Beaufort. At approximately 10:12 p.m., Beaufort Police officers responded to reports of a hit and run. The officers who arrived at the scene rendered aid to the injured victim until the fire department and EMS arrived and took over, according to a release sent out by the Beaufort Police Department. Responding officers spoke to witnesses at the scene and were able to gather a partial license
plate and vehicle description, but initially were unable to locate the vehicle. There were eight pedestrians who were crossing the street, according to a post on Facebook made by one of the people involved. The post said that the group was halfway in the street with the right of way when the driver “came out of nowhere.” The alleged witness did not re-
spond when contacted for further comment. On Friday, Aug. 23, officers canvassed local businesses with security cameras in the downtown Beaufort area and were able to locate clearer images of the suspect vehicle and license plate. The Beaufort Police Department initially issued a BOLO to the public on the suspect vehicle
SEE SUSPECT PAGE A5
NEWS
SPORTS
EDUCATION
INSIDE
Port Royal seeks task force for Sands Beach Road park.
Former student Hapner joins Holy Trinity as Athletic Director.
USC ends teachertraining program on ‘culturally relevant’ K-12 lessons.
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