FEBRUARY 26–MARCH 4, 2026
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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Federal Court dismisses challenge to St. Helena Island CPO
An aerial view of St. Helenaville and Pine Island. Photo courtesy of Miles Sanders
By Mike McCombs The Island News The U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina on Friday, Feb. 20, dismissed Pine Island Property Holdings, LLC's federal lawsuit challenging Beaufort County's Cultural Protection Overlay (CPO). The case is related to an ongoing effort by the developer to build a private golf course resort development on the Pine Island and St. Helenaville properties on St. Helena Island. In Friday’s order, Judge Richard M. Gergel dismissed the developer's complaint in its entirety, find-
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20TH ANNUAL BEAUFORT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ing the case “moot.” The Court found that there is no longer a live controversy, as the developer had earlier withdrawn its appeal of Beaufort County’s denial of plans for three 6-hole golf courses, and, with it, said the Court, the basis for many of its underlying claims. In the lawsuit, one of two filed — one federal and one state — the developer asked the U.S. District Court to invalidate the CPO, a zoning overlay in place since 1999 that protects St. Helena Island, specifically the Gullah culture, from resorts, golf courses and gated communities. The lawsuit alleged constitutional violations
and sought to establish a right to construct a golf course on the Pine Island property despite the CPO’s prohibitions. In September, at the conclusion of a 7½-hour public hearing/meeting attended by more than 500 people, Beaufort County Council voted 10-1 not to move forward with a proposed development agreement put forth by the representative developer Elvio Tropeano that would have put an 18-hole golf course and 49 houses on the property. At the time, attorney Kevin Dukes, who represents the
SEE COURT PAGE A4
LOLITA HUCKABY
Beaufort does love a movie in February
T
BEAUFORT he 20th anniversary edition of the Beaufort International Film Festival has come and gone, leaving those who sat through the four days of films and movie talk with something to talk about. Festival organizers Ron and Rebecca Tucker are probably already on their post-festival vacation break BUT left with plans for the 2027 festival in the works, beginning with the acceptance of entrees for next year. The growing popularity of BIFF, in a time when more and more communities are organizing film festivals to draw visitors to a community, can be confirmed by the record 544 submissions in preparation for this year’s schedule which allowed time for 52 entries.
Candace Bruder presents the Jeff Evans Screenplay Award, a first-time award this year named in honor of the late publisher of The Island News, to “Wings,” written by Maja Pavic of Zagreb, Croatia during the 20th annual Beaufort International Film Festival Award Ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at the USCB Center For The Arts. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
That’s a wrap
Jeff Evans’ name, and legacy, take the stage at BIFF’s 20th year By Delayna Earley During the INSIDE The Island News 20th annual fesFor list of The Beaufort International Film tival’s closing 2026 winners, see page A4. Festival has handed out a screenweekend, BIFF orplay award for years. ganizers renamed This year, it carried a new name the longtime Best Screenplay honor and a different kind of meaning. the Jeff Evans Screenplay Award,
memorializing The Island News and Lowcountry Weekly publisher Jeff Evans, who died suddenly in 2025. “It made me burst into tears,” said Margaret Evans, his widow
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Jesse Jackson: A voice that rose from Greenville and echoed across America.
Beaufort’s Freeman, Battery Creek duo claim state championships.
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