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Lady’s Island landfill odors result in lawsuit Class action suit alleges ‘malodorous emissions’ interfered with residents’ home lives
AN ODOROUS TIMELINE By Delayna Earley The Island News See page A8 for a timeline of odor complaints, DES A class action lawsuit filed inspections, enforcement Jan. 27 alleges that recurring actions and regulatory sulfur-like odors linked to the responses. Barnwell Resources construction-and-demolition landfill on enjoyment of their homes for more Lady’s Island have unreasonably than a year. interfered with residents’ use and The lawsuit, filed in Beaufort
A community member stands outside Coosa Elementary holding signs just before the SCDES community meeting about the Lady’s Island landfill odor on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2026, at Coosa Elementary. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
County Court of Common Pleas, names Coastal Waste & Recycling Inc. as the defendant and seeks damages and injunctive relief on behalf of nearby homeowners who say the odors have persisted despite regulatory oversight and
SEE ODORS PAGE A8
BEAUFORT BLANKETED IN WHITE
LOLITA HUCKABY
Annual PIT Count reminder of those with essential needs
S
BEAUFORT o what were you doing last week on Wednesday night, Jan. 28? A team of volunteers working under the direction of Ben Boswell and Catrina Hanna of the Beaufort County Human Services Department were scouring the community looking for homeless, or “unsheltered” individuals. It was part of the national Pointin-Time count, from which the federal government draws data to fund grants to help communities help those in need of housing. The count for last week’s effort is still unknown, but the estimate is believed to be around 100. But those who did the counting know the reality is much higher. The community warming center at Sea Island Presbyterian Church attracted an average of 30 people
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A4
A snowy view of the Woods Memorial Bridge looking toward Lady’s Island from Beaufort’s Stephen Elliott Park after the snow on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. The Beaufort area got a rare snow for the second year in a row Saturday evening into early Sunday morning. Amber Hewitt/The Island News
3 Lowcountry men arrested in sexual exploitation of minors investigation
By Delayna Earley The Island News Three Lowcountry men have been arrested in separate but related investigations involving the alleged sexual exploitation of minors, according to information released by state and local authorities. Christopher Scott Hershberger, 67, of Beaufort, was arrested Jan.
27 and charged with five counts of sexual exploitation of a minor in the second degree and five counts in the third degree, Hershberger all felony offenses under South Carolina law. Brandon Scott Baker, 38, of St. Helena Island, was also arrested
Jan. 27. He faces one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts in the third degree. Baker Authorities have confirmed Baker previously worked at Sea Island Sprouts, a local daycare in Port Royal.
In a message sent to families this week, Sea Island Sprouts administrators acknowledged law enforcement Pease activity on the school’s campus on Jan. 27 related
SEE ARRESTS PAGE A6
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Palmetto Animal League hosting 2nd Annual Meow Mixer.
Justin Jarrett: “Brown building something special at Creek.”
Your guide to the most hearthealthy diet.
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