MARCH 5–11, 2026
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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Waterfront Park fence offer still on table Everest Road as seen on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, on St. Helena Island. Judge Carmen Mullen recently ruled that community members be given temporary access to hold funerals and do cleanup at the Big House Cemetery, located just off of Everest Road, following a December 2025 hearing to allow an injunction while their case against the property owners who have blocked access to the cemetery with a locked gate proceeds to trial. Asa Aarons Smith/The Island News
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BEAUFORT “big, beautiful” but temporary chain-link fence proposed by chairman of the Freedman Arts District Dick Stewart just may become a reality … eventually. Stewart, whose 303 Associates own a number of buildings in the downtown area, offered to pay for a replacement fencing along the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park at a meeting of the Waterfront Advisory Committee last month. The proposed fencing would be a visual improvement to the existing fencing installed by the city last June, while advisory committee and city officials decide how to repair the sagging seawall. City Manager Scott Marshall told City Council members last week during their monthly work session that he is collecting information on a proposed alternative. In meantime, Stewart, at that
The gates are open
Judge protects access to Big House Cemetery — but the fight isn't over By Delayna Earley ly granting a temThe Island News porary injunction A Beaufort County judge has sought by memruled that a historic Gullah Geechee MORE ONLINE bers of the Big cemetery on St. Helena Island must Read the full House Cemetery remain accessible for burials and court order and Committee and lawsuit filings at cleanup days while a broader legal YourIslandNews. partially denying it. battle over permanent access plays com. She also refused out in court. to dismiss the case, Judge Carmen T. Mullen issued which was a separate victory for the order Thursday, Feb. 19, partial- the plaintiffs.
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The ruling does not resolve the underlying dispute. But for now, the gates on Everest Road must open. A cemetery older than the Civil War The Big House Cemetery sits between Seaside Road and the Harbor River on St. Helena Island, tucked
SEE GATES PAGE A6
Beaufort Charities Festival set for this weekend Staff reports The Beaufort Charities Festival will bring people together in the name of fun and fundraising at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal this weekend thanks to hot oysters, cold beer and live music. The two-day event, which began as a golf tournament in 1976 and morphed into an oyster roast before adding a second day in recent
years, marks 51 years of dedicated service to the Beaufort County community. All proceeds directly benefit local nonprofit organizations. Over the decades, the organization has consistently adapted to meet the community's needs, expanding its events and initiatives while staying true to its mission of supporting local causes.
The Beaufort Charities has generated more than $2 million in net proceeds, impacting countless lives in Beaufort County. The organization remains committed to its founding principles of transparency and local impact, ensuring that all funds raised stay within the community. Don’t miss the festival they talk about all year long.
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Arionte Mouton from California, enjoys an oyster during the Annual Beaufort Charities Festival on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Live Oaks Park in Port Royal. The two-day festival, which began as a golf tournament in 1976 and morphed into an oyster roast before adding a second day in recent years, will celebrate its 51st year of dedicated service to the Beaufort County community this year. All proceeds directly benefit local nonprofit organizations. Amber Hewitt/FILE/The Island News
EDUCATION
HEALTH
VOICES
INSIDE
TCL begins search for new president; Longtime TCL president Richard Gough announced retirement in October.
Yoga has strong range of benefits for cancer patients.
Scott Graber: “Lessons on courage, character, the Battle of Thermopylae.”
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Marsh madness saturday, Marsh madness
conservation expo & oyster roast
conservation
expo
&
oyster
roast
Live Live music music with with Flatt Flatt City City Bluegrass Bluegrass
saturday,
march 21 march
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