1347 Ribaut Road • Port Royal, SC • www.PortRoyalAce.com
SEPTEMBER 26–OCTOBER 2, 2024
WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
Plans for former bowling alley announced
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BEAUFORT ell, at least we know now what’s going in the former Ribaut Road bowling alley. The city Planning Commission last week approved plans for a multi-use building to accommodate, yes, more storage units. But also, office spaces and even several residential apartments. The building at 1140 Ribaut Road has been empty for the past three years and the cause of much speculation by passing motorists. Dr. Skeet Burris and his son, Andy, for the past year worked with the city planning staff to develop the property into 28 rental office spaces with a common area and storage units to the rear of the building. The second floor will provide living area for a property manager plus two rental living spaces. The approval comes as the Port Royal Town Council is taking measures to restrict the number of self-storage facilities being built within their town limits. The council earlier this month, at the urging of citizens, agreed to change the T4 zoning ordinance to prohibit any more self-storage businesses. Citizens voiced concerns, during public hearings on the matter, the town was becoming “the storage unit capital of the Lowcountry.” It may be fall but hurricane season still with us BEAUFORT – Sunday marked not only the start of autumn but it was also the 35th anniversary of Hurricane Hugo striking the coast of South Carolina. So far, the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has been a quiet one, at least for Lowcountry residents. But even as this column is being written, there’s another storm out there, moving slowly towards the Gulf of Mexico with a possible
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Remembering Ari’Anna
Teen’s life to be celebrated Saturday as 2 men arrested in her murder By Delayna Earley The Island News After previously attending Whale Branch Early College High School, 17-year-old Ari’Anna Mulligan had just begun her senior year of high school at Bridges Preparatory School. She was excited for the school year at a new school, but particu-
larly for her senior prom. Unfortunately, Mulligan never made it to her senior prom. Her life was cut short in a senseless shooting outside of an apartment complex in Burton on Sunday, Sept. 15. More gun violence in an area that already sees way too much gun violence.
Bittersweet news In what will have to pass for good news, two men have been arrested and charged in the shooting death of Mulligan. Jeremiah Warren, 18, of Beaufort, was arrested on Monday, Sept. 23, while Rashod Lorenzo
SEE LIFE PAGE A6
Port Royal’s holding annual OktoPRfest on Saturday By Delayna Earley The Island News OktoPRfest is back in Port Royal this weekend. The annual event, hosted by The Old Village Association, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Paris Avenue in Port Royal. This year’s event invites visitors to “party Port Royal style” with food by local chefs and restaurants, food trucks offering German-inspired
dishes such as brats and pretzels, American food favorites and a “wide selection of craft, imported and domestic beers,” according to the event’s Facebook page. Attendees can enjoy life musical performances and entertainment, a craft market and a family fun kids’ zone – running from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – where children will get the opportunity to meet Lollipop the Clown. This year’s event is special, according to the event’s page, as
they will be celebrating the town’s 150th birthday. There will be a “special surprise honoring the Town’s 150th birthday” during the event’s opening ceremony. Admission to the event is free, and pets are not allowed. Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.
NEWS
SPORTS
MILITARY
INSIDE
Community gets 1st look at documentary about local students’ fight for books.
Sweet 16: Eagles extend win streak vs. Dolphins.
Beaufort native serves aboard Navy warship in Norfolk.
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