News Briefs

From earlier this week

• Water Festival gives no quarter to economic doldrums -- the show must go on
  The 54th annual Beaufort Water Festival kicks off today, and organizers say despite the economy, they've made no major changes. (full story)
• Savannah River Commission seeks counsel on dredging proposal
  Even though a South Carolina senator is concerned Georgia's plan to dredge deeper in the Savannah River could hinder efforts to build a port in Jasper County, a panel of state leaders voted Thursday not to take an official stance yet on the politically sensitive issue. (full story)
• Main Street Inn & Spa earns Expedia honor
  The Main Street Inn & Spa on Hilton Head Island recently received the Expedia Insider's Select award from the online travel company for the second consecutive year. (full story)
• County building gets $500,000 federal grant to make it greener
  Beaufort County recently was awarded nearly $500,000 in federal stimulus money to pay for environmentally friendly features for the new Disabilities and Special Needs Department building. (full story)
• Meet governor candidates at Democrats' fish fry
  The Beaufort County Democratic Party will hold its annual fish fry from 3 to 6 p.m. July 25 at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort. (full story)
• Students spread their creative wings at Sea Island School summer camp
  Instead of spending their summer vacation lounging by the pool, more than 230 Beaufort County students will spend this week and next studying photography, grammar, psychology and architecture and dozens of other subjects not typically taught in school. (full story)
• Injured boater back home after weeks in Savannah hospital
  A 23-year-old Bluffton woman who was injured after falling from a boat recently returned home after a nearly two-month stay at a Savannah hospital, a relative said Thursday. (full story)
• Estill Beach plagued by break-ins
  Over the past several months, the Estill Beach Circle area of Bluffton has been the target of more than a dozen late-night break-ins, and in some cases, victims have awoken to find a man in their home. (full story)
• Bluffton woman tapped as interim director of state lottery
  COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Education Lottery has hired a Bluffton civic leader who was one of the games' original commissioners to be its interim executive director, an official said Wednesday. (full story)
• Marines eager to move into new chemical warfare training facility
  A stack of shipping containers serves as a makeshift wall separating the classroom and storage space inside the cavernous warehouse that the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Marines call home. (full story)
• County, restaurant owner clash over proposed Sea Trawler changes
  At 6 p.m. Wednesday, tourists and residents were dining at the new Sea Trawler Restaurant at Buckingham Landing along Mackays Creek. (full story)
• Woman charged with neglect after police find her passed out, possibly from huffing
  A 33-year-old Bluffton woman was charged with child neglect after police found her passed out in her home, which was covered with animal droppings, trash and unwashed dishes, according to a police report. (full story)
• Hilton Head Town Council, museum CEO vows to avoid conflicts of interest if elected
  (Editor's note: A factual error in this story was corrected July 9, 2009.) (full story)
• Police gear up for 10-day Water Festival
  Although it is centered in downtown Beaufort, policing the 54rd annual Beaufort Water Festival will be a team effort involving law enforcement officers from other jurisdictions. (full story)
• Hilton Head man punched, bike stolen
  A 51-year-old Hilton Head Island man told Beaufort County deputies July 1 that someone punched him in the eye and stole his Huffy bike, a sheriff's report released Wednesday said. (full story)
• Bluffton man arrested after Louisiana police find 56 pounds of cocaine in his car
  A 28-year-old Bluffton man was arrested Monday in West Monroe, La., after police found 56 pounds of cocaine hidden in a false compartment in his car. (full story)
• Hilton Head to boost stormwater fees; town officials hope it's enough
  A Hilton Head Island committee recommended the town raise its stormwater utility fee by more than $32 for an average-sized home, but some aren't sure that will be enough. (full story)
• USCB hopes to turn Beaufort campus into fine arts hub
  The University of South Carolina Beaufort could offer a new studio art degree by spring 2010 at its Beaufort location, which could help lay the foundation for a full range of arts degrees and a new campus identity centered on fine arts education, Chancellor Jane T. Upshaw told Beaufort City Council members at a Tuesday workshop. (full story)
• School sports ticket prices could rise under proposal from principals, athletic directors
  Ticket prices for middle and high school sporting events likely will increase this fall for the first time in at least five years, (full story)
• The origins of the catchphrase "Bluffton is a state of mind"
  The town of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., just up the road, is paying $100,000 to a firm in Nashville, Tenn. to come up with a town motto (the official term is "branding"). Well, 50 or so years ago, Bluffton writer Edith Inglesby did us a great favor by coining the phrase "Bluffton is a state of mind" in her now-out-of-print book, "Corner of Carolina." Inglesby and her sister Charlotte were spinsters and lived in the cottage Patsy and Frank Hodge now call home. Both of the Inglesby sisters were well-versed in Bluffton lore and were a real treat to be around. I can see some raised eyebrows on those two ladies upon hearing that $100,000 figure being bandied around. I think at the very least the "branding" effort should have gone to a local agency. (full story)
• Sheriff's Office adds a bomb squad; FBI accredits it
  Sheriff P.J. Tanner says Beaufort County residents and visitors shouldn't have to wait in line for help in an emergency. (full story)
• Davis says he'll push for Jasper port as a new member of legislative panel
  State Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, says he will use his appointment to a committee overseeing the S.C. State Ports Authority to push for the development of a port in Jasper County. (full story)
• Town Council finally wraps up agreement for Shelter Cove theater
  After more than two years of negotiations and contentious public hearings, the controversial movie theater proposal for the Mall at Shelter Cove officially is a done deal. (full story)
• Split vote kills request to build Hilton Head boat and RV storage business
  The Hilton Head Island Town Council reversed course on a rezoning request Tuesday after members of the native island community voiced concerns. (full story)
• Man on McTeer Bridge brought down
  A man was seen sitting on the McTeer Bridge around noon today, leading police and fire officials to head to the scene. (full story)
• Teens teach Lady's Island-St. Helena firefighters a thing or two about Spanish
  Typical training for a firefighter means learning to cut open cars or run up flights of stairs with yards of heavy hose line. (full story)
• Rep. Wilson touts fiscal restraint, strong defense at Hilton Head meeting
  U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson said Washington, D.C., needs to be steeped in conservative values during a strategy session and discussion of the country's political climate with a Hilton Head Island Republican lunch group Monday. (full story)
• Commission OKs plan to get emergency workers into gated communities quickly
  New development standards requiring gated communities to install devices that would give ambulances and other emergency vehicles a quick way to open their gates received unanimous approval Monday at a meeting of the Beaufort County Planning Commission. (full story)
• No fireworks on July 4, just some run-of-the-mill calls for police, rescue teams
  It was a tame Fourth of July weekend, with nearly all police and emergency officials citing no major problems or incidents Monday. But there was still some of the usual revelry that ended in arrests and rescues. (full story)
• Convicted felon arrested after shooting his own dog
  A Beaufort man was arrested late Sunday on gun possession charges when Beaufort County Sheriff's deputies were called to his home after he allegedly shot his dog. (full story)
• Hilton Head residents urged to submit rebuilding plans ahead of disaster
  As the Town of Hilton Head Island works to add details to its disaster plans, officials urge islanders to make their own preparations for hurricane season, including applying now to rebuild. (full story)
• Hardeeville among state's fastest growing municipalities
  Hardeeville is one of the fastest growing areas in South Carolina, but city officials say a wave of recent annexations isn't the only driving force behind the boom. (full story)
• Crime Reports: Task force arrests 2 Bluffton men on drug charges
  Two Bluffton men were arrested Friday for drug charges after a months-long investigation by narcotics officers, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office news release issued Monday. (full story)
• Hilton Head MLS goes international in hunt for real estate customers
  The Multiple Listing Service of Hilton Head Island has a new service that will help speakers of foreign languages find property in the area and help local real estate agents connect with colleagues in dozens of countries. (full story)
• Old marina ready for a new look -- and restaurant, says developer
  The Lemon Island Marina is an aging, wooden building with peeling paint on its walls, a rusted tin roof and broken windows. (full story)
• DNR to step up efforts to have abandoned boats removed from waterways
  The S.C. Department of Natural Resources has identified several abandoned boats in local waters, but the agency has no money to remove them. (full story)
• Couple rescued by helicopter after getting stuck
  A Beaufort couple had to be rescued by helicopter Sunday after their personal watercraft ran aground on an oyster bed near Fripp Island, rescuers said. (full story)
• E-mails reveal legislators weigh-in on DHEC decisions
  A downtown amphitheater, clusters of shops and a new hotel appealed to Sen. Robert Ford when he heard about development plans for a blighted part of Charleston. (full story)
• Hilton Head finds buyer for extra fire truck, one more still on the market
  The Town of Hilton Head Island has found a buyer for one of its brand-new fire trucks and hopes to get rid of a second, never-used truck. (full story)
• Marines dole out another contract for new barracks at Parris Island
  A North Carolina contractor is the latest company to reap the rewards of a construction boom at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, as the base rushes to upgrade aging facilities and infrastructure to keep up with the Corps' rapid growth. (full story)
• Hilton Head urges residents to get a jump on rebuilding if there's a storm
  As the Town of Hilton Head Island works to add details to its disaster plans, officials urge islanders to make their own preparations for hurricane season, including applying now to rebuild. (full story)
• DNR left adrift when it comes to paying to remove abandoned boats
  The S.C. Department of Natural Resources has identified several abandoned boats in local waters, but the agency has no money to remove them. (full story)
• Diner appeals to Michiganders' taste in hot dogs
  When Robert McCloskey started dating a chef five years ago, he figured she could help him launch a diner-like restaurant to bring his beloved Michigan-style hot dogs to Hilton Head Island. (full story)
• Hardeeville is state's fastest growing town
  Hardeeville is one of the fastest growing areas in South Carolina, but city officials say a wave of recent annexations isn't the only driving force behind the boom. (full story)
• Travel club sticks to beaches
  The Mermaids Club, a group of women who travel together, meets at beaches up and down the East Coast. This week, Hunting Island State Park. Note the shrimp trawler offshore. (full story)
• Learning by acting
  Students put their lessons to the test with a mini production through the theater camp at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina on Hilton Head Island. (full story)
• Up close and personal
  Gatorland staff visited Honey Horn on Hilton Head Island on Thursday and brought with them an albino alligator. OPEN TO WATCH VIDEO. (full story)
• It's all part of the job
  One of the benefits of being a lifeguard is breaks. Then you can take advantage of what you have to stare at while you're sitting in the sun on 95-degre days. (full story)
• Learning the sailing ropes
  A camp at the Beaufort Yacht and Sailing Club whetted its students appetite for sailing, but a threatening storm kept them from practicing what they learned out on the Beaufort River. (full story)
• Local lawmakers react to Sanford's affair
  News of Gov. Mark Sanford’s extramarital affair shocked elected officials throughout the area, who generally have a personal, if not political, fondness for the governor because of his connection to Beaufort County. (full story)
• Longtime Sanford friend Tom Davis "completely shocked"
  State Sen. Tom Davis learned Gov. Mark Sanford had a year-long, extramarital affair just hours before it was publicly announced Wednesday. (full story)
• Going for a maiden voyage
  The contractor tests the fountain that will be the centerpiece of the renovated Coligny plaza. Construction on the park is expected to be done next month, bringing to an end several months of fenced off areas, confusing walkways and heavy equipment. In the end, the work will open up the view of the beach. (full story)
• Catching the rail
  It was a great weekend to be outside, if one likes it hot. Good thing about skateboarding is that when you're moving, at least there is a breeze. (full story)
• A beachfront kind of day
  People flock to Hunting Island State Park on Monday, trying to beat a heat index that edged toward triple digits. The National Weather Service calls for mostly cloudy skies with a chance of showers and thunderstorms Tuesday, with a high in the upper 80s and a southwest wind of 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain is 40 percent. (full story)
• Summertime, summertime
  The heat has arrived, and for area schoolchildren, so has summer. Beaufort County Schools lets out for the summer Friday, but several students got a jump on it as schools turned to boisterous activities instead of indoor study. (full story)
• Scooter, bikes serve as reward for students
  The local Rotary Club gathered together a new scooter and nine new bikes to reward students for god attendance and reading achievements. (full story)
• Preparing for the summer crush
  Lifeguards at area pools are bracing for the onslaught of summer campers. Beaufort County School District is out for the summer Friday and most private schools already are on summer break. (full story)
• Intermittent showers plague the rain-weary
  Beaufort County racked up another wet weekend and rainy-day Monday. Scattered showers, at times heavy, alternated with partly sunny skies. (full story)
• Where everything is delicious
  The Children’s Theatre is performing "Willy Wonka Jr." this weekend at the Performing Arts Center at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. (full story)
• Young gardeners learn by doing
  Students learn about gardening at the school garden and help feed the soil by adding lunch scraps to the compost pile. (full story)
• Students take to the water to learn about river
  Several area schools have devised programs to put students in kayaks and let them see firsthand the ecosystems that thrive in the many waterways in Beaufort County. (full story)
• Squire Pope road work to tangle up traffic
  Work begins on installing sewer lines along Squire Pope Road in Bluffton. (full story)
• Family's seizure-alert dog euthanized just minutes before call to animal shelter
  Apache, an 11-year-old Australian shepherd seizure-alert dog, knew the command "Go home." (full story)
• Who left open the refrigerator door?
  Forecasters got it wrong Tuesday when they predicted a high in the 70s. It didn't pass 65. (full story)
• Pulling in a ray
  A fisherman casting a line from the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort on Tuesday gets lucky with a small ray. He kept his catch. (full story)
• Snoop Dogg: Sold out show at the Shoreline
  Snoop Dogg and the Hustle Boyz performed Sunday night to a sold out crowd at the Shoreline Ballroom on Hilton Head Island. (full story)