Earlier Editorials

Property owners deserve notification on spraying

No property owner should have to find out after the fact that a chemical strong enough to kill hardwoods has been sprayed on his or her land. (full story)

Habitat for Humanity tells a story

Beaufort County has an affordable-housing problem, but it's an issue that has stirred a lot more study than action. (full story)

Sanford should resign for good of the state

Gov. Mark Sanford has discredited himself and can no longer effectively lead South Carolina. He should resign. (full story)

Nesting season signals lights out along beach

It's loggerhead sea turtle nesting season, and people who live or vacation along the beach have an important role in this ancient process. (full story)

Note to public officials: Open is always better

Too often, people make things needlessly complicated. (full story)

Aim for fewer, smaller docks

A number of red flags are raised in the application for a 521-foot dock in Capers Creek at Fripp Island. Its size is a major problem. Besides its length, which is almost as long as two football fields, its covered pierhead and floating dock would total about 750 square feet, well more than the state limit of 600 square feet. And to get an idea of how generous state regulations are, the state will allow docks up to 1,000 feet in length, which is absurd. Location also is a problem. This dock would be placed in a creek that neighbors say is so small it can¹t be navigated at low tide. Fripp Island residents who oppose the dock say it will impede navigation through a nearby canal. The state Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management needs to pay close attention to this issue. Furthermore, the proposed dock would be close to an existing community dock, and about a mile from the Fripp Island Marina. For about a decade, Beaufort County has tried to slow the proliferation of docks. We believe that the will of the community, and the sensitivity of the waterways that form the backbone of the economy, demand that regulators guide the public toward smaller and fewer docks. (full story)

It takes more than police to keep communities safe

Crucial elements of a community's safety are the common sense of its law enforcement agencies and the bravery of its citizenry. Both were on display in Beaufort on Tuesday during a high-speed chase that ended with a suspect in custody and no one in the hospital. (full story)

We all pay a big price for bad shoreline policy

Beachfront development policy ultimately comes down to this: We can pay now or we can pay much, much more later. (full story)

Other Voices