Christian Academy's Luke Sirgo celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of the SCISAA class 2-A title championship game against Northwood Academy Friday night in Orangeburg.

Christian Academy's Ethan Gort tackles Northwood Academy's #14 during the first quarter of the SCISAA class 2-A title championship game Friday night in Orangeburg.

The Hilton Head Christian Academy Eagles celebrate after winning the SCISAA Class 2-A state title Friday night against Northwood Academy in Orangeburg.

BOB SOFALY ¥ The Beaufort Gazette Cpl. Chad Seronka, left, of the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office talks with a woman near the the scene of a double homicide Sunday night in Dale.
BOB SOFALY ¥ The Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet

11/13/09 Jay Karr/The Island Packet--Private home inspector Tony Kunich marks a spot where two trusses have not been properly attached to each other with a red ribbon while inspecting a home under construction in Sun City on Friday.
Jay Karr/The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette

11/15/09 Jay Karr/The Island Packet--Russell Anderson, left, and Seth Morgan of Captain Woody's Bar and Grill keep the steaming oysters coming during the Hilton Head Oyster Roast on Sunday at Shelter Cove Community Park. Some 250 bushels of the tasty bivalves were cooked and consumed at the weekend-long festival put on by the Island Recreation Center to raise money for its high school scholarship program.
Jay Karr/The Island Packet

BOB SOFALY ¥ The Beaufort Gazette Members of the Chamber Orchestra, bottom, play with the combined voices from the Chancel Choir of White Bluff United Methodist Church, Covenant Choir of The Baptist Church of Beaufort and the LowCountry Children's Chorus of Beaufort to perform "In His Own Words," a collection of religious music written by Heidi and Dan Goeller of Sioux Falls, S.D. The music was part of the Community Choral Service, held Sunday afternoon at The Baptist Church of Beaufort.
BOB SOFALY ¥ The Beaufort Gazette

Pat Noll waves an American flag at the start of a rally sponsored by the Tea Party Express Nationwide Tour at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in Beaufort on Tuesday afternoon. It was the the 35th stop on the Tea Party tour that started Oct. 25 in San Diego. The next stop is Jacksonville, Fla. The purpose of the Tea Party Express is to express opposition to out-of-control government spending and high taxes, according to a news release from the organization.
JONATHAN DYER | The Beaufort Gazette

Robert Waldrop, a World War II veteran, was selected by Beaufort County to lead its Veterans Day Parade/ Waldrop is a former POW and Purple Heart recipient who lives on Dataw Island. He enlisted in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Ceremonies today will be held in the Charles Lind Brown Activity Center. The parade was rained out.
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A group of Marines bring out a birthday cake to celebrate the Corps' 234th birthday at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island on Tuesday. The pageant included a historical film, band concert, as well as the traditional cake-cutting ceremony.
JONATHAN DYER | The Beaufort Gazette

Dave Short is welcomed to Hilton Head Island by former boss Dan Brown and his wife Betsy after biking across the southern United States starting in San Diego in September. "It was just under 3,000 miles I think," said Short of his 36-day trip that ended at Coligny Beach Park on Monday afternoon.

Naomi Rose, 6, is surrounded by her classmates at M.C. Riley after receiving a bike from Holiday Inn Express general manager Dustin Gibson on Monday afternoon. Naomi and another student both won a bike after their names were drawn from a pool of students with outstanding attendance. The Building Incentives for Kids Education program created by the hotel's parent company, Stafford Development, allows them to give away two bikes every quarter.

Chief Hospital Corpsman David Strickland answers questions from a group of Robert Smalls Middle School students Monday afternoon. The question and answer session was part of the Robert Smalls Middle School Veterans Day Celebration which also included a presentation from local Marines who have recently served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
JONATHAN DYER | The Beaufort Gazette

Beaufort High School students fill the hallway near the spot of the new alumni hall of fame, which be used to teach students about the history of Beaufort High School and show off its successful graduates. The hall will show how three segregated high schools in the county came together to form Beaufort High.
JONATHAN DYER | The Beaufort Gazette

Ron Taylor carries an armload of flags in Six Oaks Cemetery while decorating veterans' graves on Friday morning in honor of Veterans Day. Taylor was one of several members of the Military Officers Association of America who came out to place a flag at the gravesite of each of the 300 veterans buried in the cemetery.
JAY KARR | The Island Packet

Hilton Head High's Victor Frazier runs the ball during the third quarter of the game against Socastee Friday night.

Hilton Head High's Lawrence Jenkins is tackled by Socastee's (#67) during the third quarter of the game Friday night.

Hilton Head High's Austin Rakes takes down Socastees' (#34) during the second quarter of the game Friday night.

Christian Academy's Devin McGuinness puts a stop to Calhoun Academy's (#9) during the first quarter of the game Friday night.

Christian Academy's Luke Sirgo tries to dodge Calhoun Academy's defense during the first quarter of the game Friday night.

Christian Academy's Ethan Gort scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against Calhoun Academy Friday night.

11/06/09- Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- Beaufort High's Maliek Maldonado prepares to tackle Goose Creeks's #23 in the first quarter of Friday night's game.

11/06/09- Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- Beaufort High's Beau Brown fights for extra yards in the first quarter of Friday night's game.

11/06/09- Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- Beaufort High's Josh McPherson attempts to break a tackle during the second quarter of Friday night's game.

Karen Walker, right, vice principal at Lady's Island Middle School, monitors the progress of the earthquake drill at the school Wednesday morning. Here the students make a single file against the wall as they leave they building during the fire drill, part of the state-wide earthquake drill.

Rich Zaino and Debbie Triger compete in the 1,600-meter race walk during the Beaufort County Senior Games' track and field competition held on Wednesday morning on the Bluffton High School track.

Competitors in the Beaufort County Senior Games track and field competition start into the 1,600-meter race walk on Wednesday morning on the Bluffton High School track.

Angela Peterson makes sure all her fifth-grade students are under their desks and covered up during the earthquake drill Wednesday at Lady's Island Middle School.

Students in Angela Peterson's fifth-grade social studies class move their books out of the way so they can "duck and cover" during earthquake drill Wednesday morning at Lady's Island Middle School.

Students in Angela Peterson's fifth-grade social studies class "duck and cover" during an earthquake drill Wednesday morning at Lady's Island Middle School.

After being alerted over the school address system of an earthquake, students at Lady's Island Middle School "duck and cover" to avoid injury from falling debris Wednesday morning during a state-wide earthquake drill. Here, fifth-grade students in Angela Peterson's class calmly make their way under their desks during the drill.

Cordes Marshall, right, a student teacher at Lady's Island Middle School, continues her fifth-grade social studies class while her students wait for the earthquake drill to begin Wednesday morning at the school.

Bluffton High's Ella Wyman makes a save during the Class 3-A Lower State Championship match against Camden Wednesday night in Bluffton.

Bluffton High School's volleyball team celebrates after winning the Class 3-A Lower State Championship against Camden Wednesday night in Bluffton.

Author and Lowcountry resident Pat Conroy, left, signs his latest book, “South of Broad,” and shares a joke with Shirley Smith, right, Saturday at the Beaufort Book Store.

The Columbia Avenue home of Ron Riley in Port Royal is transformed into a ghoulish land of monsters and witches. Here a mechanical witch greets all who dare to enter as an eerie, ground-hugging fog appears out of no where.

This unidentified monster crouches in the fog as trick-or-treaters come into the yard of Ron Riley's Columbia Avenue home Saturday night in Port Royal. He then walks out of the fog toward unsuspecting guests to scare them. Though it works well on older children, the monster remains still when younger children approach.

Abbi Hartberger, 9, grimaces as she fills balloons with helium Saturday behind the Shelter Cove Mall during the annual Halloween celebration.

Ralph Smith of Kingsport, Tenn., admires a 1935 Rolls Royce Phantom II during the annual Concours d' Elegance and Motoring Festival on Saturday at Honey Horn.

10/30/09- Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson speaks to a small crowd gathered in front of the Rhett Gallery in downtown Beaufort about the latest developments in the health care debate in Washington Friday afternoon.

A ghost warns guests of the Exchange Club of Beaufort's 17th Annual Beaufort Ghost Tour of frightening times ahead on Friday evening. The tours took guests through the historic area of Beaufort. Along the way, participants heard stories from current and previous home owners about their haunted houses or businesses or other "creepy, true" stories.

First Baptist's Harrison Greer tries to get past Hilton Head Prep's Dimitri Lowry during the first quarter of the game Friday afternoon.

Hilton Head Prep's Matt Bex pulls away from First Baptist's Gregory Gillam during the first quarter of the game Friday afternoon.

Hilton Head Prep's DeAnte Scott maneuvers past First Baptist's defense for a touchdown during the first quarter of the game Friday afternoon.

Hilton Head High's Clifford Morrow intercepts a pass meant for Bluffton High's Alfonza Powell during the second quarter of the game Friday night.

Bluffton High's Alfonza Powell tries to maneuver around Hilton Head High's Victor Frazier during the second quarter of the game Friday night.

Hilton Head High's Michael Fotia runs the ball for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against Bluffton Friday night.

Hilton Head Prep freshman and dolphin mascot Tucker Apy receives a raffle ticket from Robin Orford during Prep's "Pink-Out" game against First Baptist Friday afternoon. Orford was there with the Hilton Head Prep booster club giving away raffle tickets for prize packages while accepting donations for the Lowcountry affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Ghouls and goblins lead a group through Hilton Head Island High School's haunted hallway Thursday night. The ghoulish experience will run from 5 to 7 p.m. tonightFridaynight with $3 tickets supporting the school's yearbook. Anyone brave enough can find the entrance through the doors adjacent to the school’s stadium and faculty parking lot.

A murderous Carrie, played by Hilton Head High senior Madison Edwards, awaits victims at the Hilton Head Island High School haunted hallway Thursday night. The ghoulish experience will run from 5 to 7pm Friday night. The $3 tickets support the school's yearbook. Anyone brave enough can find the entrance through the doors adjacent to the school's stadium and faculty parking lot.

10/30/09- Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- DaMarian Johnson(L) and Kylique Burton check out their new bikes during a pep rally at St. Helena Elementary School Friday afternoon. The two students were randomly selected for following the schoolÕs rules set forth by Assistant Principal Marvelle Ulmer, ÒBe respectful. Be responsible. Be ready.Ó

10/29/09- Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- A group of children wait in line to collect some treats during the annual Trick-or-Treat in Downtown Beaufort event, presented by Main Street Beaufort, USA, and the merchants of downtown Beaufort.

10/30/09- Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette-Becky Baldwin gets the tour started with a story of a haunting along Bay Street during the Exchange Club of Beaufort's 17th Annual Beaufort Ghost Tour Friday evening. The tours took the guest through the Historic area of Beaufort and along the way, people in the tour heard stories from current and previous home owners about their haunted houses or businesses or other "creepy, true" stories.

Hollowed Live Oaks wait in a truck parked near Dubois Park after being cleared by Allcare Tree Surgery Wednesday morning in Bluffton.

Bluffton High's Sammie Buchanan shown here Wednesday evening at the Pinecrest Golf Club in Bluffton.

In June, Michael Mark, poses in front of the mural his family commissioned Ralph W. Waldrop of Columbia to paint in 1992 on the side of their Carteret Street building. The painted, plywood characters were removed because they were in poor condition.

Susan Tappeiner looks on as the victim testifies during her trial at the Beaufort County Courthouse in October. In the foreground is defense attorney Mike Macloskie.
JONATHAN DYER | The Beaufort Gazette

10/28/09 Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- Beaufort High's #1 seed hits a forehand in the first set of her match Wednesday afternoon.

10/28/09 Jonathan Dyer/The Beaufort Gazette- Beaufort High's #2 seed returns a serve in the first set of her match Wednesday afternoon.

From left to right, Matthew Oliver, Ethan Gilly, and Paula Madrid work on making African "udu" drums out of gourds at Beaufort Elementary School Wednesday morning. These students were part of a group of artistically gifted and talented students participating in advanced arts classes this week while many of their classmates are on fall break.

Valerie Young, Kevin Jerome Williams’ common law wife, describes how Williams grabbed her by the hair during an argument the night of the shooting.

Kevin Jerome Williams looks on as the prosecution talks to a witness during the first day of his trail at the Beaufort County Courthouse Wednesday afternoon.

An employee with Allcare Tree Surgery prepares to belay down from a Live OaK near Dubois Park after removing its branches.

Lisa Larionova, 10, works on a mannequin of Michael Jackson during DaVinci Days at the Hilton Head School for the Creative Arts Wednesday morning. The week long workshop is part of a series of classes for grades 3-8 who were identified by the school district as artistically gifted. Students creating the paper mache sculptures were asked to use symbolism to depict their famous person.