(Hilton Head) Island Packet week in review
Hilton Head scales back pickleball facility plans
Hilton Head officials have revised plans for a new public pickleball facility after nearby condo residents raised concerns about noise and light pollution. The project will now feature 19 courts instead of 20, with the court closest to Palmetto Bay Villas removed and eight parking spaces eliminated to create a larger buffer zone. The facility will include a clubhouse with restrooms, spectator areas, and office space, connected to existing pathways via a multi-use trail. To address noise concerns, officials plan to install sound attenuation matting on nearby fencing and plant additional vegetation for screening. Low-profile, shielded lighting will minimize light spill. The $1 million project, funded by hospitality tax revenue, is scheduled to begin construction in fiscal year 2027. Currently, Hilton Head has 86 pickleball courts across 17 locations, though many are private or require fees.
Reported by Li Khan, published Dec. 18
Passenger texted ‘emergency landing’ before crash
A passenger on NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s plane sent a text message reading “Emergency landing” to a family member moments before the Cessna 550 jet crashed at Statesville Regional Airport Dec. 18, according to NTSB member Michael Graham. The 44-year-old aircraft departed the airport north of Charlotte around 10:05 a.m. and was airborne for approximately five minutes before attempting to return for unknown reasons. Graham said investigators are confident they know who was piloting but need further verification. The plane was stable on approach but came in too low, striking a runway lighting stanchion 1,800 feet from the threshold before hitting trees, additional lights, and the perimeter fence. Seven people died in the crash, including Biffle, his wife, and their two children. The NTSB has recovered the cockpit voice recorder and various avionics equipment for analysis.
Reported by Joe Marusak, published Dec. 20
Hilton Head father of four dies in traffic accident
A Hilton Head Island bar employee and father of four died in a traffic accident on Dec. 16 when his Subaru struck a tree in the early morning hours. Henry Boynton, 49, leaves behind his partner, Viviana, and their four children. A GoFundMe organized for the family has raised more than $14,000 of its $50,000 goal in four days. The fundraiser describes Boynton as a devoted father who worked tirelessly to provide for his family and give his children the best life possible. Boynton was an employee of Cheap Seats Restaurant Group, which operates bar and grill locations on Hilton Head and Bluffton. The fatal crash occurred the morning after the restaurant group’s employee Christmas party at Club Seats Grille, with the collision site located about a quarter-mile from the bar. This was one of two fatal collisions in Beaufort County within several hours, as a pedestrian was also struck and killed on Lady’s Island shortly after.
Reported by Evan McKenna, published Dec. 22
Hilton Head family faces house fire, restaurant crash
A Hilton Head Island family experienced devastating losses when their vegetarian restaurant delisheeyo and home were severely damaged within eight hours. Around 2:15 a.m. Dec. 21, a vehicle crashed into the restaurant’s front wall, door frame and porch area off Palmetto Bay Road. The driver, a 20-year-old Beaufort man, fled but was arrested hours later, facing charges of driving under the influence and unlawful use of license, according to police. While the Wearrens assessed restaurant damage at 10:45 a.m., fire erupted at their Marshland Road rental property. A bicyclist spotted smoke and alerted authorities. Firefighters battled heavy second-floor flames for hours, controlling the blaze by 11:45 a.m. The home will be a total loss, officials said. A good samaritan rescued the family’s pets. The Wearrens, who welcomed a baby six months ago, received community support and Red Cross assistance. Both incidents remain under investigation.
Reported by Evan McKenna, published Dec. 22
Hospital cited after woman gives birth in parking lot
Federal regulators cited Beaufort Memorial Hospital for policy violations after a woman gave birth unassisted in the parking lot in March. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services found the hospital violated the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act when staff failed to evaluate a woman in active labor. When her partner rushed into the ER saying her water broke and the baby was coming, staff directed them to drive to the Birthing Center without assessing her condition. Due to construction blocking routes, the couple couldn’t find the center. The woman delivered alone in the car while her partner sought help. The report revealed no triage nurse was on duty, violating staffing protocols. Hospital policy requires all childbirth patients be transported by staff to the Birthing Center. The hospital has implemented new training and pledged to maintain a nurse at the ER reception desk at all times.
Reported by Evan McKenna, published Dec. 22
Novant health’s Beaufort medical complex faces scrutiny
Novant Health’s proposal for a 17,000 square-foot medical complex in Beaufort encountered resistance from the Planning Commission this week, as officials raised concerns about traffic, design, and future expansion plans. The North Carolina-based healthcare provider plans to build a 24-hour emergency department with ambulance access and a primary care clinic on 3.61 acres of a 14.4-acre wooded lot at 396 Robert Smalls Parkway. Commission members questioned the architectural design, with one member calling it a “non-starter” that looked like “a square box you could unload from a truck.” The commission unanimously voted to table the project until Novant provides a master plan showing how the initial development will integrate with potential future buildings on the entire property.
Reported by Karl Puckett, published Dec. 19
This story was originally published December 25, 2025 at 4:08 PM with the headline "(Hilton Head) Island Packet week in review."