(Hilton Head) Island Packet week in review

Beaufort County’s $42M forest grant sparks debate

Beaufort County Council narrowly voted 6-5 to delay a decision on a $42 million grant to the Nature Conservancy for 4,950 acres of pristine forest in Bluffton, after Palmetto Bluff residents raised concerns. The funds would come from the county’s voter-approved Green Space Program, with at least $20 million expected in reimbursement from the SC Forestry Commission. Three independent appraisals valued the property above $45 million, according to Green Space Committee chairman Mike McShane. Residents questioned the purchase price, lack of public notice, and potential impacts of public access. McShane called it the county’s single largest legacy project. The vote was postponed to June 22.

Reported by Karl Puckett, published June 9

Beaufort County early voting hits record high in 2026

Early voting in Beaufort County surged dramatically ahead of South Carolina’s 2026 statewide primary, with preliminary figures showing a 109% increase compared to the same election in 2024. Beaufort County voters cast 5,785 early ballots in 2024, compared to 12,091 this cycle, and final totals may climb even higher. Statewide, the South Carolina Election Commission reports early voting broke 2024’s record by nearly 200,000 votes. The county offered four polling locations during the nine-day early voting window.

Reported by Hayden Davis published June 8

Beaufort’s Chocolate Tree set to reopen this fall

The Chocolate Tree, a beloved candy shop at 507 Carteret St. in Beaufort, is set to reopen after closing unexpectedly last year. Founded in 1980 by Pat Green and Bonnie Towle, the shop became famous for its handmade caramel pecan tiger paws, English toffee, almond bark, and chocolate turtles. Pat Green’s son, Tim Green, a chef and chocolatier, is leading the revival after resolving family legal disputes over ownership. Pat Green, now 84, still owns the building. The shop is expected to reopen in the fall, with plans for remodeling, updated equipment, and an online presence. Popular programs like candy-making classes and all-you-can-eat nights will return, but the recipes will stay the same. Notably, the shop supplied chocolate to the 1993 “Forrest Gump” film set.

Reported by Karl Puckett, published June 7

Bluffton residents protest ICE operation and 287(g) pact

About 100 protesters gathered June5 outside Bluffton’s Myrtle Park Government Center, one week after a May 29 ICE operation in which over 15 men were detained and loaded onto a bus. Immigration attorney Aimee Deverall told the crowd the men “were not charged with any crime” and described troubling conditions at detention facilities. Protesters also criticized Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner’s decision to sign a 287(g) agreement with ICE last July, which enabled BCSO deputies to assist in immigration enforcement. Many condemned the use of collateral arrests, a practice that has been challenged in court as racial profiling. Residents say fear has left many in the local Hispanic community afraid to leave home. The Lowcountry Immigration Coalition held an emergency meeting days after the operation to provide legal and counseling resources, which helped spark the quickly organized protest.

Reported by Evan McKenna, published June 6

New judge named to oversee Murdaugh retrial in SC

South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice John Kittredge has appointed Judge Debra McCaslin to oversee the retrial of disbarred attorney Alex Murdaugh, who is accused of killing his wife, Maggie, and son Paul in June 2021. In an unusual twist, McCaslin will preside over the trial of a former law school classmate, as both attended the University of South Carolina School of Law in the early 1990s. Unlike her predecessor, the retired Judge Clifton Newman, McCaslin spent her entire career as a criminal defense attorney. The state Supreme Court unanimously overturned Murdaugh’s 2023 murder conviction, citing unlawful jury influence by former clerk of court Becky Hill and ruling that excessive financial fraud testimony was inflammatory. McCaslin will determine how much, if any, financial fraud evidence is presented at retrial. Murdaugh is currently serving a 27-year state sentence and a 40-year federal sentence for stealing approximately $10 million from clients and his law firm.

Reported by John Monk, published June 8

Hilton Head town employee salaries revealed for 2026

The Town of Hilton Head Island has released salary data for all full-time, part-time, and temporary employees as of April 20, 2026, following a request under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act. Town Manager Marc Orlando tops the list at $236,215 per year, after receiving a 4% raise and $25,000 bonus approved by Town Council in December. Fire Chief Chris Blankenship earns $184,478 annually, while firefighter salaries range from roughly $50,846 to $110,429 depending on rank. Mayor Alan Perry receives $37,375 per year, and council members each earn $23,345, following a 15% raise the council approved in June 2024. The data covers base salaries only and excludes benefits and additional compensation.

Reported by Li Khan, published June 5

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 1:37 PM with the headline "(Hilton Head) Island Packet week in review."