IILOCAL NEWSII
“in the know ” Bluffton voters went to the polls for a town election, redistricting information sessions are scheduled, and Lowcountry schools earned state championships. Here’s what made news during the past month:
RODRIGUEZ
INCUMBENTS WIN BLUFFTON ELECTIONS; COUNTY REFERENDUMS VOTED DOWN Fred Hamilton and Larry Toomer were re-elected to Bluffton Town Council on Nov. 2. Toomer received 2,122 votes (43.5%). Hamilton received 1,611 (33%). Challenger Nathan Ferrell received 1,106 votes (22.7%). Hamilton has been a member of Town Council since 2005. Toomer has been a council member since 2013. The two Beaufort County referendums on the ballot did not pass. A Local Option Sales Tax was opposed by 72.5% of voters. And a referendum to change the county’s form of government from council-administrator to council-manager was voted down by 79.7% of voters. The county’s voter turnout was 14.2%.
SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT EARNS HIGH EVALUATION Superintendent Frank Rodriguez was given a “highly effective” rating (3.72/4) from the Beaufort County School District. The school board said Rodriguez’s evaluation improved from last year. “Hard work, effective leadership, flexibility and innovation” 22 // H I LT O N H E A D M O N T H LY. C O M
MAY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL GOLF TEAM
from Rodriguez during the 2020-21 school year guided the district, board chairman Christina Gwozdz said in a statement. Rodriguez has been superintendent since 2019.
TOWN OF BLUFFTON EARNS GRANT FOR NEW RIVERSIDE BARN PARK PROJECT The town of Bluffton received a $500,000 grant to go toward the New Riverside Barn Park project. The grant, from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, is for the creation and development of New Riverside Barn Park. The first phase of the project will have large open space, perimeter trails, parking, restrooms, and infrastructure to support the park, such as fencing and sewer, water and storm drainage.
HERITAGE CLASSIC FOUNDATION SCHOLAR APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE Applications for the 2022 Heritage Classic Foundation Scholar Awards are available online for all Beaufort and Jasper County high school seniors. The Heritage Classic Foundation will name new scholars from the 2022 graduating class.
Each scholar can receive a four-year grant totaling up to $16,000 or $20,000. Since the program was instituted in 1993, 353 graduating seniors have been named Heritage Scholars. Applications can be found at heritageclassicfoundation. com. All applications must be completed by Jan. 15, 2022. The 2022 scholars will be recognized at the 54th annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing, April 11-17, 2022.
LOWCOUNTRY TEAMS EARN STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS With a final-round team score of 315, May River High School won the SCHSL Class AAAA Girls Golf State championship, the team’s second consecutive state crown. Hilton Head High finished second. Bluffton placed eighth. May River’s Kylie Bowes (147) finished second for the individual title. Hilton Head’s Alexia Milbrandt (151) was fourth. May River’s Robbin Zetrouer (156) and Claire Green (162) tied for sixth and 10th. In swimming, Hilton Head Christian Academy’s boys took third in the SCISA state Class AA/A championships. Jack
