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A jury ruled in favor of Bluffton’s mayor in a lawsuit, a new Lowcountry football coach was hired, and the Town of Hilton Head Island launched a new app. Here’s what made news during the previous month:
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ISLANDERS BEACH PARK
$50 MILLION AWARDED TO BLUFFTON MAYOR IN DEFAMATION SUIT
Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka won a defamation lawsuit against local government critic Skip Hoagland. She was awarded $50 million in damages. A jury ruled that Sulka would receive $40 million in actual damages and $10 million in punitive damages from Hoagland. Sulka’s libel lawsuit filed in 2017 noted emails that Sulka said Hoagland accused her of being unfit for office, according to Bluffton Today.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT PASSENGER NUMBERS SURPASS PRE-PANDEMIC HIGHS OF 2019
Hilton Head Island Airport saw more than 388,816 passengers in 2021. Compared to year-end passenger traffic for 2020, that is a 145% increase in passengers arriving and departing from Hilton Head Island, the Beaufort County Government said. Compared to prepandemic passenger levels in 2019, 66% more passengers utilized Hilton Head Island.
HERITAGE CLASSIC FOUNDATION INCREASES MATCHING DOLLARS FOR CHARITABLE GIVING PROGRAMS
The Heritage Classic Foundation will increase matching gifts to 15% for its two charitable giving programs (Birdies for Charity and The Heritage Champions Fore Charity) ahead of the 2022 RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing’s registered charities also can be honored by the PGA Tour each year. The Mitchelville Preservation Project was recently named a 2021 Charity of the Year finalist. The award comes with a $5,000 grant from the PGA Tour. The 54th annual RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing is April 11-17.
PAVILION AT ISLANDERS BEACH PARK
Islanders Beach Park at 94 Folly Field Road is getting a new pavilion that will give visitors with disabilities and others with special needs a chance to enjoy views of the beach, the Town of Hilton Head said. The town has contracted with Nix Construction Company to build a handicap-accessible covered overlook pavilion adjacent to the existing beach boardwalk. The pavilion will feature a wide entry path for wheelchair access and benches for seating.
