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Beaufort County’s school district named its teacher of the year, Hilton Head Island earned another top recognition, and a prestigious golf tournament announced its plans for next year. Here’s what made news during the past month:
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WHITESELL
Aimee Whitesell, who teaches biology at Battery Creek High School, was named as the Beaufort County School District’s 2021-2022 District Teacher of the Year. Whitesell holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the American College of Education and a bachelor’s degree in natural science and biology education from Missouri Western State University. Whitesell serves as the Student Lighthouse Coordinator for Battery Creek High, a Leader in Me Lighthouse School. The four other finalists for 2021-2022 District Teacher of the Year were Oana Bejan at Hilton Head Island High School; Ann Buckley at Hilton Head Island Middle School; Christopher Crabb at Mossy Oaks Elementary School; and Lynne Sunday at H.E. McCracken Middle School.
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD PERMITTING AND DESIGN STUDIO
HILTON HEAD ISLAND NAMED NO. 1 ISLAND IN THE U.S.
Condé Nast Traveler said Hilton Head Island was chosen as the No. 1 island in the U.S. for the fifth consecutive year in its 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. More than 800,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted responses rating their travel experiences. Montage Palmetto Bluff was named the No. 1 Resort in the South. Palmetto Dunes Ocean Front Resort (No. 14), Omni Hilton Head Oceanfront Resort (No. 15), and The Inn & Club at Harbour Town (No. 19) were also named to that list. The Savannah/ Hilton Head International Airport was named the top airport in the U.S. for the second year in a row.
TOWN OF HILTON HEAD NAMES LAKE AT IN HONOR OF PUBLIC PROJECTS DIRECTOR
The Town of Hilton Head Island dedicated the lake at Jarvis Creek Park, now named Lake Liggett, in honor of Scott Liggett, its former director of public projects and facilities. He died in February. Town staff, along with Liggett’s former coworkers, family and friends, gathered on the bank of Lake Liggett to unveil a sculpture, “Swell of the Sea,” in recognition of his contributions to the island. Liggett served the town for 30 years. He began his career with the town as an assistant engineer, was promoted to town engineer and then became its Director of Public Projects and Facilities.
ALEX MURDAUGH FACES CHARGES RELATED TO MISSING FUNDS
Prominent former Lowcountry attorney Alex Murdaugh was charged with two felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses, related to the insurance funds in the death of a former family housekeeper, according to S.C. Law Enforcement Division. He was taken into
HILTON HEAD HIGH SWIM TEAM
custody after being released from a drug rehabilitation facility in Orlando, Fla., according to SLED. The case will be prosecuted by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Murdaugh was denied bond. In September, Murdaugh resigned from the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick PA law firm after being accused of misappropriating funds.
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE
The Town of Hilton Head Island launched its Historic Neighborhoods Permitting and Design Studio, which is designed to assist property and business owners with property development permits; family compounds and family subdivisions; conceptual site designs; addressing; property access; business licenses and other resources. Historic neighborhoods include Squire Pope, Little Stoney, Big Stoney, Jarvis, Jonesville, Old House Creek, Spanish Wells, Gardner, Chaplin, Marshland, Grassland, Big Hill, Mitchelville and Baygall. For more information, contact Sheryse DuBose, PhD, at 843-341-4683 or at SheryseD@hiltonheadislandsc.gov
LOWCOUNTRY SCHOOLS SWIM TO SUCCESS
Hilton Head, Bluffton and May River high schools swam well at the SCHSL Class AAAA boys state championships. Blaise Minckler had two runner-up finishes to help Hilton Head High place fourth. Bluffton took seventh. May River was 12th. Minckler finished second in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Hilton Head was third in the 400 free relay and fourth in the 200 free relay. Bluffton was fourth in the 200 medley relay and fifth in the 200 free relay. Dominic Edl of Bluffton was fourth in the 100 breaststroke and Carter Hawkes was fifth in the 500 free and the 100 fly. May River’s Jacob Lally was fourth in the 50 free and the 100 free.
