News briefs

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THE LOWCOUNTRY WAS SPARED THE WORST FROM HURRICANE IAN, BLUFFTON MOVES FORWARD WITH AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN, AND THE NEXT STEP IN THE U.S. 278 PROJECT WAS DECIDED. HERE’S WHAT MADE NEWS DURING THE PAST MONTH:

STEWART

HILTON HEAD ISLAND EDUCATOR NAMED 2022-23 DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR

LaVerne Stewart, who teaches English Language Arts at Hilton Head Island Middle School, was named Beaufort County’s 2022-2023 District Teacher of the Year. Stewart has 22 years of teaching experience. The four other finalists were Kinsey Butler at Bluffton Middle School; Justine Hardy at Battery Creek High School; Karri Kearns at May River High School; and Jennifer Lyles at Coosa Elementary School. Stewart’s mother, Vernell Speaks-Stewart, was also a seventh-grade ELA educator in Beaufort County.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, BEAUFORT COUNTY COME TO AGREEMENT ON U.S. 278 CORRIDOR PROJECT

Hilton Head Island Town Council agreed to work with Beaufort County to advance the William Hilton Parkway Corridor Project, including hiring an independent consultant to conduct end-to-end analysis and simulation of the proposed corridor improvements, a news release said. In a 4-3 vote, Town Council passed a resolution authorizing the town to participate in a revised Memorandum of Agreement with Beaufort County that lays out the path forward for the project. A six-person committee of town and county representatives will select an independent consultant to perform a review. For more information, visit hiltonheadislandsc.gov/ us278corridor.

BEAUFORT, JASPER COUNTIES ESTABLISH REGIONAL HOUSING TRUST FUND

Municipalities in Beaufort and Jasper counties have created a regional housing consortium and have pledged $3.4 million to kick start the initiative. A Housing Trust Fund is established to support the production and preservation of affordable housing for the area’s teachers, law enforcement, first responders, cooks, and other service industry jobs. The goals include creating new housing units or rehabilitating or preserving existing housing units; helping households maintain financial by reducing money they must spend on housing and transportation; increase awareness of existing and new financial products that serve the BeaufortJasper community.

ORDINANCE KEEPS DOGS LEASH-FREE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND BEACHES

An updated ordinance that Hilton Head Island Town Council passed will allow dogs to be on island beaches without a leash during designated times. The ordinance aligns with an animal control ordinance Beaufort County adopted with an exception to let the dogs run freely along the shore. The times when dogs are allowed on the

beach: October through March: Anytime on leash or under voice control; April through Thursday before Memorial Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on leash; 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. on leash or under voice control; Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. not allowed on the beach; 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. on leash or under voice control; Tuesday after Labor Day through September: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on leash; 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. on leash or under voice control.

HURRICANE IAN HAS MINIMAL IMPACT ON LOWCOUNTRY

The effects of Hurricane Ian were felt in the Lowcountry, but it did not directly hit the area, and there were no major impact, according to officials. Town of Hilton Head said Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue responded to six downed trees with no injuries or significant damage. Sustained winds of 38 miles per hour and gusts of 52 miles per hour were recorded on Hilton Head Island. Beaufort County saw about 1.5 inches of rain. The storm strengthened (Category 1) as it reached the Charleston area, bringing about eight inches of rain.

BLUFFTON PARTNERS WITH A PRIVATE DEVELOPER TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEIGHBORHOOD

A 1.78-acre site at May River Road is the new designated spot for more affordable homes thanks to a new publicprivate partnership between the town of Bluffton and developer Workforce State of Mind LLC. The homes will be affordable and reserved for those who are incomequalified, regardless of market values, for 30 years, a news release said. Bill Herbkersman, managing member of Workforce State of Mind, says while the need is immediate, the project is currently in the design stage.

BLUFFTON PLANS CHRISTMAS PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING

The Town of Bluffton plans to host its 51st annual Bluffton Christmas Parade through Bluffton’s Historic District, Dec. 3 at 10 a.m. The tree lighting ceremony begins at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Martin Family Park, followed by Santa’s Workshop at DuBois Park’s Pavilion. The movie, “The

LEASH LAW

Grinch,” will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Martin Family Park. The Town asks parade entrants to give a donation to the Bluffton Lutzie 43 Charitable Fund, in lieu of a parade entry fee. The deadline for parade applications is Nov. 11.

For the new parade rules, visit townofbluffton.sc.gov. or email tobchristmasparade@townofbluffton.com

BLUFFTON POOL REOPENS AFTER $900K IN REPAIRS

Renovations and a DHEC inspection on the Bluffton Pool on Pritchard Street were completed, which led to its re-opening in mid-October. The repairs cost $900,000, which included replacing the roof panels and structural roof clips that hold the roof to the structural beams. An anti-corrosive paint was added along with replacing the lighting over the pool. The pool had been closed since earlier this year after an initial inspection showed damage that “created a high probability that the roof structure would fail in the event of high winds or heavy rainfall,” a news release said.

ELECTIONS SET FOR NOV. 8

Lowcountry voters will head to the polls on Nov. 8. Hilton Head Island voters will choose a new mayor and there are council races. There are also Beaufort County school board and council races. For a sample ballot specific to your district, visit scvotes.org and click “Get My Sample Ballot.”

LOWCOUNTRY FIREFIGHTER HONORED

Brian Mixson, a former fighter in Jasper County, was honored by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Mixson, 32, suffered a stroke while on duty on March 5, 2021. He was transported to a local hospital and died 12 days later. Mixson served as a firefighter and EMT in Jasper County for more than 14 years. He was one of 148 firefighters recognized at an event in October.

SCHOOL SHOOTING HOAX

The Lowcountry and parts of the state were unnerved Oct. 5 by a number of fake reports of active shooters at schools. The Beaufort Police Department received a phone call at 9:27 a.m. reporting there was an active shooter at Beaufort High School. Officials said the call was a hoax, but before it was determined, police officers and sheriff’s deputies swarmed the school to make sure it was safe. About 40 officers were inside the school at one point, a news release said. The false alarm was one of 22 received by schools in South Carolina that day, Sheriff P.J. Tanner said.