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News
A prominent Lowcountry attorney was involved in a shooting, a building was named for a Bluffton health advocate, and the community mourned the loss of a beloved middle school teacher. Here’s what made news during the previous month:
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BLUFFTON BREEZE
BLUFFTON RENAMES BUILDING FOR LONGTIME HEALTH ADVOCATE
The Town of Bluffton renamed its Watershed Management Building the Jennie Kitty Municipal Building. Kitty worked at the former Bluffton Health Clinic, which is now the Town’s Watershed Management Building. For three decades, Kitty advocated for health initiatives throughout Bluffton’s African American community and the Lowcountry, a news release said. Kitty was born in Port Royal and died this March. She was 90 years old.
LOWCOUNTRY ATTORNEY INVOLVED IN SHOOTING
Alex Murdaugh, a well-known Lowcountry attorney who reported that his wife and youngest son were shot and killed in Colleton County in June, was shot Sept. 4 on a road in Hampton County, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Murdaugh was treated for a wound to his head. Murdaugh later resigned from the Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick PA law firm after being accused of misappropriating funds, according to Bluffton Today. His license was suspended by the S.C. Supreme Court. SLED opened an investigation into the allegations that Murdaugh misappropriated funds. On Sept. 14, SLED arrested a suspect in connection with the shooting of Murdaugh. A news release said a Colleton County man, Curtis Smith, was charged with assisted suicide. The affidavit said the suspect was directed by Murdaugh to shoot him. Murdaugh admitted to giving Smith a firearm and told him to kill him so his life insurance policy would be paid out (valued at $10 million) to his other son, according to SLED. Murdaugh was arrested Sept. 16 and charged with insurance fraud, conspiracy to commit insurance fraud, and filing a false police report.
PICKLEBALL COURTS
PALMETTO BREEZE TRANSIT LAUNCHES “BLUFFTON BREEZE” TRANSIT SERVICE
The Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority, operators of Palmetto Breeze Transit and The Breeze Trolley, has launched a year-round fixed-route transit service with the launch of the new Bluffton Breeze. Bluffton Breeze will operate Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., serving much of the Bluffton and Buckwalter Parkway thoroughfares. The service is free through the end of 2021, with a $1 per-trip fare beginning in January 2022. The Bluffton Breeze features more than 50 published bus stops, including wheelchair lift-equipped buses, airconditioning, and two mobile apps to track buses and pre-pay.
FINALISTS NAMED FOR BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The Beaufort County School District named five finalists for the 2021-22 teacher of
the year award. The finalists are Oana Bejan, special education teacher at Hilton Head Island High School; Ann Buckley, special education teacher at Hilton Head Island Middle School; Christopher Crabb, dance teacher at Mossy Oaks Elementary School; Lynne Sunday, media specialist at H.E. McCracken Middle School; and Aimee Whitesell, biology teacher at Battery Creek High School. The District Teacher of the Year will be announced this fall. Megan DeWeese is the current teacher of the year.
The Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra announced its 2021-2022 40th Anniversary Season, which will include nine Orchestra Series programs, two outdoor Pops concerts to launch the season, two Symphony Under The Stars concerts, and the 25th Hilton Head International Piano Competition. The season represents the 10th anniversary of John Morris Russell as music director. The season kicks off with two free outdoor Pops concerts. The first is Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Martin Family Park in Bluffton. On Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m., the HHSO will perform at Lowcountry Celebration Park at Coligny. For more information, visit hhso.org, or call the HHSO at 843-842-2055.
COUNTY DEBUTS PUBLIC PICKLEBALL COURTS
New public pickleball courts are ready for play. The Sea Islands Pickleball Club hosted an event to mark the opening of the county’s newest public pickleball courts at Southside Park and Port Royal’s Shell Point. Beaufort County has added six outdoor pickleball courts in Beaufort, Bluffton, and Port Royal’s Shell Point. Beaufort County Parks and Recreation spent $75,000 to repair the courts, with each location now having one tennis court and two pickleball courts, a news release said.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND WOMAN INJURED IN ALLIGATOR INCIDENT
A Hilton Head Island woman was bitten by an eight-foot alligator in Hilton Head Plantation, according to the Town of Hilton Head. The woman was transported to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah. A news release said the woman was walking her dog around the lagoon near Rookery Way when the incident occurred. The dog was not harmed. According to Fire Rescue, a witness found the woman in the water with an alligator latched on to her lower legs. The witness’s husband helped pull the woman to safety.
FIRE ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND BURNS BUILDING
Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue responded to a structure fire at a seven-unit residential building on Caesar Place in Allenwood. An occupant was home at the time of the fire and was able to evacuate, along with their pets. There were no injuries reported. Four engine companies, the truck company, one medic unit, the Battalion Chief and additional Staff Officers responded to the fire.
USCB AWARDED GRANT TO INCREASE STUDY ABROAD IN FRANCE
USCB was selected for the French Embassy of the United States’ 2021 Transatlantic Mobility Program, which aims to double the number of students from France and the United States studying abroad in each country by 2025. The program awarded a $10,000 grant to support USCB students in French educational experiences. Next summer 15 USCB students will study in France for four weeks. The school invites sponsors to provide additional grants for
