News

Bluffton named a new town manager, facemask mandates were rescinded, and three lives were taken after a crash on the Hilton Head bridges. Here’s what made news during the previous month:

“ in the know ”

STEESE

BLUFFTON COUNCIL SELECTS NEW TOWN MANAGER; INTERIM MANAGER RESIGNS

Stephen Steese was picked by Bluffton Town Council as the town’s new manager. In late April, Council unanimously selected Steese, who is the Easley city administrator.

A news release said council held an “an all-day executive session” in which council members planned to interview four final candidates. The town planned to release the names of the final three candidates but decided to select Steese at the end of executive session.

As Easley’s administrator, he supervised a staff of 170 full-time employees with a budget of approximately $19 million, according to the news release. He begins his new post for Bluffton June 14.

Scott Marshall, who had been interim manager since Jan. 13, resigned. Town council accepted his resignation at the May 11 regular meeting. His last day is June 4.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND FACEMASK ORDINANCE EXPIRES

The Hilton Head Island ordinance requiring people to wear a face covering inside commercial buildings to limit the spread of COVID-19 expired after Town Council

COPLEY

voted not to extend it. Town Council encouraged the public to continue taking preventative measures to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. The ordinance was set to end May 16 but ended immediately May 12 after Gov. Henry McMaster’s order restricting local mask mandates.

“We want to thank our residents, businesses and visitors for complying with our mask mandate and other precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said Mayor John McCann.

Face masks are optional in public schools after the state’s Department of Education released new COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Beaufort County’s school district said it will follow the guidelines, which give parents and guardians the option to decide whether their children should wear a mask inside school buildings.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND AIRPORT FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR NAMED DISTRICT HONOREE

Charles “Chuck” Copley of Hilton Head Island was recently recognized as the District Honoree for 2020 General Aviation Flight Instructor of the Year at the South Carolina Aviation Association Conference. Copley is also a recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award.

A flight instructor for more than 50 years, Copley was nominated by a flight examiner who observed how well qualified his students were. As a recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award, Copley is recognized for his 50 years of piloting experience with a perfect safety record.

THREE KILLED AFTER CRASH ON HILTON HEAD BRIDGES

An early-morning crash on May 1 in the Lowcountry killed three people. A pickup and a sedan crashed on the westbound Hilton Head bridges, sending the truck into the water, according to the Associated Press. Three Jasper County residents, Tyler Cameron Carroll, 23, of Ridgeland; Jonathan Green, 27, of Hardeeville; and Jordan Amari Johnson, 21, of Ridgeland died at the scene. The crash happened at 2:15 a.m.

LOWCOUNTRY SCHOOLS WIN STATE TITLES

The Lowcountry is home to title-winning teams. Hilton Head Christian Academy recently won SCISA Class AA state boys golf and girls soccer titles. The golf team defeated Palmetto Christian on the Hackler

HILTON HEAD PREP BOYS TENNIS TEAM