July 20, 2021 • Volume 24, Issue 14 • Complimentary • BlufftonSun.com
INSIDE • 94-year-old tomato grower becomes social media icon 12A • Signs of celebration popping up all over Bluffton 19A • Youth invited to visit PAL center and read to rescues 22A • Hardeeville rec center to open soon 24A • 10 Hot Spots: How to cool off in oppressive summer heat 25A
New decals shorten lines, save tax dollars at convenience centers By Gwyneth J. Saunders CONTRIBUTOR
Beaufort County’s nine free convenience centers have made it easy for county residents to dispose of trash, broken furniture, unwanted goods, and all kinds of recyclable materials. And that’s a problem. It has also made it easy for non-residents and commercial contractors to dispose of their debris, thus tying up access, inconveniencing those who pay taxes for the service, increasing costs to the county, and causing dangerous situations. Those concerns prompted Beaufort County Council to initiate a mandatory decal policy. Chris Ophardt, the
county’s public information officer, said the decal was one suggestion that came out of a report generated in 2019 by A. Goldsmith Resources, LLC (AGR) to evaluate operations at each of the county’s convenience centers, and will become a requirement this fall. “We’ve done a soft roll out, so even if you don’t have a decal you can still use (the centers),” Ophardt said, “but the employees there will inform you that eventually you will have to get one.” Nearly 48,000 residents had signed up for their decal by July 9. Ophardt said the wait time at the centers has
Please see DECALS on page 8A
GWYNETH J. SAUNDERS
Beaufort County employee Warren Ladson monitors entry into the trash portion of the Bluffton Convenience Center.
BPD opens registration for fall edition of Citizens Police Academy The Bluffton Police Department is now accepting applications for the 2021 Citizens Police Academy (CPA). The eight-week, free Academy gives residents a glimpse into the department, the experiences of its officers, the multi-faceted skill sets required of law enforcement and the specialized divisions of BPD. The course
will give participants an overview of the issues, challenges, rewards and experiences of local law enforcement. The academy will cover topics such as: the history of police, traffic enforcement, radar operation, evidence collection, fingerprint recovery, defensive tactics and firearms. “Community relationships are a key tenet
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to successful policing, especially in Bluffton,” Chief Stephenie Price said. “This course is a wonderful opportunity for residents to understand the complexities of law enforcement and for officers to hear directly from the residents whom they serve.” Applicants must be 18 years or older, have a valid driver’s license and agree to a
background check. Seats are limited. Apply online at townofbluffton. sc.gov/261/Citizens-Police-Academy. The deadline for applications is Oct. 4. For more information, contact Lt. Kelly McCauley at kmccauley@townofbluffton. com or Sgt. John DeStasio jdestasio@townofbluffton.com.