NEWS: Group defends injunction request in Seismic testing suit. PAGE A3
APRIL 4 - 10, 2019 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
BRUSH FIRES PLAGUE BURTON
It took firefighters from Burton and MCAS Beaufort more than 90 minutes and 3,500 gallons of water to extinguish a brush fire that spread to a large shed and endangered a nearby home March 24 on Simmons Family Road. The Burton Fire District has been hit hard by brush fires this spring. There were 16 brush fires in the district in the month of March, up from nine a year ago, a 78 percent increase. Almost half of the fires have occurred in the Gray’s Hill and Seabrook areas of Beaufort County. Five times this month, properties have been damaged due to these fires, and several more were threatened as Burton firefighters arrived in time to stop the spreading fire. But Burton fire officials say if this trend continues, it’s only a matter of time before someone loses their home. Just before 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 29, Burton firefighters responded to what was initially reported as a house fire in Gray’s Hill. Firefighters arrived on scene to a spreading brush fire caused by unattended fire burning inside a brick fire pit.
A brush fire just missed seriously damaging a mobile home March 24 on Capehart Circle.
An unattended fire in a fire pit burned through a fence and into the wooded area behind a Gray’s Hill home on Friday, March 29. The brush fire was the 16th in the month of March for the Burton Fire District. The fire began to spread out of the pit and into the backyard of the residence, burning through the fence, and into the wooded area behind the home. In all, about a quarter of an acre was involved, and more than 1,500 gallons of water was needed to extinguish the fire.
The previous Saturday, Burton and MCAS Beaufort firefighters extinguished a brush fire that spread to a large shed and endangered a nearby home on Simmons Family Road. The fire started when the resident was burning leaves and went inside believing
he had extinguished the fire. It took four fire crews more than 90 minutes and 3,500 gallons of water to extinguish the shed fire, trash fire and ensuing brush fire. The nearby residence was not damaged. The next day, firefighters were dispatched to a house fire on Capehart Circle just after 4:30 p.m. They arrived on scene to find a brush fire that had extended to a mobile home but were able to extinguish it before flames got inside. Damages were limited to
the skirting of the mobile home. The fire was caused by an improperly discarded cigarette. Burton fire officials warn residents living in unincorporated areas of Beaufort County to directly monitor or fully extinguish their yard debris fires as mandated by county ordinances. Residents in unincorporated areas of Beaufort County are also required by state law to call the S.C. Forestry Commission at 1-800895-7062 before burning yard debris.
Zonta to fund dogs for female veterans The Zonta Club of Beaufort, member of Zonta International which is celebrating its centennial this year, is raising money to sponsor a service dog for a female Marine veteran through K9s for Warriors, an organization which specializes in working with veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and military sexual trauma. With Zonta being a women's service organization, this was the deciding factor in selecting this group over others. The normal waiting time for a dog is 18 months. There are two female Marines on the list are scheduled to attend the training and receive their dogs in the fall. The K9s For Warriors training program is an intensive, full-immersion, three-
K9s For Warriors provides veterans with a highly skilled service canine, a rescued dog with six months specialized training. week training course. Each veteran receives a highly
skilled service canine (a rescued dog with six months specialized training), individual and group instruction, certification, equipment, educational seminars, veterinary care, meals, transportation and housing. The sponsorship cost is $20,000. Zontians feel that with the wonderful relationship between Beaufort and our military this project is perfect and very doable. They are asking for the community's endorsement and support. Donations will filter through Zonta Club of Beaufort so that it can benchmark its progress, but checks should be made out to K9s For Warriors, as it is a 501(c) (3) organization and donations are tax deductible. Please mail donations to Zonta Club of Beaufort, P.O. Box 2234, Beaufort, SC 29901.
ANIMAL SERVICES HAS NEW HOME
The normal waiting time for a dog is 18 months through K9s For Warriors.
EAGLES STILL IN 1ST
County celebrates opening of new animal campus.
Eagles sweep Bobcats, maintain Region 7-4A lead.
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Weather delays Santa Maria
If you made plans to get a good look at the Santa Maria this week in Beaufort, you can thank Mother Nature for dashing your plans. Rough weather off the Atlantic coast has delayed the ship’s arrival by a week out of concerns for the safety of the crew and ship. As a result, the replica of Christopher Columbus’ ship will now be docked in downtown Beaufort from Saturday until Monday, April 14, giving interested patrons two weekends to board the floating museum. The Spanish Foundation agreed to alter its schedule to ensure a port of call in Beaufort. The challenges for the ship and its crew are not unlike what early explorers faced in their efforts to navigate and sail the coast of La Florida in the 16th century. After a diversion to Cape Canaveral this week due to serious storms off the coast after leaving Key West, the Santa María’s attempt to reach Beaufort was met with volatile winds. After an attempt to sail the replica of the 500-year-old vessel against these conditions, the ship sustained damage and the safety of the crew was at stake. Therefore, the Captain returned to Cape Canaveral for safe docking and ship repair. The original Santa María, the flagship of Columbus, was shipwrecked in 1492 in the Caribbean. The ship will sail through the St. Helena Sound, pass through the historic Woods Memorial swing bridge and dock at the downtown Beaufort sea wall. If you purchased a ticket online, you can use that ticket any day to take a tour. Follow the Santa Elena Foundation for any updates at www.santa-elena.org.
Expect more of The Sound of Freedom
Along with oysters, legendary author Pat Conroy and the smell of pluff mud, one of the things Beaufort is known for is “The Sound of Freedom,” the familiar sound of fighters from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort streaking overhead. Expect to hear more of that sound in the coming months. Last week, MCAS Beaufort told local residents to expect an increase in air operations. The increase is expected to last from 10 months to a year. There are three key factors are attributing to the increase. First, all five F/8-18 squadrons are home on the base and operating normally. This is the legacy fighter jet platform the Marine Corps has operated since the early 1980s. Second, there is a general increase in the training of and production of F-35B pilots, who are trained at MCAS Beaufort. And third, the main runway that most people see while passing MCAS on Highway 21 will be closing for repairs. This will shift jet traffic to the secondary runway, which runs perpendicular to the main runway. Jets departing and approaching that runway fly over the Pigeon Point neighborhood in the City of Beaufort. No date has been set yet for the runway switch.