SPORTS: Beaufort Academy opens first season of 11-man football at home Friday. PAGE A6
AUGUST 27–SEPTEMBER 2, 2020 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Governor urges county zoning board to reject Bay Point project Local groups react, while state legislators call into question county’s use of unelected third party in code
LOLITA HUCKABY
HOW to vote almost as controversial as WHO to vote for
The last large public forum on the Bay Point resort project before the pandemic was held in October at the St. Helena Branch Library. The project could be taken up at the next zoning board meeting, Sept. 24, but whether that meeting will occur remains to be seen. Officials have said they would prefer hearings on Bay Point be held in person. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
By Mindy Lucas The opposition to building an ecotourism resort on a barrier island in Beaufort County has received a big boost from South Carolina’s chief executive officer. In a two-page letter dated Aug. 18 and addressed to Zoning Board Vice
Chairman Kevin Mack, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said the project would Online Extra have a “detrimental To read S.C. Gov. Henry impact on the state’s McMaster’s resources and the letter as well taxpayers of Beau- as Sen. Chip Campsen and fort County.” Rep. Shannon “South Carolina’s Erickson’s mountains, beach- letter, visit es, sea island and yourislandnews. com marshes are among the most beautiful in the nation,
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BEAUFORT n case you’ve somehow missed it, in roughly eight weeks, American voters are supposed to cast a ballot for a variety of political offices, from the White House to county coroner. Unless you happen to live “off the grid” you may be bombarded by mailings, post cards, yard signs and telephone calls asking for your support. But maybe more important is HOW you’re going to vote. We have options … we can go to our polling places on Nov. 3 and take our chances with the VIRUS … or we can send in an application for an absentee ballot, get it, fill it out and stick it back in the mail. If you’re older than 65, infirm, or going to be away from your home precinct on Election Day, you can vote by going to the election offices in Bluffton or in Beaufort on John Galt road near Lowe’s. The state Legislature opened the regulations for voting in the election offices during the Spring GOP primary. Anyone could cast a vote up to a month early. And a lot of folks are hoping that provision will be available again. The Legislators are going back into session in September to take another look at the state budget AND consider a request from the Election Commission to open up early voting. The Commission has pointed out absentee voting in the statewide spring primaries increased to 191,000 when the restrictions were lessened. They estimate, using the same ratio of increases, 1.6 million absentee votes could be cast this during the general election, meaning those voters wouldn’t have to stand in lines on Election Day. The Commission has also asked the Legislature to approve drop boxes for returning absentee ballots as an alternative to the Post Office. The Commission is NOT asking the Legislature to approve a blanket mailing of absentee ballot requests or for extra time to count the
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The messages were clear – both sides want good policing and bad cops held accountable. A Back the Blue and 1st Responders rally was held at Ribaut Rd. and Boundary St. while Unified Beaufort rally was held at the same time and place. Both events remained peaceful and incident free despite some minor heckling. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
Rallying for the causes Multiple rallies take place Saturday in Beaufort
From staff reports A lot of people were taking advantage of their First Amendment rights Saturday in Beaufort. There were no less than four public protests or rallies in the city, highlighted by the Back the Blue and 1st Responders and Unified Beaufort rallies held at the same time and place. The Back the Blue and 1st Responders rally, according to organizers, was a “non-political rally to honor our men and wom-
en who put their lives on the line to keep our community safe.” Beaufort County Councilman Mike Covert spoke at the rally, while community members showed their appreciation for our law enforcement officers and first responders by waving flags and signs. "I have your back as an elected official and a private citizen,” Covert said. “I appreciate everything (first responders) do and
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A handful of concerned parents and students held up signs in silent protest Saturday along Ribaut Road and Bay Street opposing Beaufort County School Superintendent Frank Rodriguez's decision the hold virtual classes to start the school year. Some parents say their voices were either not heard or ignored. The protest continued a protest that began Friday.
McMaster wants to re-open nursing homes to visitors From staff reports If you have not been able to visit a relative or loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Henry McMaster is trying to make it easier to resume visitation. McMaster on Friday asked, via letter to Chairman Mark Elam, that the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), “promptly issue up-to-date visitation
guidelines providINSIDE ing all direction Entire USC and information Beaufort deemed necessary women’s to resume – or soccer team require resumpforced to tion if necessary quarantine, Page A6. – in-person visitation with residents in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.” “Restricting visitation to our state’s nursing homes and assisted
living facilities in March was a heartbreaking necessity,” the governor wrote. “It was the most effective way to contain the spread of COVID-19 and to save the lives of our state’s elderly and at-risk residents.” “We are committed to protecting the physical, mental and emotional health of our elderly and at-risk people – and their loved ones,” the governor continued. “Although no
THE NUMBERS From S.C. DHEC Totals As of Monday, Aug. 24 S.C. confirmed cases: 111,202 S.C. probable cases: 1,379 S.C. confirmed deaths: 2,387 S.C. probable deaths: 124 Beaufort County cases: 4,554 Beaufort County deaths: 62 See more totals and last week’s numbers on A5.
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Teacher, BC alumni receive State Citizenship Award.
Holy Trinity finalizes purchase of school building, adjacent property.
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