WWW.FOCHOSPICE.ORG
February 22nd & 23rd, 2019
10th Annual
at The Port of Port Royal
Friday, Feb. 22 WING THROW DOWN 6-10 pm Saturday, Feb. 23 11-4 pm
E N T E R TA I N M E N T B Y: Brendan Roberts • Winston Ramble • Night Train
General admission passes are available online and at the gate. The sampling of wings Friday night and BBQ Saturday will be available by purchasing tickets for $1.
FEBRUARY 7 - 13, 2019 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Port Royal to consider request for digital billboard at foot of Broad River bridge By Lisa Allen Adams Outdoor Advertising is trying to resurrect a billboard they once had at the foot of the Broad River bridge, but this one will be digital. In its request of Port Royal Town Council to amend a planned unit development (PUD), the billboard company says it had a 288-square-foot billboard on the northeast corner of S.C. 170 and S.C. 802 from the mid-1970s until 2015 and argues that precedent entitles the company to reclaim that parcel for a new billboard. “With this text change…Adams Outdoor Advertising, the
prospective buyer, would be able to reinstate the message display on the Broad River parcel in the same general area and to a similar size and height as the once long-time existing message display stood,” Adams wrote in its application. Town officials said that just because there once was a billboard at that location, it does not entitle them to build a new one. “The fact that they had a billboard there that they voluntarily took down does not mean they can put another one up,” said Town Manager
Van Willis. Adams agreed to take down the sign in 2015 under the PUD that includes the PARC at Broad River apartments. “Since the town no longer allows billboards, and it is not an available use for the property in the PUD currently, this is the avenue (Adams) has chosen to make the request,” Willis said. Adams also wants to cut in half the 50-foot setback so the sign would be more visible. Adams said it wants to buy 3.6 acres next to the apartments and build an office there, but no building plans
have been submitted to the town, said Linda Bridges, planning director for Port Royal. The company has submitted only the request to build the digital billboard, she said. Calls to Adams’ representatives were not returned. Port Royal has banned new billboards since 2000. Those along Ribaut Road and other locations were grandfathered in. The City of Beaufort and Beaufort County adopted similar billboard bans at the same time, Willis said. Jasper County allows billboards, and dozens line the west side of
U.S. 170 en route to Bluffton. The Metropolitan Planning Commission was unanimous when it declined to recommend Adams’ billboard amendment at its Oct. 15 meeting. Commissioner Judy Alling a Port Royal resident, spoke out against the amendment. She said a lighted sign could distract drivers. The town is not obligated to follow the planning commission’s recommendation. The Port Royal Town Council will hold a public hearing on the request at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Town Hall.
Big crowd turns out for annual Chilly Bean Run
N Some of the 440 runners taking part in the sixth annual Chilly Bean Run on Saturday. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
Red, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever sets the pace for his Two-year-old Anna Greg checks to see if there are any human, Sarah Lancaster of Beaufort, during the sixth annual more cornhole bags after her game with Sanders O’Neal on Chilly Bean Run on Saturday at Coosaw Point on Lady’s Island. Saturday following the sixth annual Chilly Bean Run.
NOW SERVING ST. HELENA
REWARDING BEAUFORT’S BEST
Boys & Girls Club opens St. Helena location.
Heritage Classic Foundation hands out scholarships.
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early 450 runners laced up and participated in the sixth annual Chilly Bean Run on Saturday, Feb. 2, at Coosaw Point on Lady’s Island. John Duberley of Bluffton was the men’s champion in the 5K with a time of 16 minutes, 32 seconds. Ridgeland’s Rachel Bowling, who recently set a Guinness World Record for a female runner pushing a double stroller in a 10K, won the women’s 5K in 20:30 — while pushing her two daughters. Bluffton’s Yorlliry Moreno won the men’s 10K in 37:07, while Kristen McHale of Lady’s Island was the women’s 10K winner with a time of 50:41. The annual event is a fundraiser for Beaufort Academy.
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Remains identified as missing teen Human remains recovered on Jan. 22 in Bamberg County have been identified as 18-yearold Malik Spencer, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday. Spencer was reported missing by family members after he was last seen leaving his home in Lobeco on Dec. 18. On December 21, Spencer’s vehicle was found abandoned near a rural residential area on St. Helena Island. Following the discovery of his vehicle, the Sheriff's Office conducted an extensive search of that area, but did not find Spencer. The vehicle was processed for forensic evidence and items were submitted to the Sheriff's Office Forensic Services Laboratory for analysis. Also submitted for DNA analysis were personal items of Spencer’s obtained through his family. His DNA profile was developed and uploaded to the DNA database. On Jan. 22, linemen discovered human remains in the brush off of Highway 78 in Bamberg County. Bamberg County Sheriff's deputies and personnel from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) processed the scene for forensic evidence and the unidentified remains were sent to Newberry for autopsy. Through autopsy, forensic pathologists determined that the remains were that of an adult male who had died as a result of gunshot wounds. Pathologists concluded that the manner of the unidentified man's death was homicide. Items recovered during the man's autopsy were subjected to DNA analysis at the SLED forensic laboratory. When the man's DNA profile was entered into the DNA database, it matched Specner’s DNA profile. Following the match reported by SLED, confirmatory DNA analysis was performed at the Sheriff's Office Forensic Services Laboratory. After review, Sheriff's Office DNA analysts confirmed the results. As this may involve multiple jurisdictions in South Carolina, there is now a joint investigation into Spencer's disappearance and death being conducted by the Sheriff's Office and SLED. Law enforcement is asking for information from the public to help identify those responsible. Anyone with information is urged to call investigator Brian Abell at 843-2553436 or Crimestoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111 if wishing to remain anonymous and for possible reward.