POSTAL PATRON LOCAL
JULY 14–20, 2022
WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Sheriff’s Office attorney takes on prosecution of DUI, other cases Daniel F. Gourley II, general counsel for the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, discusses the county's decision to take over the prosecution of magistrate court cases during a press conference Monday in Beaufort. Photo by Tony Kukulich.
By Tony Kukulich Beaufort County Council has stopped funding a pilot program that transferred nearly $200,000 a year to the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office for the prosecution of driving under the influence (DUI) cases in the county. The general counsel for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Daniel F. Gourley II, will now prosecute DUI cases and any other criminal charges brought by the Sheriff’s Office that are tried in Beaufort County
Magistrate Court. “Starting today, July 11, all of those DUI cases and all magistrate court cases have been dumped in Daniel’s lap,” said Beaufort County Sheriff P. J. Tanner. South Carolina is one of only three states in which law enforcement officers are required to serve as both the prosecutor and witness in low-level criminal and traffic-offense prosecutions tried in magistrate court. In many instances, particularly in DUI cases, officers with little legal train-
ing square off against trained and experienced defense attorneys. “We’re one of three states that has that practice, and it’s a bad practice,” said 14th Circuit Solicitor Duffie Stone. “This is an issue throughout South Carolina.” During the June 13 county council meeting, District 10 Councilmember Larry McElynn, explained that the pilot program, which was started in 2020, was intended to provide a solicitor to prosecute DUI cases, thus removing that responsibility from
law enforcement. The county paid $187,000 a year for three years and produced results that were ultimately unsatisfactory to the council. "I was informed in early May that there are 340 DUI cases that have not been prosecuted in Beaufort County alone,” McElynn said. “Some are going as far back as 2019. When called to ask about progress in early June, I was told that 10 cases had
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66th Water Festival opens Friday A developer’s plan to cut down two landmark live oaks in Port Royal on a lot on the north side of 12th Street between Madrid and Paris avenues is drawing opposition. Photo by Tony Kukulich.
Oaks on the block Plans to chop down landmark trees in Port Royal draws swift public reaction
By Tony Kukulich A developer’s plan to cut down two landmark live oaks in downtown Port Royal has the town council stuck between a proverbial rock and hard place. Public sentiment strongly opposes the request to destroy the trees, while
government policy precludes the council from playing a role in the decision to deny or approve the developer’s request. The town does have a tree ordinance ostensibly to protect landmark and specimen trees. But there are concerns
that ambiguity in the language of the ordinance could complicate the decision-making process. Beaufort-based CHS Coastal Homes and Sunrooms (CHS) is developing
By Mike McCombs The opening ceremony for the 66th Beaufort Water Festival is Friday night, and if the rain stays away, this year’s festival will be wide open. But the rain is a wild card. There is a 60 percent chance of precipitation through the opening weekend. But as anyone who lives in Beaufort knows, it could be wet every day and INSIDE clear out at Complete schedule night. Or we th for the 66 annual might not see Beaufort Water Festival, Page A7 rain at all. While the Opening Ceremony is Friday night, the Festival actually gets under way at 2 p.m., when the Festival Arts & Craft Market opens in the Promenade at the Downtown Marina.
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SEE FESTIVAL PAGE A2
Officials investigate alligator harassment on Fripp Island
By Tony Kukulich An incident of alligator harassment, which appeared to end with the animal getting thrown by the tail, is now under investigation by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). Photos and a link to a nearly four-minute video of the incident appeared in a post on the Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort Facebook page Friday morning, July 8. In the post, Fripp Island Security asked for the public’s help identifying the people involved in the harassment.
“SCDNR is aware of the photos and video that appear to show a group of people harassing an alligator,” said SCDVIDEO NR spokesperThe complete video son Stephen of the incident can Fastenau. “We be seen at https:// bit.ly/3yZ3iLv. are in touch with Fripp Island security and monitoring the situation for additional information. It is against state law to feed, harm, harass or molest alligators.” The incident reportedly took place Tuesday, July 5 at 11:46 p.m. on Boni-
to Road near Ocean Creek Drive. It is not clear who took the video that has since been widely circulated. While the quality of the video is low, one man is initially seen apparently trying to grab the small alligator as others can be heard laughing off camera. The first man is soon joined by a second and a third as they surround the animal as it attempts to escape. Eventually, up to seven people are seen, and several
SEE ALLIGATOR PAGE A5
Several men can be seen harassing a young alligator in stills taken from a video shot on the night of Tuesday, July 5 on Bonito Road near Ocean Creek Drive on Fripp Island. Photo via Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort’s Facebook page.
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INSIDE
MCAS Beaufort opens new F-35B hangar.
DragonBoat Race Day 2022 a huge success.
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