NEWS: Like the weather, local political races getting warmer. PAGE A3
JULY 30–AUGUST 5, 2020 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Mask ordinances, education programs going well
By Mindy Lucas Beaufort’s City Manager Bill Prokop thinks the city’s month-old mask ordinance has had a positive effect. More residents and visitors are wearing face coverings when out in public places, he said, something he and area health officials had hoped would happen as city leaders looked for ways to combat the steadily increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases in Beaufort.
“We hate to tell people what to wear or not wear, but (wearing a mask) is the right thing to do,” he said. “So, we appreciate people following the rules.” As of July 23, the city had issued 123 verbal warnings to individuals who were not in compliance with the ordinance. City officials have been urging voluntary compliance since the mandate passed July 1 but have said repeat offenders would be fined after an initial
warning. So far, the approach seems to be working since the city has yet to issue any $50 citations. “Again, our goal is education and not giving fines for not wearing a mask,” Prokop said. What’s more, from July 16 to July 23, the city had only issued 17 warnings – further indication that the public seems to be coming around to the idea of protecting others by wearing a mask, or at least complying with the ordinance which requires adults
to wear face coverings when in a public place. The ordinance does not apply to children. Prokop said it has also helped that many of the big box stores or retailers such as Lowes, Publix and Walmart have since announced policies requiring customers to wear masks inside stores. Still, a few businesses had to be informed of the ordinance, Prokop said.
SEE MASKS PAGE A6
COVID-19 patients keeping ICU busy By Mike McCombs As of 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, there were 32 COVID-19 positive patients at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, according to hospital spokesperson Courtney McDermott. Eight of the 10 beds occupied in the 12-bed Intensive Care Unit were COVID-19 positive, and six of those were on ventilators. As many as 10 patients were on ventilators over the weekend, McDermott said. McDermott did not confirm any staffing issues in the ICU. Last week, Beaufort Memorial tested 264 symptomatic patients, 184 in the ER. Forty-seven of those were admitted. “Testing is a little bit of a pain point right now,” McDermott said, “given the volume of people we are testing and the allocation of testing supplies.” McDermott said some of the hospitals tests were being sent to the state lab, while the rest were going to MUSC in Charleston.
Judy Teas stands at the edge of her backyard in the Mossy Oaks neighborhood in Beaufort. Behind her, a small pond-like area connects to Battery Creek via a drain pipe beneath the Spanish Moss Trail. Teas and her neighbors regularly get water in their yards after a King Tide, heavy downpour or other rain event. Photo by Mindy Lucas
Help finally on the way Mossy Oaks residents excited drainage project has begun, hopeful work will solve flooding issues
By Mindy Lucas Ask Mossy Oaks resident Chris Nietert how she feels about the construction trucks and the surveyors and the digging equipment spotted in her neighborhood over the last week or so, and you’ll get an interesting answer. “Jubilant,” said Nietert recently from her home on West Royal Oaks Drive. Nietert’s neighbor, Judy Teas, had a similar response. “I’m as excited as can be,” she said. Like many in the flood-prone neighborhood east of Battery
Eve Weaver gets her 2nd grade classroom at Robert Smalls International Academy ready for the upcoming school year. Weaver said there is lot of cleaning and organizing to do so she can be ready for whichever instruction format is decided upon. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
WINNER NO. 1
Creek, Nietert and Teas have been waiting for this day to arrive. Work recently kicked off on phase one of the Mossy Oaks drainage project – a massive, multimillion dollar, multijurisdictional effort designed to alleviate some of the area’s decades old flooding issues. Residents have endured flooded homes, yards and garages, have sustained property damage and have experienced countless headaches and frustration over what many, including experts on a task force formed to solve the problem, have said is due in
large part to an aging or, in some cases, misaligned drainage system in dire need of repairs and maintenance. And over the years it has gotten worse. Rising sea levels, king tides and major rain events, not to mention hurricanes, have exacerbated the problem. Other issues adding to the mix have included homes built on slabs, and ditches found overgrown with vegetation or filled with debris. In 2019, city work crews cleared out and graded the Jane Way canal which had been used
No hospitalization data There has still been very little hospitalization data
SEE ICU PAGE A6
for years as a dumping ground. Two dumpsters full of trash, yard debris, construction waste and old tires were hauled away.
THE NUMBERS Totals As of Monday, July 27 S.C. confirmed cases: 82,071 S.C. probable cases: 346 S.C. confirmed deaths: 1,452 S.C. probable deaths: 54 Beaufort County cases: 3,094 Beaufort County deaths: 36* *Total from Beaufort Co. Coroner’s Office, not DHEC
Living on the front lines In Nietert and Teas’ area, known as Basin One, water trying to find its way in or out of a drainage pipe beneath the Spanish Moss Trail, often winds up in their backyards. “Whatever is going to come down that way has got to get out Basin One – out of that hole right there,” Nietert said recently from
See more totals and last week’s numbers on A6.
SEE DRAINAGE PAGE A6
WHATEVER MAY COME
Like many teachers, Robert Smalls’ Weaver preparing for the unknown
By Bob Sofaly As the beginning of the school year draws near amid the COVID-19 pandemic and parents and the Beaufort County School District must decide between in-person instruction
or virtual learning or something in between, like many teachers, Eve Weaver, a 2nd grade teacher at Robert Smalls International Academy, is busy making sure she is ready for whatever may come. “I’m getting ready for virtual, hybrid or in-person learning,” Weaver said Thursday, July 23 in her classroom as she cleaned and organized her resources. Hybrid learning is a combination
PUPPY LOVE
INSIDE
BMH nursing assistant Beaufort Inn’s 1st Carolina Healthcare Hero.
Alliance of Therapy Dog teams spread cheer by conducting a Therapy Dog Parade.
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of virtual learning for a couple days a week and being in the classroom for the remainder of the week. Weaver said if all her students are at home watching her on video, she’ll be ready with a synchronized instruction plan. “They can’t sit for seven hours watching me. I can’t sit for seven hours,” Weaver said. “So I’ll teach a lesson and tell them I’m going to
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