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The Island News formerly Lady’s Island News
YOUR Local Newspaper
Bringing our community together
June 25 - July 1, 2009
Covering Lady’s Island, St. Helena Island, Dataw Island, Fripp Island, Port Royal, Beaufort
Lowcountry Store named among Top 50 retail stars Football camp builds skills, character at BHS
see page 7
Footballs flying through the air, cleats cutting on green grass, balls booming off kickers’ feet, and hotly-contested games playing in 100 degree days – it must be Beaufort High’s annual summer football camp. About 100 boys ages 8-14 attended the weeklong event, led by Eagles Coach Mark Clifford, his assistant coaches and several BHS grads who returned to the Eagle field to help coach the next generation of players. “It was awesome!,” one youngster told his parents in the gym after the Friday awards ceremony. “I can’t wait for football season to get here.” As he does with his high school athletes, Coach Clifford stressed good character and sportsmanship throughout the weeklong clinic. He emphasized to the boys the need to make good choices in life, to concentrate on school and to enjoy the game for what it is – a game. Continued on page 14
Feelin’ crabby
Calm six-year-old makes 911 call to save garage after lightning strike by John C. Williams
While on sea turtle patrol recently at Hunting Island State Park’s beach, Tommy Wright of Lady’s Island came across this ghost crab trying to hide behind a palmetto log. Fortunately, Tommy had his camera at the ready and got this photo for The Island News.Send your interesting pics to theislandnews@gmail.com!
Thunderstorms crackling across the Lowcountry sky are part of summer – but when lightning strikes a home near yours, it brings the majesty and the danger to a new level.
phone with the 911 dispatcher until he could talk to his dad and get the address where the fire was,” she said. “The fire trucks were here in less than five minutes, no kidding.”
On a recent weekday afternoon, an intense pop-up thunderhead rolled across Lady’s Island. Rain pelted trees, bringing down moss and birds’ nests. As the storm quickly grew in power, feeding off the day’s accumulated heat and the moisture from the Atlantic. Lightning popped.
The fire damaged the house’s electrical system but didn’t burn down the garage or house.
“Lightning hit the ground and came up through my neighbor’s underground wires and started a fire in her garage” in the Lady’s Island community of Coosaw Point, said Heather Bruner.
“I was just so proud of how calm Cohen remained while my husband and I were running around trying to get hoses and water to the fire until the fire trucks arrived,” Mrs. Bruner said. “It is scary to think what could have happened had nobody been around when the lightning struck.”
“Carlton (her husband) yelled for me to get a hose and I told my six-year-old son Cohen to get the phone. He very calmly called 911 and the first thing they asked was his address, which he was able to give right away,” Bruner said. “He didn’t know the neighbor’s address but stayed on the
In This Issue SCHOOL NEWS
PROFILE
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
All A’s
Dennis Canfield
Waterworks
SEE PAGE 9
SEE PAGE 11
SEE PAGE 14