NEWS: Search suspended for missing diver in Port Royal Sound. PAGE A4
MAY 7–13, 2020 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Beth Israel Cemetery in downtown Beaufort desecrated with graffiti
This gravestone at the Beth Israel Cemetery on Bladen Street is in the process of being cleaned. Submitted photo.
By Mindy Lucas Several headstones in an historic Jewish cemetery in downtown Beaufort have been defaced with graffiti, police reports show. The graffiti, discovered at the Beth Israel Cemetery on Bladen Street, was reported to the Beaufort Police Department on Monday, April 27, according to a report released by the department. An officer with the depart-
ment responding to a call about the vandalism found the name “Jesus” and a heart symbol etched on the backs of at least seven headstones. The markings were found on six headstones belonging to one family, and a seventh headstone belonging to a second family. According to the individual who made the call to the police, the cemetery had been cleaned two weeks before the
incident and the marks were not there then, the person told the officer. The caller had gone to the cemetery to check on lawn work when the graffiti was discovered. “We are saddened by this incident in our cemetery, or on any sacred property,” President of the Beth Israel Synagogue Barbara Mark said in an email. Mark went on to thank the Beaufort community for its support and said the
D CANCELE
thoughts are appreciated. The one-block cemetery was purchased by the congregation in 1908, Mark said. The cost to repair all seven of the damaged headstones could cost upward of $2,000 or more, the caller told the officer. A permanent marker found behind a nearby bird bath has been submitted for fingerprint testing, the report stated.
Water Festival canceled for 2020
From staff reports The Beaufort Water Festival Board of Directors released a letter the community on Tuesday announcing there would be no Beaufort Water Festival this summer as a result of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak. The event was originally scheduled for July 17 through 26, 2020. Instead of this year, the 65th annual event will take place in July 2021. Here’s a copy of the board’s letter to the community: To Beaufort and the Lowcountry Community, Our Water Festival crew has spent many months planning the 65th Annual Beaufort Water Festival for July 2020. Paramount to our planning has been the current status of COVID-19 and the health precautions needed to maintain a safe environment. Our organization has three driving factors: the community, partnerships, and volunteers. The relationships among these elements are what makes the Annual Beaufort Water Festival a leading, time-honored tradition throughout the southeast. Considering the recommendations from the Center
CHASING THE WIND
Fripp Island firefighter McHone works as a storm chaser By Mike McCombs In mid-April, when a group of deadly storms cut a swath across South Carolina, killing nine and wreaking havoc in Hampton and Colleton counties along the way, Port Royal’s Benjamin McHone had a front row seat to the preview.
In Mississippi. A part-time firefighter on Fripp Island, McHone is also a storm chaser. “About a week out, you can get a relatively accurate forecast using models, so we were forecasting a significant severe weather outbreak – the Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina path,” McHone said. “We knew prominent daytime tornadoes would be in Mississippi, and our target, my target was Tupelo. But we ended up making it down south where
SEE STORM PAGE A4
SEE FESTIVAL PAGE A5
Suspect identified in shooting of jogger
Above: One of five Go-Pro cameras attached to Benjamin McHone’s Chevrolet Suburban in which he chases storms. Main photo: Storm chaser Benjamin McHone of Port Royal said he will be leaving soon to go to the midwest and chase more tornadoes. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
By Mindy Lucas A man who was arrested in connection with an attack on a woman in North Charleston, has been identified as the alleged shooter of a 72-yearold woman out jogging in a Beaufort neighborhood on April 22, police say. Isaiah Clay- Isaiah ton Perdue, Perdue 23, of North Charleston, was arrested on April 23, the day after the Beaufort shooting, according
Outdoor dining again an option By Mike McCombs Monday was the first day restaurants in South Carolina were allowed to open to outside dining after more than a month of curbside and take-out only and several spots around Beaufort took advantage. The deck was busy at Panini’s on the Waterfront during lunchtime. “We’re fortunate to have
WHO IS OPEN? A good way to find out what Beaufort-area restaurants are offering outdoor dining, as well as their hours and menus offered, is to visit the Facebook group Beaufort SC AREA Curbside, To-Go & Delivery.
as many seats as we do outside. We were ready for it,” Panini’s owner Paul Thomp-
son. “People were well-behaved with no issues, and the staff was fully up on all the safety precautions. It was a good pace. Nobody got out of control.” Next door at Hemingway’s Bistro, owner Kanani Robinson, with Thompson’s help, was still making sandwiches plates early into the
SEE DINING PAGE A5
Restaurants opened their outdoor seating for lunch Monday in Beaufort. Here, the Maddox family of Beaufort enjoys a day out of quarantine to have lunch at Panini’s. The response from all seated was, “We love it.” Photo by Bob Sofaly.
SEE SUSPECT PAGE A2 We are. Accreditation
THEY’RE BACK
BACK TO THE ISLAND
KEEPING IT LOCAL
SC sea turtle nesting season has begun at Hunting Island.
Crowds return to Hunting Island State Park.
Creek hires Former BHS assistant as head football coach.
PAGE A5
PAGE A6
PAGE A6
INSIDE Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–6 Sports A6 Home Finder A6 Education A8
Voices Directory Graduation List Classifieds
A8–9 A9
by AAHA means we’ve passed a voluntary evaluation of more than 900 standards and that we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of care for your pet.
A10 A11
We are open M-F 8am to 6pm and Saturday 8am to 12pm. We are offering curbside service, more same day urgent care appointments and telemedicine to better serve our community.
WELLNESS PLANS STARTING AT $18.95/MONTH
*Senior, Military and First Responder Discount*
40 Professional Village Circle
843-524-4551
www.SeaIslandAnimalHospital.com *On Lady’s Island behind Sonic