NOVEMBER 21 - 27, 2019 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Beaufort developer plans to return to hotel plan for vacant lot downtown
By Mindy Lucas In the latest back and forth between Dick Stewart, of 303 Associates, and the City of Beaufort’s Historic District Review Board, Stewart says he is returning to his original idea of building a hotel on a lot in downtown Beaufort. The Beaufort developer had most recently proposed a four-story building featuring condominiums or apartments for the vacant lot, on the corner of Scott and Port Republic streets. However, after receiving
criticism from members of the community and representatives of the Historic Beaufort Foundation in July over the project’s mass and scale, Stewart decided to scrap that idea and return to his original plan of building a hotel. Stewart said he made the decision shortly after the review board’s July meeting and after meeting with representatives with Historic Beaufort in an attempt to resolve concerns over the building’s scale and design features. Historic Beaufort’s new ex-
ecutive director Cynthia Cole Jenkins said the foundation maintains its position that the project did not meet the criteria for in-fill construction. “We are always concerned about mass and scale and, especially when you’re in the heart of the National Landmark Historic District,” Jenkins said. Stewart also has plans to demolish a smaller building on a lot he owns next door to where the hotel will be constructed. The building is currently being used for storage. The review board had given
approval for the hotel plan at its October meeting and took up the approval of the demolition separately at its most recent meeting on Nov. 13. Stewart, who also owns The Beaufort Inn across the street from the property, said the hotel will carry The Beaufort Inn name and will feature a pool, fitness facility and full-service restaurant, he said. City parking currently provided on the lot will relocate to the parking lot behind the Pat Conroy Literary Center and will also be used for hotel
This tabby wall, adjacent to the site of a proposed hotel, is believed to be the last tabby wall in the commercial district of downtown Beaufort. guests, Stewart said. Historic Beaufort had also voiced concerns over a tabby wall that abuts the property, thought to be the last remain-
ing tabby wall in the commercial district. Courtney Worrell with 303
SEE HOTEL PAGE A3
Wreaths Across America
Schools placed on lockdown Students questioned after social media post shows rifle on school property By Mindy Lucas Two Beaufort County schools were placed on lockdown and two students were questioned after a suspicious social media post involving a rifle had authorities scrambling on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The post, which showed a hunting rifle and was captioned “at school with it,” led investigators with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office to two students at Battery Creek High School, according to an alert issued by the sheriff’s office on Wednesday. There the investigators found a hunting rifle, in
SEE RIFLE PAGE A3
American Legion Post 9 working to fill Beaufort National Cemetery
Above: A light sprinkle of rain didn’t stop anyone from putting out Christmas wreathes during Wreaths Across America at Beaufort National Cemetery. Above right: Rick and Sharon Moots of Hardeville volunteered to help with the placing of wreathes on the head stones during the annual observance of Wreathes Across America. Photos by Bob Sofaly.
Beaufort’s American Legion Post 9 is a sponsoring group for “Wreaths Across America.” The goal is to get as many wreaths as possible to the graves of our veterans buried at the Beaufort National Cemetery. Post 9 will not receive any funds for this effort but will receive one extra wreath for every two donated. Currently there are only 6,000 wreaths donated for 26,000 graves in Beaufort National Cemetery. Each wreath donation is $15. Single wreath donations will be combined to generate extra wreaths. Of
course, donating two wreaths ($30) will provide for one additional one. Donations can be made directly on our group’s web site at https:// wreathsacrossamerica.org/SC0174 or by check (written to Beaufort Post 9 or Wreaths Across America and mailed to Post 9, PO Box 2540, Beaufort S.C. 29901) The cutoff date for this year’s donations is Dec. 2 and the wreath distribution day is Dec. 14 at noon at the Beaufort National Cemetery. Please consider donating and coming out to help distribute the wreaths.
Trooper fired after firing gun during October traffic stop By Mindy Lucas A trooper with the S.C. Highway Patrol has been fired after discharging his service weapon during an October traffic stop near Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, officials say. Trooper J.W. Ward was fired for “improper conduct/ conduct unbecoming of a state employee,” according to statement from Capt. Kelley
Hughes with the S.C. Department of Public Safety. The traffic stop occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, on U.S. Highway 21 near the air station. Ward attempted to pull over the driver of a car that disregarded a traffic signal. That driver was later identified as Robert Lamont Wilson, 32, of St. Helena Island. After Wilson failed to stop,
Ward pursued him. Wilson then lost control of his car. As Ward approached the vehicle, he discharged his department-issued firearm, according to a previous news release. Wilson again fled, and Ward pursued him into Colleton County where he was eventually stopped after troopers who joined the pursuit performed traffic maneuvers designed to stop a flee-
ing vehicle. The maneuvers resulted in a collision, which was investigated by the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. There were no injuries involved in the incident. Wilson was arrested and charged with disregarding a traffic control device, failure to stop for a blue light, driving with an expired license and operating a vehicle without insur-
ance, according to the release. S.C. Law Enforcement Division and the department of public safety’s Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the incident to see if Ward’s firing his gun met department-protocols. Ward was placed on suspension without pay during the investigation, according to the statement. The investigation determined that the suspect in the
case did not pose an immediate threat to Ward’s safety or the safety of others, and Ward’s actions were not in line with his training or the department’s “Emergency Response/ Vehicle and Foot Pursuit” policy, according to the statement. Ward’s employment was terminated on Nov. 8. He had worked for the Highway Patrol since 2017, according to the statement. We are. Accreditation
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INSIDE
Planning for BMH Foundation’s biggest fundraiser of the year has begun.
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