October 21 edition

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OCTOBER 21–27, 2021

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COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY

Lady’s Island man shot, killed at residence From staff reports The Beaufort County Coroner's Office has identified the deceased man in a Saturday, Oct. 16 shooting incident at a residence on Brickyard Point Road North on Lady's Island as 47-year-old Laventis Cohen. Late in the afternoon, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to reports of a shooting. When deputies arrived, they found an adult male, Cohen, deceased inside the residence. According to the Sheriff’s Department, it was apparent Cohen died as a result of a gunshot wound or wounds. The Sheriff’s Department said on Saturday that there was no public safety threat, as the person of in-

SEE SHOOTING PAGE A4

Chamber’s Civitas Awards honor Beaufort’s finest

The Castle, located at 411 Craven Street, is rumored to be haunted by a 16th century French jester. Photos by Ryan Copeland.

The haunted house back to the very beginning of the Civil War. It’s nothing new for the Russells, former owners of an historic home in Cooperstown, N.Y., that they also opened to mass trick-or-treaters each Halloween. Perhaps even it’s the daunting feel of The Castle that not only gives the historic home its notoriety, but also

From staff reports More than 175 Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce and community members gathered Thursday, Oct. 14 on the lawn at the Coosaw River Club for the Chamber’s annual Civitas Awards, where the individuals and businesses that make Beaufort special were honored. This year’s winners include: • Torchbearer Award for overall economic impact – Beaufort Memorial Hospital “We are honored to be recognized for our economic impact on our region,” BMH president and CEO Russell Baxley, MHA, said. “With more than 1,600 team members throughout Beaufort, Jasper and Hampton counties, we truly are an organization that both depends on and supports the many people who live and work here. We’re proud to be a part of this great community.” • Trailblazer Award for innovation, investment and free enterprise – GlassWRX SC

SEE HOUSE PAGE A7

SEE AWARDS PAGE A2

Famous Beaufort residence The Castle, long rumored to be haunted, open for Halloween night

By Ryan Copeland Southern tours, even the kind taken by car with the intent of prospecting a good retirement option, generally involve stopping at roadside markets and charming bed and breakfasts and trying to decide whether or not to pull at the Spanish moss. What they don’t always include is purchasing a community’s signature historic home, but it’s what David and Nancy Russell did back in May when they became the new owners of the

Joseph Johnson house, better known in Beaufort as The Castle. On October 31, you’ll get your chance to trick-or-treat with the Russells in their new home. “One of the first things someone said to us was ‘you know you have to open the house at Halloween!’” David Russell said. “We’ll be looking to stay consistent with the past.” The past, of course, is never truly gone in a place like Beaufort, and especially not in a house with parapets and a moat dating

INSIDE For more Halloween goings on, see What’s Happening on Page A6

All signs point to Cook Out coming to Beaufort

By Mike McCombs If you’ve been hungry for another fast food option in Beaufort, you could be in luck. All signs point to Cook Out coming to Robert Smalls Parkway. Two parcels totaling 1.881 acres at 122 Robert Smalls Parkway – the site of the now-closed Golden Corral steakhouse – were sold Jan. 8, 2021 by Beaufort Asset Management, LLC to Cook Out-Beaufort, Inc., “A South Carolina Corporation” for $1.34 million. The address for Cook Out-Beaufort, Inc., is the same as Cook Out’s corporate offices – 15 Laura Lane

Suite 300, Thomasville, N.C. 27360. On a loan document related to the sale, Cook Out Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jeremy Reaves signed the document as President of Cook Out-Beaufort, Inc. When reached by phone, a Cook Out official said that any questions regarding the company’s acquisition of land would have to be directed to Reaves.

As of Tuesday night, Reaves had not responded to an email from The Island News. Morris Reaves opened the first Cook Out location in 1989 in Greensboro, N.C. Morris Reaves owns the company, while his son, Jeremy Reaves, serves as the CEO. While the first 50 locations were all in North Carolina, there are now nearly 300 locations operating in 10 states. The closest locations to Beaufort are Walterboro and Hilton Head Island (101 Central Avenue).

SEE SIGNS PAGE A4

The site of the former Golden Corral restaurant building at 122 Robert Smalls Parkway has been purchased by the North Carolina restaurant chain Cook Out. Photo by Bob Sofaly.

NEWS

MILITARY

INSIDE

303 Associates donates building to USC Beaufort.

Parris Island celebrates 130 years; Marines have been on island since 1891.

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Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–8 Business A8 Arts A9 Education A9 Health A10–11

Sports A12–13 Legals A14–16 Military A17 Voices A18–19 Directory A20 Classifieds A21

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