NEWS: Spanish Moss Trail section closed for Mossy Oaks drainage project work. PAGE A3
SEPTEMBER 3–9, 2020 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Police Accountability Task Force gains traction with support from local law enforcement agencies LOLITA HUCKABY
Here comes Publix, there go more trees
By Mindy Lucas A relatively new grassroots group formed earlier in the summer to hold police accountable and facilitate transparency and communication with the public has since received the support of the area’s primary law enforcement agencies. The Beaufort County Police Accountability Task Force was created by Beaufort resident Lisa Allen in June after the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis. A veteran news journalist who
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Allen began by building a coalition made up of community members and leaders with a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The task force includes such members as Beaufort County Coroner Ed Allen, retired United States Air Force Maj. Gen. Harold Mitchell, and founder of United Beaufort Tim Garvin, among others. Allen and task force member Nancy Ritter, who worked for the National Institute of Justice, then drew up a plan that included such items
as employing mental health first responders across all jurisdictions and the adoption of specific use-offorce policies. “Our mission is to increase the trust, collaboration and communication between residents and the police, which in turn will make everyone — police and residents — safer,” Allen said in a presentation made to Beaufort City Council. Allen presented the plan to other
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SPOT THE BALL
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BEAUFORT here was much rejoicing last month when one of the community’s least-kept secrets was officially verified – Publix is coming to the west side of the city. And for the few tree-huggers still around, there was even a sigh that at least this one wouldn’t require the removal of wooded space since it’s being built on the site of the former Plaza Theater. Well, not quite. Trees did come down for this new grocery store, or at least for the parking lot. The wooded acre behind the store site was cleared to create parking for the new store AND an apartment complex that’s planned there. The removal didn’t prompt any of the controversy that was generated back in 1993 when the first Lady’s Island Publix was proposed and those concerned about the tree removal fought back. The protest made it all the way to the S.C. Supreme Court before the Publix folks got permission to build with abbreviated tree removal. And of course, when the “new” Publix was built across the street in 2014, some pretty magnificent trees on that wooded site went down practically overnight one weekend. At least they got more parking. Clemson leads mask ticketing CLEMSON – News was last week the Clemson Police Department wrote 147 tickets in one night for violations of the town’s mask ordinance. And how many tickets have been written here in Beaufort, you might ask? None, according to a check with the sheriff’s department and the city codes inspector who enforces Beaufort’s mask ordinance. Warnings have been issued but no $50 tickets. Of course, Clemson IS a university town. But so is Beaufort. And our students are back, in class and testing positive for COVID-19, so far in very limited numbers. (Eight members of the women’s soccer team were quarantined last month after a player tested positive.) You can judge for yourself how successful Beaufort’s approach of “educating” individuals about the dangers is working just by looking around you as you venture out.
also worked in community relations for the criminal and civil court systems in Indianapolis, Allen decided to form the group after wondering if something like the Floyd incident could happen in Beaufort County. She also wanted to learn more about how local law enforcement agencies were set up in terms of policies, training and resources for officers. “As a journalist, I thought, how do I answer that question and of course it’s through data,” she said.
Beaufort Academy’s football season kicks off despite pandemic
Beaufort Academy’s Brayden Dineen, left, and Kevin Rodgers wrap up St. John’s Christian Academy’s Nai’Ryan Bookert during the first half of their season-opening game Friday night at Merritt Field. The Eagles lost to the Cavaliers, 28-18. Photo by Bob Sofaly. For more on the game, see page A11.
6,800 gallons of wastewater dumped into Beaufort River
BJWSA says Parris Island overflow a result of a power outage
From staff reports As of Tuesday morning, Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) crews were still responding and taking appropriate cleanup and repair action after an estimated 6,800 gallons of wastewater was released from the Parris Island sani-
tary sewer system into the Beaufort River on Thursday, Aug. 27. The overflow, which occurred near the boat landing, was due to a power failure at the PI01 sewer pump station. Signs were posted in the area to inform the public. BJWSA notified the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC), and is working in conjunction with DHEC to address any effects caused by the overflow.
Director of Public Affairs Pamela Flasch said Saturday that, “We are continually sampling the Beaufort River until we have satisfied our sampling criteria required with DHEC.” SCDHEC is evaluating the effects of the overflow on the shellfish harvesting areas located in the area of the overflow and has issued shellfish and swim advisories, which are in effect until lab results confirm acceptable bacterial levels.
FIRST FRIDAY
OUTDOORS
INSIDE
Downtown merchants celebrate First Friday with new neighbors this Friday, Sept. 4.
Hear from local saltwater fly fishing expert, Dave Murray.
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BJWSA operations crews monitor the wastewater collection system. These crews maintain the sewer lines to ensure the safe daily delivery of an average of 9 million gallons of wastewater to eight area wastewater treatment facilities for treatment and disposal. If you see or suspect any type of spill from the sewer collection system, please contact BJWSA at 9879200. For more information, visit www.bjwsa.org.
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