Beaufort County This Week

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Beaufort County This Week brings you the top stories, interviews, and events from around the county, brought to you by BC TV. 

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  1. 3d ago

    Beaufort Board of Elections Hold Registration Events at Assisted Living Facilities

    From WTOC The Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County is heading into the community this month to help residents at local assisted living facilities register to vote and request absentee ballot applications. Elections officials will provide voter registration forms and assist with absentee application requests at two locations: ·        One took place at Sprenger Health Care Port Royal: Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. (1810 Richmond Ave., Port Royal) ·       The next one will be at The Palmettos of Bluffton: Tuesday, Sept. 22, at noon (3035 Okatie Highway, Okatie) Voter registration forms must be postmarked by Oct. 5 to be eligible for the upcoming election.   From the Island Packet The University of South Carolina Beaufort’s enrollment continues to grow as it has since it opened 22 years ago. USCB’s fall semester began last month on Aug. 18, and it’s the only four-year university in Beaufort County. It’s been growing every year since it began offering four-year degrees in 2004, and this year is no different.   USCB had its largest incoming first-year and transfer student class at 764 in fall 2025, reaching a total enrollment of 2,226 students, also a record. USCB broke last year’s total enrollment record with 2,293 students total for fall 2026. USCB’s incoming class isn’t a record, but it’s close at 755.  USCB has experienced a 12% enrollment growth over the past five years, according to a statement from USCB Senior Director of Communications Carol Weir. It’s grown by 79% since USCB became a four-year university in 2004.         -The Town of Bluffton Beach Sweep and River Sweep will be tomorrow, Saturday, September 19th from 9 to 11:30am at 63 Wharf Street in Bluffton. All cleanup supplies will be provided for participants. No registration is required. Attendees are asked to bring a reusable water bottle as the Quench Buggy will be on site for refills. The Beach River Sweep is a partnership with the Town of Bluffton, the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. More information is available at townofbluffton.sc.gov forward slash calendar.

  2. Sep 11

    Beaufort County Remembers September 11, 2001

    From WSAV There are two projects underway in Beaufort County, one on Kings St. and another on Charles and Craven. Each one costs around $10 million and city leaders said the entire project was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). No city funds were used. Officials said this is an important project for the downtown area and will benefit several neighborhoods. The new pipes are so large, a five-foot-tall person could stand inside them.  The size is important because, when a heavy rainstorm comes, the water will go into the storm system which will run off into the waterfront. Leaders said this will help immensely, as opposed to the old pipes, some of which were as small as 24 inches and hundreds of years old. This is a state-run project through the South Carolina Office of Resiliency (SCOR) and city leaders said the project is an investment in their communities.   Eric Claussen, Assistant Town Manager for the city of Beaufort, told WSAV he acknowledges that projects as large as this one come with a cost to local businesses near the site. “We understand the pain that this created for downtown businesses,” said Claussen. “We just appreciate their patience. And again, just ask them to be patient for just a couple more months and we’re going to be done with this.  And again, hopefully moving on to different, bigger projects with our downtown Waterfront Park.” The project began in October of last year and leaders hope to wrap up construction within the coming months.   From the Island Packet  Friday is the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks that shocked the country in 2001. Remembrance events are being held across Beaufort County to honor those who lost their lives. First responders and military members will also be honored for their service to the community and the country. Here’s when and where 9/11 remembrance events will be held this year.   Beaufort’s Patriot Day  Beaufort observes Patriot Day annually on Sep. 11 at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. The event is jointly organized by the Exchange Club of Beaufort and the city, and lasts from 7:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open to the community.   Patriot Day’s ceremonies will honor the lives lost on Sept. 11 and the service of first responders and military members. The Exchange Club will announce and honor its Firefighter of the Year, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, and EMS Worker of the Year during the event. The First Responder’s Memorial Procession will also take place as part of Patriot Day. The procession begins at Meridian Road on Lady’s Island and proceeds down Sea Island Parkway across the Woods Memorial Bridge to Waterfront Park on Bay Street. Sea Island Parkway and Woods Memorial Bridge will be temporarily closed for the procession.    Hilton Head’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony  Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue and the town of Hilton Head will hold a remembrance ceremony at 8:30 a.m. Friday. The ceremony will be held at the Fire Rescue Headquarters at 10 Park Lane off of William Hilton Parkway. The ceremony is held annually and Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue invites the community to attend. Attendees will honor the lives lost on Sept. 11 and the first responders who answered the call, according to the ceremony’s event page.   Bluffton’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony  Bluffton will hold its own remembrance ceremony Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Buckwalter Place Park’s Veterans Memorial at 2 Venture Drive. The event is hosted by the town of Bluffton alongside the Bluffton Police Department. If you’re unable to attend a local ceremony, New York City’s annual Sept. 11 Commemoration Ceremony will be livestreamed by the 9/11 Memorial and Museum here. Family members of the victims will read the 2,977 names of those lost on Sept. 11 at the Memorial Plaza. They will also observe moments of silence for when the World Trade Center towers were struck and fell, the times of the Pentagon attack and crash of Flight 93, and in honor of lives lost as a result of illness or injury sustained during Sept. 11.         From The Island Packet   A 2,700-acre forested Lowcountry property once sought for development is now protected by a conservation easement and planned to become a state forest. The Chelsea Plantation property sits on the border of Jasper and Beaufort Counties along the south bank of the Broad River, and developers planned to build a residential and commercial development on it in 2022. After community opposition, the Nature Conservancy South Carolina (TNC-SC), a conservation nonprofit, purchased a portion of the property in May 2025 for $32 million. Now, TNC-SC has secured a conservation easement and transferred the property to the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC), according to a news release.   Securing the easement  TNC-SC worked alongside the Open Land Trust, an organization that protects land across the S.C. Lowcounty, to secure funding for the conservation easement, according to the news release. The Jasper County Greenspace program and Beaufort County Greenspace program provided funding alongside state and federal organizations. The easement is jointly held by the Open Land Trust and the U.S. Navy, and will permanently protect the land, according to the news release.    Future state forest  The United States Forest Service awarded TNC-SC a Forest Legacy Grant to fund the sale and transfer to SCFC. The property is planned to become a state forest open to the public. “The prospect of adding Chelsea and other properties to our state forest system in the near future not only ensures these forested landscapes’ protection from development, but also their effective management for multiple uses, and hence their sustainability,” State Forester Scott Philips said in the news release.

  3. Sep 4

    Registration Open for Beaufort Sheriff's Office CERT Program

    -Registration is open for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Program with Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. The program provides training to Beaufort County residents to enhance their self-sufficiency in the event of a disaster. Participants learn skills that will enable them to provide emergency assistance to their families and neighbors. CERT classes are offered free of charge and are held at various times throughout the year. Fall 2026 classes will be held on St. Helena Island. Participants are required to attend all classes to complete the program. Before applying, please ensure you are available to attend all sessions, which will be Tuesdays and Thursdays from six to 8 pm on October 13th, 15th, 20th, 22nd and concluding with an October 24th 9am session that will run to the end of the exercise. More information is available on a press release at bcso.net.  From the Island Packet A proposed three-building development on Bluffton’s May River Road with retail, office and restaurant space is in the early planning stages. Documents submitted to Bluffton’s Development Review Committee by local architecture and landscaping firm Witmer Jones Keefer Ltd. on behalf of Michael Bradley Holdings LLC show a three-building complex with 47,300 square feet of space and more than 200 parking spaces. The proposed complex would be built on a 5.18-acre parcel north of May River Road and east of Buck Island Road at 6201 Jennifer Court.    The buildings would have retail, office, restaurant and potentially medical office space, according to the project narrative. Buildings one and two on the north side of the parcel would contain the office and retail space, while building three on the south side would contain restaurant space. All three buildings will be two stories tall, and building one may have a drive-thru installed.       From WTOC    Long-awaited traffic calming measures are now complete in the Shell Point neighborhood of Beaufort County. The effort to reduce car speeds was initiated by Shell Point resident Shannon Offredi, whose son was injured by a speeding vehicle five years ago. Offredi brought the matter to South Carolina State Representative Shannon Erickson, which set the Department of Transportation process in motion. During the five years of coordination over the DOT-owned road, studies confirmed the need for new measures. The process also resulted in the unanimous passing of a DOT modernization bill in Columbia. Back home in Shell Point, Offredi described how it felt to see her efforts pay off. “Honestly it feels like a breath of fresh air just knowing that we could take a negative situation and turn it into something positive. Not only for the children in our neighborhood but our adult neighbors who like to enjoy our roads as well,” Offredi said. In total, nine speed humps are now in place along with one four-way stop raised intersection. The contracted project cost Beaufort County approximately $170,000.     The final training day was Friday. This week, demolition of the apartment buildings will begin, said Josh Hausman with VM Port Royal LLC. VM Port Royal bought three parcels totalling 11 acres, including the eight acres on which the apartments sit, in order to develop a $30 million health clinic that will be managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

  4. Aug 28

    Beaufort County needs poll workers

    From WTOC  A major project to bring more healthcare jobs and another medical option to the rapidly growing town of Bluffton has cleared a key hurdle. Novant Health is one step closer to building its own hospital along Buckwalter Parkway. Following its final development plan meeting with the Town of Bluffton, the proposed facility is nearing its groundbreaking phase. The multi-million-dollar medical facility will join other recent additions to Bluffton’s medical corridor, including a recently opened Novant Health Emergency Room building and a Beaufort Memorial medical facility currently under construction. Bluffton’s population growth is driving the demand for expanded local healthcare infrastructure. According to Town of Bluffton Director of Growth Management Kevin Icard, residential space in the town is nearly built out. “We’re at about 80% developed residential uses in the town,” Icard said. Town planners specifically designed the Buckwalter Parkway corridor to accommodate higher-density development, focusing heavily on medical services.     From WSAV Approximately 300 new poll workers are needed throughout Beaufort County for Election Day on Nov. 3, 2026. Citizens who complete training and work on Election Day will receive a stipend and bonus from the county of $235. Beaufort County is one of the top 10 counties in the state by registered voters and has 134 precincts. “We have been fortunate to have capable citizens willing to attend training and serve their neighbors at the polls,” said Mr. Matthew Sweeney, chairman of the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County. “Their commitment is essential, but with continued growth in voter registrations, precincts, and polling locations, we now have an urgent need to recruit new poll workers across Beaufort County.”       From the Island Packet   A 78-year-old apartment complex in Port Royal is offering invaluable training to firefighters before it is demolished. The site, located at 1844 Ribaut Road, will soon be replaced by a new federally-run health clinic dedicated to serving military veterans.   Sea Island Apartments’ nine one-story buildings have stood at this location since 1948. Over the past 10 or so days, the well-known one-story brick buildings became a training ground for firefighters from seven Beaufort County Departments to hone skills they learned in basic training.   The final training day was Friday. This week, demolition of the apartment buildings will begin, said Josh Hausman with VM Port Royal LLC. VM Port Royal bought three parcels totalling 11 acres, including the eight acres on which the apartments sit, in order to develop a $30 million health clinic that will be managed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

  5. Aug 21

    South Carolina Voters return Tuesday to vote in Republican Runoff

    Tuesday, voters in South Carolina will once again head to the polls as the Republican primary for the US Senate seat of the late Lindsay Graham is in a runoff. Early voting runs through Friday August 21 at 5:00 PM, and then regular voting will take place Tuesday August 25th, with polls opening at 7 AM. Voters who participated in June’s Democratic primary are not allowed to vote in this run off, whereas those who voted in the Republican primary or did not vote in either primary may cast their vote. The runoff features Senator Graham’s sister, Daline Graham, who is currently the interim Senator in her brother’s place, and Ralph Norman. Head to BeaufortCountySC.Gov/News for more information.            From the Post & Courier If Beaufort County voters approve a proposed penny sales tax on the November ballot, it will be the largest in the county’s history — both in terms of duration and amount. The measure would levy a 1 percent sales tax on retail purchases beginning in 2027 and would continue for nine years or until $780 million is raised, whichever occurs first. The money would pay for improvements to the county’s roads. The tax would not apply to purchases of medication, gas, rent and mortgages, utilities and unprepared foods or groceries. “We all understand the traffic and the growth,” said Assistant County Administrator Jared Fralix. “Without funding, projects that community leaders have asked for will not be addressed. We don’t see the need disappearing.” A Transportation Advisory Committee began meeting and evaluating the community’s needs in February. Led by former Bluffton Mayor Lisa Sulka, the group held nine meetings with residents and community leaders throughout the county to assess the needs and begin drawing up project lists.           Beaufort County residents are encouraged to protect themselves, neighbors and pets as Hot and Humid conditions continue across our region. We have experienced widespread heat index values of 110+ degrees Fahrenheit with 112-115 degree Fahrenheit values possible along the coastal corridor into the weekend. Please keep your pets indoors during the hottest times of the day and make sure your animals have plenty of ways to stay cool if they spend time outdoors at all during the summer months. As you prepare ways for yourself to beat the heat, include your pet in planning & preps, with considerations like providing Ice and Ice Water, A pool to play in, Shaded areas or bringing them inside. Please do not leave pets in a hot car. A full press release with local resources to beat the heat, including the hours and locations of County facilities inviting daytime guests, is now available at beaufortcountysc.gov forward slash news.

  6. Aug 14

    Beaufort County shows off composting program with 'Mossy'

    From the WSAV Beaufort County launched its first and only in-house compost initiative in the Lowcountry.   About 50% of what ends up in a landfill could be composted, so instead that waste can become nutrient-rich soil.   Beaufort County’s Environmental Education Coordinator Livvy Bergmann told WSAV that anything you can eat, you can compost.   “So you can even take things like cooked meat, If you have chicken, if you have steak, anything like that,” said Bergmann. “But also, all of our veggie scraps and bready units like food that is maybe more along chips or sandwiches or anything like that, pizza, all of that can go into our compost unit.”   The initiative was launched in January, and since then, they have produced thousands of pounds of compost. Leaders said composting has many benefits; one being reducing the use of chemical fertilizer.   Organizers want Beaufort County residents to know the resource is available to them. Which is why Mossy was created, a new mascot to raise awareness about the compost unit.   “The biggest component of the grant we applied for was that education and outreach, said Victoria Hoffman, Beaufort County’s solid waste and recycling program manager. “And so Mossy, she embodies the Gullah Geechee culture and the Lowcountry community from her hair that’s supposed to resemble Spanish moss; her shoes are braided sweet grass.”   There are currently four compost collection areas, and Beaufort County leaders said they hope to expand into Beaufort County Schools soon.             From NBC Tuesday voters across the state came out for a special Republican primary, as the party seeks to elect a candidate to compete for the US Senate seat of the late Senator Lindsey Graham in this Fall’s General Election. The GOP will continue the search as two candidates will go to a runoff on August 25th. Darline Graham, the sister of Lindsay Graham, who is currently holding the seat, clinched a spot in the primary by receiving the most votes, with 109,633 statewide votes, which is 32.7% of the total. Ralph Norman finished second with 82,541, or 24.6%. Other candidates included Russell Fry, former Governor Mark Sanford, Mark Lynch, Danny Ford II, the son of legendary Clemson football coach Danny Ford, Duke Buckner, Glenda Parker, Samuel Shepherd, and Mark McBride. Darline Graham overwhelmingly won Beaufort County, with 5,982 votes or 46%. Mark Sanford finished second in the country with 2,544 votes, or 19.6%. And Ralph Norman finished third in Beaufort County with 2,077 votes, or 16%            From WSAV Lowcountry Outreach began operations in 2023 to bring together key free services for those in need. About 15 percent of Beaufort County residents lack reliable transportation which is one of the many gaps that Lowcountry Outreach is working to fill. The nonprofit offers an Angel Rides program in partnership with Good Neighbor Medical Clinic to provide free transportation to medical appointments for patients who do not have reliable transportation. Lisa Daly, Lowcountry Outreach director, told WSAV the program has already made an impact in the community. “We provide free transportation to patients’ medical appointments,” said Daly. “It could be an appointment in Bluffton. We’ve gone to Walterboro. We’ve gone to Charleston with their patients. And we really would like to expand.” Lowcountry Outreach also houses several nonprofits connecting residents with services ranging from legal assistance to support for older adults and their caregivers.

  7. Aug 7

    Beaufort Parks & Rec to Stop Using Glyphosate

    From the Island Packet Beaufort County is the first in South Carolina to ban the use of glyphosate in its parks and recreational fields, according to a group that pushed for the change for environmental and public health reasons. Glyphosate is a herbicide best known as the active ingredient in some Roundup products, a popular brand of weed killer. The EPA says it doesn’t cause increases in cancer if used according to label directions. The World Health Organization has concluded that it is “probably carcinogenic.”  The local announcement about banning glyphosate county-run parks was made by Parks and Recreation Director Eric Brown at a meeting of the County Council’s Community Services and Public Safety Committee meeting Monday. It prompted applause from organics-first advocates who had been pressuring the county to make the change, and Congresswoman Nancy Mace. Mace, R-S.C., called the countywide ban on Roundup and other glyphosate-based herbicides “the first meaningful county-level pesticide safeguard in South Carolina.” From the Island Packet Beaufort County’s students are headed back to school this Friday. The Beaufort County School District’s (BCSD) schools traditionally start mid-week, but the district chose to start Friday to ease students’ transition back in and acquaint themselves with their teachers, classmates and school before full instruction begins, according to previous Island Packet reporting. But the start of school can impact us graduates too, mostly through traffic. Here’s what you need to know as school gets back in session. When to expect traffic School traffic is most common around the start and end of classes each weekday. BCSD elementary schools start at 7:45 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m., while middle and high schools start at 8:45 a.m. and end at 3:45 p.m.     From WTOC The Beaufort County Engineering Department invited residents, business owners and commuters to review the U.S. 21 Corridor Study and provide feedback. The study evaluates potential access management improvements along U.S. 21 from U.S. 17 to Neil Road.  “Public input will help guide future transportation planning efforts and identify priorities for improving traffic flow while maintaining access to homes, businesses, schools and community destinations,” the department wrote. The U.S. 21 Corridor Study examines existing roadway conditions and identifies opportunities to improve: Traffic safety and reduce crashesTraffic flow and mobility along the corridorAccess to businesses, neighborhoods and public facilitiesBicycle and pedestrian connectivity where appropriateLong-term transportation planning to support future growthCommunity members are encouraged to review the study recommendations and submit comments through the Beaufort County Connect project page located here. Public comment will end on Aug. 14.

  8. Jul 31

    Famous Beaufort Totem Poll Gets New Location

    WELCOME to Beaufort County This Week! Today is Friday, July 31 and this week in 1973 the late Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney was born in Beaufort.    I’m Matt Goldin and here are your top stories presented by Beaufort County TV!       A famous mini totem pole in Beaufort is getting a new home.  The outgoing Water Festival Commodore made quite a splash on Saturday And the Hilton Head Airport is adding a TSA precheck laneAll this and more coming up on Beaufort County This Week!    From the Island Packet For decades, a weathered but optimistic face with coal-black wide eyes set in circles has greeted Beaufort residents walking along the sidewalk on Boundary Street, in front of a Thai restaurant and sushi bar. On Monday morning, rush-hour traffic rushed past the face like it wasn’t there. The drivers may not have even known that the landmark piece of art, carved by a legendary Beaufort figure near the base of the palmetto tree, even exists.   On Friday, the city announced on Facebook that it is removing the tree with the face before it declines naturally or is taken down by a storm.   However, the city added, the funky art will be saved and placed in new home at Morrall Park at the corner of Craven and Carteret streets, preserving the countenance for future generations.   Well-known local artist Hugh Patrick Knox Corry — known to many simply as “Driftwood” — carved the strange face many years ago, City Manager Scott Marshall said.   Marc Sviland, a local artist and woodworker, will mount the carving before it is permanently installed at its new location at Morrall Park, Marshall said.   Driftwood lived in a shack on the side of U.S. 21 on Harbor Island. He fashioned driftwood and horseshoe crab shells into art, according to previous Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet reporting.   His legend grew large in 20-or-so years around town, from about the early 1950s to the early 1970s. Driftwood died in 1981 in a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Atlanta.   From the Island Packet The incoming commodore of the 2027 Beaufort Water Festival celebrated the cherished appointment by dancing with her husband and sons. The outgoing 2026 leader became the first commodore in the festival’s 70-year history to end his reign by jumping from a moving shrimp boat.   The highly anticipated “change of watch” came Saturday during the Commodore’s Ball near the close of the 10-day Water Festival. In one of the festival’s most cherished traditions, Cori Talbert, who has volunteered with the festival for 17 years, was chosen to lead the 71st festival in 2027 during the ball.   Talbert succeeded outgoing commodore Dusty Vickers, who made history when he jumped over the rail of the Gracie Belle, a shrimp boat owned by Craig Reaves, Sunday during the blessing of the fleet. He swam to shore, where he delivered his final remarks.   “I can’t recollect a commodore actually jumping off a shrimp boat,” Vickers told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet Monday.   Asked why he did it, Vickers said the move was planned and not spontaneous. He wanted to end the festival “with splash.” He added he had a scene from the 1994’s “Forrest Gump” in mind when he came up with the idea. In the movie, Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, jumps off of a shrimp boat when Lt. Dan, played by Gary Sinise, arrives to join him in the shrimping business. The film was made in Beaufort.   Vickers also said the unusual move seemed to fit the theme of this year’s Water Festival, which was, “Sunny Days and Fresh Waves.” He also enjoys the water, he noted.       From Live5 News Hilton Head Island Airport is adding a TSA PreCheck lane, officials announced. To prepare for the new lane, the airport will host a PreCheck enrollment event next month for travelers who need to sign up or renew their membership. The enrollment event runs Aug. 18–21 at the airport on Hunter Road. Travelers must sign up or renew their PreCheck membership to use the new lane once it opens. Once approved, membership lasts five years.   And now here are  some events to get you Out and About this weekend! ***Out and About***     Thanks for listening to Beaufort County This Week! To learn more about BC TV, please head over to Beaufort County dot TV.  All Rights Reserved.

  9. Jul 23

    Beaufort & Hilton Head to possibly receive $16 million in federal money

    WELCOME to Beaufort County This Week! Today is Friday, July 24 and this week US representative and Sumter native Jim Clyburn celebrated his 86th birthday.    I’m Matt Goldin and here are your top stories presented by Beaufort County TV!       Proposed legislation could bring $16 million in water infrastructure to Beaufort and Hilton Head City of Beaufort has moved forward with two waterfront projects and Burton, Sheldon Fire Districts conduct joint water supply training All this and more coming up on Beaufort County This Week!    From the Island Packet Proposed federal legislation would provide $16 million in water infrastructure funding to Beaufort and Hilton Head. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026 was passed by the Congressional Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 14, and earmarked in it are $10 million for the Town of Hilton Head and $6 million for the City of Beaufort.     WRDA legislative packages are passed every two years to fund water infrastructure projects nationwide. The 2026 WRDA awaits congressional approval before funds are distributed.  According to the WRDA, the $10 million authorized for Hilton Head will fund, “water and wastewater infrastructure, including stormwater management.” The WRDA does not list the uses of the $6 million authorized for Beaufort. A press release from the office of Rep. Nancy Mace said the funds are for “water and wastewater infrastructure.” City of Beaufort Finance Director Alan Eisenman said it may take one to four years for Beaufort to receive the funds once authorized by congress. Once received, the city will use the funds for the Port Republic and Carteret Streets drainage project, he said.        From the Post & Courier The city has moved forward with two projects related to the promenade at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park — including a search for a firm to help fix the failing riverside promenade now that the day dock has reopened.  The request for qualifications for design services represents a “meaningful step” toward restoring the promenade, City Manager Scott Marshall said in his July 20 newsletter.  The 1,200-foot-long riverside feature has been closed for more than a year. It sits atop a structure called a relieving platform, which was determined to be failing along with its support pilings due to erosion.  The city is seeking a “qualified multidisciplinary consultant team to provide marine, coastal, geotechnical and structural engineering services” among other services for the massive construction project expected to take place in the next few years, said Assistant City Manager Eric Claussen.  The RFQ was posted July 10. Responses are due by Aug.13.      From WTOC The Burton and Sheldon Fire Districts held their annual joint mobile water supply training Wednesday at Whale Branch Middle School.  The exercise focuses on transporting water to emergency scenes in areas of both districts where fire hydrants are not present, using high-capacity water tankers.  Burton Fire District Assistant Chief Jim Still said the yearly training is necessary to ensure crews are prepared before an emergency occurs.  “Perfect practice makes perfect, so if we wait till two in the morning when somebody has that unfortunate event, and we have to respond and deploy the resources appropriately, that’s not the time to learn,” Still said.  The joint mobile water supply training is one of several exercises the two districts conduct together annually to ensure smooth collaboration when responding to emergencies.                       And now here are  some events to get you Out and About this weekend! ***Out and About***     Thanks for listening to Beaufort County This Week! To learn more about BC TV, please head over to Beaufort County dot TV.  All Rights Reserved.

  10. Jul 17

    West Nile Virus has been detected in mosquitos in Beaufort County

    From the Island Packet The NWS issued a coastal flooding advisory Tuesday as the high tide was forecast to inundate coastal areas with 6 inches or more of water. This phenomenon is called high-tide flooding, and it occurs when weather and astrological variables push seawater above normal high marks. It’s concerning for the Lowcountry, since much of it is low-lying and susceptible to floods.     The NWS issued a coastal flooding advisory Tuesday as the high tide was forecast to inundate coastal areas with 6 inches or more of water. This phenomenon is called high-tide flooding, and it occurs when weather and astrological variables push seawater above normal high marks. It’s concerning for the Lowcountry, since much of it is low-lying and susceptible to floods.  And the 2026 El Niño could make high-tide flooding a more frequent issue. El Niño are known to exacerbate high-tide flooding, and this year’s El Niño is forecast to be very strong.   From the Post & Courier Changes are happening in Old Town Bluffton, but a new program ensures little disruption for visitors.  To maintain seamless access to local shops, restaurants and parks during ongoing infrastructure upgrades, the town of Bluffton has launched a free shuttle service. The 12-week pilot program, which is currently underway, partners with Hidden Treasures, a Bluffton-based tour service, to provide a free hop-on, hop-off shuttle. The guided-tour company typically showcases the history of Gullah culture in the area.  "They have contracted with the town in the past and have the beautiful golf carts to provide for this shuttle service," said Bluffton spokesperson Debbie Szpanka. "It’s a proactive thing we are trying to do to get people adjusted to the shuttles so that when the big projects get underway they will know how to navigate it all."  Operating Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., two eight-seat carts run a continuous loop. This allows visitors to bypass the search for parking during ongoing streetscape improvements. To ensure clear visibility, the town has established four designated stop locations marked with two-sided sandwich board signs. The shuttle loops continuously between Wright Family Parkat 111 Calhoun St., the corner of Mellichamp Drive and Bluffton Road, the M.C. Riley Sports Complex at 185 Goethe Road, and Oyster Factory Park at 63 Wharf St. From WTOC Beaufort County Mosquito Control has confirmed the first West Nile virus-positive mosquito samples of the year in Beaufort County. The samples were collected from surveillance trap locations in the City of Beaufort and tested in the agency’s laboratory.  Beaufort County Mosquito Control said it is increasing mosquito trapping in the identified areas and will schedule more truck treatment missions to reduce adult mosquito populations.  The agency said it deploys up to 80 mosquito surveillance traps each week throughout Beaufort County to detect mosquito-borne diseases including West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis virus, and St. Louis encephalitis virus. Officials said West Nile virus is naturally found in the area, but detection can vary from year to year.

  11. Jul 10

    Firefighters save bearded dragons in Beaufort.

    STORY 1 From WSAV  A loggerhead sea turtle nest laid on May 11 is the first of this season to hatch on Hilton Head Island. Sea Turtle Patrol HHI made the announcement Wednesday.  Approximately 30 hatchlings emerged Tuesday night. Sea Turtle Patrol HHI will watch the nest over the next few days to ensure an accurate count.  DNA analysis shows the turtle that laid the eggs in this nest also nested on Hilton Head Island in 2019, 2023 and 2026.               Story 2 From the Island Packet   Firefighters battled a fire at a downtown Beaufort house Monday evening and saved some dragons in the process. Fire crews arrived at 7:30 p.m. to find a working fire at the 2,000 square-foot Wilmington Street residence, according to Ross Vezin, a spokesman for the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department. Beaufort County EMS and Beaufort police also responded. Crews quickly extinguished the fire but that’s not all. They also rescued three pet bearded dragons being kept in an aquarium inside the residence.   Social media comments applauded the firefighters’ work in saving these pets, with commenters calling them heroes.                    Story 3  From the Post & Courier  The heat and humidity are unrelenting, and extreme heat advisories from the National Weather Service are blanketing the counties along the South Carolina coast. Doctors say these conditions can be more than just miserable, they could be dangerous. And that danger is increasing — between 1999 and 2023, more than 21,000 people died in the U.S. from heat-related illness, according to a study in JAMA Network. Those deaths more than doubled, from 1,069 in 1999 to 2,325 in 2023, the highest number of deaths so far, the study found. The combination of the heat and the humidity work against people in these hot conditions. The body tries to cool itself by sweating and the evaporation of sweat off the skin, which can release body heat. That becomes harder and harder as heat and humidity climb. It is already taking a toll in the Lowcountry, said Dr. Tejbir Dhindsa, medical director of the emergency room at Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital. While it is hard to know if it is more than previous years, “we are seeing a lot of heat-related illnesses,” he said. It runs the gamut — from feeling light-headed with some cramping to nausea, vomiting and the kidneys shutting down. And it is not just the heat and humidity that is dangerous if people aren’t careful about sun exposure, Dhindsa said. “We actually had to talk to a burn doctor yesterday about someone who had a pretty bad, extensive sunburn that had blistered and caused quite a bit of pain,” he said. Heat exhaustion can have symptoms of sweating, nausea, fatigue, dizziness, cool and clammy skin, and an elevated body temperature, said Dr. Diann Krywko, chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Heat stroke, the more severe condition, can see confusion, slurred speech, loss of consciousness and even liver or kidney failure, she said. The best advice, doctors said, is to avoid getting to that point in the first place. If you start to feel symptoms, stop what you are doing, go to a cool space, drink a lot of non-alcoholic fluids and try and hydrate.

  12. Jun 26

    Freedman Art District Increases Downtown Beaufort Presence

    STORY 1 From Post & Courier  Two city blocks in Beaufort’s historic Northwest Quadrant will soon be converted into a new cultural campus under an expansion plan announced by the Freedman Arts District. The nonprofit organization recently acquired the municipal properties at 1407 King and 600 Wilmington streets to launch the Freedman School of Arts, Crafts & Culture.  Local developer and Freedman Arts District board member Dick Stewart purchased the multi-property facilities through his real estate firm for $1,055,000 and intends to donate the buildings directly to the Freedman Foundation. Located close to the Pat Conroy Literary Center, the two buildings, approximately 8,000 square feet each, will help create a permanent downtown network focused on creative workforce education and neighborhood revitalization.  “We are eager to support the arts and preserve the history of the area,” Stewart said. “It’s very ambitious and I think it is going to have a lasting impact on our area and will serve as a hub and help us connect all the creative outlets we have in Beaufort.”  The project will repurpose a vacant former county government office and an active health department building into public spaces for hands-on learning. As part of the transition, the health department is leasing the space back from Stewart's firm until they finalize their relocation to a new facility.                Story 2 From WSAV    This week was runoffs for the South Carolina Primaries. In the Republican Governor race, Alan Wilson defeated Pamela Evette to earn the GOP bid. David Stumbo defeated Stephen Goldfinch to be the Republican Nominee for Attorney General. Cody Simpson defeated Danny Ford II for the Republican bid to be Ag Commissioner. Nancy Lacore defeated Mac Deford in the Democrat primary for US House District 1. On the Republican side of the District 1 primary Jenny Hosta Honeycutty beat Mark Smith. And in the Republican Primary for Beaufort County Council District 5 seat Joshua Hower defeated Mary Jeans Otto. Election Day is November 3, 2026. Head to BeaufortCountySC.gov/Vote or SCVotes.SC.Gov for more election information and to register to vote.                        Story 3  From Explore Beaufort SC From the depths of the ocean to USCB. A newly discovered species of deep-sea black coral has been named for Dr. Mercer R. Brugler, Chair of USCB’s Department of Natural Sciences and Professor of Marine Biology. “Leiopathes brugleri,” described by scientists from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History and international collaborators, inhabits deep waters from Texas to Florida and the Azores. The impressive tree-like corals can grow more than 2 meters tall and wide and may live for more than 4,265 years. These corals provide habitat for diverse marine life and are important indicators of ocean health. The discovery was published in the journal “Coral Reefs” on June 15, 2026. Dr. Brugler has dedicated more than two decades to studying the evolution and conservation of black corals, and this recognition celebrates his lasting contributions to marine science. Also of note is some other promising information concerning the Earth’s coral reefs. Breakthroughs in coral reef research published in mid-2026 reveal that approximately one-third of the world’s reefs are climate resilient. Scientists identified these vital refugia and are actively working on innovative, hybrid restoration projects to protect marine ecosystems.

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Beaufort County This Week brings you the top stories, interviews, and events from around the county, brought to you by BC TV. 

Information

  • Creator
    Beaufort County TV
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Beaufort County This Week