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From the Island News

The City of Beaufort’s City Council voted March 10 to pass amendments to the city’s single-use plastics ordinance on a first reading, making Beaufort the first municipality in Beaufort County to advance the measures. A second and final vote will be required before the rules take effect. The amendments, presented to council by City Manager Scott Marshall, significantly broaden the scope of the county’s original 2018 Plastic Bag Ordinance. Rather than simply addressing single-use plastic carryout bags, the revised ordinance transforms the chapter into a comprehensive single-use plastics and foam reduction policy.

What the ordinance would do

Under the amended rules, all plastic carryout bags would be banned outright. Stores would be required to offer customers reusable bags – specifically those made of cloth with stitched, not heat-sealed, handles. The ordinance would also prohibit businesses operating within city limits from providing to-go cups and food trays made of expanded polystyrene foam, commonly known as EPS or styrofoam. “No business establishment conducting business within the city limits may provide plastic carry-out bags or EDF disposable food service ware to its customers,” the amended regulations state.

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From the Island Packet

Cyclists, rejoice: a new scenic bike-friendly trail will open soon on Hilton Head Island. The Sea Pines Forest Preserve Foundation is putting “finishing touches” on a new bicycle-friendly trail in the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, according to comments from David Henderson, Director of Special Projects and Operations, during a March 3 meeting of the Sea Pines CSA Board of Directors. Residents and visitors will soon be able to enjoy walking or cycling through the woods on the new leisure trail.

“The experience is unique,” Henderson said at the meeting. “There’s nothing else like it on Hilton Head Island.” Where will the new trail be? The exact location of the new trail has not been confirmed by Sea Pines officials.

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WSAV

- The RBC Heritage tournament is proving again that it’s about much more than golf. The charitable organization, the Heritage Classic Foundation, is making a difference in the lives of the next generation of future leaders from the Lowcountry. 11 Beaufort County seniors were named Heritage Classic Foundation scholars for the 2025-2026 school year. The students come from five different high schools in Beaufort and Jasper County. Applications were reviewed by the scholar committee based on academic success, community service, essays written by the students and financial need. During Monday’s awards presentation, Heritage Classic Foundation Chairman Simon Fraser told the audience, “This is always an exciting day for the Heritage Classic Foundation. We believe the résumés of these young adults are stronger than ever. The teachers and administrators of our school systems, as well as the award winners, deserve special praise.”

The Kirby Scholarship, a one-year $4,000 scholar award, was created in memory of past Scholar Committee Chairman Ward Kirby and is granted every year. Two of the scholarships honor Scholar Committee chairmen who have passed, John Zimmerman and Mike Malanick. One honors the late Scholar Committee member Charlie Brown, and the Tartan Club Award recognizes the donations made by the Tartan Club. Created by the Heritage Classic Foundation, the Tartan Club is a group made up of individuals throughout the community who share a desire to help others through the awarding of scholarship grants for area students.

STORY 1

From the Island News
 The Beaufort County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Department (BCADAD), in partnership with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, is again participating in the DEA National Rx Take Back program that allows people to properly dispose of unused prescription drugs.

 The event will be held Saturday, October 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at two locations:

Beaufort County Bluffton Government Center, 4819 Bluffton Parkway, Bluffton;

Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Center, 2001 Duke Street, Beaufort.

 Drop-off is for pills only. Please do not bring liquids or sharps/needles. Both locations will have proper at-home disposal solutions for all who stop by.
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From the Island News October is a month of ghosts, hobgoblins, spirits and mischief. In celebration of Halloween season, Beaufort County Television (BCTV) kicks off a new series entitled Sea Island Spirits.

 Sea Island Spirits is based on different haunts in the Beaufort County area, sharing the history behind the most famous buildings, superstitions, and folklore. Multiple locals, historians, and folklore storytellers are interviewed and tell the story of each legend as they have heard and researched it.

 Episodes include local legends such as Bottle Trees, the Lands End Light, and Fort Mitchel.

 Sea Island Spirits airs on Wednesday at 8:30 and 10:30 p.m.

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From Bluffton Today, The southern area of Hardeeville in Jasper County will now have better communications, thanks to a brand new, 300-foot tower that helps to keep first responders safer. The tower was made possible due to partnerships between the City of Hardeeville, Jasper County and Motorola. The tower is located off US 17 on Speedway Boulevard.

 A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Sept. 30, with several dignitaries and city staff attending the event along with representatives from Motorola.

 "One of the greatest things happening today, not only is the city taking the lead on this and city staff getting involved; it is a collaborative effort with Jasper County for the good of everybody," Hardeeville Mayor Harry Williams said.

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 From the Island Packet, Nearly 300 Beaufort County high school students will be randomly drug tested each month as part of the district’s revamped efforts to deter drug use in schools. 

 Those eligible to be selected for testing include any high school student playing sports or participating in other voluntary extracurricular activities, such as robotics and debate clubs, and those with parking permits. Other students will not be tested. 

 The program is similar to testing the district implemented from 2015 until 2020 when it was paused due to COVID. It was polarizing among the community then. Now, we want to hear what you think. At least one school board member, who is also a parent, is outspoken against the policy.
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From the Island Packet  The Beaufort Academy volleyball team used a dominant postseason on its way to another state championship. 

 The Eagles defeated The King’s Academy, 3-1 (21-25, 25-14, 25-12, 25-12), to win the SCISA Class 2A championship on Monday at Wilson Hall in Sumter. 

 It was Beaufort Academy’s third state championship in program history, all coming since 2017. Beaufort Academy dropped the first set to the Lions and was down 8-7 in the second set before winning 17 of the next 24 points to even the match.

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From the Island Packet

Beaufort’s Bay Street is back in business after a $12 million storm drainage upgrade blocked vehicle traffic and hindered foot traffic into the city’s downtown business district for three long months. Gulf Stream Construction Inc. finished paving the intersection of Bay and Charles streets Friday and reopened it to traffic Monday. “We’re open for business!” Nan Sutton, the owner of Lulu Burgess, said in Facebook post announcing the reopening, as she stood, nearly dancing, in the middle of the intersection. “Woo-hoo!” The reopening of the intersection means vehicles can now easily reach downtown Beaufort from both directions of Bay Street — from both the Woods Memorial Bridge end, which had remained open, and the marina end, which had been closed.

Downtown Beaufort remained open, but the closure of the western entrance reduced both vehicle and pedestrian traffic through the holiday season, a critical time for downtown businesses.

“Our businesses need this,” Ashlee Houck, president and CEO of the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association, said of the reopening of the key intersection. “Downtown has been hit hard with the waterfront promenade closure, so this is what we need at this point in time. Some businesses didn’t last through January.” Besides the disruption caused by the stormwater drainage project, downtown businesses also are wrestling with the city’s closure of the promenade because of deterioration of the infrastructure underneath the Waterfront Park.

Houck says businesses are hoping the reopening of Bay and Charles streets will stabilize foot traffic. The Bay-Charles intersection is just a part of a year-long, $11.9 million stormwater drainage project called the Charles/Craven Street Stormwater Improvements. The project will replace 1900-era pipes and install tidal check valves along the waterfront to reduce chronic flooding from hurricanes and other storms. With opening of the intersection, work is now proceeding north up Charles Street.

From the Bluffton Today

SouthernCarolina Alliance is celebrating its 30th year of service to the South Carolina Lowcountry with several major announcements in 2026.

"As we ended 2025 with announcements and expansions in Colleton, Bamberg, Beaufort and Hampton counties, 2026 kicked off with a major economic development project announcement in Bamberg County," said Steve Murdaugh SCA Chairman in the SCA's February newsletter. "As SCA reflects this year on our 30 years of service to the counties of our region, we look forward to what's to come as our region remains a hub for investment and job creation."

The SCA is a non-profit regional economic development organization founded in 1996 that serves seven S.C. Lowcountry counties: Beaufort, Hampton, Jasper, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, and Colleton counties with the goals of attracting, retaining, and expanding business investments, particularly in the automotive, aerospace and manufacturing industries.