STORY 1

The City of Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department responded about 6pm Sunday evening to a report from a driver on the Russell Bell Bridge that a kitten had fallen through a storm drain and become stuck in pluff mud. With the use of some “creative rescue tactics”, the tiny orange kitten was retrieved and brough to it’s new foster home for bath. The City of Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Department requested assistance from Parris Island Fire and Emergency Services to utilize air tracks for the rescue. Beaufort County Animal Services asks all pet owners to have their pets spayed and neutered to reduce overpopulation. If you are the hero a shelter pet is waiting for, visit Beaufort County Animal Services campus at 10 Pritcher Point Road in Okatie to find your new best friend.

Story 2

For the past two years, Beaufort County has partnered with AccessNow to increase accessibility awareness at Beaufort County’s passive parks and preserves. This was the first project of its kind in South Carolina, focusing on informing the public about accessibility on ten popular parks and preserves.

Three properties were mapped in 2024 to kick off the project at Crystal Lake Park, Fort Fremont Preserve and Widgeon Point Preserve. An additional seven properties were mapped in 2025 at Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve, Brewer Memorial Park, Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve, Green’s Shell Park, Oyster Factory Park, Whitehall Park, and Wright Family Park.

AccessNow’s mission is to establish a go-to resource for accessibility information. Their platform empowers people to discover a world of accessible opportunities and remove barriers.

This mapping project identifies accessibility information for the trails, parking, restrooms, as well as various other amenities and potential navigational hazards on the ten properties. These accessibility maps can be viewed from the Land Preservation Department webpage or the AccessNow website.

The Land Preservation Director, Stefanie Nagid, emphasized the significance of the project, stating, “It has been such a great experience collaborating with AccessNow these past two years. The maps are so helpful in providing information to our community, so visitors know what to expect when they arrive on the properties, and helpful to inform staff on areas of improvement. I look forward to incorporating their suggestions on future park projects and addressing any existing needs.”

The Land Preservation Department also offers three all-terrain wheelchairs free for public use. These chairs can be reserved through filling out and emailing the fillable pdf reservation form here.

For more information on Beaufort County passive parks and preserves, to view environmental education program schedules, and to stay updated on much more, please visit the Land Preservation Department webpage.

For more information about AccessNow’s Outdoor program, please click here.