While much has been accomplished, there is still much more to do, which is why I’m announcing that I will be running for reelection for mayor this fall. I’m grateful for your support during my first term and the encouragement from many of you to go for another four years.
As many of you know, my journey serving our city began in 2010, when my wife, Laurie, and I first moved to the island. We joined the IOP Methodist Church, where I served on the Finance Committee. I then became a board member of the Wild Dunes Community Association. Eight years later, I joined the Planning Commission, which is responsible for reviewing large-scale, strategic projects for IOP. During this time, I heard neighbors’ concerns, which weren’t being met, and ran for City Council hoping to help. I was fortunate enough to win a seat on City Council and began serving in 2020— arguably the worst year ever to start a political career during
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SUNRISE PRESBYTERIAN RELEASES STATEMENT ON MAY 1 INCIDENT
BY REV. DR. VANCE POLLEY
The following statement was released by Rev. Dr. Vance Polley, Pastor of Sunrise Presbyterian Church regarding the May 1 hit-and-run incident on their property:
Friends,
Sullivan’s Driver Charged with Three Counts of Attempted Murder
BY BRIAN SHERMAN
Two children and an adult were injured May 1 when a man drove a car at a high rate of speed across the parking lot and into the playground at Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivan’s Island.
Dispatch Center indicated that the suspect had left the scene in a black sedan. A second emergency call reported that a black sedan had struck several victims at the church, which is located at 3222 Middle St.
(continued on page 2)
You may have already heard about the hit and run at Sunrise today. Tragically, it was not an accident. The individual intentionally drove his vehicle at Veritas children on recess in the big field at the church. He drove from Jasper Blvd. across the field towards Middle Street. He then circled back. He hit two children and a mother. One child was treated on the scene and released to parents.
Justin Collin Adams, 36, of Mauldin, South Carolina, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of assault and battery in the first degree, according to the Charleston County Sheriff’s Department. He fled the scene on foot and was apprehended several hours after the incident in a boat docked behind a home in the 3200 block of Jasper Boulevard. As of May 2, he was being held at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston.
According to Sullivan’s Island Police Chief Glenn Meadows, officers from his department were dispatched to a call at 12:46 p.m. in the 2700 block of I’On Avenue concerning a person who was armed with a knife. Moments later, a call from the Charleston County Consolidated
According to the Sheriff’s Department, Adams drove the 2018 black Chevrolet Malibu across the parking lot and into the playground area, where it struck a 12-year-old boy, who was transported to a local hospital. The vehicle, still traveling at a high rate of speed, “appeared to chase the children as they ran,” according to the Department’s description of offense report. The car then struck a teacher, who was thrown over the hood and roof of the vehicle. Adams apparently continued his rampage on a sidewalk where children were running for cover and struck a 10-year-old boy, who was pinned under the Malibu. With the car’s airbags deployed, Adams chose to escape on foot.
According to the church’s
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Justin Collin Adams, 36, of Mauldin, South Carolina, was apprehended several hours after the incident in a boat docked behind a home on Jasper Boulevard.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Mayor Pounds.
TPUBLISHERS OF:
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CONTRIBUTORS:
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Brian Sherman
Matthew Storen LENS
Robbie Berg
Mike Walsh
Sarah Harper
Tammy Cox
John Nelson
Katherine Berry
Geoff Bennett
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New Tools IOP POLICE RECEIVE LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT
BY MATTHEW STOREN
Op-eds and Letters to the Editor do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lucky Dog Publishing or its staff.
he Isle of Palms Police Department (IOPPD) will be equipped with life-saving equipment thanks to a donation from a local business group, the Isle of Palms Family Vacation Rental Group (FVRG).
The FVRG purchased two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for the department. The goal is to have these critical life-saving tools readily available in patrol vehicles and allterrain vehicles patrolling the beach during the busy summer months.
Formed in 2024, the IOP FVRG is made up of 17 members and is co-chaired by Mel Miles of Exclusive Properties. The group
Sunrise Statement
Continued from page 1
The mother and child were taken to the hospital (I understand the second child has been released from the hospital). Please hold these families in your prayers, as well as all of the Veritas families as they have to cope with this terrifying experience.
As of the writing of this email, the assailant had not yet been apprehended. The Fellowship Hall is being used by the police and the church grounds are a crime scene. The assailant’s car was abandoned after destroying railing along the ramp to the Fellowship Hall.
Hannah (our Church Administrator) has been amazing! Her calm presence and leadership has made a tremendous difference. I am flying home from Seattle tomorrow morning. Please feel free to reach out to me tonight or text me tomorrow while I am in the air.
Please surround everyone affected by this tragedy with your prayers.
Vance
Mayor Pound
Continued from page 1 the pandemic!
There are still many large, longterm projects competing for limited resources on the city’s horizon, and I would like to continue to offer my help as mayor in solving these for the benefit of all IOP stakeholders. My background and experience will help manage the many competing priorities while ensuring we maintain the quality of life in our part of paradise.
This 2025 election, I would be honored to receive your vote.
With your support, I can hit the ground running, and thanks to this island’s unbridled spirit, preserve our tradition of excellence.
Sincerely yours, Phillip Pounds
was established to improve communication and livability with residents.
“Representing approximately 90% of all professionally managed properties, we are committed to being responsible and caring members of the Isle of Palms community,” said FVRG co-chair Mel Miles. “We believe that by working together, we can create a harmonious environment that benefits the residents and vacationers who all love and cherish IOP.”
AEDs are life-saving devices that analyze heart rhythms and deliver an electric shock to restore a normal rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest.
Sullivan’s Incident
According to the American Heart Association, 9 in 10 cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an AED in the first minute survive.
“We are very grateful for the support the IOP FVRG has shown our agency since the group was formed,” said Chief of Police Kevin Cornett. “This donation adds one more tool for our officers to accomplish the department's mission of serving and protecting all who live, work and visit the Isle of Palms.”
The AEDs were purchased by the IOP FVRG with no taxpayer funds used. If the program is successful, the agency hopes to add two more devices next year.
Continued from page 1
newsletter, one child was treated at the scene, a second child was released from a local hospital and the adult had broken bones and was scheduled for surgery May 2.
Shortly after the incident at the church, with the suspect on the loose and believed to be armed, Sullivan’s Island Town Administrator Joe Henderson issued a “shelter in place” warning to island residents. Jasper Boulevard and Middle Street eastbound were closed from Station 32 to the Breach Inlet Bridge.
“An armed assailant is at large, suspected in the area wearing red shirt, dark shorts, heavyset white male, balding with facial hair; last seen on foot on Jasper Boulevard between Station 30 and Station 32 Street,” the warning said.
Meadows pointed out that law enforcement officers from the Sullivan’s Island and IOP Police Departments, along with fire and rescue personnel from both islands, responded immediately, and a search for the suspect was launched while emergency responders aided the victims.
Spotted by a Sheriff’s Department helicopter, Adams was located and apprehended at 5:53 p.m. Meadows said more than 130 officers from a long list of agencies participated in the operation, including the FBI; Department of Homeland Security; National Park Service; Naval Criminal Investigative Service; U.S. Marshals Service; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Department of Natural Resources and State Ports Authority; Charleston County Emergency Management, Radio Communications, Fire and Rescue Service, School District Security and Emergency Management and Sheriff’s Department; College of Charleston Department of Public Safety; and police departments from Sullivan’s Island, Mount Pleasant, Charleston and Isle of Palms.
IOP Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Matt Storen said 13 people with his department were on hand to help, “everyone from the chief on down to the animal patrol officer.” IOP’s drone was employed to help with the search for the suspect.
Going Wild, Child?
LENS TRIATHLON BRINGS THE IOP COMMUNITY TOGETHER FOR A JOYFUL DAY OF YOUTH ATHLETICS
BY LENS WILD CHILD TRIATHLON TEAM
Nearly 100 young athletes, ages 6 to 12, raced through Wild Dunes Resort on Sunday, April 27, as part of the second annual LENS Wild Child Triathlon—a celebration of fitness, fun and community spirit hosted by the Isle of Palms Law Enforcement Neighborhood Support (LENS) Foundation.
Set against a backdrop of sunshine and sea breeze, the triathlon featured ageappropriate swimming, biking and running segments throughout the resort’s scenic core. Sponsored by the LENS Foundation, Wild Dunes Community Association, Wild Dunes Resort and generous community members, the event highlighted the power of collaboration and the island’s commitment to youth wellness and safety.
“Great weather, great event, and the smiles on the kids’ faces made it worth getting up early on a Sunday.” said Isle of Palms Mayor Phillip Pounds. “This is
a great community event where almost 100 kids participated— which means at least another 100-plus parents bringing their children—and countless organizers and volunteers that made this second annual Wild Child event another success.”
Originally launched in February 2024, the Wild Child Triathlon is one of several LENS-led initiatives designed to promote education, family connection and public safety.
Other programs hosted throughout the year include water and boating safety days, bicycle rodeos, golf cart education, and hands-on crabbing and fishing events—all with the goal of strengthening the bond between residents and local first responders.
“This event is about more than just the finish line,” said Carolyn Foti, event coordinator. “It’s about creating joyful, empowering moments for kids and reminding us all how special our community is when we come together.”
While some participants pushed for a personal best, every child was met with applause and encouragement.
Jim Anderson, an Isle of Palms resident, overheard a group of girls pedaling side by side during the biking leg, shouting “girl power.”
Meanwhile, one boy who missed a turn and detoured into a driveway laughed it off by announcing, “I’m not that great at turns.” From training wheels to finish-line sprints, every moment underscored the day’s playful, positive spirit.
A special thank-you goes to the Isle of Palms Police Department, which helped keep the course secure and the kids safe as they swam, pedaled and ran their hearts out.
The above sign at the event said it all. PHOTOS BY BOBBY CARRIER
Battery Gadsden to Present Roy Williams Lecture
May is Historic Preservation Month, and on Tuesday, May 20, the Battery Gadsden Cultural Center will present its second annual Roy Williams Memorial Lecture on Historic Preservation. This year’s speaker will be Brittany Lavelle Tulla, proprietor and lead architectural historian at BVL Historic Preservation Research LLC, a Charleston-based architectural history firm that provides research and consulting services.
With a commitment to unearthing the soul, identity and history of old buildings, places and communities, Tulla is driven by her passion to “humanize” historic America. Established in 2012, BVL HPR has served a diverse array of clients, including municipalities and individual communities, in their efforts to better understand and honor the places they revere. The firm has conducted more than 100 house histories for historic homeowners nationwide and has assisted dozens of communities — from historically Black farming settlements in rural South Carolina to dense Main Streets in thriving downtowns — in protecting and preserving the historic character and culture of America’s built environment.
Tulla has received national and local recognition for the
Two Dead after Rescue from Breach Inlet
BY CHRISTIAN SENGER
Two people have died after being rescued from Breach Inlet on Tuesday, May 6. The victims, identified by the Charleston County Coroner’s Office as Yoselin Lopez-Perez, 18, and Guillermo QuinteroCamacho, 28, were pulled from the water at approximately 3:50 p.m. and transported to the Medical University of South Carolina in downtown Charleston.
According to the coroner’s office, Lopez-Perez was pronounced dead at 4:22 p.m. that day, while QuinteroCamacho was pronounced dead at 1:14 a.m. Wednesday, May 7. The cause of death was drowning.
At around 3:18 p.m. May 6, Sullivan’s Island Fire & Rescue responded to an emergency call for two people in distress in the waters of Breach Inlet. Upon arrival, responders said they retrieved an unconscious female, while an unconscious male was recovered on the Isle of Palms side of the inlet. Both had reportedly been seen struggling in the water before the rescue attempt.
BY MIKE WALSH
firm’s research and dedication to preserving America’s story, including being named to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 40 Under 40: People Saving Places list. She has served as a keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies, national interest groups, municipalities, schools and preservation programs across the country on the value and power of historic preservation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Elon University and a Master of Science in historic preservation from Clemson University.
Tulla will build on last year’s inaugural Williams Lecture, presented by Kristopher King, which focused on the historic character and architectural typologies of Sullivan’s Island. Her lecture, titled “Every Building Has a Story: The Powerful Role Historic Research Plays in the Field of Historic Preservation,” will explore how understanding a building historically is integral to understanding it architecturally.
“I plan to provide case studies in which we let the building’s
story and historic fabric ‘take the lead’ during a restoration/ rehabilitation, as well as unexpected, powerful histories we have had the honor of uncovering during preservation projects,” Tulla said. “I conclude the talk by honoring the generation of historic researchers who came before us, including Roy Williams. Their work in the mid- to late 20th century has truly set the foundation for the current generation of historic preservation professionals in advocating for the character and historic integrity of our Lowcountry communities.”
The Second Annual Williams Lecture will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Sunrise Presbyterian Church, 3222 Middle St., Sullivan’s Island. A reception will follow in the church’s Fellowship Hall, offering a chance to meet the speaker and discuss her presentation. Battery Gadsden’s speaker events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Battery Gadsden Cultural Center at batterygadsden@gmail.com.
(top) Lavelle Tulsa. (above) Roy Williams. PHOTOS PROVIDED
Painted Bunting Returns to Sullivan’s for Fifth Year
BY SARAH HARPER
It has been an exciting spring season at the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station (SIBBS)! We have found several surprise birds in our nets, including a wood thrush, a northern waterthrush, and several adult male common yellowthroats. All three species are migrants using the protected land as a stopover location during their spring journeys to their breeding grounds.
The biggest surprise of all came when we recaptured an adult male painted bunting that we originally banded on April 21, 2020. We have recaptured this bird every year since— usually on or very close to April 21. I strongly believed the bird had perished, since this highly punctual male had yet to be sighted and was running a full eight days late. Much to our surprise, we recaptured him on April 29 and breathed a sigh of relief.
Site fidelity to breeding grounds has been recorded in many migratory songbird species. These tiny creatures use the stars, magnetic fields and day length to orient themselves
in time and space. Banding data has shown that many songbirds depart the tropics and arrive on their breeding grounds on the exact same dates each year. Weather systems can delay their timing and occasionally throw them off course.
Thankfully, this painted bunting successfully returned to his favorite cedar tree on Sullivan’s Island at Station 16, with only a minor flight delay! If you would like to volunteer or visit the Sullivan’s Island Bird Banding Station, email Sarah at sullivansislandbirds@gmail.com.
IOP Rec to Offer a Kids Birding Program in June
BY TAMMY COX
The City of Isle of Palms Recreation Department will offer a Kids Birding Program for ages 7–12 on June 4, 11, 18 and 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Guided by expert birder and Holy City Birding owner Charles Donnelly, the program is handson and focused on providing fun, educational ways to get kids excited about birds. It includes live birding adventures to identify birds visually and by sound.
In addition to the four-week onsite program, participants will receive a 12-month Holy City Birding Kids Birding Membership. The membership introduces a new bird each month and encourages kids to get outside to look, listen and learn.
The membership includes:
• A youth hat with 12 attachable bird patches
• 36 birding challenges
• Learning cards
• Bird badges
• Bird achievement stickers
• A completion certificate and Junior Birder Patch
For more details and to register, visit IOP.net.
Holy City Birding owner Charles Donnelly. PHOTOS PROVIDED
Hidden Hunters EXPLORING NORTH AMERICA’S AQUATIC CARNIVOROUS PLANTS
BY JOHN NELSON
The best time to see this plant is in the morning, just as the sun rises, while you quietly paddle in the backwater end of a pond or perhaps inside a mysterious Carolina bay. By the hundreds, the modest flowers, rising from their slender stalks, collectively resemble bright pink candle flames dancing over the dark water.
This is an aquatic, carnivorous plant, of course. It is just one of about 70 species and taxonomic varieties of "meat-eating" (or "insectivorous") plants in North America, spread across several genera. Worldwide, there are additional genera and species, but the majority are North American. Carnivorous plants became a focus of naturalists' attention with the publication of Charles Darwin's Insectivorous Plants in 1875, and our fascination with them has continued. Perhaps the most well-known local terrestrial carnivorous species include the bizarre Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), which occurs naturally only in the Carolinas, as well as various pitcher plants (species of Sarracenia), which are broadly distributed in the Southeast.
Our mystery plant, however,
is a fully aquatic species, most often found floating in the still waters of ditches, ponds, or blackwater creeks. It is not rare and is fairly common from eastern Canada to Wisconsin and south along the coastal plain into southern Florida. The elongated stems, often brownish or red, float just below the surface and are not rooted. Along their length, the stems bear rings of branches (there are no leaves). Each branch is divided into threadlike segments, many of which bear tiny, bladder-like
structures that serve as traps. Minute invertebrates, including insects and their larvae, often end up inside these bladders after touching sensitive trigger hairs, causing the bladder to suddenly open and suck the victim inside. Nutrients from the trapped creatures are slowly absorbed by the plant’s tissues, providing a convenient way to acquire "fertilizer" in a watery environment.
The flowers, though, have nothing to do with trapping insects. They function in seed production. One or two (sometimes up to five) pink or purple flowers will bloom, attached to the stem by a slender stalk, emerging a few inches above the water. Each delicate blossom has a prominent upper and lower lip; after the blooming period, a small capsule forms. The seeds are tiny and covered in numerous pointy bumps.
Insectivorous plants, as a group, are one of the most fascinating subjects of biology, and with good reason. Beneath their beautiful, meek exteriors, killers lurk. (For more information, see Donald E. Schnell’s Insectivorous Plants of the United States and Canada, revised edition, published by Timber Press.)
John Nelson is the retired curator of the Herbarium at the University of South Carolina. As a public service, the Herbarium offers free plant identifications. For more information, call 803-7778175 or email johnbnelson@sc.rr. com.
PHOTO BY JOHN NELSON
ONE LUCKY DOG
MIKE TYSON
Interpreted by: Katherine Berry
OWNER NAME: George, Kelly and George Murphy
AKA: Mikey T & Bubba
AGE: 8 years
BREED: Havanese
FAVORITE TOY: Tiny squeaky toys
FOOD: Homemade
VET: Animal Medical Center of Mt. Pleasant
Don’t let the fluff fool you. I may be small, but I’m mighty— hence the name Mike Tyson. I came into this lucky dog life as a special delivery. At first, I looked more like a gerbil than a gladiator. My family had questions. But nope—confirmed: I’m 100% bona fide dog, just with a compact, extremely handsome frame. Think big dog energy, pocket-sized edition.
My family is perfect. My mom is my soulmate. I actually came to rescue her. We do everything together—yoga, beach strolls, silent meditation (she thinks they’re naps, but I’m meditating to strengthen my superpowers). She calls me her “little Buddha dog,” which feels accurate. I’m basically a Zen master in fur pants.
Around town, I’m kind of a big deal. They call me the beach boss. I’ve got the best hair on the island—when I run, it flows in slow motion like there’s theme music playing. But don’t get it twisted—when it’s time to retrieve, I go from shampoo commercial to lightning bolt real fast.
I enjoy life to the fullest—but I’ve got healthy boundaries:
• Do not dress me up. Put me in a costume, and I become a statue. Hard pass.
• I need to be with you—but I don’t need to be on you. Cuddling? Not my thing. Doesn’t mean I don’t love you endlessly—I just express it differently.
• Drama? No, thank you. Bring that into my calm bubble, and
you’ll meet The Stare. Ask the other dogs on the beach or any unruly puppy in need of a vibe check. I’m like Professor X in dog form—using empathy and quiet confidence to lead the pack peacefully.
My brother outweighs me by 70 pounds and stands like a skyscraper, but when I lock eyes and give The Look, he melts like butter on a hot sidewalk. I breathe in the beach air and exhale all my worries. Salty, sandy and free—that’s how I roll. With 15 pounds of pure heart and paws full of peace, I live to love. My family is my soul tribe, and I’m their perfect “Bubba Buddha Dog.”
Thank you for letting me be your little guru, your shadow, your comic relief and your heartbeat with fur. I love you more than words (or tail wags) will ever say.
Redfish, Trout, and Sharks: What’s Biting Now
BY CAPT. GEOFF BENNETT
What a perfect time to be fishing! With our waters now full of bait, the fish are eating heartily. Almost all the summer seasonal species have arrived and, when combined with our traditional game fish, provide a wide range of options for anglers. If your fishing season hasn’t yet begun, there’s no better time to get going.
Redfish have been making quick work of any well-placed bait. Be sure to bring along your cast net and try catching some finger mullet or the soon-to-bearriving menhaden. We’ve had the most luck around rock walls, docks and other structures while fishing live bait on a Carolina rig. Make sure to use a weight heavy enough to hold the bait stationary; otherwise, your rig will drift along the bottom until it snags.
It’s that time of year for topwater trout action at first light! Heddon’s Super Spook Jr. in their silver mullet color works great, but my favorite is the chartreuse and black. Vary your retrieve as you work these lures back to the boat. This is a lure you need to reel tight to the fish before raising your rod tip—
good luck with that as a violent boil erupts around your lure!
Once the topwater bite slows, suspended twitch bait lures can
sharpnose and blacktips—are already prevalent. You'll start to see shark fins slicing through the water as they seek out food in skinny water and forage along drop-offs in the inlets and harbor. Chunks of cut bait, blue crab and live shrimp all work well on these predators. I favor 7/0 circle hooks and just leave the rods in the holders. Shark fishing can be a great way to get young anglers involved, as sharks are usually cooperative and put up a great fight.
See you on the water!
keep the action going a little longer.
Sharks are back, and several species—like bonnetheads,
For the past 16 years, Capt. Geoff Bennett has operated Charleston Charter Fishing, providing light tackle fishing charters. Clients choose from a full menu of options, with charters tailored to their desires. USCG licensed and insured, Capt. Bennett is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable charter to anglers of all skill levels and ages. For more information, call Capt. Bennett at 843-324-3332, visit charlestoncharterfishing. com, or email him at captain@ charlestoncharterfishing.com.
Allan and Jan Stevens from Summerville holding a redfish.
