December 25 edition

Page 1

DECEMBER 25–31, 2025

WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM

Commission: Larson violated ethics rules

LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN

Ex-Beaufort County official used position to get a new sunroom on his house

LOLITA HUCKABY

By Delayna Earley The Island News A former high-ranking Beaufort County official has been found guilty of violating the South Carolina State Ethics code after a ruling passed down by the South Carolina Ethics Commission on Dec. 11. Eric Larson, who previously served as the Capital Improvements Project director for Beaufort County until he resigned

Port Royal gets holiday joy early

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PORT ROYAL nd so this is Christmas and what have you done?” The opening line of John Lennon’s famous “Happy Christmas” song might certainly ring a positive note for at least the town of Port Royal. Port Royalites heard earlier this month a progress report on the former State Ports Authority property which has been a topic of discussion since the port ceased operation in 2004. The current owners, Safe Harbor Marinas, have plans to develop a worldclass marina and waterfront with residential development on part of the Battery Creek waterfront. This past week, word came that the Naval Hospital Beaufort, which is actually in the town of Port Royal, might be considered as a training center for the U.S. Coast Guard. The government seems to think the facility has outlived its usefulness since opening in 1949 and alternate uses for the waterfront property located on the Intracoastal Waterway have also been a subject of much discussion in government circles. The Beaufort Economic Development Corporation, along with the local chamber of commerce, has submitted a proposal for the 127-acre property which the Coast Guard will be taking into consideration. The Veterans Affairs administration is also considering alternate sites to replace an outpatient clinic currently located in the Naval Hospital. One of three sites under consideration is in Port Royal, on Ribaut Road while the other two sites are reportedly on Robert Smalls Parkway within Beaufort city limits. And to top it off, the Spanish Moss Trail (SMT) which runs 10 miles through Beaufort and Port Royal out to Burton, is about to officially cross Ribaut Road and continue through Safe Harbor property down to the Sands recreational area. The crossing, which will be monitored by a pedestrian/cyclist

COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY

from the position in June 2024, about a month after a Beaufort County citizen filed a complaint with the S.C. Eric Ethics CommisLarson sion against him, was found to have knowingly used the county’s time and resources to have architectural plans drafted by a subordinate

to add a sunroom to him home, according to the S.C. Ethics Commission’s report. The ethics probe found that Larson violated the ethics act as it prohibits employees from knowingly using their position to obtain an economic interest, or anything more than $50, for themselves. The commission found Larson guilty of this and that he used county time and resources to cre-

ate the plan. The employee, Mark Sutton, was serving as a construction manager at the time but had previously done work as an architect as part of his job with the county and said that he was given the impression that he would be promoted to the County’s architect position if he did the plans for Larson.

SEE ETHICS PAGE A4

Participants run down the beach toward the water during the 2022 Pelican Plunge at Hunting Island State Park. Bob Sofaly/File/ The Island News

Head for the water

2 plunges make New Year’s tradition twice as nice By Delayna Earley The Island News Diving right into 2026, there are two plunges scheduled for New Years Day in Beaufort for those who want to start their year with a quick swim. Starting at noon at Hunting Island State Park, the 16th annual Pelican Plunge will be gearing up for their 1 p.m. plunge. There will be a costume parade at 12:30 p.m., food trucks and prizes available.

SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A3

The price to plunge is $5 for a child and $10 for an adult. All proceeds benefit Friends of Hunting Island in their work to support Hunting Island State Park. Tickets are available for purchase in advance at FriendsOfHuntingIsland.org Entrance into Hunting Island is not included for non-Friends of Hunting Island members, although becoming a member gets free event day entry and 2026 access to Hunting Island State Park.

The festivities will be held at the Lighthouse Complex in the park. After jumping into the Atlantic Ocean at Hunting Island, there is still time to head over to the second plunge of the day in the area, the newer Pirate Plunge at the Sands Beach in Port Royal. The annual New Year’s Day Pirate Plunge, started in 2024, is back again this year to raise money for CAPA and their Dancing With Our

SEE PLUNGE PAGE A5

Fireworks will light up Beaufort’s sky on New Years Eve

By Delayna Earley The Island News The fireworks will be returning to downtown Beaufort’s waterfront on New Year’s Eve this year during their annual New Year’s Eve Celebration hosted by the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association (BAHA) and Harris Teeter. The event is to take place over the Beaufort River on Wednesday,

Dec. 31, at 9 p.m., “creating an unforgettable experience for all in attendance,” according to the association’s Facebook page. Fireworks do not happen frequently in downtown, as they are typically reserved for the opening of the 10-day-long Beaufort Water Festival held in July every year and on New Year’s Eve for the past several years. The BAHA hopes to “grow this

event into a celebration of past, present and of course new, “and turn it into an annual event that locals and guests can look forward to attending every year. While the best place to see the fireworks would be from Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort, so bring a blanket for waterfront viewing and arrive early to get a good spot.

The display can also be enjoyed from many other locations along the water, such as Lady’s Island and other areas of downtown. Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.

Hundreds of people braved the chilly weather and gathered at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park on Sunday night, Dec. 31, 2023, to usher in the new year with a festive fireworks show over the Beaufort River. Bob Sofaly/ File/The Island News

NEWS

HEALTH

VOICES

INSIDE

HBF’s Sundrla earns Martha Washington Medal.

Small ways to move more during a busy holiday season.

Graber: “Oyster factory, shuckers remain lost to Port Royal history.”

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Lowcountry Life A2 News A2–6 Sports A7 Health A9–10 Voices A11–12

Military A13 Legals A14–17 Directory A18 Classifieds A19 Games A19


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