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FEBRUARY 3–9, 2022 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
Good question: What do the locals think?
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Suspect identified, warrants issued in Port Royal robberies, shooting
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
LOLITA HUCKABY
PRESORTED PERMIT NO. 97 BEAUFORT, SC 29902
By Mike McCombs Investigators with the Port Royal Police Department have identified a suspect in last Wednesday's robbery and shooting at the Parker’s at 1451 Ribaut Road. On Tuesday, Feb. 1, a Port Royal Municipal Judge issued arrest warrants for Shykeim Raykawan Wright for the charges of Attempted Murder, two counts of Armed Robbery,
Possession of a Weapon During the Commission of a Violent Crime and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Wright Wright has also been linked to and is being named as a suspect in the robbery at the Dollar General on Ribaut Road on
Monday, Jan. 24, and warrants are forthcoming for those crimes. According to Capt. John Griffith of the Port Royal Police Department, Wright should be considered armed and dangerous and anyone who comes into contact with him or anyone having information on his whereabouts should contact the Beaufort County Dispatch Center at 843-524-2777, the Port Royal Po-
lice Department at 843-986-2220 or Crime Stoppers at 843-554-1111. The Parker’s robbery According to Port Royal Police, at around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, a black male – allegedly Wright – walked into the convenience store wearing a blue sweatshirt, dark
SEE SUSPECT PAGE A5
ON THE WATERFRONT
A
LADY’S ISLAND zoning variance to accommodate a drive-thru shop, such as a Dunkin Donuts, on the Sea Island Parkway, was before the county Zoning Board of Appeals … again … last week. The third time did not prove to be the charm for developer Graham Trask, who was asked to come back with more site plans for his project. But the ZBOA discussion prompted an interesting question from one of the board members: “What do the ‘locals’ think about the project?” The board has heard from several residents opposed to the project because of traffic it would generate. But John Chemslak of Beaufort said he was interested in the “been here’s” versus the “come here’s.” Ironically one of those speaking in opposition to the project was Mayor Stephen Murray, who is a third-generation Beaufortonian. Makes you wonder how long you have to “be here” before your opinion can count.
Scott Hanna captured this photo of the Woods Memorial Bridge lit up and reflecting on the water on Thursday night from the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
Port Royal ramping up Ribaut Road focus PORT ROYAL – From Burger King to the bridge. That’s been Mayor Joe DeVito’s rallying cry practically since he got elected in 2019. Economic development along Ribaut Road, from the town limits at Burger King on Mossy Oaks Road to the Paris Island Bridge, is rising to the top of the Mayor and Town Council’s priority list, now that the sale of the Port of Port Royal property is completed and development anticipated to begin. The council has ramped up a steering committee to plan for growth along the corridor, along with 303 Associates and Dick Stewart, who has purchased several pieces of property in the area. It’s in the process of revitalizing its economic development board, again with Dick Stewart one of the
DHEC closes shellfish harvesting locations in Beaufort County due to sewage spill
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A4
SEE SEWAGE PAGE A4
Half a million gallons of wastewater released near Battery Creek
From staff reports The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has closed portions of shellfish harvesting beds in Beaufort County, effective immediately. Shellfish harvesting beds in all open areas of Battery Creek and portions of the Broad River from the Broad River Bridge south to Archers Creek and east to Malecon Drive in Parris Island are now closed for shellfish harvesting for
21 days due to a sewer line breach in the area. According to an earlier news release, Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority (BJWSA) reported that an estimated 500,000 gallons of wastewater was released Monday, Jan. 31, from a sewer force main into a tidal ditch lead-
Investigation ongoing in shooting that killed 3 on St. Helena Island
From staff reports The Beaufort County Sheriffs Office investigation is ongoing into a shooting Wednesday morning, Jan. 25, on St. Helena Island that killed three people. As of Tuesday, there was nothing new to report, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Maj. Bob Bromage said. At around 11:30 a.m., Jan. 25, Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a report of three adults wounded by gunfire at a residence on Eddings Point Road. When deputies arrived, deputies secured the scene for Beaufort County Emergency Services to tend to the wounded – two were pronounced dead at the scene, while another person was trans-
SPORTS
VOICES
INSIDE
Beaufort Academy’s Washington hits 1K as Eagles rout Mighty Lions.
Beekman Webb: “Beaufort County is a birdwatcher’s paradise.”
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Lowcountry Life A2 News A5 What’s Happening A6 Health A7–8 Education A9
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ported and later died at Beaufort Memorial Hospital. The Beaufort County Coroner's Office identified the three decedents as 55-year-old Robin Saunders of St. Helena, 22-yearold Kalila Saunders of St. Helena and 24-year-old Jaquan Sanders of Seabrook. Forensic autopsies were scheduled to be conducted Wednesday, Feb. 2 at the Medical University of South Carolina. Investigators processed the scene for forensic evidence and interviewed witnesses. Although the case remains under investigation, the Sheriff’s Office believes that all parties involved in the
SEE SHOOTING PAGE A3
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Open: Tues-Fri: 10am-5pm Sat: 10am-4pm | FREE ADMISSION! | 310 Okatie Highway | (843) 645-7774 | PortRoyalSoundFoundation.org