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JUNE 3–9, 2021 WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNTY
Beaufort River Swim back again and bigger
From left, Sue Dressler and Tami Conner set out to patrol Pritchard's Island for sea turtle nesting activity. Photos by Tess Malijenovsky.
Above and beyond Love pushes sea turtle volunteers of Pritchard’s and Little Capers islands to overcome obstacles
By Tess Malijenovsky
E
very year, more than 1,100 South Carolinians commit their summers to protecting and monitoring the nesting activity of sea turtles on our beaches from May to October. Of them, 16 dedicated volunteers truly go above and beyond the call of ordinary sea turtle patrol duty in Beaufort Country. They are the sea turtle volunteers of Pritchard’s and Little Capers islands. These two barrier islands on the fringe of the Atlantic are
wild, uninhabited, and only accessible by boat, during a specific tidal window. They are wilderness nesting homes for threatened loggerhead sea turtles, although the occasional endangered variety of sea turtle is also reported. Incidentally, Pritchard’s Island is one of Beaufort Country’s most nested beaches, with 108 nests last year. Its remoteness creates a number of logistical challenges for the small group of
SEE TURTLE PAGE A6
From staff reports There’s one Beaufort tradition that keeps getting bigger and bigger, and it’s only days away. The Wardle Family YMCA will be holding the 15th annual Beaufort River Swim (BRS) on Saturday, June 12, but this year, organizers have expanded the event to include more running events. The BRS+8K/5K not only includes the traditional 3.2-mile open water competitive swim and 1-mile Fun Swim, but additional running events and three Challenges: Run/ Swim/Run, Swim/Run, and Relay held over two days, June 11-12. Denice Fanning, Event Director and YMCA Healthy Living Program Director, has been planning this expanded 2-day event since last September’s successful BRS when a 5K was added. “Last’s year’s BRS was moved because of the pandemic, but we were able to hold a very successful event in September 2020, adding the 5K as a test,” Fanning said in a release. “We found there was a lot of pent-up demand for athletic events and that demand has certainly increased, so we have added an 8K timed run, a Kids Dash fun run, as well as the 5K run.” The 8K Run and Kids Dash will take place on Friday, June 11 starting at 5:45 p.m. in Port Royal at the Community Beer Garden/Sands Beach, and the 5K run will take place on Saturday, June 12 following the Beaufort River Swim, which stages at the downtown Beaufort Marina parking lot with check-in starting at 6 a.m. “We have set up three Challenges which will test the mettle of serious athletes such as triathletes, high school and college athletes and any multi-sport athlete who is up for the
Robert Morris, left, and Abby Morris, right, aboard their pontoon on the way to patrol Pritchard's Island for sea turtle nests.
SEE SWIM PAGE A4
LOWCOUNTRY LOWDOWN
Thanks Dominion for the heads up … NOT
A
BEAUFORT fter weeks of citizens’ complaints about tree cutting, folks from Dominion Energy paid a visit to the Beaufort City Council last week … but not to talk about tree limbs or troublesome palmettos. No, the regional corporate team came to tell the elected officials and those who came to listen their latest plans for improving electrical service to our rapidly growing area. For 30 minutes, the team outlined their plans for high-voltage distribution and transmission lines to serve, not just Beaufort, but the increasing residences east of the city, out on the islands. And those plans, to the shock and horror of those present, include the replacement of 115 wooden poles with taller, galvanized steel pillars,
LOLITA HUCKABY
similar to those already marching into town from Yemassee and crossing the Whale Branch. The six-mile path for new poles starts in Burton, will cross Battery Creek and run along Fraser Drive, down the Spanish Moss Trail, down Southside Blvd., over Ribaut Road to the Beaufort River. (Anyone wanting more details about the plan can check out the video of the May 25 city council
workshop meeting on the City of Beaufort’s Facebook page.) Maybe “shock and horror” are too severe words to describe the reaction of those few citizens in the live audience that night allowed to watch their local government at work. But the word “victimized” was one word used by an upset North Street area neighbor and that emotion seems more appropriate. Those concerned about the Dominion’s tree-trimming and palmetto-removing program have largely felt that way as they were told time and again, “the trimming is required for line safety.” And the City Council and staff believe their hands are tied to do anything about it. The Dominion folks did offer one
SEE LOWDOWN PAGE A5
Dominion Energy District Manager Even Wheeler reacts to a question regarding tree trimming and utility pole replacement from Beaufort City Council members during a work session Tuesday, May 26 in council chambers. A handful of residents from Frazer Drive, seen in background, were on hand to complain about the power company’s practices. Photo by Bob Sofaly.
NEWS
EDUCATION
INSIDE
Again, Beaufort named one of most patriotic cities.
Beaufort County School District honored with Military Purple Star distinction.
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