Community Corner

🌱 How a Beaufort County official misused staff for his home project

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Thursday December 18th Patch AM
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Morning Beaufort! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a Beaufort County official misused staff for his home project
  • Why a high-speed chase near Beaufort ended in 20 years prison
  • How did this Marine veteran quietly shape Beaufort’s working Sea Islands?

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Find out what's happening in Beaufortfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Periods of rain, with a high of 65 and low of 60 degrees.
  • Friday: Turning sunny; windy, temps: high: 67, low: 37.
  • Saturday: Plenty of sun, with a high of 63 and low of 41 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Ex-Beaufort Co. official violated ethics act by using staff for personal project (islandpacket.com) — A former Beaufort County capital projects director was found by the state Ethics Commission to have improperly used a subordinate’s work time and county resources to design a sunroom addition for his home. He received a public reprimand and must pay fines, fees, and reimburse Beaufort County for the value of the architectural work. Current county staff and taxpayers are directly affected by the ruling.
   

Find out what's happening in Beaufortfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

2. Hilton Head Island man sentenced to 20 years in fatal police chase crash (wjcl.com) — A man from Hilton Head Island has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a deadly 2020 crash that began when a Beaufort County deputy tried to stop him for speeding. Prosecutors say he sped through traffic at more than 80 mph before running a red light and killing another driver. Local investigators and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office were credited for building the case.
   

3. Veteran of the Week – Vera Gwin – The Island News – Beaufort, SC (yourislandnews.com) — Beaufort readers are introduced to Veteran of the Week, Vera Gwin, whose Marine Corps service and decades of work in education, relief services at MCAS Beaufort, and the S.C. Employment Office deeply connected her to the Sea Islands community. Her story highlights both military dedication and long-term support for local migrant workers and families.
   

4. Beaufort County acquires Melrose Landing on Daufuskie Island (wsav.com) — Beaufort County has bought Melrose Landing on Daufuskie Island for $1.4 million, taking over the main ferry dock that many local property owners rely on. Officials plan immediate safety repairs and future upgrades like reconfigured parking and possible restrooms to keep this critical water “road” reliable for island residents.
   

📸 Around Beaufort

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Beaufort

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Saturday December 20
  • STEAM Saturday Drop In
    Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center, 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie
    10:00 am

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events
    Friday December 19
  • Coffee with Colleagues Crawl in Downtown Beaufort
    Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce , 221 Scott Street , Beaufort
    8:30 am

📣 Beaufort Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Beaufort PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Just had a wonderful dinner at Criolo.
    Sat at the bar. Great bartender. Delicious food. It’s just a Tuesday night, so a bit quiet (It was Taco Tuesday!). But we all should want our… (Nextdoor Habersham)
  • BOLO for residents in Polk Village.
    I found a yellow legged hornet drone on the ground in my yard this morning stunned by the cold. I took it to the Clemson Extension office to be… (Nextdoor Polk Village)
  • Food Lion posted a job opening for PT Sales Associate Cashier in Beaufort. Apply here.
  • Beaufort County, SC posted a job opening for Equipment Operator I (General Support) in Beaufort. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Beaufort here.

Ok Beaufort! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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