🌱 SC HOP Pass Abortion Ban + Two Unclaimed Cremations Head Home

Morning, neighbors. I'm here with your weekend edition of the Hilton Head Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out all the things you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: Cloudy with a stray t-storm. High: 80 Low: 65.
• Saturday: Humid with a thunderstorm. High: 81 Low: 68.

Are you a real estate agent in Hilton Head struggling to get leads in the current housing market? It's tough out there, but there is a way to stand out from the crowd and attract new clients. Our exclusive sponsorship in the Hilton Head newsletter can help you do just that. Click here to learn more and discover how you can take your business to the next level today.

Here are the top three stories in Hilton Head today:

1. The South Carolina House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit most abortions in the state after about six weeks of pregnancy. House Democrats had submitted hundreds of amendments, but many of them were rejected by House Republicans. The legislation would ban most abortions about six weeks into a pregnancy with the exceptions of rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies, and the life of the mother, but critics claim that at that point, most women are unaware they are pregnant. In South Carolina, abortions are currently permitted up to 22 weeks into a pregnancy. The bill will be sent back to the Senate, where they will need to either accept revisions or refer the bill to a conference committee because it differs from the version they passed in February. (WSAV-TV)
2. The Beaufort County Coroner's office was able to contact the family of two unclaimed cremains buried in a mausoleum in Beaufort County, and they will be returning home this week. While clearing trees from his Spanish Wells Road property after Hurricane Matthew in 2016, an orthopedic surgeon found the remains of Paciano Lopez-Morales, 54, of Hilton Head, who had been missing since May 2015. According to Beaufort County Coroner David Ott, the coroner's office is currently organizing the return of his remains to his family in Mexico. According to Ott, a second set of cremains from Florida's Kissimmee resident Maria Telles-Gonzalez, 36, were returned to her family on Tuesday. Telles-Gonzalez was murdered in 1995, and until her DNA was submitted to an ancestry database in 2020, Telles-Gonzalez was only known to investigators as the "Beaufort County Jane Doe." Her death is still being investigated. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office revealed her identity in December 2022. (Yahoo)
3. Several top NFL and college football players in the country — including players from Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Clemson — are returning to Hilton Head Island High School this weekend to serve as instructors. The 2023 All-American Football Camp, open to boys and girls in grades K–8, is set for today, May 19, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. On Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, the camp will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The cost is $150 and includes instructions, a camp T-shirt, and an autographed poster. Walk-up campers are welcome. (WJCL News Savannah)

From our sponsor:

Today’s Hilton Head Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Hilton Head Patch newsletter possible.

Today and tomorrow in Hilton Head:

Friday, May 19

• 2023 Biennale: National Juried Art Exhibition Reception At Art League of Hilton Head Gallery (HHI) (5:00 PM)
• Live Music at Lincoln And South (6:00 PM)
• Comedy Magic Cabaret At South Island Square Shopping Center (8:00 PM)

Saturday, May 20

• Bravo Echo Echo Romeo At Lot 9 Brewing (4:00 PM)
• Live Music At Hurricane Bar (6:00 PM)
• Live Music At Fishcamp on Broad Creek (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Congratulations to the Hilton Head Island Fire & Rescue's 911 Communications Center for receiving Agency Training Program Certification, a Project 33 Initiative, from the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International. Public safety agencies use the Training Program Certification as a formal mechanism to ensure their training programs meet APCO American National Standards (ANS). Training for public safety telecommunicators is critical as they provide essential services to the public. Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue will be recognized at APCO’s 89th Annual Conference & Expo, taking place Aug. 6-9 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Hilton Head Island)
• Mark your calendars! Sunset Celebrations kicks off on Jun. 23 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Shelter Cove Towne Centre. Enjoy live and local music on Friday nights in the park, Jun. 23–Aug. 18, 7:00–10:00 p.m. Pick up takeout food from any SCTC restaurant or Kroger. Coolers and pets are welcome, and don’t forget to bring a beach chair or blanket. This event is free! (Hilton Head Island)
• The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office reports that as of 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, every person connected to the shooting on Tuesday in a mobile home park in nearby northern Beaufort has been identified. Tuesday at 5:50 p.m., shots were fired at the Independent Mobile Home Community off Shanklin Road. According to Maj. Angela Viens, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, no injuries were recorded, but gunshots damaged one property and three vehicles. The Sheriff's Office had earlier in the week requested assistance from the public in locating potential witnesses. (Yahoo)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! I'll see you back in your inbox soon with your next update.

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.