Agente Hipotecario en Beaufort, SC

Last year, thousands of acres of land that had been slated for development were permanently protected, paving the way for a new state forest to be created near the Beaufort and Jasper county border.

The 2,700-acre Chelsea Plantation tract will open to the public soon under management by the South Carolina Forestry Commission, after being purchased from developers last year by The Nature Conservancy.

What was once land that would be dotted with thousands of homes, will soon become the new Chelsea State Forest.

“Chelsea’s fate was one of this region’s major tipping points for the future of its wildlife habitat, historical character, and water quality,” said Dale Threatt-Taylor, executive director, TNC-SC, when the land was purchased last year.

“Developing Chelsea would have ushered in a new era of expansion in an already fast-growing region. We weren’t willing to leave it to chance.”

The purchase of Chelsea secured more than seven miles of frontage along Hazzard Creek, which drains into the Broad River and is part of Port Royal Sound watershed. The water frontage also acts as a critical saltwater marsh migration corridor that will help the area adapt to future ecosystem changes and protect the water quality in Port Royal Sound. Additionally, the property expands an existing corridor of protected longleaf pine forests, which are vital for game and non-game wildlife.

The property was highly targeted for development, due to its prime location in the US Highway 278 corridor that connects Hilton Head to I-95 and significant developable water frontage. Residents of the small communities that dot the area and citizens of nearby Beaufort County were largely against those plans.

“I think it’s a true win for the community to now be able to come out and enjoy this space and enjoy it forever, Director of Conservation for the Open Land Trust Caylor Romines told WTOC last week. “They are going to be able to bring generations out here and tell their kids and grandkids about the fight they had and why it’s worth it to stand up for what you believe in.”

When Chelsea State Forest opens, officials say very little of the landscape will be changed, with the exception of taking down some private property signs and establishing public entrances to the land.

As for a time frame on its opening, the South Carolina Forestry Commission is currently evaluating the property and developing a comprehensive management plan, and an official opening date will be announced once their evaluation is complete.

BEAUFORT, S.C. – Beaufort Memorial has been nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a 2026-2027 Best Regional Hospital, with eight of its programs highlighted for delivering exceptional care in the Lowcountry.

For the 2026-2027 year, Beaufort Memorial ranks at number 7 in the state among U.S. News’ latest “Best Regional Hospitals” edition, in a list of 505 best regional hospitals recognized nationwide.

“This recognition as a U.S. News ‘Best Regional Hospital’ is a tremendous honor,” said Beaufort Memorial President and CEO Russell Baxley. “It reflects the unwavering commitment of our skilled, growing team to delivering high-quality care to our patients, their families and the Lowcountry community. Our patients can feel confident they are receiving not only compassionate, community-focused care at Beaufort Memorial, but care that delivers exceptional outcomes.”

In this annual study, U.S. News evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and conditions. Only 16% of evaluated hospitals earned a “Best Hospitals” designation. Ten South Carolina hospitals and health systems landed on this list; Beaufort Memorial ranks beside large metropolitan systems such as MUSC Health, Prisma Health, McLeod and Roper in Charleston, Greenville and Columbia.

Beaufort Memorial was named a high-performing healthcare provider in the following areas of care:

Additionally, the organization’s orthopedic program was high-performing across the board in all four of its measured conditions and procedures of:

This achievement comes just weeks after Forbes named Beaufort Memorial one of only three South Carolina health systems to receive a 5-star overall rating in its inaugural “Top Hospitals by State” rankings.

“We are proud to be recognized alongside some of the state’s largest health systems as we remain committed to serving our Lowcountry community,” Baxley said. “As we continue to grow and invest in innovative care, our focus remains the same: ensuring this region’s residents have access to nationally recognized healthcare services close to home.”

Robert Smalls principal appeared in City Council candidate’s video filmed on school property

The Island News

Robert Smalls Leadership Academy Principal Bradley Tarrance was placed on paid administrative leave Sept. 2 as the Beaufort County School District reviews concerns surrounding his appearance in a campaign video supporting Beaufort City Council candidate Jared Madison.

The video, which was filmed on school property, was posted to the “Jared Madison for Beaufort City Council” Facebook page and identified Tarrance on screen by name and as principal of the school. The accompanying campaign post thanked Tarrance for believing in and supporting Madison and described him as “a motivating factor” in Madison’s life.

Madison said the video was online for a short period of time before he removed it after questions arose about whether it complied with South Carolina ethics laws.

Madison said he contacted the South Carolina State Ethics Commission, provided the video and asked whether it presented an ethics issue.

“They kind of gave me the list and says it may be in a violation because of a few different codes,” Madison said. “And I said, ‘Okay.’ So I immediately took the video down.”

South Carolina law prohibits the use of government personnel, equipment, materials or an office building in an election campaign. The law also makes clear that government employees are not prohibited from participating in campaigns on their own time and on nongovernment premises.

The State Ethics Commission has previously said it will defer to a local governmental entity’s policies and procedures regarding the use of public buildings in a campaign when interpreting those restrictions.

Neither the district nor the State Ethics Commission has announced a finding that Tarrance or Madison violated state ethics law.

District reviewing incident

Beaufort County School District Chief Communications Officer Dr. Candace Bruder confirmed to The Island News that Tarrance was placed on administrative leave Sept. 2.

“At this time we are unable to comment further on this personnel matter or the specifics of an ongoing review,” she said. “However, the district is reviewing the matter and addressing the issue appropriately and consistently with applicable policies and state regulations.”

On Sept. 8, Bruder said Executive Director Dr. Celestine LaVan will lead Robert Smalls while Tarrance remains out.

“Executive Director Dr. Celestine LaVan will be leading the school until an interim principal is named,” Bruder said. “District leadership and staff will also be providing additional support to ensure that teaching, learning, and daily school operations continue without interruption.”

The district’s Regulation HRS-13, Staff Participation in Political Activities, was most recently revised in October 2025 and establishes the superintendent’s expectation that the district maintain a learning and work environment that is neutral and nondisruptive.

The regulation recognizes that district employees have the same fundamental civic responsibilities and privileges as other citizens, including campaigning for and holding public office, as long as those activities do not conflict with their employment duties.

It also places specific restrictions on political activity involving district employees and school property.

Under HRS-13, “during the work day, on BCSD property or at a BCSD sponsored event, on or off school property, no employee may influence or attempt to influence any student, teacher, parent, or other person to vote for or against any candidate, political party, and/or issue.”

The regulation also states that no candidate for public office may solicit support on school property and prohibits political materials promoting candidates or political parties from being distributed or posted on district property.

Staff members who fail to comply with HRS-13 may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from employment.

The district has not said whether it has determined Tarrance violated HRS-13 or identified which provisions are part of its ongoing review.

Tarrance, reached by The Island News for comment, said his profession limits what he can say about the situation while he remains employed by the district.

“Although I learned a ton from the situation, I am unable to share due to my profession,” Tarrance said. “If this causes me to no longer be employed, I’d be open to speaking.”

District plans ethics refresher

The incident comes as the district prepares employees for the upcoming election season.

Bruder said all district employees have been asked to review HRS-13. The district has also reached out to the State Ethics Commission to request refresher election-season and ethics training for principals, which is scheduled to take place this week.

The State Ethics Commission describes itself as the state agency responsible for enforcing South Carolina’s ethics laws. Its current guidance says public employees may not use government personnel, equipment, materials or office buildings in an election campaign, while allowing them to participate in campaigns on their own time and away from government premises.

Madison says experience became a lesson

Madison said he has tried to use the incident as a learning experience, particularly for people running for public office for the first time.

During his interview with The Island News, Madison discussed taking responsibility for his role in what happened.

Madison said one result of the experience has been his work on a training packet for candidates covering issues including ethics requirements and rules governing campaign signs.

He later told The Island News that he plans to approach the City of Beaufort about potentially adopting the material for future first-time candidates, saying that if communities want greater civic engagement, they should also make it easier for residents to understand the requirements that come with running for office.

After learning Tarrance had been placed on paid administrative leave, Madison expressed support for the principal.

“My only comment is that I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Bradley and I believe he has made a significantly positive impact in his community and in the lives of the children, teachers, parents and family members associated [with] Robert Smalls Leadership Academy,” Madison said.

Madison added that he believes Tarrance has the support of the school’s teachers, administrators, parents and students.

The district’s review remains ongoing.

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.

The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s (SCDA) August restaurant inspections are complete, and three Beaufort County restaurants did not fare well.

Inspectors awarded one a B, another a C and suspended an ice cream shop’s food permit. SCDA inspectors conduct routine, unannounced based on a restaurant’s risk level for food-borne illness. Restaurants are inspected either quarterly or annually, depending on their compliance history and food processes, according to the SCDA.

Inspectors award grades on a 100-point scale, with A grades above 87 points, B 78 points, and C less than 78 points. Restaurants lose points for violations of food safety regulations. Violations can result in fines, temporary closure or food permit suspension. Here are the restaurants that failed to make A grades in August.

La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant

Inspectors gave La Nopalera Mexican Restaurant at 1220 Ribaut Road in Beaufort a with 74 points in an Aug. 5 inspection. Inspectors observed employees fail to wash their hands before handling food and a large presence of flies in the kitchen. They also found cut tomatoes in a cooler with white organic matter on them, dirty pans stored as clean, and food stored without expiration dates.

A follow-up inspection on Aug. 14 saw La Nopalera earn 94 points, but receive another due to repeat violations. Inspectors again observed employees fail to wash their hands and a problem with the restaurant’s chemical sanitization procedures. Inspectors conducted another follow-up on Aug. 21 and La Nopalera received an with 100 points. The report notes no violations.

The Honeybaked Ham Co.

Inspectors gave The Honeybaked Ham Company at 1060 Fording Island Road in Bluffton an in its July 30 routine inspection. The report notes the restaurant had condenser leaks in its walk in cooler and fridge, which could contaminate stored food. A sink also had dried grime and debris in it.

Inspectors returned for a follow-up on Aug. 6, in which the restaurant received a with 96 points due to repeat violations. Inspectors found the condenser leak had deposited water and ice on stored foods as well as an “excessive condensation drip” in a walk-in freezer. The stored foods were thrown out voluntarily.

A final follow-up on Aug. 13 resulted in an with 100 points. Inspectors found no violations, and a follow-up is not required.

Surf’s Up Frosty Dog

The SCDA Surf’s Up Frosty Dog’s food permit on Aug. 28 due to compliance issues, according to a . The ice cream shop at 8 N. Forest Beach Drive in Coligny must correct its violations and have them verified by SCDA inspectors before the suspension can be lifted.

Inspectors gave Surf’s Up Frosty Dog three C grades in May before awarding it an A grade with 100 points on June 8. The suspension report does not state Surf’s Up Frosty Dog’s violations.

SCDA inspection reports are public and can be found .

BEAUFORT — To the relief of residents, visitors and downtown business owners alike, an end to large-scale stormwater improvement projects in the city may finally be in sight as one project is done and another is on track to finish next month, officials say.

“Yes, the King Street drainage project is complete other than the paperwork,” said Beaufort Assistant City Manager Eric Claussen.

Paving on King Street was completed on July 31 with landscaping and other “punch-list items” finished on Sept. 1, Claussen said.

That project and one occurring on Charles Street, which has had streets torn up for nearly a year, have overlapped resulting in ongoing road closures and traffic delays throughout the area.

The projects, managed by separate contractors, have cost just over $21 million — largely funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA. The King Street project also received state money and other infrastructure improvement grants.

Both were designed to address stormwater issues and flooding problems in low lying areas.

A 2022 drainage study identified spots in The Point neighborhood and other downtown areas such as the intersection at Scott and King streets that had naturally occurring depressions where stormwater tended to collect. The city’s aging infrastructure and dilapidated pipes, some which were installed in the early 1900s, along with rising sea levels only made matters worse, the study noted.

While many residents and business owners said they understood the importance of the work, the massive, multi-million-dollar projects still caused stress and financial strain.

As one tourism official said earlier in the summer, many downtown businesses have seen a “slowing” in the numbers of people that normally frequent the area.

“The number one thing I’ve heard from stakeholders … is, ‘When is this thing going to end?’ ” Robb Wells, president and CEO of the Greater Beaufort-Port Royal Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in July.

Still, the King Street work has already improved the system’s ability to move stormwater out of the area, Claussen said.

“We have been very pleased with how the drainage improvements are performing, particularly given the heavy rainfall we have experienced recently,” he said. “The project has made a noticeable, positive improvement for those living in and around King Street, including the Scott and King (streets) intersection area.”

Meanwhile, work on the Charles/Craven Street Drainage Improvement Project is expected to end soon, according to the S.C. Office of Resilience, or SCOR.

“The stormwater system is still on track to be completed in October,” said Hope Warren, SCOR’s strategic communications director.

That project has been decidedly more complex than the King Street project, officials have noted. Drainage improvements have included the installation of a new “outfall” system on the south end of the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park which helps to release stormwater faster into the Beaufort River.

Smaller, eroding pipes also are being replaced with larger, massive reinforced concrete pipes that range from 18 to 72 inches in diameter. Other drainage structures, including manholes, are being installed – all with the intent of increasing the system’s capacity to hold more water and move it quicker.

As Warren detailed, work to install the new pipes on Charles Street from the Waterfront Park to the intersection with North Street has been completed, as has the installation of new pipes along Craven Street from Charles to West Street. Paving along Craven was completed in July and the street has re-opened to traffic.

Workers are installing 48-inch reinforced concrete pipe along North Street near the Charles Street intersection, which is the final section of the new system, she said. That section of street remains closed for now.