By Lolita Huckaby
BEAUFORT
By the time you read this, it will have been more than a week, at least 10 days since the Oct. 12 shooting at Willie’s Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island, an act of violence that left four people dead, more than a dozen injured and a community in shock.
By this time, the four victims will be buried and Sheriff P.J. Tanner may have announced someone, or someones, have been charged with the crime but anyone knows who watches the judicial system knows it can be quite some time before, shall we say, “justice is done.”
But the grief of those families who lost loved ones will continue and the community will continue to debate that “something” should be done. Much as been said about the need for greater gun control, apparently for the “switches,” aka attachments that can change a regular weapon into an automatic firing machine. But apparently, “switches” are already outlawed, so only “outlaws” are using them.
The Sheriff has said at least 24 Beaufort County citizens in the past have already been arrested and convicted for possession of these altered devices.
The topic of “we need to do something” was raised at the Oct. 16 Beaufort County Council “chat,” an informal public gathering of County Council members held to let citizens comment on what ever issue is on their mind. Council members aren’t required to attend, there are no minutes taken (although council members do take notes) and the meetings are not televised on the County Channel – it’s a one-on-one situation.
This most recent “chat” included comments about the county’s pending waterways regulations, the county’s plastic bag ban, the slowness in selection of a new elections office director … and … the shooting on St. Helena Island. Three citizens, with ties to the island community, acknowledged the presence of Pine Island developer Elvio Tropeano at the “chat” and asked the Council to reconsider their rejection of his most recent development plan for the island which included financial promises for non-profit organizations and affordable housing support.
Their contention that the resources offered by the developer would help with economic development for island property owners and educational programs for children who are otherwise, in their opinions, resorting to drugs and violence. The council members gave no indication they agreed with the three citizens, who have spoken at multiple previous public hearings on the subject.
It’s an argument that’s been raised before – we need more resources – even before Tropeano set his sights on Pine Island. But it’s also an issue that elected officials, and their administrators, have been trying to resolve for years — leveling the differences between the rural and developed areas, the “haves” and the “have-nots.”
For the past year, St. Helena Island activist Carrie Major has been begging the Council to spend money in her community to build a community center. And there are plans for a new community center on St. Helena, and one in the Dale area, the other rural part of Beaufort County.
Councilman York Glover, who represents most of St. Helena, has been working with the county economic development department to find money to build a conference center on the island.
It’s obvious there are no simple answers to the societal problems that lead up to the recent shootings. And the need for the community to “come together” is an obvious response.
But until someone, or some persons, step forward and talk to law enforcement, part of the answer to this particular horrible incident is going to remain a mystery.
Again, if you see something, say something.
Downtown prepares for major drainage work
BEAUFORT — It’s interesting, almost ironic, that the city of Beaufort is preparing to undertake a major reconstruction of the drainage system through part of the downtown area just as Mother Nature, only two weeks ago, showed her own impact by flooding part of the marina and waterfront park areas.
The king high tides, combined with an offshore weather event that did NOT turn into a hurricane or even a tropical storm, pushed water into parts of the downtown area and caused the city police to issue a caution warning to motorists in the area.
The drainage system work will include parts of North, Craven and Charles Streets, replacing pipes that were installed, according to city records, around 1900. Funding for the project includes a $11.9 million grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, through S.C. Office of Resilience. A press release announcing the work says more than 50 structures will benefit from the “reduced flood risk.”
And all of this before city officials decide what to do about repairing the sinking Chambers Waterfront Park.
Good luck to the merchants and residents who will be impacted for the next year. Officials say the work will benefit Beaufortonians “for generations to come.” Let’s hope so. We’re in a race with Mother Nature.
Update on Lantz
Just an update on a personal note: With all the comings and goings of local “news,” the human dramas that can dictate our lives are not necessarily shared.
Case in point, the slow recovery of Bay Street restaurateur Lantz Price who has been recovering down in Florida after experiencing an medical emergency while offshore fishing in the Keys.
Friends report the owner of Hearth, Plums and Saltus was with friends last month when his emergency occurred, but he’s receiving medical attention now that hopefully will have him back on Bay Street before long.
Lolita Huckaby Watson is a community volunteer and newspaper columnist. In her former role as a reporter with The Beaufort Gazette, The Savannah Morning News, Bluffton Today and Beaufort Today, she prided herself in trying to stay neutral and unbiased. As a columnist, these are her opinions. The Rowland, N.C. native’s goal is to be factual but opinionated, based on her own observations. Feel free to contact her at bftbay@gmail.com.
