Beaufort County office closed for Thanksgiving
In observance of the Thanksgiving and Heritage Day holiday, all Beaufort County government buildings will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27 and Friday, Nov. 28.
Convenience Centers in Beaufort County will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, and will resume their regular schedules Friday, Nov. 28.
Operations at the Hilton Head Island Airport will remain available during the holiday. Beaufort Executive Airport will have self-serve AvGas but no FBO services will be available Thursday. All services will be available Friday.
Emergency services and law enforcement personnel will remain available.
Lowcountry Food Bank gets $50,000 grant from Norfolk Southern
Lowcountry Food Bank has been awarded $50,000 in grant funding by Norfolk Southern Corporation to support its mission in the 10 coastal counties of South Carolina the organization serves. The funds will be used for food distributions that meet neighbors where they are, close to home, with pre-packed food boxes or a neighbor-choice, market-style food distribution where neighbors choose the foods they want to take home to their families. Mobile Pantry distributions provide a variety of food, which may include shelf stable items, fresh produce, dairy and meat.
The Lowcountry Food Bank distributed more than 45 million pounds of food in 2024. The Lowcountry Food Bank helps fight hunger by distributing food to more than 240 partner agencies including on-site meal programs, homeless shelters and emergency food pantries.
Hardeeville man arrested in connection with sexual exploitation of minors
Kevin Richard Vliet, 55 of Hardeeville was arrested on three charges connected to the sexual exploitation of minors. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force investigators with the Attorney General’s Office made the arrest. Investigators with Homeland Security Investigations, also members of the state’s ICAC Task Force, assisted with the investigation.
Investigators received a CyberTipline report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which led them to Vliet. Investigators state Vliet possessed files of child sexual abuse material.
Vliet was arrested on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. He is charged with three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, third degree, a felony offense punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment on each count.
This case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office.
Loop in Southside Park renamed in honor of longtime City Public Works Director
The Beaufort City Council has officially renamed Southside Loop in Southside Park to Clayton Cooler Loop in recognition of the late Clayton Cooler’s extraordinary service to the City of Beaufort, according to a media release from the City.
Cooler served the City for nearly five decades, “leaving a lasting impact through his leadership, dedication, and commitment to public service as the longtime Public Works Director. His contributions shaped the community’s infrastructure, beautification efforts, and day-to-day operations that continue to benefit residents and visitors alike,” according to the release
“Clayton worked for his beloved City of Beaufort for almost 50 years. He was an institution and icon within the City for those years,” said Warren Parker, Clayton Cooler’s son-in-law, who currently serves as Director of the South Coast Cyber Center and Director of the Pritchard Island Research Living Shores Foundation. “His family is immensely grateful to City Council for bestowing this honor on him. He would be very proud of this honor in recognition of his long service to the community.”
County Assessor hosting community events
Beaufort County Assessor Ebony Sanders is hosting multiple community events at County Library Branches to allow the public an opportunity to meet with her staff and share questions and concerns regarding real property valuation, exemptions, appeals and general property information.
Each community event will be from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. No appointments are necessary.
In the event of an unforeseeable change in the date, time, or location, the Assessor’s Office webpage will be updated to reflect rescheduling. If you have any questions, please contact Liz Rigg, Appeal/BAA Coordinator at BAA@bcgov.net or 843-255-2404.
The dates are as follows:
St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road: Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way: Thursday, Dec. 11.
Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway: Monday, Dec. 1.
