Burton Fire frees trapped driver
Just before 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, the Burton Fire District, Beaufort County EMS and Sheriff’s Office, responded to a reported vehicle collision on Ice House Road by the Parris Island Gateway intersection in which an injured driver was rescued.
Initial reports were that the driver of an SUV was trapped.
Emergency crews arrived on scene to find a two-vehicle collision with an SUV rolled over on its side and the driver trapped inside. Burton firefighters tunneled through the rear of the vehicle to rescue the driver who was transported to Beaufort Memorial Hospital with what were believed to be non-life threatening injuries.
Traffic at the intersection of Ice House Road and Parris Island Gateway was slowed for approximately 30 minutes while emergency crews assisted the occupants and removed roadway hazards.
South Carolina declared drought free
The S.C. Drought Response Committee declared Thursday, Jan. 11 that the entire state is now drought free.
Due to significant rainfall since mid-December, the committee removed the incipient drought status of 16 counties and the moderate drought status of seven counties.
The committee tries to avoid changing the drought status by two levels unless there is substantial support across all drought indicators, which is the case currently, said S.C. State Climatologist Hope Mizzell said. The time of year was also a factor, since water use and evaporation are low during the winter months. Most stations across the state reported 7 to 14 inches of rain since Dec. 1, with a few reporting 15 to 20 inches.
Elliot Wickham, water resources climatologist with the State Climatology Office, said that the Upstate had higher precipitation accumulation during the last 40 days than it did during the 91-day period of Sept. 1-Nov. 30, 2023, the period of climatological fall.
The S.C. Drought Response Committee will continue to monitor conditions and meet as needed.
Public Test of ballot tabulating machines set for February 2
A public test of the Central Count Scanners (Ballot Tabulating Machines) for the February 3, 2024 Democratic Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) will begin on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 at 10 a.m. at the Board of Voter Registration and Elections of Beaufort County office, located at 15 John Galt Road, Beaufort, S.C. 29906. For more information, call 843-255-6900.
– Compiled from staff reports
