BCSO investigating St. Helena shooting
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a Tuesday shooting on St. Helena Island.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, shortly before 4 a.m., deputies responded to a report of shots fired on Shiney Road on St. Helena Island.
While responding, deputies learned of a gunshot victim who was en route to the hospital. The victim, a 19-year-old male, is in stable condition with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
Three other individuals were inside the home at the time of the shooting and were not injured.
The investigation remains active. For information related to the incident on St. Helena Island, please contact Cpl. Petruzzi at 843-255-3267.
If wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Beaufort County via the P3 Tips app on your mobile device, online at tipsbft.com or by calling 844-TIPS-BFT (844-847-7238).
ACLU strategist to speak at Indivisible Beaufort’s October meeting
Dulce Lopez, the inaugural Immigrant Rights Advocacy Strategist with the ACLU of South Carolina, will be the guest speaker when Indivisible Beaufort joins with the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort for the Saturday, Oct. 25 meeting at 10:30 a.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Beaufort at 178 Sams Point Road on Lady’s Island.
Dulce’s advocacy spans South Carolina, Florida, and national efforts in Washington, D.C. In South Carolina she has led statewide initiatives to expand access to legal rights, strengthen rapid response networks, and challenge harmful immigration policies.
Dulce will provide an overview of the current landscape of immigration enforcement and its impact on local communities, including recent operations in the region.
The event is free and open to the public.
County testing Ballot Tabulating Machines
A public test of the Central Count Scanners (Ballot Tabulating Machines) for the Nov. 4, 2025 Town of Bluffton, Town of Port Royal and Town of Yemassee General Municipal elections will begin on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025 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.
Lady’s Island Garden Club hosting baked goods, floral arrangement sale
The Lady’s Island Garden Club will be holding its fifth annual Baked Goods and Fall Floral Arrangements Sale on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in front of Grayco Hardware and Home at 136 Sea Island Parkway. They accept cash and checks.
The homemade baked goods will include cakes and pies and packages of cookies, snack mix, muffins, cupcakes, brownies, cinnamon rolls, and gluten free items and treats for man’s best friends! Many of the baked goods will be packaged for gift giving. You can also buy a fresh cup of hot coffee to enjoy while you are shopping.
Fresh floral arrangements created by our talented gardeners will also be offered.
The Lady’s Island Garden Club is a 501(c) (3) organization. Proceeds from the fundraiser will be used for community service projects. Current projects include maintaining the Tree Walk on the Point, planting flowers at the Beaufort National Cemetery, supporting Wreaths Across America and more. The group also contributes financially to many charitable organizations, such as Friends of Hunting Island, Friends of Fort Fremont, Camp Wildwood, Lowcountry Raptors and Beaufort Open Land Trust.
Nurse practitioner joins BMH Lady’s Island Internal Medicine
A board-certified nurse practitioner has joined the Beaufort Memorial primary care team at Lady’s Island Internal Medicine. Jenna Gossett, MSN, FNP-C, is a certified family nurse practitioner with a wide range of expertise in primary, urgent and intensive care. As part of her dedication to caring for individuals as a whole, Gossett will help her patients modify their lifestyles in order to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
Gossett entered the nursing field in 2012 and has since developed a diverse background in the healthcare industry. She worked for healthcare systems in California and around the country as a travel nurse while experiencing life in an RV. She has also been a nurse in facilities throughout South Carolina, including Columbia, Orangeburg, Greenville and Charleston.
Gossett, who earned her Master of Science in Nursing at Chamberlain University in Addison, Ill., will work with her patients on preventive care and illnesses, as well as helping patients manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) and obesity.
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:
Hilton Head Branch Library, 11 Beach City Road: Tuesday, Oct. 28; Tuesday, Nov. 4.
St. Helena Branch Library, 6355 Jonathan Francis Sr. Road: Tuesday, Nov. 18; Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Bluffton Branch Library, 120 Palmetto Way: Thursday, Nov. 13; Thursday, Dec. 11.
Lobeco Branch Library, 1862 Trask Parkway: Monday, Nov. 10; Monday, Dec. 1.
— Staff reports
