<b>Beaufort’s DeLoach graduates from firefighter school</b>

Tucker DeLoach of the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department was one of 21 recruits who graduated from the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation’s South Carolina Fire Academy’s eight-week firefighter candidate school on Friday, Dec. 6 in Columbia.

The firefighters underwent a 320-hour training program of classroom and hands-on firefighting skills development.

“This challenging eight-week program requires commitment, passion, and dedication,” Fire Academy Superintendent Dennis Ray said. “These recruits have successfully worked together as a team, performed extensive hands-on training with live fires, and passed intensive practical skills evaluations and written tests to meet the National Fire Protection Association standards,” he said.

The comprehensive training, offered quarterly at the Fire Academy, includes emergency responder first aid training, hazardous materials operations training, auto extrication, flammable liquids and gas firefighting, rescue training, and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Firefighter I and Firefighter II levels.

<b>Parris Island conducting live-fire training this weekend</b>

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island will be conducting extended live-fire training from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., Dec. 16-17.

The marsh and waterways in the range impact area to include Archers Creek, Ribbon Creek, and Edding Creek will be closed to boater traffic. For questions regarding firing times and waterway closures, please contact the Weapons and Field Training Battalion Range Control at 843-228-3170.

<b>Parris Island conducting live-fire training Dec. 21-22</b>

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island will be commencing live fire training from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 21-22.

The marsh and waterways in the range impact area to include Archers Creek, Ribbon Creek, and Edding Creek will be closed to boater traffic. For questions regarding firing times and waterway closures, please contact the Weapons and Field Training Battalion Range Control at 843-228-3170.

<b>Friends of Port
Royal Cypress
Wetlands formed</b>

Members of the Port Royal community, in partnership with the Town of Port Royal, are pleased to announce the establishment of a new group, Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands.

This newly created Friends organization is now a 501c3 which will allow for the Friends to raise funds. The Friends are committed to the Town of Port Royal and will be a source for public outreach and fundraising to support the continued development of this unique and special Wetlands and Rookery.

The Friends of Port Royal Cypress Wetlands and the Town will be working on major upgrades to continue support of the development of the Cypress Wetlands. The Town will begin a multi-year program of plant restoration, removal of invasive plants, debris removal and sediment removal in the Wetlands. This major commitment will ensure the long-term support for these wonderful and critically important wetlands.

<b>Hemingway’s
hosting benefit</b>

Hemngway’s Bistro, at 920 Bay Street, is hosting Christmas 4 Fur Kids from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15. The event is a fundraiser for Rogue Rescue and Sanctuary, a public, nonprofit animal shelter and clinic in Bluffton.

Pets are welcome, encouraged even. There will be a silent auction, a cookout, a selfie station, live music with Campfire Tyler and pet pictures with Santa Claus.