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<p><strong>City of Beaufort&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p><strong>holiday schedule&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>City of Beaufort offices will be closed for Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays on Friday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 27, and Friday, Dec. 31.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>Beaufort County&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p><strong>holiday schedule&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>In observance of the Christmas holiday, all Beaufort County government buildings will be closed Thursday, Dec. 23; Friday, Dec. 24; and Monday, Dec. 27. Offices will also be closed the following Friday, Dec. 31, for New Year's Day.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Convenience Centers in Beaufort County will close at 1 p.m., Friday, Dec. 24, and will be closed Saturday, Dec. 25. They will resume normal operating hours Sunday, Dec. 26.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Beaufort Executive Airport will have self-serve AvGas but no FBO services will be available.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Emergency services and law enforcement personnel will remain available.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>3 organizations&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p><strong>awarded $22,000&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>At its meeting on Dec. 14, City Council approved allocating $22,068 from its hospitality tax revenues to the Beaufort Downtown Merchants Association, the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association (BAHA), and Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>The Downtown Merchants Association and BAHA made a joint proposal to the City for $22,000 to fund collaborative efforts such as First Friday, Live After 5, Sip &amp; Stroll – recurring and special events designed to bring people to the City’s downtown core, and to help in the marketing of downtown Beaufort as a family-friendly destination. These two organizations will receive $18,068.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Friends of the Spanish Moss Trail requested $6,426.40 to fund navigational (wayfinding) signs in the downtown Marina area to direct visitors to the trail. This organization will receive $4,000.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>A City ordinance requires 1.1 percent of budgeted hospitality tax revenue to be allocated annually to non-profits that promote the downtown economy and tourism.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><strong>Interstate lane closures restricted for holidays&nbsp;</strong></p>
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<p>To help holiday traffic flow, the S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) prohibits lane closures on interstate highways for non-emergency highway work during the Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel period.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>These restrictions will be in place from 6 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 23, through 10 p.m. Monday, Jan. 3.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>With continued progress due to SCDOT’s Strategic 10-Year Plan to rebuild South Carolina’s roads and bridges, more work zones are in place all across South Carolina. SCDOT reminds motorists to remain alert and use caution. “Let ‘em Work. Let ‘em Live.”&nbsp;</p>
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<p>Motorists may keep up with travel conditions by using SCDOT’s 511 system, which provides real-time traffic information on all South Carolina interstate highways and some of the highways along the coast. Users can call 511 or access www.511SC.org 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and download the free app.&nbsp;</p>
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<p>For South Carolina traffic incident information around the clock on Twitter, follow SCDOT's @SCDOTMidlands @SCDOTPiedmont @SCDOTLowCountry and @SCDOTPeeDee.&nbsp;</p>
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<p><em>– Staff reports&nbsp;</em></p>
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