GETTING BACK AND FORTH FROM HILTON HEAD AND THE MAINLAND TO DAUFUSKIE ISLAND SHOULD IMPROVE SOMETIME SOON WITH BEAUFORT COUNTY BUYING THE MELROSE LANDING PROPERTY THAT SHOULD GIVE SOME CERTAINTY TO FERRY SERVICE IN THE FUTURE. THE COUNTY IS SPENDING 1.4-MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY THE PIER, DOCKING AREAS AND PARKING AREAS AT THE LANDING AND WILL BEGIN REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS IMMEDIATELY. REDFISH HOLDINGS WILL KEEP THE DOCKING FACILITIES SOUTHWEST OF THE LANDING. BEGINNING ON NEW YEAR’S, THE DISCOUNTED RATE TO RIDE THE FERRY WILL RISE BY 2-BUCKS A TRIP, BUT PARKING FEES ON BOTH ENDS OF THE FERRY ARE GEING ELIMINATED.
IF ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE MARINES, COULD BEAUFORT BE JUST THE PLACE TO TRAIN COAST GUARD RECRUITS? COUNTY LEADERS ARE PITCHING A BOOT CAMP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TURN THE NAVAL HOSPITAL COMPLEX ON THE SHORES OF THE BEAUFORT RIVER INTO A TRAINING CENTER. THE 24-PAGE PROPOSAL INCLUDES LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM SEVERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING GOVERNOR MCMASTER, WHO WROTE THAT BEAUFORT KNOWS HOW TO TREAT THE MILITARY. THE DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY IS EXPECTED TO SHIFT ITS MEDICAL SERVICES TO NEW CLINICS AT PARRIS ISLAND AND M-C-A-S BEAUFORT, MAKING THE 127-ACRE HOSPITAL COMPLEX RIPE FOR RE-DEVELOPMENT. THE COAST GUARD IS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HOUSE 12-HUNDRED RECRUITS, DINING AND MEDICAL FACILITIES, CLASSROOMS AND AN AUDITORIUM, ALONG WITH 150-TO-200 ACRES OF LAND. THE COAST GUARD’S MAIN TRAINING FACILITY IS IN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND’S DEMAND FOR PICKLEBALL COURTS CONTINUES. WHILE THE SCHOOLHOUSE PARK COURTS ARE RESURFACED THIS WINTER, THE TOWN IS ALSO PLANNING A NEW, 20-COURT PICKLEBALL FACILITY IN CROSSINGS PARK THAT WOULD INCLUDE A CLUBHOUSE BUILDING AND PARKING. THE PROPOSAL IS STILL WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH PLANNING CHANNELS, AND ANSWERING THE MAJOR QUESTION OF THE RESIDENTS OF PALMETTO BAY VILLAS NEXT DOOR, WHO ARE EXPECTED TO GET SOUND ATTENUATION MATTING PUT UP AROUND THE COURTS THAT WOULD NOT BE OPERATED AFTER 7-PM.
JUSTICE DELAYED IS NOT ALWAYS JUSTICE DENIED. FORMER BEAUFORT COUNTY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT DIRECTOR ERIC LARSON HAS BEEN HIT WITH A STATE ETHICS VIOLATION FOR GETTING HIS CONSTRUCTION MANAGER TO SPEND AT LEAST 20 HOURS OF COUNTY TIME DESIGNING A SUNROOM FOR LARSON’S HOME. THE INCIDENT IS MORE THAN A YEAR OLD AND RESULTED IN LARSON’S RESIGNATION. HE’S NOW JASPER COUNTY’S DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES. LARSON ALSO HAS TO PAY CIVIL PENALTIES AND REIMBURSEMENTS TOTALING OVER 5-THOUSAND DOLLARS. BUT HE WON’T GO TO JAIL. THAT’S WHERE 25-YEAR-OLD ESTEBAN JAVIER ROSA-MENDEZ OF HILTON HEAD ISLAND IS HEADED FOR THE NEXT 17 YEARS AFTER FINALLY PLEADING GUILTY TO CHARGES OF RECKLESS VEHICULAR HOMICIDE DURING THE OPENING ARGUMENTS OF HIS TRIAL LAST WEEK, MORE THAN 5 YEARS AFTER HIS MARCH OF 2020 CRASH WHILE ESCAPING A POLICE CHASE THAT KILLED 22-YEAR-OLD COLTON POIROT, WHO’S CAR WAS T-BONED BY ROSA-MENDEZ WHILE GOING OVER 80 MILES AN HOUR THROUGH THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 278 AND GUM TREE ROAD.