THERE’S BEEN VERY LITTLE SAID ABOUT THE HILTON HEAD ISLAND-HIGHWAY 278 BRIDGE PROJECT SINCE FUNDING WAS SECURED, OR EVEN THE CORRIDOR PROJECT TO GET 278 FROM THOSE BRIDGES TO SPANISH WELLS ROAD AND BEYOND, WHERE FUNDING IS STILL MORE UP IN THE AIR. THE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT WILL BE PUBLICLY UPDATED THURSDAY BEWEEN 4 AND 7 P-M IN AN OPEN HOUSE AT THE ISLAND REC CENTER FROM STATE AND COUNTY OFFICIALS, WHO SAY THEY’LL OUTLINE THE UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND THAT THEY’RE STILL TAKING PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON THE PROJECT. YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE AT SCDOT278BRIDGEREPLACEMENT.COM. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE 278 CORRIDOR ON THE ISLAND SIDE OF THOSE BRIDGES IS NOW A SEPARATE PROJECT. AN OPEN HOUSE IS PLANNED BY THE COUNTY ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH BETWEEN 4 AND 6 P-M AT THE HILTON HEAD LIBRARY TO START PLANNING THAT PROJECT.
SPEAKING OF DRIVING- HERE’S SOME GOOD NEWS, CAR THEFTS IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE DOWN THIS YEAR, 21% LOWER IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2025 OVER 2024. BUT THE STATE STILL HAS MOVED UP TO 19TH IN THE COUNTRY IN CAR THEFTS, FROM 20TH LAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN OVER 5-THOUSAND CARS STOLEN IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2025. THE MOST POPULAR CARS TO STEAL IN SOUTH CAROLINA ARE HONDA ACCORDS, NISSAN ALTIMAS, DODGE CHARGERS AND THEN THE TWO POPULAR PICKUPS, FORD F-150s AND CHEVY SILVERADOS.
AS IF WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT THESE DAYS, AN INVASIVE SPECIES OF YELLOW-LEGGED HORNETS HAS BEEN SPOTTED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE LOWCOUNTRY-MOST RECENTLY IN BLUFFTON. THE SOUTHEAST-ASIAN BREED DESTROYS HONEY BEE COLONIES AND PALM-TREE-PRUNERS FOR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON HAD TO CALL THE CLEMSON EXTENSION FOLKS TO REMOVE A NEST IN OLD TOWN WHICH WAS PEAR-SHAPED AND LOOKED LIKE IT WAS COVERED WITH A TAN, PAPERY SUBSTANCE. THE YELLOW-LEGGED HORNETS CAN BECOME AGGRESSIVE IF THREATENED, SO DON’T ATTEMPT TO REMOVE THEM YOURSELF. YOU’RE ASKED TO TAKE PICTURES AND CONTACT CLEMSON EXTENSION TO REPORT A FINDING.
YOU REMEMBER THE FIRE THAT DESTROYED A PORTION OF THE JASPER COUNTY DETENTION CENTER IN RIDGELAND 13 MONTHS AGO? 39-YEAR-OLD INMATE CARLTON GERMAN HAS NOW PLEADED GUILTY TO SECOND-DEGREE ARSON AND CONSPIRACY AND BEEN SENTENCED TO THE MAXIMUM 25 MORE YEARS IN PRISON. HE ADMITTED THAT, ALONG WITH OTHER INMATES, THEY WILLFULLY AND MALICIOUSLY SET FIRE TO COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS IN THE JAIL, INJURING TEN PEOPLE. TWO OTHER LOWCOUNTRY MEN ARE ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN THE INCIDENT.