LET’S TALK TURKEY. WE TOLD YOU YESTERDAY ABOUT THE TRADITIONAL THANKSGIVING DINNER AT HUDSON’S SEAFOOD ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND FROM 11-AM TO 3-PM. BUT THERE ARE OTHER GREAT PLACES TO SHARE A MEAL AND GIVE THANKS TOGETHER, THANKS TO HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS. THE MARSHVIEW COMMUNITY ORGANIC FARM IS SERVING UP TURKEY, THE FIXINS AND LOWCOUNTRY HOSPITALITY ON ST. HELENA ISLAND FROM 11-AM UNTIL 1:30. THE PARISH CHURCH OF ST. HELENA BEGINS ITS 46TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION WITH A CHURCH SERVICE AT 10:30, FOLLOWED BY THE FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP FROM 11:30 UNTIL 2:30. THE SEA EAGLE MARKET IN BEAUFORT IS HOSTING ITS THANKSGIVING LUNCH FROM 11-AM UNTIL 1-PM WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO DONATE WINTER COATS, SOCKS AND SHOES ADDED. AND HEMINGWAY’S BISTRO ON THE BEAUFORT WATERFRONT IS OFFERING UP A POTLUCK WHERE YOU CAN BRING A SIDE DISH IF YOU’D LIKE TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR MAIN THANKSGIVING ENTREES.
ALL OF THE TROUBLES AT BEAUFORT’S CHAMBERS WATERFRONT PARK IS FORCING THE POPULAR DRAGON BOAT RACES NEXT SUMMER TO MOVE TO PORT ROYAL. DRAGON BOAT BEAUFORT’S RACE DAY IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT JUNE 27TH WILL NOW BE HELD AT THE BLUFF ON PARIS AVENUE IN PORT ROYAL WITH TENTS FOR THE TEAMS SETTING UP BEHIND THE SHED AT FISHCAMP WITH THE REST OF THE CHARITY EVENT EXTENDING TOWARD THE SHELLRING. THE TOWN OF PORT ROYAL GAVE SOME THOUGHT TO OFFERING UP THE SANDS BEACH AREA FOR THE RACES BUT SETTLED ON THE BLUFF. THERE’LL BE FEWER TEAMS AND PADDLERS IN EACH BOAT AS WELL. REGISTRATION IS EXPECTED TO OPEN AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL. REPAIRS ON THE CHAMBERS WATERFRONT PARK ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
ALEC MURDAUGH IS SPENDING ANOTHER THANKSGIVING IN PRISON. HE’S ALREADY SERVED NEARLY THREE YEARS FOR KILLING HIS WIFE AND SON, BUT HIS CASE WILL BE BACK BEFORE THE STATE SUPREME COURT FEBRUARY 11TH, JUST BEFORE VALENTINE’S DAY, AS HIS LAWYERS ARGUE FOR A NEW TRIAL. MURDAUGH’S ATTORNEYS SAY COLLETON COUNTY CLERK OF THE COURT BECKY HILL IMPROPERLY SWAYED ONE OR MORE OF THE JURORS AND THEY ALSO THINK THAT JUDGE CLIFTON NEWMAN SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED EXTENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT MURDAUGH’S FINANCIAL CRIMES TO BE PRESENTED. PROSECUTORS SAY THOSE CRIMES GAVE MURDAUGH MOTIVE IN THE MURDERS AS A DISTRACTION FROM HIS FINANCIAL TROUBLES. MURDAUGH STILL PROFESSES HIS INNOCENCE AS HE SERVES TWO CONSECUTIVE LIFE TERMS.
ANOTHER HIVE OF DANGEROUS YELLOW-LEGGED HORNETS HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE PLAYGROUND OF SOUTHSIDE PARK IN THE MOSSY OAKS NEIGHBORHOOD OF BEAUFORT. THE YOGA-BALL-SIZED NEST WAS IN A SWEETGUM TREE 60-FEET HIGH AND CONTAINED ABOUT 2-THOUSAND HORNETS. CLEMSON EXPERTS SAY THERE’VE BEEN ABOUT 80 OF THE NESTS FOUND IN THE LOWCOUNTRY RECENTLY. THERE ARE ALSO INDIVIDUALIZED TRAPS THAT ARE SET IN THE AREA. THE YELLOW-LEGGED HORNET’S STING ISN’T ANY WORSE THAN ANY OTHER BEE STING, BUT THEY DO KILL OFF NATIVE HONEYBEES THAT ARE CRITICAL FOR POLLINATING CROPS. THEY HAVE A DISTINCT ORANGE FACE AND YELLOW LEGS AND LIKELY ARRIVED HERE FROM THE ORIENT ON A CARGO SHIP IN SAVANNAH.