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Volume 15 Issue 25 FREE March 27, 2020

Sullivan’s Island • Isle of Palms • Goat Island • Dewees Island

Emergency
measures
IOP AND SULLIVAN’S ISLAND
FIGHT CORONAVIRUS

BY BRIAN SHERMAN
MANAGING EDITOR • THE ISLAND EYE NEWS

I
sle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island have
stepped up their efforts to fight the
potential spread of the coronavirus.
Declaring a state of emergency March
20, the IOP City Council chose to restrict
access to the island. Two days later, after
three Council meetings and two changes of
heart, the Sullivan’s Island Town Council
voted to follow suit.
Access will be restricted to both islands
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with checkpoints
at the intersection of the IOP Connector
and Palm Boulevard and on SC-703.
Sullivan’s Island Mayor Pat O’Neil said the
two islands will be treated as one, with
no checkpoints at Breach Inlet, which
separates Isle of Palms from Sullivan’s. The town of Sullivan’s Island held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new wastewater treatment plant March 13. Left to
At its first March 20 meeting, the right: Town Administrator Andy Benke; Water & Sewer Department employee Andy Williams; David Christopher of the
Sullivan’s Island Council voted to limit project engineer, HDR of the Carolinas; Water & Sewer Department Manager Greg Gress; and Mayor Pat O’Neil.
groups on the beach to no more than 10

Breaking ground
people and to mount a public relations
campaign to get the word out that the town
would be enforcing that rule. Not long after,
they reconvened, reacting to the news that
both Folly Beach and Isle of Palms had W O R K O N N E W T R E AT M E N T P L A N T I S U N D E R WAY
decided to keep the crowds away.
“All our phones were exploding with calls,
texts and emails,” O’Neil explained. “Our BY BRIAN SHERMAN
residents were concerned that everyone MANAGING EDITOR • THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
would come here to go to the beach.”

At a second meeting, the Sullivan’s
Island Council voted not to restrict access
to the island but to clear the beach between
8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
“Setting up checkpoints at the causeway
and Breach Inlet would have caused a giant
traffic mess and used lots of manpower,”
O’Neil said March 21. “We didn’t want to
cause an inordinate amount of disruption,
and we wanted to keep it safe. We don’t
want to contribute to the spread of the
virus among people who come to our
beach.”
“We changed our mind because
conditions changed drastically,” he added.
Emergency continues on page 3
I
t’s been well over half a century since the
residents of Sullivan’s Island shelled out
less than $1 million to build the town’s
first and only wastewater treatment plant.
A complete overhaul of the ancient plant on
Gull Drive will give the town a state-of-the-
art facility that can stand up to hurricanes
and earthquakes, and, as an added bonus,
give the Water & Sewer Department a
safe and dry place to store its valuable
equipment.
Of course, the price tag will be a bit heftier
than it was in 1968. The $16.3 million
project, which got underway in November
2019, will be paid for by the town’s 2018
installment purchase revenue bond.
The town held its official groundbreaking
for the project March 13, and work is
scheduled to be completed by May 30, 2021.
Mayor Pat O’Neil spoke during the brief
ceremony, and representatives of the project
engineer – HDR of the Carolinas – and
contractor – Garney Construction of Winter
Garden, Florida – also were on hand.
The town had little choice but to overhaul
the aging plant, which has undergone two
upgrades during its lifetime but nothing
anywhere near the scope of the current
project, according to Water & Sewer
Department Manager Greg Gress.
“Many of the key components have
reached the end of their useful life,” said
Plant continues on page 2

RECOGNITION BANDING HELPING

DAY SEASON HUNGRY KIDS
page 6 page 9 page 11
www.islandeyenews.com
2 March 27, 2020
Sulllivan’s Island Water & Sewer Department Manager Greg Gress takes a look at the oxidation ditch, also known as
the racetrack.
Plant continues from page 1
Gress, who has been with the department
since 2001. “Similarly, much of the sewer
collection system was installed at this time
to complement lines installed as early as the
1930s.”
The town is also spending $4 million to
upgrade five lift stations and is finishing
up phase II of a $4.5 million project aimed
at reducing inflow and infiltration into the
sewer collection system.
Work at the treatment plant site will
include: revamping the influent pump
station and converting to a submersible
pump that can withstand flooding; building
a new head works, where bulky items are
separated from the sewage coming into the
plant, and elevating it above the flood plain;
replacing the oxidation ditch and adding
a second tank so the department can take
care of required maintenance on one tank
www.islandeyenews.com
while the other remains in use; moving the
electrical control panels that operate the
clarifiers above the 100-year flood elevation;
adding a large building that will store the
department’s equipment and include a
generator that will run the entire plant; and
renovating a building to provide office space
and showers for employees.
Currently, the only place chemicals are
used is in the chlorine contact chamber.
At this point, the clear liquid is treated
with chlorine gas and sulphur dioxide gas
before it leaves the plant for the marsh in a
300-foot-long, 12-inch pipe. When the work
on the plant is completed, the liquid will be
treated with tablets rather than gas.
Gress pointed out that the concrete
structures, sitting atop 121 pilings sunk
77 feet into the ground, will be able to
withstand heavy winds and even an
earthquake. He said the new plant should
have a life span of 50 to 70 years. Since
there is a finite amount of land on Sullivan’s
Island, he expects the wastewater treatment
plant to handle the town’s needs for another
half century or more.
“There won’t be much growth here,” he
said.
Since septic tanks are not permitted, the
treatment plant serves the entire island.
Sometime prior to 1968, the military
built a sewage collection system that served
part of Sullivan’s Island. Until 1968, Gress
pointed out, the remainder of the town
depended on a few pump stations that sent
raw sewage directly into the marsh.
The island’s first treatment plant was
built by W.F. Brinkley & Son, with Cummins
& McCrady serving as the architect and
engineer. The total cost, less than $1
million, included work on the collection
system as well.
March 27, 2020
Emergency continues from page 1
“We were concerned that we
would be the only beach open
to nonresidents. This will shut
down the busiest time for crowds
without discriminating against
nonresidents and having to man
checkpoints, with consequent
traffic backups.”
O’Neil pointed out that the
Council had an interesting
visitor at its second gathering
of the day – sort of. Gov. Henry
McMaster called the mayor
during the meeting to discuss
the situation at South Carolina’s
beaches, and O’Neil asked if
could put his phone in speaker
mode. The governor complied
go to the beach. After having
observed that IOP was able to do
its checkpoints without seeming
to slow down entry, this looked
more reasonable than when
we examined the possibility on
Friday.”
People will be able to pass
through the checkpoint with a
Sullivan’s Island decal, other
proof of residence or if they need
to get on the island for business
reasons.
Local residents and others will
be able to continue to visit the
IOP beach, though Mayor Jimmy
Carroll pointed out that the town
is encouraging social distancing
and groups of no more than 10
people. had to do it for public safety.
3
medical services, including
caregivers; and employees of
local businesses, including but
not limited to grocery stores,
restaurants, contractors, short-
term rentals and property
managers.
The ordinance will be in effect
for 14 days. LUCKY DOG
Carroll explained why the
Isle of Palms City Council took
PUBLISHING
SC, LLC
of
action. The Island Eye News
“This virus is just multiplying.
It’s snowballing. We were going The Island Connection
to do baby steps earlier, but SiP Magazine
seeing the crowds on the beach “Where to” Map
yesterday, we had to jump
quickly,” he said March 21. Lynn Pierotti
lynn@luckydognews.com
“The beach was just packed. We
publisher

and joined local Council
members for the remainder of
the meeting.
Again reacting to pushback
Those who will be permitted
to pass through the checkpoint
at the Connector and Palm
Boulevard include: IOP residents
Everybody has to wake up to
this thing and try to prevent it.” Brian Sherman
ieneditor@luckydognews.com
“This ordinance is in reaction
to ever-changing circumstances, managing editor

from local residents, the and property owners with a including the recent closures of Jennifer Tuohy
Sullivan’s Island Council met current parking decal, 2019 and county parks, which in turn are jennifer@luckydognews.com
March 23 and decided to 2020 resident parking decals, driving people in larger numbers contributing editor
restrict access to the island. The hurricane re-entry stickers or to our beaches,” he added.
ordinance will be in effect for up Wild Dunes resident stickers; “Doing nothing increases the Swan Richards
to 61 days. relatives or friends who are with risk of community spread and senior graphic designer

“If everything clears up, we
can always backtrack,” O’Neil
said.
“We got lots of expressions of
concern from residents about
a resident in a vehicle with a
current parking decal or proof
of residency; caretakers; service
workers with current decals;
short-term renters with a short-
exposure.” Alejandro Ferreyros
O’Neil admitted that “there’s graphic designer
no perfect solution.”
Carroll pointed out that to Lori McGee 843-614-0901
see the complete ordinance and advertising executive

the previous plan we had,” the
mayor pointed out in explaining
the Council’s second change of
heart. “Lots of residents were
complaining that they couldn’t
term rental contract, hotel guest
pass or Wild Dunes QR code;
delivery personnel, including
but not limited to pharmacies,
FedEx, UPS, Amazon and USPS;
personnel delivering essential
obtain the latest information on
Christian LeBlanc
the city’s efforts to combat the
christian@luckydognews.com
coronavirus, visit IOP.net, and
social media
click on “Latest News” at the top
of the page. Gregg Bragg
Charles Claxton

A literary tradition for literacy

staff writers

•
CONTRIBUTORS
Angela May
AUTHOR SERIES AIDS YOUNG READERS Zach Watson
Carey B. Sullivan
Sarah Diaz
BY ANGELA MAY Mary Pringle
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS Sarah Reynolds

T
he annual author series
held Jan. 19 at Wild Dunes
Resort raised more than
$8,000 for Reading Partners
South Carolina.
More than 350 people
attended “Wild Dunes Presents:
A Conversation with Mary
Alice Monroe,” which featured
bestselling novelists Elizabeth
Berg, Kate Quinn and Signe Pike.
A total of $8,414.57 was raised
for Reading Partners South
Carolina, a 501(c)(3) organization
dedicated to providing young
students who struggle to read
with individualized support
in Berkeley, Charleston and
Dorchester county schools. This
was a record-setting amount
raised from the Wild Dunes
Author Series, which was
launched more than a decade
ago by Monroe, an Isle of Palms
resident and bestselling author
of 23 novels and two children’s
books.
Along with Wild Dunes
Resort’s stalwart support, local
business partners Buxton Books,
Firefly Distillery, Mary Edna
Fraser and Holy City Straw
Company contributed to the
overall success of the fundraising
event. Even the featured
authors generously donated their
time to be a part of the literary
tradition for literacy.
Plans are underway for next
year’s Wild Dunes Author Series,
to be held Jan. 17. The featured
authors will be announced this
summer.
For more information about
the author series, contact Monroe
through her website at www.
MaryAliceMonroe.com. To learn
more about Reading Partners,
visit www.ReadingPartners.org.
Diann Clark
Kim Keelor-Parker
Abigail Darlington
George Roberts
•
PUBLISHED BY
Lucky Dog Publishing
of South Carolina, LLC
P.O. Box 837
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482
843.886.NEWS
Submit your letters to the editor to:
ieneditor@luckydognews.com
DEADLINE:
APR. 1 for our APR. 10 issue
The Island Eye News, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Lucky Dog Publishing of SC
LLC, is a free, independent newspaper
published every two weeks and is for and
about the Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island,
Goat Island and Dewees Island. Copies
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not necessarily reflect the opinion of
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4 March 27, 2020
Buckhannon seeks State House seat
BY RYAN BUCKHANNON
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
M
y love affair with the Lowcountry began
as a boy. I remember vacationing on Isle
of Palms with my parents when life was
simpler – before the era of iPhones, Instagram and
yes, pandemics. I vowed that one day, I’d return.
And return I did.
Along the way, I met my wife, Sonya, and we
jumped headfirst into serving this incredible
community. We raised our now 21-year-old triplets
on the Isle of Palms. All three boys appreciate the
natural beauty that surrounds us.
For a decade, I operated a chiropractic practice
in Mount Pleasant and learned valuable lessons
that only small business owners can know. Making
payroll and dealing with government bureaucracy
gave me more than a few gray hairs.
Since selling the chiropractic practice in
2007, Sonya and I have owned and operated
Buckhannon Tile & Design in Mount Pleasant.
We have seen firsthand the growth in our area,
particularly East of the Cooper River. Ryan Buckhannon.
Early in my small business career, I heard the
call to public service. It’s hard to believe I’ve served on Isle of Palms
City Council for a total of 19 years. Time flies. Over those years, I have
chaired the Public Safety, Public Works, Recreation and Real Property
committees.
I have thoroughly enjoyed serving the residents of Isle of Palms, but
now my family and I hope to serve our community on a larger stage.
Following State Rep. Mike Sottile’s recent announcement that
he is not seeking another term representing District 112, several
friends, family members and political leaders asked me to consider
running for the seat. Their requests humbled me, given Rep. Sottile’s
principled leadership and excellent constituent service.
After prayerful consideration with my family, I have decided to run
for House District 112. I’m running because I believe that only the
www.islandeyenews.com
state Legislature can correct the many issues
that we are trying to resolve as a city and
region.
We must do more to protect the
Lowcountry’s unique quality of life. Flooding,
storm water runoff and beach erosion threaten
not only the natural beauty around us but our
economic vitality.
Traffic chokes too many roads, and poorly-
managed development is only making the
problem worse. The Lowcountry sends far
more dollars to Columbia than it receives in
return.
South Carolina needs more “home rule,”
where cities and towns are allowed to make
the best decisions for their area, not legislators
in Columbia or Washington. Let’s enable
communities to utilize their own tourism tax
dollars to improve and maintain infrastructure
and not just promote tourism, which further
stresses infrastructure.
What good is consistently promoting
tourism if people can’t get there?
On City Council, I worked for positive reforms in our community,
and I am hopeful that I can bring the same common-sense decision-
making, conservative values and transparency to Columbia. I’ll watch
your tax dollars like a hawk and fight hard for our fair share of state
funding.
Recent retirements across the Lowcountry mean our area has
lost significant influence in Columbia. Now more than ever, we need
leaders who have experience working on the issues that will define
this decade and beyond. It’s time for action to improve infrastructure,
traffic and our quality of life.
Please consider supporting my campaign in the Republican primary
on June 9. I would be honored to have your vote.
Kaynard announces for
District 112 seat
BY CHERYL KAYNARD
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
A
ttorney and business executive
Cheryl McMurry Kaynard has
announced that she is a candidate
for State House District 112, which
includes Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island
and parts of Mount Pleasant.
“I’m running for District 112 because
our quality of life here East of the Cooper
is under assault from overdevelopment,”
she said March 11. “From traffic to schools
to conservation, we need a representative
who’ll fight to make Columbia listen to
us – our residents, our small businesses
and our local leaders. And nothing is more
important than putting an absolute end to Cheryl Kaynard.
any notion or version of offshore drilling.
The only answer to that topic is no. Common sense tells us that we know
how to solve our own problems better than any senator or representative
from halfway across the state. And if our citizens give me the honor of
representing District 112 in Columbia, I'll work every day to make sure
that we have the authority and the resources we need here at the local
level to save the quality of life that makes our area so special.”
An attorney, educator, business executive and former chief counsel
for the Federal Highway Administration in Washington, D.C., Kaynard
has been a community college teacher, practiced law, been the president
of a venture capital investment fund and been president and chief
executive officer of for-profit and nonprofit corporations concerned with
conservation and preservation. With FHWA, she worked with federal,
state and local governments and secured the initial funding and federal
legislative support for the construction of the James Island Bridge and
Connector. Because of her work on traffic issues, Kaynard was the
keynote speaker at the Organization of American States International
Traffic Symposium in Brasilia, Brazil.
www.islandeyenews.com
5
Known as a “get it done” executive, Kaynard has led projects,
organizations and businesses through an approach of clarifying issues,
identifying key stakeholders and developing creative and collaborative
solutions to public and private challenges.
Kaynard grew up in Southern Oklahoma, the oldest of five children
whose parents were dedicated to education and funded a total of 14
college degrees. With four degrees herself, she has a lifelong interest in
quality education. While rearing her two daughters, Kaynard was involved
daily in their Montessori school, often substitute teaching, and learned
firsthand the challenges faced by teachers. To help non-English speakers,
she served as ESL tutor and later the president of state boards of directors
of Literacy Volunteers of America both in North Carolina and New Jersey.
She also headed up workforce development projects with high schools
and private industry training. While living in Oklahoma City, she won a
citywide award for community leadership in improving elementary school
conditions.
Always involved with preservation and conservation, Kaynard secured
local, state and federal funding to create a research institute in Asheville
studying medicinal plants and protecting the land they grow on from
development. This led to a partnership with the Marine Sciences
Center studying and protecting marine botanicals. She also served as a
commissioner on the Asheville Historic Resources Commission, governed
by the Department of Interior Regulations, and restored a historic home
herself.   
Kaynard completed her undergraduate work in Education at Oklahoma
State University and Auburn University, earned her law degree and
master’s in public administration simultaneously at the University of
South Carolina and has a master’s in teaching from Winthrop University.
She has lived on Sullivan’s Island for 11 years with her husband,
attorney Jerry Kaynard. Daughter Emily, a graduate level social worker,
manages school curriculum with high-performing individual students,
while Maggie, who lives with her husband, Drew, an attorney in Norfolk,
Virginia, is a licensed clinical behavioral therapist. Goldendoodles Banjo
and Bosco are in charge of the family.
Currently, Kaynard serves as vice chair of the WestEdge Foundation;
secretary of the Sherman House, an independent living facility for the
elderly; chair of Pavillon International, Inc., a North Carolina residential
addiction treatment center; secretary of the North Carolina Arboretum;
secretary of the Bent Creek Institute; and as a trustee of the National
Symphony Orchestra.
To learn more about Cheryl McMurry Kaynard, visit CherylForHouse.com
or facebook.com/CherylForHouse.
 Recognition Day
F R E S H M E N B E C O M E C A D E T S E A R LY
DUE TO COVID-19

BY ZACH WATSON
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITADEL.

O
ne hour before sunrise on March 13, The Citadel class of
2023 was officially recognized as members of the South
Carolina Corps of Cadets – two weeks early because of the
dynamic situation involving COVID-19.
Recognition Day is one of the most important events in the life of
a cadet. It’s when freshmen cadet recruits officially become cadets
after months of training. It means the end of rigid formations,
walking in single file at breakneck speed and the highly-regimented
way of life that is The Citadel’s fourth-class system. It’s the
beginning of a new chapter in The Citadel’s leadership development
process.
After hours of grueling physical work followed by a spirit run,
cadets were called onto the checkered floor of their barracks where,
after more push-ups, they listened in silent exhaustion for a
message from Regimental Commander Richard Snyder.
The decision to move Recognition Day was made to ensure that
the class of 2023 was properly recognized if the campus had to be
closed later in the semester.
“I think actually seeing it come to life – it added a different flavor
that none of us got to experience,” said Snyder. “And the privacy of
doing it with just the cadets, because there are very few things on
this campus that are really just the cadets, made for a much more
family atmosphere – just getting to do it with your peers and do it
with the people who trained you the entire year.”
“The world’s really in a crisis situation right now,” Snyder
added. “This event is more important than our graduation, I think,
because this would affect the next four years of the institution.”
Apart from the Gauntlet, all other planned March activities were
canceled because of COVID-19. Since March 23, all classes at the
school have been held online.
“I think as leaders you have to take the things you don’t
necessarily like and make the most of it,” said Snyder. “And I think
we did that as a class and did that as an institution. I think it’s a
good life lesson, that you never know when things are going to get
cut short, or you never know when you’re not going to get the time
you wanted.”
 Giving through art
E S T H E R D O Y L E TA K E S I T O N E S T E P
FURTHER

BY CAREY B. SULLIVAN
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS

A
rtists are givers.
Through their
art, they share
their talent and bring
focus to the beauty
in the world, both
large and small.
Esther Doyle, a
multitalented artist
who lives full-time
on Dewees with her
husband, Jim, is
taking that one step
further and using
her art to give much-
needed money to
help the people and
animals affected by
the fires in Australia.
When I say
multitalented, I
am not kidding. Esther Doyle knitted beds and blankets for the animals
Recently, Judy affected by the fires in Austrailia.
Fairchild and I had PHOTO BY JUDY DREW FAIRCHILD.
the chance to tour
Esther’s workshop
and studio on Dewees. We went from watching her work with raw
wood, turning bowls with chisels, to knitting to scratch art to wood
burning. She also works with water colors, acrylics, colored pencils
and often combines these mediums.
Esther recently learned through an online group – Animal Rescue
Craft Guild – about the massive need for blankets, beds and
other knittable items for animals in response to the tragic fires in
Australia. She took up her needles and began using her talent to
help animals and people literally a world away. Esther was not the
only artist who responded, and soon the Guild was overwhelmed
with the logistics of getting all these beds distributed and stored.
They asked that people hold off on sending fabric beds, so Esther
began selling her art locally in order to send money for food,
medicine and medical supplies to the animal rescue efforts.
“As a big lover of animals both wild and domestic, and a
wildlife artist, I’ve been so moved by the devastating brush fires in
Australia,” she said. “It brings me to tears to think of and to see the
huge loss of animals. I joined ARCG and started crocheting nests
and blankets for the rescued orphans and injured animals.”  
Esther’s art is amazing on its own, but it’s even more amazing
because it is helping to provide lifesaving shelter and medicine for
animals in Australia. If you are interested in purchasing any of her
knitted animal blankets or beds or her scratch art, please contact
her at highlanderfolk@cs.com.  
You can view Esther’s art at Perspective Gallery in Mount Pleasant.
You also can visit the Dewees Island blog to see more about Esther,
her art for Australia, photographs and even a video of Esther at work
at deweesislandblog.com/2020/03/13/island-artist-esther-piazza-
doyle.
8 March 27, 2020
letters to the editor Charges filed after
Who was the guilty party?
Regarding the story in today’s paper about an incident between
fight at local bar
Garrett Krause and Councilman Randy Bell and his wife, Mimi, I
must say that my experience raising children taught me that the one BY BRIAN SHERMAN
who rushed to “explain the whole thing” was the guilty party. MANAGING EDITOR • THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
The innocent one felt no need to justify anything. I noticed that
A
the Bells “did not respond  to requests for comment.”
There is a lot of support on Isle of Palms for Councilman Bell’s n Isle of Palms resident
position regarding the Marina. For Krause to suggest that Bell resign was charged with assault
is absurd. Krause might think about resigning from social media and battery of a high
and taking defense lessons since he “feels so unsafe and in fear.” and aggravated nature March
Our City Council members do a wonderful job for our city, giving 13, after an altercation at
up a lot of personal time and expending a lot of effort on their jobs. a local eating and drinking
Most of our citizens on Isle of Palms appreciate them and their establishment.
efforts. According to Police Chief
Kevin Cornett, police were
Laura McMaster, Isle of Palms called to The Dinghy Tap Room
_________________________________________________________ and Kitchen, located at 8 J.C.
Long Blvd., at 5:35 p.m. There,
Solving the parking problem according to the occurrence
report, they found Paul Nolan II
with an open would to his arm
The parking problem on Sullivan’s Island will be solved if the and learned that the suspect,
island follows the recommendation of the consultants for the Thomas Clayton Johnson,
maritime forest and builds a 12-to-16-foot-high dune the length of had fled in the direction of
the island. Visitors will not want to haul their gear up and over it on The Windjammer. PFC Joshua
walkways to reach the beach. They will go to another island. Phillips learned from witnesses
that the man police sought was
Sara Michelin, Sullivan’s Island
Thomas Johnson and that he
left the scene in a black Range
All letters submitted to The Island Eye News must bear a full name, address and Rover.
phone number for verification. Only the author’s name and city will be printed. Police found the vehicle at
Submissions are accepted via email to ieneditor@luckydognews.com or mail to PO. Johnson’s residence, 200 Palm
Box 837, Sullivan’s Island, S.C. 29482.
Letters may be edited for length and readability. The Island Eye News reserves the Blvd. and arrested him there.
right to reject letters that are libelous, unseemly, not individually addressed to The The occurrence report
Island Eye News or that have been previously published elsewhere. provided Johnson’s side of the
story. He said Nolan was drunk
www.islandeyenews.com
and that he, Johnson, called
Nolan’s boss to let him know
that his employee had been
drinking and was belligerent.
According to Johnson, he was
cleaning his nails with a small
pocketknife when Nolan pushed
him. Nolan said “Cut me. I
want to be cut,” according to
Johnson’s statement to police.
The occurrence report went on
to say: “Johnson continued and
explained he placed the knife
against Nolan’s left arm and
then he pushed his arm against
the knife and as he was pulling
the knife away he cut his arm.”
Johnson said he offered to
take Nolan to his house so he
could “steristrip the cut, clean
it and take him to the hospital.”
Johnson apparently offered to
pay for Nolan’s medical care.
Nolan was released from
a local hospital after the
laceration was stitched.
Johnson, 57, was transported
to and booked at the Al Cannon
Detention Center in North
Charleston.
March 27, 2020
W O R K U N D E R WAY AT S I B I R D
B A N D I N G S TAT I O N
BY SARAH DIAZ
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
Gray catbirds can be found in the Lowcountry year-round.
T
he spring season got underway March 15 at
the Sullivan’s Island bird banding station.
The station’s biologists will be studying
resident and migratory birds that use the protected
land as a breeding ground or as a migration
stopover. At Station 16, there are a variety of
habitats, including maritime forest, wetlands and
scrubland habitats. Numerous neotropical migrants
use these habitats, including painted buntings and
chuck-will’s-widows.
During the first two days of banding, the team
banded 23 birds from seven different species.
Sarah Díaz, the licensed bird bander at the banding
station, has permits from the federal and state
government to band songbirds and small raptors.
A lightweight, numbered aluminum band is placed
on the leg of each bird. Measurements are quickly
recorded, and the bird is released unharmed.
The gray catbird is a neotropical migrant that
breeds throughout most of the United States and
winters as far south as Panama. Gray catbirds
can be found in the Lowcountry year-round. If you
are interested in visiting or volunteering for SIBBS,
please contact Sarah Díaz at sullivansislandbirds@
gmail.com.
9
PHOTO BY BARBARA BERGWERF.
Hunting for hatchlings
LOOKING FOR TURTLES ON OCEAN
B O U L E VA R D
BY MARY PRINGLE
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
S
ince a member of the Exchange Club came up with the idea, the Island
Turtle Team, the city of Isle of Palms and the Exchange Club are pleased
to introduce a hatchling scavenger hunt on Ocean Boulevard between
10th and 14th avenues. A hatchling is a baby sea turtle normally found on
the beach, but there are also six bronze loggerhead hatchlings in this area
near the street. Near each one is an educational plaque on a post that will
help people learn about sea turtle nesting and biology.
Residents and tourists can pick up a brochure at nearby local businesses
which have six clues about the locations of these bronze hatchlings created by
local artist Scott Penegar. The brochure can also be downloaded and printed
from the city’s website at iop.net. Each plaque has a number on it that must
be written in the box next to the clue describing the location. Once all of them
have been found, the filled out brochure can be taken to City Hall at 1207
Palm Blvd., where the participant can collect an Isle of Palms T-shirt with
a sea turtle on it. (At this time, City Hall is not open to the public because
of the coronavirus. Until it is, you should hold on to your brochure with the
numbers filled in and visit City Hall when it reopens to get your shirt.
The idea was inspired by a similar program in Greenville, where people find
hidden bronze mice in the downtown area. We are confident that this contest
will benefit downtown businesses on front beach as well as our beloved
loggerhead turtles through education about beach litter and protection of
nests and hatchlings.
This program was introduced by the Exchange Club and Turtle Team at
the Front Beach Fest on March 7, and we are excited to see how it will be
received. Many thanks to the other sponsors in addition to the Island Turtle
Team: the Isle of Palms Exchange Club; the City of Isle of Palms; and Mary
Alice Monroe. We hope you will participate in the hatchling scavenger hunt,
have a good time and learn a lot about our loggerheads.
 Virus shuts down county
parks and events
BY SARAH REYNOLDS
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS

Palm Manor
917 OCEAN BOULEVARD • ISLE OF PALMS
8 BEDROOMS • 8.5 BATHS • SLEEPS 18-20

B
ased on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and recommendations from the governor’s office
concerning the coronavirus, the Charleston County Park and
Recreation Commission’s parks were closed until further notice on
March 20. In addition, all events have been canceled through May
10, including the Pet Fest and the Lowcountry Cajun Festival, due
to the threat of the coronavirus.
Some of these events may be rescheduled in the coming months.
This precautionary action follows directives from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to limit community events. Money
will be refunded to those who registered for events or programs that
required a fee.
We will continue to follow CDC guidelines for community events.
For the latest information on Charleston County Parks closings,
scheduling and precautions, visit CharlestonCountyParks.com.
The closed parks include: Caw Caw Interpretive Center; Folly
Beach County Park; Folly Beach Pier; Isle of Palms County Park;
James Island County Park; Johns Island County Park; Kiawah
Beachwalker Park; McLeod Plantation Historic Site; Mount
Pleasant Pier; Palmetto Islands County Park; SK8 Charleston; and
Wannamaker County Park.

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March 27, 2020
Hope On Goat makes
life easier for hungry kids
BY DIANN CLARK
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
H
ave you ever been down on
your luck? Have you ever
had to send your kids to
school knowing that they don’t
have lunch money and you don’t
have it to give them?
That was the focus of the 11th
Annual Hope on Goat, held Feb.
29 at Goat Island Gatherings. In
partnership with Barrier Island
Eco Tours, guests were treated to
fresh-picked local oysters cooked
over an open cedar fire, locally
sustainable fish stew, fruits
and vegetables from 82 Queen
restaurant, and desserts from
Saltworks Deli and Olde Colony
Bakery. Entertainment was
provided by Southern Flavor, The
Secret Ingredients and Guy Mead.
Many food-insecure families
do not qualify for food-assistance
programs. One bad month
can be enough to plunge a
household into food insecurity.
Layoffs at work, unexpected car
maintenance, unforeseen medical
bills or an accident on the job can
suddenly force a family to choose between buying food and paying
bills.
Shane Ziegler is the owner of Barrier
Island Eco Tours and also co-host of the
11th annual Hope on Goat.
PHOTO BY JENI BECKER.
www.islandeyenews.com
11
“Catch Up On Lunch” was created to help children pay for
lunches in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. Across
the country, children are ostracized and bullied by their peers
because they don’t have the funds they need to eat. They are
punished by forfeiting field trips and recess, having stamps on
their hands and notes pinned to them to remind parents to pay up.
Sometimes it is absolutely impossible for the family to catch up, so
the cycle continues.
Our attention to the subject came from a local family that is
striving every day to make a difference. The nonprofit “I Heart
Hungry Kids” was founded by Jackson Silverman, then age 7, and
his twin brothers Gabe and Riley, then age 5. The boys recognized
the problem in their school and told their parents about it. Since
2013, “I Heart Hungry Kids” has been working with volunteers ages
5 through 18 to provide meaningful opportunities for youth service
through programs that impact kid hunger issues right here at
home. This past February, Riley Silverman was selected for the 2020
Prudential Spirit of Community Award as the top middle school
volunteer in the state of South Carolina. The boys live their motto:
Kids helping kids to beat hunger. Visit their website to see how your
child can get involved: ihearthungrykids.org.
The third local charity that benefited from the fundraiser was
The Lowcountry Blessing Box Project. Blessing Boxes are built,
placed, maintained and stocked by volunteers with nonperishable
food items, basic toiletries, baby supplies and anything else that
might be considered a blessing to someone in need. Items are
anonymously donated and anonymously received. A simple rule
applies: Leave what you can; take what you need. There are two
blessing boxes in the Mount Pleasant area – at Hibben Methodist
Church at 690 Coleman Blvd. and at the Olive Branch AME Church,
1734 Highway 17 North. There are 110 in the Charleston area. Visit
chsblessingbox.wixsite.com for a map to all locations.
All three of these charities work together with a common goal: to
end hunger in our local community.
Hope on Goat organizers are humbled and grateful for the
support they’ve received from local businesses and individuals with
donations to our silent auctions. Our 12th annual event will be held
the last Saturday in February 2021. Please follow the Goat Island
Gatherings Facebook page for ticket announcements after the first
of the year.
12
The Citadel announces class of 2020
commencement speakers
T T
he South Carolina Corps
of Cadets Class of 2020
commencement will
take place at 9 a.m. May 9 at
McAlister Field House. About
500 cadet graduates and veteran
day students will be addressed
by this year’s commencement
speaker, retired Marine Corps
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr.
Anderson “Andy” D. Warlick,
a 1979 graduate of The Citadel,
will address The Citadel
Graduate College commencement
exercises at 3:30 p.m. the same
day, also in McAlister Field
House. He is currently the
chairman and CEO of Parkdale,
Inc.
Dunford served as the 19th
chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, the nation’s highest-
ranking military officer and the
principal military advisor to the
president, secretary of defense
and National Security Council
from 2015 to 2019. Prior to
becoming chairman, Dunford
served as the 36th commandant
of the U.S. Marine Corps. He
was the assistant commandant
of the Marine Corps from 2010
to 2012 and was commander,
International Security Assistance
Force and United States Forces-
Afghanistan from February 2013
to August 2014.
A native of Boston, Dunford
graduated from Saint Michael’s
College and was commissioned
in 1977. He has served as an
infantry officer at all levels,
including commanding the
2nd Battalion, 6th Marines,
and 5th Marine Regiment
during Operation Iraqi
Freedom. Dunford also served
as the assistant division
BY KIM KEELOR-PARKER
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
Andy Warlick.
commander of the 1st Marine
Division, Marine Corps director
of operations and Marine
Corps deputy commandant for
plans, policies and operations.
He commanded I Marine
Expeditionary Force and was the
commander, Marine Forces U.S.
Central Command.
Warlick is considered to be one
of the most innovative leaders in
the textile industry, particularly
with regard to sustainability and
environmental responsibility.
Parkdale’s patent-pending
process that allows polyester
and other synthetic materials to
biodegrade like natural materials
results in less pollution of the
oceans. Parkdale is the world’s
largest independent producer of
cotton and cotton-blend yarns
and cotton consumer products
for the health and beauty
www.islandeyenews.com
Gen. Joseph F. Dunford.
industry and owner of the U.S.
Cotton brand.
Warlick joined Parkdale Mills
in 1984 and became president
March 27, 2020
and CEO in 2001. He also is part
owner of the Charlotte Hornets
of the National Basketball
Association.
Warlick has served his alma
mater in numerous capacities
over the years, and is currently
a member of The Citadel
Foundation board of directors,
a position he has held since
2013. In 2009, The Citadel
honored him with an honorary
degree of doctor of business
administration for his optimism,
leadership and vision in service
to his community and his alma
mater. He also is a graduate
of Harvard Business School’s
Program for Management
Development and of the National
Cotton Council’s Leadership
Program.
Warlick and his wife, Pam,
reside in his hometown of
Gastonia, North Carolina, where
Parkdale is headquartered. They
have two adult children, Collins
and Davis.
Can you dig it?
E X C AVAT I O N S O N P O C K O Y I S L A N D
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES
FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS
he public is invited to
join the South Carolina
Department of Natural
Resources archaeology team
as they conduct excavations at
Pockoy Island, located on Botany
Bay Plantation Heritage Preserve.
Archaeological excavation will
take place from May 1 through
May 23.
FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS, BOTANY BAY PLANTATION HAS
EXPERIENCED ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF EROSION IN
COASTAL SOUTH CAROLINA.
“The Ring People,” a
documentary produced in
2019, takes viewers to remote
archaeological sites, including
Pockoy Island, as scientists
discover more about monumental
rings of shell constructed
during the Late Archaic period
by American Indians. “The
Ring People” and other SCDNR
archaeology documentaries can
be found at heritagetrust.dnr.
sc.gov/films.html.
The Pockoy Island Shell
Ring Complex is the latest
archaeological discovery on
Botany Bay Plantation Heritage
Preserve, a SCDNR-managed area
on Edisto Island. The rings were
found in 2017. Pockoy 1 is the
oldest known shell ring in South
Carolina, dating to the Late
Archaic period, approximately
4,300 years ago – the same time
period as the construction of the
first Egyptian pyramids.
While the two shell rings are
considered one archaeological
site, recent excavations have
focused on Pockoy 1 since it
is experiencing a rapid rate of
erosion – about 9.5 meters per
year.
The Pockoy Island Shell Ring
www.islandeyenews.com
Complex is among thousands
of coastal archaeological sites
threatened by the rising sea level.
Because of this threat, Pockoy
is considered an example of
heritage at risk – a global term
used to define cultural resources
impacted by natural and human
threats.
For nearly 70 years, Botany
Bay Plantation has experienced
one of the highest rates of erosion
in coastal South Carolina. The
shoreline has moved as much
as three quarters of a mile
inland in some locations. Rapid
archaeological investigation of
Pockoy 1 is critical because the
site will be gone by 2024. In
fact, a 1-meter rise in sea level
will submerge 19,000 recorded
archaeological sites in the
Southeastern United States by
the end of the century.
Pockoy 1 is one of the most
intensely investigated shell rings
in the world. Excavations there
began in July 2017 with shovel
testing and probing of the site.
Shovel test pits, each of them 30
centimeters in diameter and 1
meter deep, were excavated by
hand every 10 meters across the
site. The STPs helped SCDNR
archaeologists determine where
larger excavation units and
trenches should be located for
future field seasons.
Probing through the shell
used to construct Pockoy 1 more
than 4,000 years ago helped
SCDNR archaeologists determine
the thickness and diameter of
the shell ring. Pockoy 1 is the
shape of a donut and measures
about 60 meters across and 60
centimeters at its thickest point.
The center of this donut shape
– the plaza – is void of shell.
Excavations in May 2018 focused
on the west side of the shell ring
into the plaza, while excavations
in December 2018 focused on the
plaza itself.
During the May 2019
field season, while SCDNR
archaeologists expanded their
excavations of the Pockoy 1
plaza, they were joined by
more than 400 volunteers and
nearly 1,400 visitors. They were
also joined by other teams of
archaeologists who assisted in
laying the groundwork for future
13
archaeological investigations
of the island. Mississippi State
University archaeology staff
and students conducted an
STP survey of Pockoy Island
to determine artifact patterns
across the island. Meanwhile,
archaeologists from the National
Park Service Southeastern
Archaeological Center probed
Pockoy 2 to determine the shell
ring’s diameter and thickness.
Also in the shape of a donut,
Pockoy 2 measures approximately
80 meters across and 45
centimeters at its thickest point.
During the May 2020 field
season, SCDNR archaeologists
will focus on expanding their
investigations of the Pockoy 1
plaza and northern portions
of the shell ring. They will be
joined by Indiana University
of Pennsylvania staff and
students who will conduct an
archaeological field school on
Pockoy Island.
Information carefully collected
from Pockoy 1 suggests that it
was constructed and occupied
over a relatively short period
of time, between 20 and 100
years. However, there are many
questions still to answer: Why
were the Pockoy Island Shell
Rings constructed? Are they
connected to a larger network
of shell ring communities
across the Southeastern United
States? Were they created for a
ceremonial purpose?
Time is running out to gather
information to answer these and
many other questions.
People can volunteer to help at:
eventbrite.com/e/volunteer-at-
the-pockoy-island-archaeological-
excavation-tickets-85202957339.
Groups of 10 or more who wish
to visit the site may register at:
surveymonkey.com/r/TV68NHF.
For more information about the
May 2020 field season: scwildlife.
com/articles/septoct2018/
TheShellRingsofPockoy.html.
For more information about the
SCDNR Heritage Trust Program:
heritagetrust.dnr.sc.gov. Directions
to the preserve: www2.dnr.sc.gov/
ManagedLands/ManagedLand/
ManagedLand/57.
March 27, 2020 15

Coastal Community Foundation Expanded service

launches COVID-19 Relief & MEALS ON WHEELS WILL SERVE
Recovery Fund COVID-19 VICTIMS

BY ABIGAIL DARLINGTON BY GEORGE ROBERTS

FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS FOR THE ISLAND EYE NEWS

C R
oastal Community
Foundation of South
Carolina, the largest
nonprofit community foundation
in the Palmetto State, has
launched the COVID-19 Relief
& Recovery Fund to receive
charitable donations to support
communities disproportionately
impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic and the economic
consequences of the outbreak.
The fund is seeded with
$140,000, with support from
Coastal Community Foundation,
Waccamaw Community
Foundation and Frances P.
Bunnelle Foundation. Additional
money will be sought from
individual donors, corporate
partners and foundations.
The fund will provide flexible
resources to organizations
working with priority groups,
including senior citizens,
children, people who are
health-compromised and
workers in the hospitality and
tourism industry in Beaufort,
Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton,
Dorchester, Georgetown,
Hampton and Horry counties.
“The immediate threat to our
communities is the spread of
this virus and the pressures it
could place on our health care
systems. In addition to that,
we anticipate short and long-
term effects on our workforce
and local economies,” said CCF
President and Chief Executive
Officer Darrin Goss. “By pooling
our resources now to support
those most affected, our region
will be better equipped to
respond quickly and sustain
that response over the duration
of this crisis."
Tax-deductible donations
can be made online at
coastalcommunityfoundation.
org/special-initiatives/covid-19-
relief-recovery-fund.
The fund is designed to make
grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organizations and groups
fiscally sponsored by a 501(c)
(3) organization. The Foundation
cannot accept applications
from individuals or on behalf of
individuals.
To learn more, visit
coastalcommunityfoundation.org
or call 843-723-3635.
ecognizing the nutritional needs of the homebound, East
Cooper Meals on Wheels in 1985 began delivering meals to
those who are confined to their homes and have difficulty
preparing their own meals. The local nonprofit is now ready
and available to help feed those who become homebound due to
COVID-19 – the coronavirus. Fully-prepared meals can be delivered
to anyone who is diagnosed with or exposed to the virus.
“We already provide meals to anyone who is temporarily
homebound following surgery or severe illness, and, during this
uncertain time, we are ready to extend that commitment to anyone
who is confined to their home due to the virus,” said President and
Chief Executive Officer George Roberts.
Meals on Wheels provides flavorful, healthy meals, featuring
entrees such as Hawaiian chicken, lemon fish, salmon patties and
Southwest casserole, accompanied by milk and fresh fruit. Meals
can be provided for both lunch and dinner, as well as to cover
the weekends. Breakfast bags containing items such as instant
oatmeal, cereal and fruit cups, as well as Ensure and Glucerna, are
available to those with additional nutritional needs.
Though the extended benefits of Meals on Wheels are enjoyed
through a daily visit and conversation with a volunteer, the
organization recognizes the need for social distancing, especially in
view of the current coronavirus scare. Meals can be left in a cooler
at the door to avoid direct contact between volunteers and meal
recipients.
Here are the qualifications for receiving meals:
• Homebound and experiencing difficulties with preparing or
procuring food;
• Adults of any age and any income;
• Must reside in one of the following zip codes: 29464, 29466,
29492, 29451 or 29482;
• Short-term or long-term needs.
To inquire about meal deliveries, email rhamilton@ecmow.org or
call 843-881-9350.

Breach Inlet
Tide Char t
Date High Tide Low Tide
Mar 27 10:37am/10:44pm 4:24am/4:29pm
Mar 28 11:10am/11:18pm 5:01am/5:03pm
Mar 29 11:45am/11:58pm 5:41am/5:43pm
Mar 30 12:27pm 6:26am/6:29pm
Mar 31 12:46am/31:20pm 7:19am/7:24pm
Apr 1 1:45am/2:23pm 8:20am/8:28pm
Apr 2 2:52am/3:32pm 9:26am/9:37pm
Apr 3 4:02am/4:40pm 10:30am/10:45pm
Apr 4 5:08am/5:43pm 11:29am/11:48pm
Apr 5 6:08am/6:41pm 12:24pm
Apr 6 7:04am/7:36pm 12:47am/1:15pm
Apr 7 7:57am/8:28pm 1:42am/2:04pm
Apr 8 8:48am/9:20pm 2:36am/2:52pm
Apr 9 9:38am/10:11pm 3:29am/3:40pm

Hurricanes, storms etc., are NOT included in the predictions. Tidal

current direction changes and tide time predictions can be very
different. Tide predictions are PREDICTIONS; they can be wrong so
use common sense.
Source: www.saltwatertides.com

www.islandeyenews.com