Okatie News

New criticism of a proposed $400 million upscale outlet mall in Jasper County has surfaced that says the mall, which is poised to get $100 million in tax breaks, is a sham.

Please send items for Harley's column at least two weeks in advance. Fax to 843-706-3070 or e-mail to features@beaufortgazette.com. You'll get a chance to see scenes from the birth of Christ as well as an insider's view of what Bethlehem was like that day at area churches' nativities tonight and continuing through the next couple weeks.

Beaufort County Board of Education member George Wilson was correct when he said rezoning the county's high schools -- which will number five by next fall -- is sure to be an emotional and contentious process.

Officials are searching for an unidentified suspect wanted in connection with a shooting Sunday night at an Okatie home, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office report released Tuesday.

An 86-year-old Okatie man died Saturday after suffering an apparent heart attack while driving on U.S. 278 just west of Simmonsville Road in Bluffton, said David Ott, deputy coroner for Beaufort County.

Okatie Crossings is no Boeing. But, to Jasper County, it's more important. Over two days in October, a $450 million tax package that helped entice aircraft giant Boeing - and its 3,600 high-paying jobs - to expand in urban North Charleston unanimously sailed through the General Assembly.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, is working on the armed robbery of an Okatie area bank that occurred early this morning.

John O'Gorman and his family had run the Bluffton Ale House for about seven years when he got the urge to try a new concept.

Celebrating Beaufort County's Two SC Arts Commission Winners, plus Lost in Holland in concert! Gallery Opening reception @ ARTworks, October 30 @ 6pm, and the show runs through November 30th.

A man who died in a one-car wreck on S.C. 170 on Friday morning has been identified as Matthew Scott Mallet, 21, of Yemassee, according to Beaufort County coroner Ed Allen.

It's oystering season, and there is an area of the May River where harvesting oysters is prohibited.

It takes just a few hours to program and set up the codeless gate-entry systems that all gated communities in Beaufort County must have within a year, says the owner of a local company that already has installed 138 systems countywide in the past five years.

A third person has stepped up to run for one of two Town Council seats up for election in Bluffton.

Two Bluffton men were arrested Wednesday after they allegedly stole steak, shrimp, chicken and pizza worth $200 from an Okatie grocery store, assaulted a store manager before fleeing, then returned to assault the manager again, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office report released Friday.

Polio will be fought on Hilton Head Island on Oct. 3 in a fundraising beach walk organized by five Rotary clubs.

While Gary and Kelly Williams built a devoted following at the Sea Shack on Hilton Head Island for 13 years, their three fun-loving daughters reluctantly learned all about the food business.

A look at responses to a Beaufort Gazette request for information about how Beaufort County public schools will handle President Barack Obama's speech to students planned for Tuesday.

Angel Food orders, including specials, may be purchased without the requirement to purchase a box.

AARP Drivers Safety Class for seniors over age 50 is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Beaufort Jasper Water and Sewer Authority Lucile Fripp Conference Room, 6 Snake Road in Okatie.

Congratulations are in order to The Hilton Head Island Avid Gardeners club for its Native Plant Project that received the highest award given by the National Garden Clubs Inc., along with $1,000 for the Civic Project with Native Plants at the 80th annual convention held in Houston in May.