Fire closes the Fresh Market on William Hilton Parkway
A late-night fire closed a grocery store, and South Carolina's turtle season is having a big year.
The Fresh Market at 890 William Hilton Parkway is closed for repairs after a fire.
The Fresh Market at 890 William Hilton Parkway is closed for repairs after a fire late Sunday night. A fire alarm went off inside the building around 11:08 p.m., according to Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue. The building was unoccupied when the alarm sounded. The first unit arrived at 11:14 p.m., six minutes after the alarm. Crews found smoke throughout the store, with the fire coming from the refrigeration area. Fire Rescue sent three engines and two ladder trucks. The response also included a medic unit, a Battalion Chief and support staff. The fire was under control by 11:53 p.m. and declared out at 12:43 a.m. Plan your grocery run somewhere else for now.
South Carolina's loggerhead season ranks third all-time
South Carolina is having one of its biggest sea turtle seasons ever. As of Aug. 10, the state Department of Natural Resources had counted more than 7,800 loggerhead nests. That makes it the third-highest season on record. Only a couple of weeks remain in the season. This is a statewide count, not a Hilton Head-specific total. It gives island beachgoers context for where South Carolina's nesting season stands as it enters the final stretch.
The Seahawks return almost everybody
Hilton Head Island brings back 19 of 22 starters this season. Last year the Seahawks won 11 games, took a region title and reached the third round of the 4-A playoffs. Coach Payne enters his 15th season with 24 seniors on the roster, which he called rare air for the program. The offseason work has been about staying healthy and building on an experienced group, rather than teaching fundamentals again. That is a very different kind of August than most teams get. Friday nights should be worth the drive this fall.
Indoor programs and tie-dye at Coastal Discovery
If August heat has beaten your outdoor plans into submission, the Coastal Discovery Museum has options. Outdoor Indigo Tie-Dye runs Tuesdays from 10 to 12. The air-conditioned kids programs are the real draw right now: Creature Craft and Marsh Critters both run indoors. The museum also offers Gullah Heritage Trail Tours as an offsite excursion. Schedules can change, so check before you go.
Town takes a first look at a teen curfew
The town got its first public look Monday at two proposals: a public gathering ordinance and a teen curfew for the island. Both moved forward after the mass shooting at Coligny Beach, where eight people were shot when two teen groups fought. This was a first look and a first round of opinion, not a vote, so nothing changes yet. A curfew would change late-night routines for island teens and families, so the next step matters.
One more Tuesday of fireworks at Shelter Cove
HarbourFest has one fireworks Tuesday left, on Aug. 18. The August schedule lists shows on Aug. 4, 11 and 18. This year the shows are built around America's 250th anniversary, with patriotic flair reworked each week. Shows start when the sky is fully dark, so there is no fixed clock time to plan around. No drones are allowed during the fireworks. The Shannon Tanner family show also runs Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday through Aug. 20, with sets at 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. If you have been meaning to take the kids, this is the window.