Afternoon news in Beaufort County: Lightning strikes | Charges in Green Pond murders
Good afternoon on Monday, July 31.
As much as I like not having to water my plants, I’m hesitant to say there could be more rain on the way. The National Weather Service in Charleston includes a 20% to 30% chance of thunderstorms this evening depending where you are in the area; the higher chances are in Okatie and Hardeeville. There are increasing chances of showers and thunderstorms from Thursday through the weekend.
Here’s today’s top news:
1. The biggest news of the day seems to be Sunday night’s weather, and social media is filled with videos of the stunning “light show” provided by Mother Nature. It wasn’t all fun and games, though. Two houses and a transformer were struck by lightning, and a tree was downed.
2. A Vietnam War veteran who served in the U.S. Air Force has died without any surviving family. He will be buried on Tuesday at the Beaufort National Cemetery, and members of the public are being asked to attend so he won’t be laid to rest alone. Reporter Karl Puckett shares how you can help.
3. The suspect in the murders of the six family members in their Green Pond home in early July now faces 14 additional charges, including arson, criminal sexual conduct and incest. The victims’ ages ranged from 7 to 101 years old. Reporter Sebastian Lee has this update.
4. If the extensive trial coverage and multiple podcasts and documentaries haven’t satisfied your desire for info about the Murdaugh murders saga, have I got some news for you! At least eight books are currently in the works and will address such questions as how did Alex Murdaugh persuade his friends to help him steal millions? And will the murder weapons ever be found?
5. A short film about Gullah Geechee origins — shot by a trailblazing director and world-class crew — was filmed in Beaufort, St. Helena Island and Charleston in 2022, but few people knew it at the time. “Everybody was sworn to secrecy,” said Ron Tucker, president and CEO of the Beaufort International Film Festival. Now, the secret’s out.
6. Hilton Head area golfers Garret Fader and Lexi Milbrandt swept the Jimmy Self Invitational on Sunday. Fader won the boys’ division, while Milbrandt won the girls crown in the tournament played at Palmetto Dunes. Congrats Garret and Lexi!
Here are a few other headlines to note:
Pair of shootings Saturday morning in Ridgeland leaves 2 injured
Mark your calendars for these August arts and musical events
Photo finish
Thomas Layer shared this photo taken in Harbour Town in Sea Pines.
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but I’d challenge anyone who would call the Lowcountry plain. There’s natural beauty all around us. Send your pictures of Lowcountry nature to newsroom@islandpacket.com, and please include your name and where you took the shot. Submitting a photo gives The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette permission to publish it.
Thank you for reading!
